After receiving Aaron's text, Jason told Selina to get ready to go out for dinner. She smiled and hummed her way back to her room where she slid her finger across every dress in the closet.
"Hmmm...What should I wear? This is the first time we are eating out together. Since we are alone, would this count as a date? Hehee, what am I thinking? How could it be a date if we aren't dating? It's just a regular dinner. Phew. Relax. Relax." She patted her chest lightly, picked out a light pink dress and started undressing in front of the mirror.
Her smile froze as her eyes fixated on the scar on her chest. Blinking slowly, her fingertips traced the semi-obvious line on her chest. If she didn't see the scar, she would probably forget about ever staying in the hospital. 'What happened to me?' She started wondering about how she ended up with a critical injury to result in a coma.
Every time she tried asking, she would see Jason frowning. Eventually, she stopped asking him the same question because she knew he wouldn't tell her the answer. Although the wound no longer ached when she moves around, she would still sense prickling sensations to her chest when she cooks meals.
For some reason, she seemed to be quite skillful at cooking. Though her memories were wiped out, her body was the most honest to her. Anyone could be lying to her, but herself. She decided to not dwell on things she didn't remember and continued looking forward to the dinner.
After a while had passed, Selina was still sitting in front of the mirror; spacing out. In the middle of getting ready, she started picturing many scenarios that could possibly happen during their dinner. As her cheeks turned bright red from the images in her mind, she heard a few knocks to the closet door.
"Selina? Are you in there?" Jason asked before rotating the knob. Snapping out of her thoughts, she escaped her wonderland dreams and responded to him.
"Yes! I'm almost ready." She unzipped the pink dress that reached right above knee level and changed into it. Combing through her hair in the fastest rate possible, she took a small amount of hair and braided it. Nodding into the mirror, she lifted both arms up to cheer for her dinner. 'Ooosh!!! You got this! Don't be nervous!'
Inhaling deeply, she twisted the knob and pulled the door open. She released the puff of air when she saw him dressed in a suit. "Uh, is this outfit alright?"
Holding both sides of her dress, she spun around to let him take a good look at her outfit. He smiled and nodded, "Yes. Very beautiful."
She smiled, feeling slightly embarrassed from his compliment. With both hands behind her back, she circled her left wrist using her right index finger and thumb. While rubbing in circular movements, she lifted her chin and commented on his attire.
"You look handsome too." Her cheeks burned as she pressed her teeth lightly on her bottom lip. When she said those words to him, he wasn't listening. Instead, his eyes were focused on her flushed cheeks. Suddenly, she averted her gaze while looking downwards; heightening his worries.
He extended his hands out towards her cheeks where both palms covered her small face. With his thumbs gently caressing her warm pink cheeks; he shifted his head closer. Seeing how he minimized the space between them, flashbacks of the night of their accidental peck puzzled in her head.
Subconsciously, her nervous fists relaxed and eyes closed. While his big hands were still on her cheeks, his forehead rested against hers. After minutes of silence, she peeked through one eye. Then, both eyes opened and blinked multiple times at him.
Meeting his pair of concentrated eyes, she asked, "What are you doing?"
"Trying to see if you're having a fever." He confessed his motive and didn't realize how misleading his actions made her feel. Instantly, her cheeks rose in temperature; hotter than his palms. She pursed her lips slightly and took his hands away from her face.
"I don't have a fever. I'm not feeling sick either." She stared deeply into his eyes to convince him she was alright and healthy.
Catching her chin between his fingers, he moved his head towards the left and right. "Then why are your cheeks so red?"
She didn't know whether she should facepalm herself or crack his brain open to see what he was thinking. " I applied too much blush just now. It's a new brand, so I was trying out the colors. Plus, your hands were covering my cheeks for minutes! How could it not be red?"
Giving her response a thought, he finally accepted her reasoning. He reached out to hold her right hand and intertwined their fingers. Holding their tightly grasped hand up in the air, he charmingly smiled. "Let's go?"
"Yes." Her voice softened up as his silly smile sent her flying through clouds of cotton candy. Even her heart pounded irregularly in response.
Once they've found parking, Jason exited the car first before helping her out. Since she was wearing flats, he had to be extra cautious about the rocky surrounding. The chicken bun spot was two streets away, but it was a silent neighborhood once night crept in.
As they walked through empty streets with only one flickering street light, he wrapped his arms around her shoulder. Holding hands may be unsafe if anything happens on their way to the food place. Though his guards were on standby, he wanted her to be as relaxed as possible before meeting her brother again.
Meanwhile, Aaron was secretly hiding in a corner, protecting his boss and future mistress. He sighed and could finally breath in relief when he saw them reaching the chicken bun store. Unfortunately, the store was too small to fit tables or else they would have stayed to enjoy the food. The owner was an elderly lady who has worked for thirty years here.
Although the lady's eyesight was not great, she could still recognize regular customers. Youngsters these days wouldn't bother purchasing from her stand at night. Therefore, once she saw Selina, a smile blossomed on her face.
"Young lady, you finally came again. I haven't seen you for over a month! Do you want the usual?" She asked amiably at Selina who looked up at Jason's face with confusion written across her face.
Her slightly frightened expression startled him as he hadn't expected her to feel scared from the lady's words. Bending down, his lips reached her ears. He whispered, "Maybe she mistook you for someone else. She's pretty old already. Take a look at the menu and decide what you want first."
Nodding, Selina took the simple paper menu into her hands and reviewed it. Tilting her head sideways, a sense of familiarity rushed to her mind. She felt like she read this somewhere before. Immediately, she ordered two of each vegetable and meat bun on the menu.
Within minutes, her buns were wrapped up and neatly sitting in a mountain of containers. "Your usual order. Have fun eating. Thank you for your business like always." The old lady gave off a sweet granny feel to her. She felt like the type of grannies who loved feeding everyone who visits her.
Before leaving, Selina broke into a gorgeous grateful smile to the owner and waved her hands at her. "Bye bye, owner! I'll come next time!" Jason carried the bag of buns she ordered in one hand and reached for her hand in the other.
As soon as she turned her head, she caught a familiar car model pulling up recklessly at the end of the block. Split pieces of images flashed quickly in her mind and disappeared. Soon, two figures panted breathlessly as they ran up the street.
The street light flickered like a running hourglass; sand continued passing the narrowed space for each second that passes by. Her eyes connected to theirs. As if an invisible line was tied around her waist, she cluelessly took small steps towards Bryan and Alfred; meeting them halfway.
"You...are..." She muttered.
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