At first sight

Chapter 16

The two rode in silence, listening to the sound of the wind and enjoying the adrenaline rush.  As Evangeline sped up, she adjusted Carl's hands, moving one of them from her shoulder to her waist. Carl got the idea and moved the other hand as well.

They rode along the Melinira river and eventually came to a stop at a night marketplace.

"Have you been to night markets before?" Evangeline asked curiously.

"No, I haven't." Hearing his response, Evangeline immediately took out his mask and replaced it with a black cap, she then grabbed his hand and pulled him into the crowded. Evangeline starts to stuff him with various kind of street food. She watched his expression changed from raising his eyebrow as he ate the delicious food, to him with his brows furrowed as she told him what kind of exotic food she made him ate. The whole time, Carl's ears were filled with the sweet laughter of the beautiful lady in front of him. They eventually sat down on a bench as they watched the street performance.

"You smell different today," Carl asked as he noticed that she did not smell like her usual light floral scent when they rode the bike.

"You know, I was the woman at the bar. I used a different perfume."

Carl was stunned, after awhile, he relaxed and nodded.

"You are sure calm." Evangeline muttered.

Carl chuckled and replied, "You must have your reasons, I won't force you to tell me anything that you feel uncomfortable telling."

That pulled a string in Evangeline's heart, does she really deserve a man like this. She gave him a bitter smile.

"My last relationship ended up pretty badly. I am sorry that I used such tricks on you. Thank you." She mustered her courage and gave him a kiss on his cheek, she then covered her red cheeks with her hands and mumbled, "that's when you should hug me, novice."

Carl quickly digests what she said and embrace her, stroking her hair lightly.

I really hope I am doing the right thing, Rose.

Carl chuckled at her cutesy act, the ‘devil in the office’ just seem like a man who is in love. He thought of his brother, Carl knew that Jerry would probably ask him to pop the question right now, but he knew the timing was not right yet. For her, he is willing to wait.

The two walked side by side along the street of lights, simply enjoying each other’s silent company in a crowded place.

“Steamboat?  Have you tried them?” Evangeline asked excitedly as they walked past a steamboat store. Carl shook his head with a tender smile on his face.  

“Are you still hungry?”

In which Evangeline responded with a pout on her lips.  It was funny how the her weakness is food and his weakness is her.  Carl simply laughed as he grabbed her hand and entered the street side restaurant.  

As the dishes arrived,  Carl remained stoned to his seat observing the bom soup in front of him and the various ingredients Evangeline ordered. He looked around and saw the family beside them placed some of the ingredients in the soup, thus he picked up with food meticulously with his chopsticks and place it carefully in the soup. Evangeline rested her chin on her hand and watched Carl with amuse, when Carl looked up, she immediately burst into a fit of laughter.  

“You need..  hahahah.. need…  to.. wait for the soup..  to hahahaha… boil… before placing…  the.. ingredients … hahahha in.” She was surprised she managed to get the whole sentence out without dying from laughter.  She concluded that Carl couldn't cook, but was surprised that he did not get upset. Instead he waited for the soup to boil with a serious face then place other ingredients in. Evangeline decided that she will made sure Carl fall in love with having steamboat today.