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“Oh, that’s right.”
As I savoured the last few bites, Neil’s expression turned thoughtful.
“Something on your mind?” I asked.
He rubbed his neck. “Are you sure you want to keep working for me when—if—you return?”
I stopped eating. “You don’t want me to?”
“It’s not that,” he said quickly, seeming flustered. “I mean, you have so much potential. Why not finish your medical degree?”
I shook my head without needing to consider his question. “The only reason I went to med school was because that’s what people with good grades do. My life revolved around trying to make my dad proud of me; be the top student in school, get into medicine on a scholarship, become a brain surgeon or something equally impressive. Even after he died, I’ve always been striving towards something. It would be nice to slow down, live life day by day, and appreciate what I have. I don’t know. Maybe I’m not wired for that.”
“You won’t know until you try.”
Just sharing those thoughts with him was a weight off my chest. I set my spoon down in the empty ramekin. “What about you? What do you plan to do when all this is over? If your plans succeed—or if they fail—will you go back to Singapore?”
Neil shook his head. “I’d like to stay here. I’d like to leave Zelthia behind me and do something else.”
“What will you do?”
He shrugged. “Move to the countryside, live in a big house with my pets, grow vegetables, learn to cook, maybe start a non-profit…”
His ideas resonated, aligning with my own dream of a simpler, more meaningful life. “That sounds perfect. But what about…” I faltered, losing my nerve.
“Hmm?”
“Any plans to share your life with someone else?”
His dark eyes burned into me. “That remains to be seen.”
Under the table, our knees bumped, sending tremors up my leg. I thought of all the signs over recent weeks and months pointing to his affection for me. His playful banter, his protectiveness, his lingering gazes… It gave me the courage to keep my knee pressed against his.
Neil tensed, but he didn’t pull away. He pinned me with a smouldering look instead.
“Is there someone you like?” I dared to ask.
His voice dropped low. “I think you know the answer to that.”
A shuddering thrill coursed through my veins. I leaned a tad closer to him, but before I could say or do anything else, the waiter approached to collect our empty dishes. I retracted to the back of my seat.
“How was everything?” she asked. “Did you enjoy your meal?”
“Yes,” I said, a little breathless. “It was perfect. Thank you.”
Neil nodded in agreement as he produced his wallet. “Here. This is for you.”
He discreetly slipped her some cash, causing her eyes to widen. “Thank you!”
I didn’t see how much the tip was, but judging by her reaction, it must have been generous. She walked away without clearing the dishes, but she turned back and quickly gathered them before scurrying off with a mumbled apology.
My attention returned to Neil. He drank me in with unconcealed longing. His lips were parted, and I could see the rapid rise and fall of his chest beneath his slightly rumpled shirt. On the tablecloth between us, the dying tea light candle flickered, then extinguished.
“Shall we go home?” Neil asked, his voice steady.
“Yes,” I replied, my stomach swooping with anticipation. “Let’s go.”
I couldn’t decipher what he intended for the rest of the evening, but I was ready to find out.
