The Wish You Left Behind

Chapter 45: It's a Date (Part 2)

YOKO

As soon as she steps inside the restaurant, the smell of food lingers in the air, reminding her she hasn't had dinner yet.

A soft growl escapes her stomach.

It's not loud yet, Faye still heard it.

The bodyguard chuckles.

"Good thing we have food," Faye said before taking off her wet coat.

"You must be cold," Faye whispers, and Yoko had a powerful urge to lean to hear her better or worse — to take a sniff.

The tall woman smells good as always.

Yoko clears her throat. "A little."

The bodyguard hangs her coat on one hook in the corner as Yoko fights the urge to hug herself.
On the other hand, Faye unabashedly watches her; from her shoulders down to her waist and — up again.

This time, Yoko covers herself. "What are you doing?"

Others had ogled her before, but Faye had not.

Which is odd.

The tall woman mirrored her surprise before raising both of her hands. "It's not what you think!"
She can only squint. Until Faye's dimple re-appears again.

"I'm only checking if you'll be needing a change of clothes, is all."

Now she's guilty. Does she really think Faye will look at her that way?

But now that she's thinking of it, Faye's gaze never made her uncomfortable. In fact, she finds herself looking amidst the crowd, hoping to see her dark brown eyes.

Just the thought of her bodyguard watching her is already comforting. A fact she'll take with her to her grave.

Yoko uncrosses her arms and shrugs. "I'm fine."

"You always say that," she said, squishing her shoulder and walking through the table; the only lit one among the many.

Yoko watches her curiously.

With the lights barely on, the spacious restaurant somehow became small, intimate. Faye lights some candles on the lone table at the canter. She limps forward, curious as to where the pungent smell is coming from.

"It's not much. I'm sorry."

There are two pizzas at the center of the table. A bowl of tom yum and a number of plates with sushi on them.

"Contrary to what you probably believe, I don't have Ice's appetite, you know."

"Oh!" Faye said, brushing her wet hair to the side. "I'll note that."

It is only when the woman wipes her forehead that she notice how soaked the woman is.

The shirt she's wearing clings to her body that Yoko averted her eyes.

"Why don't you change your clothes so we can eat?"

"Would you mind?"

"No. I don't want you to catch a cold. Please take your time."

Faye scans herself one last time before regarding her again. "I'll be back before you know it."

It took all her might not to pinch a piece of pizza while Faye is away, though, her bodyguard assured her she won't mind if she starts eating.

Yoko don't want her bodyguard to think she's only there for the food.

But if not for the food what is she after anyway?

She sigh, massaging her temple, it's been so long she's been ask out on a proper date that she don't know what to expect anymore.

Once Faye is back, they starts eating in comfortable silence.

It's not until halfway through the meal that Faye broke the silence.

"So — how was your day?"

"Huh?" Yoko pauses, pizza in hand. The question was simple, and yet, she finds herself struggling to find an answer.

Ever since she lived alone, no one bothered to ask how her day went.

Marissa knew how her day went, that means Ice knows it too. Her mom and Big usually checks in every other day, but mostly to remind her not to skip her meal and sleep on time.

"It was — okay."

Faye smiles. "Can you tell me more about it?"

Yoko puts down her pizza and wipes her mouth, not minding how the tissue smudges her lipstick.

She's not there to look pretty after all.

"Nah, you'll get bored."

Faye creased her forehead. "I stand idle for hours, for work. Try me."

Yoko can't help but squint her eyes. "Are you saying you're bored doing your work?"

Faye shrugs, but the corner of her lips tug upwards in a usual smirk. "Why, it's not like it's included in your rules, you know?"

"What rules?"

Faye sigh and puts down her fork. She starts counting with her hands.

"Stay a good meter away. If you call, at least answer on the third ring. If you're not on a meeting or on site, you don't need me to be your shadow."

Faye puts down her hand and focus on her solely as though, there's no table between the two of them.

"If you fall, you don't need me to help you; you can get up on your own. You don't even want me to be your friend."

"And lastly —."

"Hmm?"

Don't fall in love with me. I have a habit of breaking people's hearts.

It's the only thing she remembers out of that silly list she said back then.

Her bodyguard sigh before pulling something from her pocket and gave it to her; a folded paper.
Yoko opens it. A resignation.

"I can't stay away from you, not even a meter away," Faye whispers.

"If you call, I'll answer right away. I'll go to you as soon as you need me."

"You said, I don't need to be your shadow. But I want to. I really want to be close to you."

"And if you ever trip or fall -I want to rush to your side and help you to stand. Not because I pity you but because I care. I want to be your friend, Yoko and more."

"You told me not to fall for you," the woman said those words like a prayer; Silent, solemn. "I'm afraid it's too late now."

The gooseflesh all over her has nothing to do with the cold but with the words being said; with the eyes that stare at her unwaveringly.

Without averting her eyes from Faye, Yoko stands and tears the resignation letter in front of the woman.

Faye's throat bobs up and down.

She limps forward until there's nothing between them; until she can stare directly into Faye's eyes.

The woman, on the other hand, was too stunned to move.

Yoko glances on her side, to the candle that lights their table. Before she can change her mind, she blows it off. Leaving them in the mercy of the weak lights from the outside; which is nothing much.

Yoko let her fingers trace the bodyguard's shirt before resting them in the crook of her neck, leaning in.

"Then stay as close to me as you want to," Yoko whispers before tasting the woman's gaping lips.

————————————————-

How are you doing beautiful people? I'm sorry it's been a while. Don't worry, I'll update as often as I can. Don't forget to take care of yourselves! :)