Patience Heart

Lunch Break

After the morning's secondhand embarrassment, I was more than ready for a break. As usual, Mama Dee and I headed to our favorite lunch spot in the small outdoor courtyard behind the office. It was a quiet little nook, hidden away from the hustle and bustle of Chattame, with a few wooden benches and a couple of tables surrounded by leafy greenery. The weather was nice, and the smell of blooming flowers offered a peaceful escape from the office air.

I laid out my lunch, savoring the comforting aroma of Sayur Asam (tamarind vegetable soup), balado beef jerky, and coconut pudding. It was a simple meal, but one of my favorites. Mama Dee, always a little more adventurous with her food, unpacked her own—a spicy Tom Yum soup. As soon as she opened the lid, the tangy scent of lemongrass and lime filled the air, mingling with my own dishes.

We sat in comfortable silence for a moment, but I knew it wouldn't last. Mama Dee was never one to hold back, especially when she sensed an opportunity to tease. Sure enough, as soon as I took my first bite, she smirked.

"I know you've got something going on with Adam," she said, her eyes sparkling with mischief. "This morning's little episode was all the proof I needed."

I nearly choked on my soup, quickly taking a sip of water to compose myself. "What? No way, Mama Dee. Nothing's going on."

She raised an eyebrow, clearly not buying it. "Mmm-hmm," she hummed, obviously enjoying my discomfort. "Sure, Ellie. You keep telling yourself that."

I sighed, trying to focus on my food, but her words had set my mind spinning again. Adam. Why did he have this effect on me? During our separation, I hadn't thought twice because back then, he didn't make me feel this way. Maybe it was because I felt betrayed at the time. But why, now, could I barely handle my emotions when he was around—especially after this morning's awkward elevator ride? My cheeks heated just thinking about it.

We continued eating in relative peace, though I could feel Mama Dee watching me, no doubt ready to pounce with more teasing. Just as I thought we might get through lunch without further drama, a shadow fell across our table. I didn't even need to look up to know who it was. Adam's presence had a way of announcing itself without words.

"Hi, ladies. Can I join you?" His deep voice cut through the air, casual and confident, though I noticed he didn't wait for an answer before pulling up a chair.

Mama Dee's nose wrinkled in distaste as she noticed the cigarette dangling from his fingers. "Adam, you know I hate that smell."

He waved off her complaint as if it were nothing, taking a drag before exhaling the smoke away from us. "I'll sit here," he said, positioning himself with his back to the table, still puffing on the cigarette as if it were the most natural thing in the world.

I bit my lip, feeling the tension rise between the two of them. Mama Dee rolled her eyes dramatically and turned back to her soup, clearly deciding to ignore his presence altogether. She was determined to finish her story, and she wasn't going to let Adam's smoking ruin her lunch.

"So, as I was saying," she continued, "Joe took me to the most beautiful restaurant last weekend. The man is a perfect gentleman—pulled out my chair, held the door, the whole nine yards. I tell you, Ellie, men like him are a rare breed these days."

I nodded along, trying to keep my focus on her story, but Adam's presence loomed large. He may not have been facing us, but I could feel the tension simmering in the air. His casual disregard for Mama Dee's irritation only seemed to make his presence more noticeable.

Then, he cut in with a dry chuckle. "Wow, Mama Dee. You've got a better love life than I've ever had."

I glanced at him, surprised by his comment. Adam rarely volunteered personal information, especially not about his relationships—or lack thereof. Mama Dee, never one to miss an opportunity, jumped on his words.

"What? Please. You've got a young girl warming your bed. Better than both of us," she teased, wagging her fork at him. I winced at her boldness, but that was just how Mama Dee was—direct and unfiltered.

Adam took another drag of his cigarette, exhaling slowly before responding. "Karina, you mean?"

Mama Dee nodded enthusiastically. "Of course! Who else? We all know she's been hanging around you a lot lately."

He made a noncommittal sound, shrugging slightly. "Hmmm," was all he said.

I stayed silent, letting their conversation flow back and forth like a tennis match. Mama Dee and Adam had a strange dynamic—part teasing, part rivalry. She was the only one in the office who could talk to him like that without fear, and I admired her for it. Meanwhile, I tried to remain invisible, hoping the conversation wouldn't shift to me.

But of course, it did.

Then, with that casual smirk, Adam leaned back slightly and said, "I bet even Ellie's got a better romance than us."

I choked on my coconut pudding, coughing and spluttering as I tried to regain my composure. Mama Dee immediately reached over, patting my back as I gasped for air.

"You okay, honey?" she asked, though her eyes twinkled with amusement. Adam turned around at the sound of my coughing, his expression unreadable as he watched me struggle to catch my breath.

The comment hung in the air like a grenade waiting to explode. My head snapped up, eyes wide in disbelief. Me? With a better romance? The idea was laughable. But the fact that Adam, of all people, had said it... it made my stomach flip.

Mama Dee didn't miss a beat. "Oh, please!" she laughed, waving her spoon at him. "The only man in her life is Timmy, her son. Ellie's love life is sadder than both of ours combined."

Embarrassed, I quickly added, "I'm focused on raising Timmy. He's all I need right now." My voice came out more defensive than I intended, and I could feel my cheeks burning with humiliation.

Adam turned slightly, his eyes meeting mine with a flicker of something unreadable. His mouth twitched as if he might laugh, but he didn't. Instead, he just raised an eyebrow as if daring me to contradict Mama Dee's words.

But Mama Dee wasn't done. "Uh-huh. And when was the last time you had someone warming your bed, sweetie? Timmy's dad?" Mama Dee laughed, her eyes dancing with mischief.

I sank deeper into my seat, desperately wishing I could disappear. My mind flashed to the last man I'd shared a bed with—the very man currently sitting a few feet away from me. Adam.

"I guess our love lives are indeed better than Ellie's if the last man she was sleeping with was Timmy's dad," Adam said with a wide grin, his tone teasing yet somehow serious.

I didn't dare look at him, afraid of what I might see in his eyes if our gazes met. My stomach twisted in knots, the weight of the unspoken truth hanging heavily between us. Mama Dee had no idea what she was stirring up, but Adam and I both knew exactly what she was talking about.

Silence fell over the table, the playful atmosphere suddenly replaced with a tension so thick you could cut it with a knife. I focused on my food, shoveling bites of Sayur Asam into my mouth even though my appetite had vanished.

Adam stubbed out his cigarette on the ground, then stood up with his usual nonchalant air. "Well, I'd better get going," he said, his voice cool and detached. "Thanks for letting me crash your lunch, ladies."

Mama Dee waved him off with a laugh, completely oblivious to the storm brewing inside me. "Anytime, Adam. Next time, though, leave the cigarettes behind."

He shot me one last glance before turning and walking away, his footsteps fading as he disappeared around the corner. I let out a shaky breath, my heart still racing from the unspoken tension that had filled the air.

As he turned to leave, I felt an ache in my chest—a strange mix of longing and regret. I wanted to call out to him, to pull him back, but the words stuck in my throat. Instead, I watched him walk away, his silhouette disappearing around the corner, leaving a trail of unspoken tension in his wake.

As soon as he was out of sight, Mama Dee nudged me with a knowing smile. "See? I told you something's going on between you two."

I forced a smile, trying to laugh it off, but inside, I felt like I was unraveling.