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I woke up early in the morning, unable to contain my excitement, and left the house while it was still dark outside. As I walked down the quiet street, I caught sight of him emerging from his house.
"Good morning, are you ready for some breakfast?" I called out to him.
"Good morning. I see you're excited," he replied with a knowing smile.
"Always. I hope you're in the mood for something sweet," I said, matching his smile as we leisurely made our way to my favorite breakfast spot, savoring the anticipation of the morning ahead.
As we settled into the cozy atmosphere of the café, he gestured for me to order for him, knowing that I was familiar with the menu. "So," I said, sparking a conversation, "what brings a man like you here on vacation?"
"Taking a casual break after work, I suppose. I needed to unwind after a few exhausting weeks," he responded with a slightly tired smile.
"Sounds like you needed it," I remarked. "What field do you work in, if you don't mind me asking? Let me take a guess." He chuckled in anticipation.
"Sure, go ahead," he said, ready for my guess.
"Judging by your physique, I can see that you are an athlete, probably into racing. You look so familiar to me, like the guy on the poster in my brother's room. So, based on that, I'm pretty sure that you are the guy from the poster." I said this with a proud smile on my face.
His beaming smile quickly transformed into a deep frown as he responded, "Yeah, you're right. I am a racer. I had hoped you had no clue."
"Don't worry about it. I wouldn't have guessed if I didn't see the poster in my brother's room during yesterday's video chat. Your secret is safe with me." I smiled softly at him.
"Thank you so much, I really appreciate it," he said, returning the smile. "These days, people often cross the line without realizing it."
As we were engrossed in conversation, our scrumptious pancakes arrived at the table, and both of us, feeling ravenous, eagerly dug in without delay.
"But let's shift the focus from me for a moment. Who is Millie as a person?" he inquired, deftly slicing into the pancakes, clearly aiming to steer the conversation in a new direction.
"Trust me, I'm not that interesting. British, the oldest sibling, a college dropout, and I moved as far away from my family as I could to avoid disappointing them," I chuckled sadly.
I had a challenging time adjusting to the college environment, and ultimately, I made the difficult decision to leave. This turning point led me to pursue a certificate in translating, leveraging my diverse background. Through my proficiency in Italian, Korean, English, Japanese, and German, I discovered numerous fresh possibilities that my language skills could unlock for me. This not only allowed me to generate a sustainable income to support my family, but also provided me with the means to treat my siblings. I now relish the sense of liberation, enjoying the flexibility to structure my day according to my preferences. Besides working at a café with my best friend Nara, I also embrace the autonomy of being my own person.
"Living in a foreign country all by yourself can be quite fascinating and challenging. You should give yourself credit for taking on such an adventure," he contradicted.
"Says the guy who travels around the world all year." I chuckled, giving him a "are you kidding me?" stare.
"But I work, you, on the other hand, live here full time." I agreed with his statement.
After we both finished our meal, I insisted on paying because I will be his guide for the day. Despite his reluctance, he eventually let me cover the bill.
Making our way to the subway station, Lewis and I opted to take the subway. To our surprise, the platform was inundated with an overflow of commuters, bustling and jostling to board the train.
As we entered the crowded subway, the dense throng of people made it difficult to find a comfortable spot. I suddenly found myself pressed up against Lewis's chest, and I could feel my face turning red with embarrassment. I thought to myself, "Well, this is awkward," but little did I know that things were about to get even more awkward. As the subway jolted into motion, I stumbled, my heart racing in panic. Before I could fall into the sea of commuters, Lewis's reassuring hand swiftly caught me, preventing my embarrassment from turning into a full-blown disaster.
"I'll hold you, alright? Just make sure we get off at the right stop," Lewis whispered into my ear, his warm breath sending a shiver down my spine andcausing me to blush even more.
As we journeyed, he kept a steady grip on my waist,providing a sense of security and closeness throughout our travel. It was onlyas we approached the museum that I gestured to him that it was time to leave.
