Chapter 70 - Lunch

At lunchtime, Angeline actually came to Bryan's office. Bryan was visibly happy about Angeline's arrival. "You came?" Bryan asked as he hugged Angeline and led her to the couch. "Of course, I told you I would," Angeline replied, pulling out her lunch box. "Is this our lunch?" Bryan asked and Angeline nodded. Bryan, eager to know, opened the lunch box. Angeline had prepared lunch for Bryan, with rice arranged to resemble Bryan's face. She also prepared rice decorated to look like her own face. Angeline offered him the rice shaped like Bryan's face. "Did you make all this?" Bryan asked. "Yes, do you like it?" Angeline inquired. "I like everything you make, but why don't we just exchange the rice?" Bryan suggested. "Why?" Angeline asked. "It feels weird to eat my own face. It's kind of creepy. So I'll eat you instead," Bryan joked. "Isn't that even weirder?" Angeline asked. "What's weird about it? Ah... could it be that Angeline is thinking something naughty?" Bryan teased, laughing. Angeline quickly shook her head and finally agreed to Bryan's idea. "No, let's just swap!" Angeline traded the box of rice with Bryan's face on it for the one with Bryan's face on the rice. "I'm going to start with Angeline's nose. Angeline's sharp and sweet nose," Bryan said, making Angeline blush. As Bryan took a bite of the carrot representing Angeline's miniature nose and chewed on it, he mumbled that it tasted very sweet. Then Bryan looked at Angeline, his eyes fixed on her little lips. He looked at her with mixed emotions in his heart. He started to move his face closer, as if he wanted to kiss Angeline. But finally he snapped out of it and stopped. "I'm going to eat the shape of those lips now. I'm going to savor them," Bryan said, regaining control. "But it seems like you're changing. Are you always this aggressive?" Bryan asked. "No, didn't you tell me not to be a post-it girl anymore? Now I just want to be a strong mother for the universe." "Just a strong mother to the universe? Not a super glue? You should be super glue too," Bryan said, laughing. Angeline smiled and they continued to eat together. After they finished eating, Bryan returned to his desk because he had to send an email to a client. "Sorry, Angeline, just a minute. I have to send this document," Bryan said apologetically. Angeline smiled and walked over to Bryan. She wiped the sweat from Bryan's brow with her handkerchief. Bryan enjoyed the gesture. "Aren't you tired?" Angeline asked. "Of course not," Bryan replied. Angeline started to walk away, but Bryan stood up and pulled her waist closer to him. Angeline was surprised but pleased. "Don't you know how strong I am? Am I tired just from this work? What about other activities?" Bryan said with eyes that sparkled even more. His words clearly hinted at something more intimate, but Angeline was too innocent to understand, so she just smiled. "Mr. President, there are some documents that need your signature," Bryan's secretary thankfully arrived and saved Angeline from Bryan's advances. They both quickly distanced themselves awkwardly. Angeline was embarrassed by what Bryan had done to her. Their intimacy was too much for Bryan's staff to witness. "Ah, where are you?" Bryan asked as he took the document and signed it. Bryan wanted to drop Angeline off before returning to work, but Angeline refused. "I can take you home and come back here," Bryan insisted. "I can go home alone. You don't have to worry," Angeline said as she prepared to call a cab. Then a car pulled up in front of them. "Angeline, do you need a ride?" Alex asked, apparently from inside the car. "Oh, Alex, why did you stop?" Angeline asked, surprised. "I was just passing by and saw you. I'm also going to the cafe, and it's in the same direction as your house. Would you like a ride with me?" Alex offered Angeline a ride. "No need," Bryan protested. Angeline smiled at Bryan's childish behavior. "Why do you object?" "Why do you have to be the one to take her? Angeline can take a cab, right?" "Oh, come on, no need to argue. I'll go home with you; I think it's a good idea. Besides, you're going to the cafe, so I can join you," Angeline said and got into Alex's car. Unexpectedly, Angeline accepted Alex's offer to go home together. "But," Bryan mumbled, wanting to object but not being able to refuse. "See you at home," Angeline said, and Alex smiled broadly as he drove away, leaving Bryan behind. Throughout the trip, Angeline looked melancholy. Alex kept looking at Angeline as if she was worried about something. "Angeline, is something troubling you?" Alex asked worriedly. "Oh no, I just have to go somewhere." "Oh, in that case I'll take you there, just tell me where you want to go." "Really? Could you please drop her off in that area?" And Angeline arrived at her destination. A luxurious cafe in the city center, where Sera was already waiting for her. It turned out that her earlier sadness, anxiety and uneasiness were because Sera had invited Angeline to meet, to talk face to face. "I know you must be surprised that I invited you out of the blue," Sera said after Angeline had sat down. "Yes, a little. But it's okay, because I wanted to meet you too, Sera." "Angeline... do you love Bryan?" Angeline was shocked by the question. Her fingers intertwined, trying to calm the nervousness in her heart. How should she answer this question? Could she admit that she was beginning to love Bryan? "Hmm, why are you asking me that?" Angeline replied. "The last time I met Bryan, he said he felt responsible for you. He said he had to be with you because you're the mother of his child. I didn't realize it then, but now I've thought about it and I still don't understand. Married couples who are together only out of a sense of responsibility for a child, how can such a relationship work and last? There's no love between you. Is it not a problem for you to live like this? If I were you, I would hate it and suffer a lot. I think Bryan feels the same way." Angeline could only bow her head and hold back the tears. Everything Sera had said was true. But she didn't hate Bryan. In fact, she was beginning to love him. In all her time with Bryan, he had never made her suffer. But she also had to remember that what Sera said might be true. Bryan might suffer with her. With a woman he didn't love at all. Yes, that might be what Bryan felt now, behind all his sweet gestures. Behind all his warmth. And she... she didn't want to make Bryan suffer in her life or even make him hate her.