Chapter 40: Episode 40

Chapter 40

“What is it…” Emeli mumbled while smiling shyly.

Aric chuckled softly at her reaction. “I’m serious.”

“You still love teasing me. So annoying,” Emeli said as she pinched Aric’s stomach.

Aric laughed quietly. “Because only with you can I be like this.”

That sentence made Emeli fall silent for a moment. Her gaze slowly lowered to the grass beneath their feet. Somehow, being near Aric always made everything feel calmer. There was no pressure. No fear of saying the wrong thing.

Aric stood up first, then held his hand out toward her. “Come on.”

“Where are we going?” Emeli asked.

“There’s a place I want to show you.”

Emeli stared at his hand for a few seconds before finally accepting it. Aric’s fingers were warm. So warm that it made her chest feel strange.

“So mysterious,” Emeli mumbled softly.

“If I tell you now, it won’t be fun anymore.”

They walked out of the park while chatting lightly. Several times, Aric adjusted his pace so Emeli would not be left behind. The city night felt comfortable enough. The air was not too cold, while the streets were still crowded with vehicles and city lights.

About fifteen minutes later, Aric’s car stopped in front of a small restaurant with an indoor garden concept. Even from outside, the atmosphere already looked warm. Golden hanging lights decorated the large glass area in front of the restaurant.

Emeli stared at the place for quite a while. “Wow, it’s so beautiful…”

Aric smiled faintly. “Do you like it?”

“I really do. This must be expensive, right?”

“What matters is that you like it.”

Aric got out first and opened the car door for Emeli. The moment they entered the restaurant, Emeli was instantly amazed. The indoor area was filled with small green plants in every corner, tiny candles on each table, and soft instrumental music that made the atmosphere feel incredibly cozy.

Several couples were enjoying their dinner while talking quietly.

But Emeli’s attention immediately fell on a table near the large window. There were already small white flowers and neatly lit candles there.

“Aric…” she said softly.

“I reserved this place since this afternoon.”

Emeli turned to him in disbelief. “You prepared all of this?”

Aric pulled out a chair for her while smiling casually. “There’s no way I’d take you on an ordinary date.”

“This is too much, Aric…”

“But you’re happy, right?”

Emeli did not answer immediately. But the sparkle in her eyes was already enough to explain everything.

After they sat down, the waiter came over with the menu. However, Emeli’s attention kept wandering around the restaurant.

“This is my first time going to a place like this,” she admitted honestly.

Aric looked at her softly. “That’s why I wanted to bring you here.”

“Why?” Emeli asked curiously.

“Because back when we were dating…” Aric smiled faintly. “I was too busy being a medical student.”

Emeli immediately laughed softly. “You’re exaggerating.”

“I’m serious. Back then, let alone taking you to a romantic restaurant, even treating you to escargot required me to save up.”

“That was still fun.”

Aric fell silent for a few seconds while staring at Emeli’s face a little longer.

“Emeli.”

“Hmm?”

Slowly, the man took both of Emeli’s hands on top of the table. His touch was gentle, not forceful.

“I still love you.”

Emeli’s breath immediately caught.

“I know maybe our relationship can’t go back to the way it used to be,” Aric continued softly. “But my feelings for you never truly disappeared.”

Emeli’s eyes slowly warmed. Those words were too honest for her to simply ignore.

“I…” her voice became quieter. “I also can’t accept you as just a friend. I can’t only see you as a friend.”

Aric smiled faintly, but there was sadness in his eyes.

The next second, Emeli stood up and hugged Aric tightly.

“I’m sorry…” she whispered softly.

Aric slowly returned the hug while gently stroking Emeli’s hair. “You don’t need to apologize.”

Emeli closed her eyes for a moment. Being in Aric’s embrace felt incredibly comforting. There was no pressure like when she was with Ken. Aric always made her feel safe.

“If only everything wasn’t this complicated now…” Emeli murmured softly.

Aric smiled faintly above her head. “I’m still grateful that I can meet you again.”

Slowly, they let go of the embrace. Their gazes met for quite a while until Emeli became flustered again.

