If you will tell me...

The waiter laid down the orders as listed on the note, surprising Molly from his daydream.

It was sudden, so sudden that he almost forgot what he was supposed to do.

In shock, he jerked his head, his eyes moving in a saccadic manner as his unexpected confusion quickly turned into relief and affection as Nicole's black eyes stared at him with genuine bemusement.

"M- miss... Is your inamorato alright?"

The girl's cheeks grew bright red as she covered them, fighting the sudden feeling in her chest as she composed herself.

"Ahhh, n- no, he's fine... He's just like that sometimes..."

"Oh! Well then, please enjoy your meal..."

The waiter bowed down as they gingerly went back to the kitchen to gather more dishes to deliver to other customers.

"....

pst...

c'mon..."

The pale lady repetitively taps Molly's shoulder lightly, causing him to jolt awake and accidentally shake the table due to his knee hitting the bottom.

"Ow ow ow ow! P- pardon me, Ms. Brynn... I haven't really taken a good sleep... If you may, we could call the waiter for a take ou-"

"No- no need, Molly... I should be the one to apologize... dragging you here and all..." she said, placing her hand on her chest as she looks down in embarrassment.

It was... awkward. For a full minute or two, they were simply silent and unresponsive as if their brains have never accumulated to the embarrassment, delayed by their thumbs twiddling as the silence around the two become too daunting for one to even speak up without them criticizing another.

"Uhhh, ermmm..."

Nicole looked down as she rubbed her palms in shyness, thinking of any topics to talk about. Like a researcher giving surveys to other people, she's trying to find anything to dampen the discomfiture.

Though she was pretty much dragged out here by some... quaint gentleman, she knew it had to do with the crowd given the chit-chatting she heard.

Something with fellow criminals? It is true that crimes are practically everywhere, given her 'purpose'. However, maybe there could be an ulterior motive behind Molly's sudden date with another stranger.

But besides the point, maybe...

"A movie...."

"Hm?" Molly glanced at Nicole, raising an eyebrow.

"What's your favorite movie?" she asked.

"Well, what type of genre are we talking about?" he responded back.

"I guess any would do..." she answered.

"Hmmm... it would have to be 'A Silent Voice' by Yoshitoki Ōima..."

"Oh, an animated film? That's actually a good one..." she said, starting to eat her meal slowly, keeping eye-to-eye with him.

"Yeah, especially with its symbolism and all, even made me get some tears to be honest..." Molly commented, beginning to eat his as well.

"It is kinda sad... That, and also the music makes it so immersive and entertaining-"

"Makes you feel like you're actually there!" both said at the same time.

"Hahaha! W-were in sync with that one!" she said, smiling as she giggled.

"Having the same wavelength sure is fun!" he giggled along with her.

"Oh, and speaking of which... What about you? What's your favorite movie?" he asked, drinking his Mojito.

"That would have to go for Inception. I kinda like the idea of dreams being the key concept of it all, trapping people into a series of interlocked dreams where each one is a dream of another. You could picture the scenarios given we could also dream. It is something that could be imagined given it is physically feasible through normal means."

She explained the movie as if she's watched it tens of times over, like a diehard fan of some singer group willing to listen to their songs for hundreds of hours.

"Oh yeah, that is a valid reason... A really good'ol 30-year classic movie to binge..." he commented, placing his hand on his chin.

"[You] can't forget about the music too.." she pointed out.

"The music! It's the legendary Hans Zimmer himself. Despite the ages, it's still one of the most impactful pieces of media you could hear... Kinda glad they made a documentary about his life...." he said.

"I mean, even if we include the criticisms about him, that doesn't damage any of his works or his reputation..." she commented.

"Yeah, especially since there have many people giving tributes to him the moment his passing was reported to the news..." he continued.

"But just like what Campbell said: To live in hearts we leave behind is not to die..." she said with a flourish.

"Wow! Pulling up some quotes from famous poets now are we?"

Molly smiled, taking his knife as he cuts the choripan, sticks the piece of meat into his fork, and placed it gently in his mouth.

Nicole took a sip of her cocktail and continued eating, her face open and kind.

It was a feeling she wasn't exposed to, but one she was clearly familiar with. Just like how nostalgia strikes

His warmth, his gaze, his overall speech, and the glint of joy in his eyes... It started to spread through her pale skin as delight coursed through her chest and into her heart. An electric shock pulses through her very bones as they fill her with such emotion.

At first glance, at first sight... She sort of feels this strange sensation.

It is something people feel when they just connect, like a bulb turning on or like a sudden connection out of nowhere. Like water sprouting from the inside, wanting to release itself from the container. Her heart singing with excitement as her giggle and smile turned genuine

From the awkwardness and embarrassment, the sudden silence, and to an actual conversation about what they want... what they love about.

Something swelling in both of their hearts, like two sonars detecting one another, like two magnets meeting and attracting another.

Maybe, just maybe...

For once in Nicole's life, she found someone on this Earth she could consider...

Someone she could talk to, someone she could connect with at the very least, and most importantly...

She found someone with the same interests as her...