THEY LEFT HER ALONE

"No," she said. "I cooked this." Lise poured soup in a bowl and gave it to Gael. "Want to try?"

Immediately, Gael forgot about that distasteful fried tofu and took the bowl from Lise's hand. "I don't know that you can cook."

"There are a lot of things that you don't know about me," Lise replied, yet there was no hostility in her voice when she said that.

"I would love to learn all of that," Gael said, as he brought the spoon to his lips and tasted that delicious soup. "Will you let me?"

Lise stopped her movements for a second, before she continued to fill her bowl with the soup. "I don't have any other choice, do I?"

Gael looked at the soup in front of him and spoke sincerely. "I am in the state where I am willing to do anything for you, Lise. And yes, you have the choice to not answer my question."

Lise stirred the soup in front of her. "It would be rude of me to not answer your question."

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