The Doctor & Me

Part 12

"I have no idea which food is edible. So you order.", Ifkar gave up. The menu he was looking at is written in English but the names are foreign. What the hell is deolsot bibimbap ? Binatang apa ni.

"Okay yeay !" Diana clasped her both hands together. She turned to the waiter who just appeared and ordered without looking at the menu in one breath. Ifkar dare to bet his entire salary for the month that Diana has been craving for those food for sometime.

The waiter left but not before Diana urging him to 'cepat sikit eh'. It was embarassing but he's okay after looking at Diana's childish beaming face.

Diana who was sitting opposite him suddenly moved to the seat next to him. He was surprised but he lean closer to her anyway. She then started opening the menu again.

"Tadi I order ni." She pointed to a picture of a dish in a bowl. He make out the cylindrical substance lathered in red gravy. Then his eyes travel to where Diana finger is pointing. Dobokki, it says. "This is my favourite ! I pernah try masak sendiri tapi malas sebab nak cari bahan tu satu hal. Next time we can just buy the ingredients masa grocery shopping then I can masak this at home."

"What's this ? Ulat ?", Ifkar pointed to a 1 and half inch cylinder.

"Haip !", Diana slaps his shoulder. "Ni dobokki lah. Rice cake. You ingat tak Return of Superman ?"

"Cerita triplet tu ?", Ifkar prompted.

"Haa yang tu. Kan ada episode diorang buat rice cake. Yang diorang penyek nasi guna tukul kayu tu.", Diana explained more. "That thing lah processed jadi rice cake macam ni."

"Oh okok." He keeps in the information.

"Then I order ni." She pointed to the next page. Bibimbap. "Yang ni pun I suka. Sort of nasi goreng with lots of sayur."

"Tapi you tak makan sayur.", Ifkar commented.

"Ifkar Zulkarnain, I've lived for more than 2 decades. I can eat sayur and I do eat sayur.", she defended herself.

"Yelah tu."

"Eh betul lah. I'll show you."

Their chitchat continues as Diana talks about more Korean food and he would just listen. Occasionally the waiter interrupted their conversation bringing dead awkward silence as their meals were placed in front of them. They would gestured a thank you before stomping on their food.

Despite being a new experience for his tastebuds, he adapted well. He kinda understand why she likes those chewy rice cakes. It's spicy chewy combination is kind of addicting. And the bibimbap, rice in hot pot was good he actually finishes it for her.

And his man ego was satisfied as he noticed other customer in the eatery checking them out. A couples sharing meals shouldn't be a problem he thought. Feeding each other should be okay in public. They probably thinks that he and Diana are cheapskates or just romantic, he assured himself that they did not look because of PDA (public display attention).

After meal, they went window shopping hand in hand. They entered various shops and he had to drags Diana out to prevent her from spending recklessly. Diana can be a bit dangerous at times. He thinks of bringing a handcuff next time so that she couldn't leave his side and walks into any shops she wishes.

After almost buying three gorgeous heels(according to Diana), two unneeded handbags from Ifkar point of view, plenty flats which were on sale, never ending I need this dress and shirts and pants and cute notebooks, Diana were ready to leave with only Auntie Anne's pretzels in her hand. Ifkar is a poor shopping mate, she deduced.

The couples finally headed to get to Carpark 4 as Diana's feets are hurting, she threatens Ifkar to carry her if he's going to make her walk anymore. They drove home one happy and another grumpy, but both with tummy filled.

The couples were unsuspecting when they arrived home. They were in the elevator going up imagining beds and maybe Netflix and chill. But halfway in getting to level 19, the elevator stops midway and shrills of ear piercing bells were heard.

"Eh pahal ni ?", Diana felt uneasy two seconds after. She noticed the display froze at level 4. She jabbed the emergency button repeatedly. Ifkar who was just standing behind finally grabs her hand and came forward to the panel. He pressed the call button. No reply.

He waited for some time before pressing again. Diana hugged him from behind. She's always afraid of such situation. Watch one too many horror movies and they'll be replayed in your mind when the situation is bad. Creaks and thumps were heard before a sudden jolt throws Diana to the posterior wall.

Ifkar stabilized himself by holding the handrails. "You okay ?", he inspected his frightened wife. She nodded vigorously.

The elevator suddenly opens at level 2. Diana shot out like a bat on fire. Ifkar followed suit. The door closed. Then the display on top of the entrance showed out of service. Ifkar and Diana breathe relieving sighs. That's kinda scary.

They took another elevator but this time, Diana stand close to Ifkar and was holding the handrails tightly preparing for perhaps another bumpy ride. To their relief, nothing happened and they got home safely. Perhaps not too safe because that night, Diana went to sleep next to Ifkar holding his hand, afraid of being alone.

They reported the incident to the management the next day and repair work is ensued.

Author's note:

Two updates in a day. Haa take that ! You're not mad anymore aite ? I'll keep on writing and update soon.

Your diarrhoeic writer,
Aina.