The New me

"And if we turn around and walk a few more you'll see some publishing companies. Ahh! This here is…" Liam kept introducing me to the place.

I halted my walk as I regulate my breathing. If there was a place to sit then I'd gladly go over even if it's dirty. My feet hurt. We've been walking nonstop and I'm wearing a wedge sandals.

"And the owner of this res…" "Iris?" He finally felt my absence as he looked back at me already seated on a brick seating wall we just walked past.

"Sorry. I did not take your outfit into consideration and just kept wandering."He said after coming up to my side and saw me massaging my foot.

Liam is more matured compared to us even with just one year gap and my little interactions with him during our stay on the island showed how he only speaks when necessary. Today he was like a businessman selling me his products with all the 'this' and 'that'. He was like his mom, Cindy, with his continuous speech when you hit his interest.

"It's fine. Let's just say that walking and my outfit was a bad pair. I'm honestly sorry for being the petty tourist." I said trying to sound cool.

If he were planning to bring me here then he could just drove us around. I can sit and listen while he can introduce the buildings comfortably. Where was his car anyway? When I saw him he was standing not far from me. Don't tell me he used public transportation? Luke can have fancy car and he can't? What kind of contrast is this?

"No. It was my fault. If only I have my car then I could've drove you around and we can reach far more places." He said expressing his regret.

Woah! Can this guy read minds? Is he going to let me know why without even the need to ask aloud?

I moved a little closer as I readied my ears but his phone rang.

"Wait, let me take this." He said as he stood up and walks a few steps away. The call did not take much time as he came back shortly and asked "Where were we?"

We were still on the seating wall with few people walking past us. Some ladies would stop and check out Liam then snort or shrug the moment their eyes land on me.

"Uh, it's not that important" I told him. The right timing for that was gone and so did my interest.

"Ah! I know. We were talking about my car." He said when he remembered the topic. "My dad took it. His car broke down and he doesn't want to use Luke's fancy cars."

'You and your dad only have one car? I've seen Luke driving two cars.'

Good thing that I lost interest early. I was imagining that it was confiscated in some ways because I remember Aunt Cindy saying they weren't as obedient as me. That it was taken as form of punishment but whom am I kidding?

"You lost interest. That's the same face you showed me before." He said as if seeing right through me.

"A ha ha." I faked a laugh as I was guilty. Now it's more awkward.

Liam felt it too as he changed topic by saying, "If your leg's okay now then why don't you join me for lunch?"

I politely nodded as I followed a step behind him.

We went inside an old Chinese restaurant that is settled between two high rising buildings. It has a touch of old Chinese architecture with red lanterns hanging on the outside. The contrasting modern and old-fashioned view makes the restaurant more outstanding.

I declined to dine with him in a private room to avoid any future misunderstandings after all Liam have a girlfriend and she's in entertainment industry. And even with him alone, I can see heads turning.

We sat down on the main dining area and a waiter readily handed the menu and waits for our order. I told Liam that anything's fine with me so he can only cater to his own food preferences.

All areas of the main dining are hung with a decorative pendant or a chandelier that reflects an antique traditional aesthetic with a strong contemporary nature, emphasizing reds, gold and timber to let these tones become the life of the space.

Our food were served and I had to blink a few times to check if I'm seeing right. Aside from the steamed cod fish in soya sauce with black fungus and braised sea cucumber with sarjien oyster and fish maw, the rest were vegetable dishes; bean sprout with garlic, Chinese vegetable with oyster sauce, and some other dishes with tofu.

The corner of my mouth twitched. I want to get up and take a look at the menu if somehow they only offer this type of food but looking at our neighboring tables, that wasn't the case.

This reminds me of that date with Luke. A remarkable guy in a great place and atmosphere but his choices were not to my taste. Did he base it in dharmic concept so I can attain early enlightenment? Is he doing this deliberately?

"Why aren't you eating?" He asked me upon noticing I haven't touched one food.

"I'm just mesmerized with the interior." I told him then pick up the eggplant with Szechuan hot sauce. I can't honestly ask if he was purposely trying to irritate me by giving me veggie meals, right?

But one bite changed my attitude. I would give five stars for those dishes.

Just as we were done eating, Liam saw someone he knew and excused himself from our table. I can't see the guy's face from this angle as Liam was covering him but the eyes of the females around kept darting on them. I guess the guy is also as handsome as Liam because you can see their eyes sparkling.

'Liam my brother, how about you move a little to the side?'

As if he heard me, Liam did move a bit and let me take a peek on the guy.

Both guys were literally shining that the waitress almost accidentally spilled the juice she was serving.