"You want to go out?" asked Michael who couldn't hide his curiosity. Even though he was very curious, but he tried to act nonchalant, he even looked at his laptop screen and pretended to type something.
Sarah, who was just about to step closer to the door, immediately stopped when she heard Michael's question. She did see Michael sitting in the living room, but she never thought he would greet her because his face looked so serious.
"Yeah, I'm going to see someone," Sarah answered curtly.
After her meeting with Arthur on Monday and they exchanged cell phone numbers, the man kept texting her while occasionally asking her to have lunch together.
At first Sarah thought he was just making small talk, so Sarah turned it down. She also had to go pick up her children, so she didn't have time to spend with Arthur.
However, the man seemed serious enough to take her out to lunch, because for the past four days, in the midst of her conversations with Arthur, he had always asked her to lunch.
In the end, when he had been rejected four times including on Mondays. Arthur changed his offer for dinner, hoping that Sarah wouldn't turn him down this time.
Sarah was finally starting to feel bad for continuing to reject the man. After all, that man was Arthur, her childhood friend. If he was a man she had no relationship with before, Sarah wouldn't feel this bad.
So she accepted the dinner offer. She couldn't have lunch with him because she had to pick up the Twins, but she could make time for the evening when the Twins had gone to bed.
It was possible that Arthur still wanted to catch up with her since they hadn't seen each other in a long time, and in person was better than just texting.
Michael's mouth opened when he heard Sarah's words. So it's true that the woman is going out, but she wants to meet someone?
"Who..."
Before Michael could continue his question, Sarah had already opened the door and disappeared because she didn't want to be late to meet the man.
Michael just sighed when he saw Sarah who had left. His mind began to wonder who the woman would meet.
However, Michael had absolutely no idea. For years, he just knew Sarah's only friend was Steve, but there was no way she would go to see Steve on a time like this.
The man was married, and he was not the father of the twins. So Michael's brain immediately crossed out Steve's name from the person she could meet at this time.
Then… who would she meet?
***
As soon as the cab that brought her arrived at her destination, Sarah hurriedly paid for it and got out of the cab and went straight to the restaurant where she and Arthur would meet.
She was five minutes late from the appointed time, and Sarah felt terrible having to make Arthur wait. Well… she was used to being punctual because of her previous job.
Once inside the restaurant, a waitress immediately approached Sarah and asked how she could help, Sarah then immediately said that she was here with someone, and immediately went in to find someone waiting for her.
It didn't take long for Sarah to find the person she was looking for because the man immediately stood up from his seat waving his hand with a smile when he saw Sarah.
"Thank you," Sarah said with a smile as she approached Arthur and the man pulled out a chair for him.
Arthur just smiled hearing that and immediately sat down in his seat.
"You look beautiful tonight," said Arthur, smiling at Sarah's appearance tonight.
Sarah just replied with a smile. She knew it was just small talk, but it made her feel good.
Arthur then immediately raised his hand, calling the waiter to bring the menu.
"Thank you. I'll call you again when we're done with our orders," Arthur replied politely with a smile.
Sarah, who had been silent for a while, kept her eyes on Arthur in front of her.
Tonight Sarah admits that Arthur looks cool with his long-sleeved shirt rolled up in a quarter, his auburn hair neatly combed, and his glasses that make him look smart.
Sarah couldn't believe that Arthur, the friend who used to help her at the orphanage when she was a kid, had turned into such a cool grown man.
"What do you want to order?" Arthur asked then began to open the menu to see the options. "I heard the steaks here are really good," he continued and quickly showed Sarah the menu when she found it.
Sarah subconsciously nodded when she heard that. To be honest, she had been to this restaurant before.
When Michael wanted to treat the Twins to lunch out, this was the restaurant they went to, and the steak was great.
She wanted to recommend it to Arthur, but somehow it felt awkward if she told the man that she had come here before. So she decided not to tell him.
"That… I'm just gonna order a drink," Sarah said politely.
Arthur, who was reading the menu, immediately raised his head when he heard that.
"Why?" Arthur asked confusedly. "Are you vegan?" he continued trying to guess.
He and Sarah had known each other as children, but it had been years since they had last seen each other. The woman's tastes may change.
Sarah hastily shook her head.
"No, I had dinner the night before."
Arthur's mouth opened when he heard that. This was completely unexpected and he had never experienced anything like this before. He asked Sarah to dinner, but the woman had dinner?
Sarah seemed to be able to see the confused look on Arthur's face.
"I have had dinner with my kids. I could just come to see you because my kids are already asleep," Sarah explained.
"So… even though you had dinner, you still came here because you wanted to see me?" Arthur asked, looking at Sarah holding back a smile.
"Well… you could put it that way," Sarah replied. She had come here because she felt bad for continuing to refuse Arthur's invitation.
A smile immediately appeared on Arthur's face when he heard Sarah's answer. He was happy!
"Then let's order Steak and we ask for an extra plate to share it," said Arthur who had made his decision.
"Eh? You don't have to! I can order a drink and accompany you to eat!" said Sarah, surprised to hear the man's words.
"It's okay. The portion seems too big for me. Let's eat it together," Arthur said with a smile.
He couldn't seem to get Sarah to order food, and he didn't want to eat alone, so sharing his food seemed like the best option at this point.
Sarah only opened her mouth when she saw Arthur who seemed to have made up his mind.
"Can you really do that?" Sarah asked uncertainty.
"We can ask the waiter about that. I think it can be done," replied Arthur confidently.
Sarah just sighed when she saw that, she had forgotten that Arthur was always confident, so confident in himself he could be shameless at times.
What sane person orders one meal, but also asks for an empty plate?
Sarah could only shake her head at Arthur's behavior, and restrained herself from being very embarrassed when Arthur actually asked the waiter that.
"See? We can do it," Arthur said confidently when the waiter had left with their orders.
The man then began to invite Sarah to chat, asking Sarah's current activity.
"I take care of my kids," Sarah replied with a smile.
So far, she hasn't gotten any more interview calls, and she hasn't found a suitable place to work part-time.
Not long after, their order arrived. Once again Sarah was utterly embarrassed when a waiter came up to them with an empty plate and started spilling red wine on their glass
Arthur then began to cut his steak and gave a quarter of his portion onto the empty plate.
"Shall we toast first?" said Arthur raising his glass.
Sarah then lifted hers and let the two glasses meet.
The two then immediately ate their food, Sarah who had not intended to eat, chose to eat because the portions were small, and Arthur smiled seeing the woman eating.
While eating, Arthur occasionally asked about Sarah's story. The conversation seemed smooth, and occasionally Sarah chuckled at Arthur's jokes.
She originally came here because she felt bad always rejecting Arthur, slowly starting to enjoy their time.
***
The car driven by Arthur finally stopped in front of the apartment building where Sarah lived.
"We're here," Arthur muttered under his breath. His tone sounded sad because it meant he and Sarah had to part.
"Yes," Sarah replied with a smile.
The atmosphere suddenly felt awkward in the car.
"I had a great time tonight. How about you?" Arthur asked as he turned to Sarah who was still sitting beside him.
Sarah looked at the man, then nodded her head.
"Me too," Sarah replied with a genuine smile.
It had been a long time since she had gone out and had dinner together like this. Arthur also led the conversation well, and she never felt bored in the slightest tonight.
"I'm glad," Arthur replied with a relieved smile.
The atmosphere in the car became silent again, the two just stared at each other without making a sound.
Suddenly, Arthur slowly leaned his body towards Sarah and his lips landed on her red lips.
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