What? You thought I'd forgot about you , no, I know you were still there silently watching me listing to every words I spell, but I don't mind, why ? because I can too listen to , every thought you were thinking , I know currently what's on your mind currently, you probably thinking what's happening right ? but right now I have no answers to your questions right now. I know you don't believe because I've hide many things from you before but not now, I don't any answers, I don't know anything thing, if don't believe me then it's alright but just... don't disappear on me like before.
Paul exited the main entrance of the office and walked sideways toward the road, occasionally talking to himself or thinking intensely about what Loka would report regarding the Blady man. He wondered if he could obtain an address for where Blady lived or where he usually went on normal days; perhaps he could deduce something from that. However, the most confusing aspect was that Paul couldn't recall Loka's real name—the individual who worked with the police and provided information whenever necessary. Loka typically did not take much time; it would usually take around 30 minutes to an hour if he wasn't in the office; if that were the case, it was a different story. This delay had only occurred a few times, which Paul could count on one hand. The problem was that it seemed related or connected to the higher-ups of the High-table members, and his boss, Philp, usually informed him about that. However, this time his boss said nothing, and neither did Simon. Paul thought this issue was probably not connected to the High-table but rather to other lower members or someone outside the organization. He clearly remembered what Sara stated earlier: 'Loka is under pressure from higher-ups.' Paul thought that whoever was behind this had a solid understanding of the rules of this place, as they were able to delay the information. This thought made Paul feel somewhat angry and annoyed at the same time, because there was a report delay, and that whoever it was must be a significant figure, pressuring the police, making it difficult for Paul to find him. He was not fond of waiting and needed answers for many things. Lost in his sea of thoughts, a black car pulled up beside him, matching his walking pace. He didn't know how much time had passed since the car began following him. When he stopped, the car stopped as well. He attempted to look inside the tinted window, but with a meter of distance between him and the car and how dark the window was, he couldn't see who was driving but Soon enough, the black window was pulled down, revealing a figure inside who was, of course, a female—Sara.
Sara slightly gestured for Paul to hop inside. Paul nodded, unsurprised that Sara was there to pick him up. He opened the gate to the front seat and placed his backpack in the back seat. Sara looked at Paul, indicating he should adjust his seatbelt, and she pressed the accelerator.
As they drove to Paul's apartment, there was an unsettling silence inside the car, but Paul didn't mind; he thought not talking sometimes was better. However, soon enough, Paul's stomach grumbled with hunger. He wondered why he hadn't had lunch at school this afternoon.
Simultaneously, Sara's stomach called out for food as well. Just as the silence became more uncomfortable, Sara said somewhat awkwardly, "Why don't we stop to eat something?"
Paul leaned back in his seat and replied faintly, "Yeah... sure." Sara looked at Paul from the corner of her eye, as if remembering something from a few seconds ago, and said, "I've heard a new restaurant has opened recently."
A few minutes later, the car stopped at the restaurant's parking lot. They exited the car and walked toward the restaurant. Paul cast a slight glance at the restaurant's name, which hung in front of the door: "Woozy Woo" in red and white colors. "What does this name even mean?" Paul wondered.
They both entered through the big glass door. Paul scanned the place for a place to sit. The yellow-brown furniture was covered with clean white cloths, and the area was very tidy, with each table surrounded by four chairs. There were a total of nine tables, only five of which were occupied, and all three seats by the big glass windows were empty. Paul silently gestured to Sara that there were empty seats. Sara nodded in agreement, and they sat opposite each other. On the table, there was already white salt in a small bottle, along with ketchup and chili sauce.
They both waited silently for the waiter, and the awkward silence from before returned. "I don't like seeing her like this—the cheerful smile, always talking about something even if I don't understand. I know it can feel annoying sometimes, but... don't be sad; I'm always here..."
After working together for almost two years, Paul has a clear understanding of Sara's mindset. He thinks that Sara, who almost strikes up conversations first and can hardly stay silent, was quite for some reason. What happened to her? She was fine just moments ago at the office entrance. Is something troubling her? At that moment, a woman arrived wearing a black and white dress, which seemed to be the restaurant's dress code for waiters. She appeared to be around 22, with her hair tied in a bun. She bent down slightly and gave a small warm smile as she asked for their orders. Paul was looking out the window, but his mind was elsewhere.
He glanced at Sara and said, 'Whatever she orders, make it two,' without missing a beat.
After hearing Paul's words, Sara came back to reality and gave her order. The waitress smiled slightly again and walked away towards the kitchen. Just as the waitress disappeared from Paul's view, he sighed internally, looked at Sara, and asked calmly,
'What's with the look? You can always open up to me, you know.'
Sara also realized that she was not her usual self, but she still wondered if it mattered, so she replied, "Thanks, but I'm thinking of something."
"You can think? Well, that's something new I learned about you today," Paul said playfully, aware that a calm conversation was unlikely to get him anywhere.
Sara felt disturbed and annoyed, looking at Paul as if to say, "Why can't you just shut up for a minute?"
Paul noticed but smiled and replied, "You know, a wise man once said 1+1=2. If you share what's going on in that little head of yours, maybe I can help." He raised his eyebrows up and down.
Sara pondered for a moment; she didn't want to share because she feared others' opinions. After telling Paul, she might feel regret, questioning why she told him. It would have been better to keep it to herself. However, Paul had already asked her twice, showing that he was concerned about her. Unlike Julian, who took things lightly, she thought that if she communicated how serious she was, Paul might take it seriously. After some thought, she finally asked, "You wouldn't laugh or make fun of it, would you?" confirming her concerns one last time.
Paul, back to his normal self, said with a slightly mocking tone, "You think I am like you? I don't make fun of others' emotions like you do, who knows everything and..." Sara interrupted Paul, saying apologetically,
"Okay! Okay! Okay! I get it; you don't need to say this much."
