Noted

TWENTY-SEVEN

a/n: I... did a bad

8 more chapters (promise)

enjoy xx

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June can't put to graph how much she trusts Christian as they are escorted to a back booth of the dumpling restaurant she picked out, but she knows it's enough to bring her laptop bag and notes in with her. Though she bristles at how busy the place is. Still not enough to be considered a full house, only enough for June to feel her gaining attention.

Christian pulls out the menus and slides one across for June. "What's your usual choice of dumplings?"

June swallows. It shouldn't be this difficult to read off a menu - she knows her usual pick - but the back of her neck grows heavy with attention, and she finds herself picking at a chip off the table.

Christian leans in and points to the chicken skewers from the side menu. "I'm thinking we can get two of those to start with. Do you like chili sauce?"

"Yes."

"I only know a handful of people who do like chili. A small handful. And that's if they can actually stand it."

She doesn't respond just continues picking and biting her bottom lip to stop herself from looking over at the table next to them. She thinks she sees the wife glancing over at them and whispering to her husband about them.

God, what was she thinking showing up on a Friday night at a restaurant in her school uniform with a boy she can hardly stand at times? Though she didn't plan on having dinner with Christian. She didn't plan any of this really. She just wants her essay to be perfect so they can both move on without being tied together.

But Christian doesn't see that. In fact, he doesn't notice the couple beside them. He's staring at her, brows pulling together. Like he's...worried.

June takes a startling breath in, her chest aching all too uncomfortably. His heavy gaze makes her skin grow too warm underneath her winter uniform, she's almost tempted to fan herself with the menu at hand.

Instead, she frowns. "Is there a problem?"

Christian's mouth lifts at the corners. "Just deciding whether I want the chicken and corn soup or the spicy noodles with teriyaki chicken. What do you think?"

She shrugs. "Get whatever you feel like."

"Do you know what you want?"

"Pork dumplings."

Someone comes to get their order not a moment later. Soon they're left by themselves with an empty space between them. Her school bag still remaining on the floor. She's hesitant to set herself up. God, why couldn't have just done a Maccas drive-thru?

"Well? Aren't you going to get started?"

"I rather wait for my food to come." Maybe with food in her stomach, she might be able to look past the nerves still pulsating in her chest.

"That's just wasting precious time. Just pull out your laptop and get moving. Come on. You're in too deep to back down now."

She openly glares at him. "I know. Just...wait."

"Want me to help you pull it out?"

She senses the immediate attention of the couple beside them. Her eyes widen with panic at him. "Can you not?"

"You just have to unzip and pull it out. You've done it heaps of times."

She's going to die from the hot flush overtaking her body. She hides her face in her hands and turns towards the wall, hoping it opens up and consumes her.