Realized Something...

Alan didn't realize he was staring at her face, making her feel shy. If he continued any longer, she might become as red as an apple even though she had no blush on her cheeks.

"Ahem, um..is there something on my face? You keep looking at me." She combed her fringe out of habit and lowered her head a little.

"No. No. Your face is beautiful. I..I mean, you look beautiful today." He stuttered as he tried correcting his phrases one after another. Forming a small curve on her face, she couldn't help but joke with him.

"So, you mean I didn't look pretty the other days you've seen me?" She looked him in the eye, purposely playing the word game with him.

"No, no. You're beautiful every day! I.." He didn't understand what was wrong with him today. Normally, he had the best comebacks with pickup and flirts lines. For some reason, his brain wasn't functioning properly right now. His heart was like him playing Mario Kart, slipping on those banana peels.

She noticed how tensed he got when she responded previously. "Let's go eat. The restaurant I found online had pretty high ratings. It's a Shanghainese restaurant. You are fine with it right?"

"Yeah, I'm fine with anything." He gulped as his eyes wandered to the hand hanging on her side. As they walked down the street, he gathered his courage to reach out and hold her hand. Cheering to himself inwardly, he screamed, 'You can do it! You can do it! Grab her hand! Grab her hand!'

Angling his arm forward, he attempted to hold her hand, but failed. Ginny was focused on reading the restaurant names because the Shanghainese place she chose to eat at was on the same street. Therefore, there was no need to cross sidewalks.

When he reached out to hold her hand, she used both hands to pull open the restaurant door. Holding the door for him, she waved, "We're here."

"O..Oh. What a coincidence, I wanted to hold the door for you. You beat me to it." When she turned around, his arm was at an awkward angle. How could he admit his failing attempt to hold her hands when they were right in front of the restaurant already? Sighing quietly to himself, he decided to find a better chance to repeat his action.

The door was quite heavy for her to keep it open. Seeing her trembling arms, he walked over and held the door for her. "Go in. Ladies first."

"Then thank you." She nodded and walked in to get a table for two. The waitress led them to the table at a corner and left two menus for them. Ginny had already thought about what she wanted to try today, so she waited for Alan to skim through the menu.

After a few minutes, they knew what they wanted to order and informed the waitress. Watching her observe the restaurant curiously, he asked, "Is this the first time you're eating at a Shanghainese place?"

"Hmm? No, I've eaten Shanghainese food before. It's been a long time since I've last eaten soup dumplings, though. I don't think I can ever find the same taste again." Picking up the tea in her hands, she slowly sipped the hot liquid into her mouth.

She didn't sound too happy when she said the last sentence. Since it was a topic that didn't make her as delighted, he decided to change the conversation.

"Right, do you believe in palm reading?" He couldn't believe there'll be a day where he would use this trick to sweeten up to girls.

"Palm reading? Hmm, it wouldn't hurt to try it, but I don't believe in it."

"Me either.." He mumbled in a lowered volume, so she wouldn't hear him.

"What did you say?" Putting the teacup down on the table, she asked him to repeat his words again.

"Oh, I said I knew a thing or two about palmistry. I could take a look at yours for fun." Seeing her nod slightly, he could feel a pair of wings flapping on his back joyfully.

As she extended out her arm with palms facing upwards, he couldn't wait for his palms to hold her hand. He was ready to throw out the lamest line ever to woo her.

Before his hand could reach over to hers, the waitress interrupted them. The soup and appetizers were then placed on the table. Twisting his neck to the side, a grin stretched on his face. "Is this all?"

The waitress didn't get the hint and named the dishes on the table. She replied, "There are more dishes on its way. Once those are ready to be served, I will deliver it to your table. For now, please enjoy your food."

"Thank you." Ginny took the two bowls and started pouring the chicken soup into it. Handing the filled bowl to him, she gestured for him to taste it.

"Is it good?" She watched him swallow the soup before asking.

"It's pretty good. You try it too." Blowing the steamy soup from the spoon, Ginny carefully took small sips and nodded in agreement.

"Pretty good. Here, try some of the garlic chili cold noodles. I heard it was pretty good as well. Oh, and this." She started collecting a little of each dish and placed it on his plate. While she did that, he also placed food on her plate.

'I guess restaurants are one of the most interrupted places for couples to hold hands. Fine. I'll figure out the next way. It's good I didn't have to use such lame lines earlier. How hard could it be to hold a girl's hand? How did I hold any of my ex-girlfriend's hands? Was it all natural?'

As he sank deep in thought, he realized something very crucial. He took out his phone and typed to Lin Que: "Oh my gosh!!! I've never held a girl's hand before!"

Lin Que replied, "So, you've dated all men?"

Alan: "No!!! They were all females, but I've never initiated any intimate actions! They were the ones who initiated holding hands, kissing, hugging, etc..."

Lin Que: "And this solved the mystery for why you always get dumped by your girlfriend..."

Alan: "Now's not the time to talk about these things!"

Lin Que: "But good news is that you've never shown interest in those girls before. Ginny is the first one. So, you better work on it, buddy."

Alan sent crying emoticons as response and continued finishing his lunch date with her. The only thought filling his mind the entire time was, 'Where did I get the courage to hold her hands last time?'