She thought, "I know you weren't like that," but who knows, maybe Paul's next response could change her mind? Paul nodded calmly and looked at Sara.
She took a breather and asked, "Say, if I say 'I love you,' what would you say in reply?" Without a moment's hesitation, Paul replied, as if dropping an atomic bomb, "Of course, I would turn you down."
At the same time, just as Paul finished speaking, the same waitress who took their food orders earlier placed white plates on the table, carrying hot brown steak accompanied by rich brown sauce. She cast a sorry glance at Sara, who clearly noticed it but did not say anything. They both waited for the waitress to leave. Once she was gone, Sara glanced at the counter and saw the waitress talking to her colleague about what she had just overheard.
Sara let out a slight 'tsk' and looked at Paul, who was staring at the food, ready to dig in. She tapped his hand, which was gripping the knife.
Paul looked at her, raising his eyebrows and asking, 'What now?'
Sara felt annoyed at this and declared, 'I'm not finished speaking yet.'
Paul, ready to cut the steak, replied, 'Yeah... go on, I'm listening.'
Now, Sara was angry. She thought, if he truly wasn't concerned, why did he keep asking her repeatedly? Did he just want to hear the reason behind her change in behavior? Ugh! She cursed Paul internally, reflecting on her expectations of him, this piece of shiit."
As Sara wasn't continuing so Paul glance at her and as if he'd read her mind he said softly and gently as if was really concerned about dropping the knife and spoon
" Hey, I said I'm listening why did you stop, did you don't feel like continuing? "
Now again after Sara felt touched emotionally by Paul's honey coating words, she thought "Paul actually feels concerd about me, am sorry I called you piece of shitt. You're actually a piece of Sweet flower."
She cleared her thoughts useless thoughts and asked coughing slightly - " So I am saying why? Why would you turned me down? Do you actually think am not pretty or or because of age difference or.. "
Paul didn't let Sara finished her sentence and asked carefully examing her expression " Wait.. Just wait.. Why are you thinking all this type of stuff all of sudden , are you interested in someone perhaps.. "
Paul could see Sara's face turning red because of embarrassment, Sara nodded slightly and Paul continued - " Who is it ? Of course it isn't me " He examined Sara's expression " Or is it? "
After seeing Sara didn't react " Then it's probably.... " Paul made disappointed and little confusion expression like he was thinking very hard but already knew almost anyone can guess who is it, 2 years is long time after all, but didn't he said hurriedly and was beating around the bushes, like he doesn't know clearly, he thought maybe it would sound so obvious if he said right away, and knowing Sara's character he didn't feel right, he could see Sara was back like before, always smiling, and reacting to small things that doesn't even matter to most of people out there, he doesn't know why he felt little relief seeing her old self like that " Just don't change " he said in his mind softly.
"Is it Simon? " He asked still don't sure. Sara felt little embarrassed nodded slightly, Paul clapped his both hands together like after playing some video-game so many hours doing Quests solving multiple - puzzles he had finally beaten the last boss.
"Then why are you waiting just ask him out I guess? " Paul said casually while his knife just about to touched the crispy steak.
Sara slammed the table lightly "If wanted to do that I've already would've done that not wasting my time thinking about this stuff ".she said little annoyed.
Paul again put down the knife and spoon and looked at steak for a moment then eyes fixed Sara and said " Then what do you want me say? "
And thought in his mind "I should've just leave it, why do i even bother asking. "
"You said you would help me right? "
"Yeh i said that and I am doing it". and it was Paul's time to get annoyed.
"You clearly not helping me with anything ".
"Aghh!! Okay, juss say what you have left to say "
Sara sighed inwardly and said what Paul didn't even thought - " So I was thinking that, you are in your teenage right? And you started going to school too then maybe you have idea in mind for me?
Paul replied with a disbelief " Huh... Waa wht, in a holy fuking Christ you're thinking ? It's just been a week mostly aren't you expecting too much from me, like hell !! ( he sighs and continued) lemme be clear oky, I am not like others mofos who gose for whoose whenever they get the chance, please leave me out of this shit..
After listing to what Paul said Sara thought " Why do I bother telling him, sigh.. It's better if I would've keep it myself, am just wasting my time here with him ".
Paul noticing Sara disappointed look , he coughs slightly and said - " But I can help you with Simon though.
Sara who was feeling disappointed and like all of her energy drained to zero percent a second ago felt fully charged after hearing Paul charismatic words.
" How? Just tell me? " She asked her eyes shining with the hope for some good advice .
Seeing Sara's reaction Paul cleared his throat and said " I think Simon type is probably like some mature type of women you know? like who doesn't spouts nonsense all the time and doesn't bother with every small stuff, and someone who can handle any work...
" Hey " Sara slammed her hand on table feeling really frustrated this time..
But Paul didn't change his tone and ignored her and continued thinking if she really wanna get on with Simon then she had accept this and change Herself-
" but this is just my honest thoughts, and you probably wanted hear this, don't take it to personally though am not trying to make fun of you or anything this is what I think, with your loose type of character I don't think you have a chance, you know where I'm getting at right?"
Sara heads cooled after she thought herself and nodded with displeasure, she doesn't have any other choice ethier she thought, if she really wanna work things out Simon she really have to change and take things more serious, Paul reading Sara expression he thought it's enough and stared at his steak which is probably cold, finally his knife slices through the tender steak, releasing its rich juices. Each bite melts in his mouth, blending smoky sear with the deep, savory sauce.
Also while eating he looked sideways outside the big windows, his eyes looking at streets, cars, people going home after their work but suddenly his eyes locked into a flower shop which just opposite the street, he noticed a girl standing besides the shop her long hair fulltering and she is wearing the same dresse as him.