Luckily, the atmosphere changed when romantic music began playing more clearly from the center of the room.

A pianist had started playing a soft melody that made the restaurant feel even warmer.

Aric immediately stood up and extended his hand once again. “Want to dance?”

Emeli instantly widened her eyes. “I can’t dance.”

“You definitely can.”

“I’ll step on your feet later.”

“I’m a doctor. My feet are strong.”

Emeli laughed softly before finally accepting Aric’s hand again.

A small area in the center of the room had indeed been prepared for couples to dance. The lights there were slightly dimmer, making the atmosphere feel even more intimate.

Aric gently pulled Emeli closer. One of his hands rested on Emeli’s waist, while the other held her fingers.

“Relax,” he said softly.

“I’m nervous…”

“Just look at me.”

Slowly, Emeli lifted her face. Aric’s gaze was so calm that her heartbeat gradually slowed down as well.

They began moving along with the music. Aric’s steps were slow and patient, as if he was intentionally adjusting himself to Emeli, who was still awkward.

“There, like that,” Aric said gently. “You learn pretty quickly.”

“Because my partner is teaching me.”

Aric smiled faintly. “That means I’m great.”

Emeli snorted softly while laughing quietly.

The longer it went on, the more relaxed her body became. Her fingers, which had been tense at first, slowly loosened in Aric’s grasp. The music continued to flow softly while they moved slowly beneath the warm lights.

The cream-colored dress Emeli wore swayed gently every time she spun slightly following Aric’s lead. Her loose hair also moved softly, occasionally brushing against the man’s hand.

“You look beautiful tonight,” Aric suddenly said.

Emeli’s face immediately turned red. “Don’t start again.”

“I’m telling the truth.”

“You’re making me embarrassed.”

Emeli lightly hit Aric’s shoulder. “So annoying.”

But her smile did not fade even a little.

After the dance ended, they returned to their seats for dinner. The dishes arrived one by one. Their conversation also became more relaxed. They talked about their college days, funny patients Aric had once treated, and Emeli’s bad habit of falling asleep in the library.

Emeli snorted softly while putting a small piece of steak into her mouth. But a few seconds later, Aric suddenly stared at her for quite a while.

“What?” Emeli asked in confusion.

Aric held back a faint smile. “You eat messily.”

“Huh?”

Slowly, the man lifted his hand and wiped the corner of Emeli’s lips with his thumb.

“There’s sauce.”

That small gesture instantly made Emeli fall silent.

Aric’s gaze changed slightly as well. Emeli’s lips looked so close now. Too close, to the point that his throat suddenly felt dry.

The man swallowed hard.

Honestly, he wanted to kiss Emeli right now.

But Aric quickly looked away and pulled his hand back.

“Eat slowly,” he finally said while pretending to focus on his own food.

Emeli, who noticed the change, immediately became flustered herself. “Okay…”

After dinner was over, they walked out toward the small garden behind the restaurant. The area was much quieter. Wide green grass stretched beneath small garden lights placed around the corners.

Aric spread his jacket over the grass before lying down casually.

“Come here.”

Emeli lay down beside him while staring at the night sky filled with faint stars.

The atmosphere remained peaceful for several minutes until Aric finally spoke softly.

“There’s actually someone I hate.”

Emeli turned slightly toward him. “Who?”

“My uncle.”

Aric’s tone became colder than usual.

“He’s the reason my father died.”

Emeli immediately frowned slightly. “Are you sure?”

Aric laughed bitterly. “My family believes so.”

“But do you believe it yourself?”

Aric fell silent for a few seconds.

“I don’t know,” he finally answered honestly. “But every time I see him, I get angry.”

Emeli looked back at the sky before speaking softly, “Don’t blame someone carelessly before knowing everything.”

Aric slowly turned toward her.

“What if it’s just a misunderstanding,” Emeli continued gently. “Sometimes reality isn’t always the same as what we hear.”

Aric stayed silent for quite a while after hearing that.

Strangely.

The tightness that usually filled his chest every time he talked about his family suddenly felt a little lighter tonight.

Maybe because the one listening to him was Emeli.