Elisa’s attention wandered, sometimes focusing on the movie, sometimes on the couple in front of her, unable to concentrate anywhere.
Suddenly, everything seemed obscured, as if something had veiled her vision, making it difficult to see clearly.
The woman in the movie was truly pitiful, from innocent infatuation in her youth to the beautiful vows, which had become memories buried deep within her heart.
Stricken with Alzheimer’s, she forgot everyone except the one she loved, only to be rejected by him in the end.
Elisa couldn’t help but immerse herself in the movie’s plot. Her memory was fading, and she had thought medication would help, but remembering was becoming more difficult.
She began to doubt if she, too, was afflicted with Alzheimer’s. If she became like the woman in the movie, would Hamish reject her as well?
Elisa became entangled in uncertainty, her mind spiraling out of control.
“Idiot.” The man beside her suddenly interrupted Elisa’s thoughts, severing the ache in her heart.
As the movie continued, there was a sudden weight on her shoulder. Elisa stiffened, turning to find the man beside her had fallen asleep, leaning on her.
In the darkness, Elisa examined the man’s face in the dim light, more handsome than she had imagined. His first glance stole her breath – chiseled features, deep-set eyes, long eyelashes. Elisa was curious about how he would look when he woke.
Shaking off her reverie, Elisa, feeling a little flushed, patted the man’s arm. “Sir, wake up!”
His eyelashes quivered, but he didn’t wake, grunting softly before slipping into a deeper sleep.
Furrowing her brow, Elisa tried to push him away, but the man slumped into her embrace, catching her off guard.
Elisa stared at him in bewilderment. How could he be so relaxed, even with the armrest between them?
No matter how hard she pushed or called out, she couldn’t wake him. Elisa began to suspect it was intentional.
People around her turned to look at the disturbance, leaving Elisa feeling at a loss.
She dared not make a scene in the cinema, forcing herself to focus on the screen. The movie was three-quarters finished, and there was still half an hour left.
Elisa endured, remaining motionless in her seat. After a few minutes, her phone vibrated in her pocket. She retrieved it with a trembling hand. It was a message from Hamish, asking if she had eaten.
Elisa replied, still watching the movie. Her fingertips trembled uncontrollably due to an old injury, yet she managed to respond with just a few words, taking longer than expected.
After sending the message, she returned her phone to her pocket. Glancing at the screen, she realized the movie was nearing its end, but she couldn’t muster the energy to focus on the specific ending. An hour and ten minutes later, the movie finally concluded.
Elisa sighed in relief. It was the most emotionally draining movie she had ever seen. She didn’t rush to leave, waiting for the people in front to gradually stand and depart. She then shook the man leaning on her.
“Sir, the movie’s over. Wake up!”
The man groggily opened his eyes, their light brown depths hazy, emitting a strange mix of allure and danger.
Yawning, he sat up, stretched, and then turned to Elisa. “Sorry, the movie was so boring I couldn’t help but fall asleep. As an apology, may I invite you to lunch?”
The man was very polite, but Elisa felt an inexplicable aversion to him, not wanting to get too close.
Initially, she had been curious about his eyes, but when he opened them, the sight of his light brown irises seemed to freeze her, subconsciously instilling fear in her, sending shivers down her spine.
Even she didn’t understand why his eyes made her so afraid. Clutching the armrest, she nervously pursed her lips and withdrew her hand quickly.
“No, thank you. I need to go home…” Elisa felt as though he could see right through her, his gaze filled with a piercing intensity. She sensed her mended wounds beginning to ache again.
She even began to hear things, urging her to leave this place, to get away from this man.
Nervously, she bit her lip, pulling her hand away and swiftly walking towards the exit.
Upon stepping outside, she realized it was pouring rain. The mall’s rooftop was made of glass, the rain splattering and forming a continuous cascade. Elisa shivered as she stood in the corridor, unable to escape the chill.
“It’s pouring. You won’t be able to go home,” a familiar voice came from behind her. Elisa turned to see the man from the cinema.
Elisa ignored him, took out her phone, and a trending topic popped up as she connected to the internet.
-Chiwood Rainstorm.
She clicked on the trend, finding several videos posted half an hour ago, showing a terrifying downpour. The rain was so intense that even umbrellas were futile against the wind and rain.
The man stood beside her, watching her browse on her phone, not saying a word, but his smile deepened when he noticed her trembling fingers.
After Elisa put her phone away, the man spoke, “Let’s be friends. I’m Finn Snearl.”
Elisa looked at the hand extended towards her, uncertain whether to shake it or not, while the handsome man beside her attracted many glances.
Elisa sighed inwardly and shook his hand lightly, “Elisa.”
Thankfully, the man let go after a brief shake.
“Miss Powell probably doesn’t have many friends, right?” Finn said with a timely smile, openly studying Elisa’s eyes.
It wasn’t that she had few friends, but rather, she had none. They say when a person reaches a certain level of loneliness, they watch movies alone, go to hot pot restaurants alone, and go to karaoke alone. That was Elisa now-watching movies alone, accustomed to being by herself.
“Now that we know each other’s names, we’re friends. As friends, it’s only natural to get to know each other over a meal, isn’t it?” Finn suggested.
Elisa felt uncomfortable under his gaze, her eyes darting around. Seeing others looking at her, she nodded.
“Okay.”
Finn smiled contentedly, his light brown eyes growing even more mysterious, resembling amber.
It was a popular time for dining, compounded by the rain, which made it impossible to leave, resulting in the restaurant being packed.
Finn strolled confidently beside Elisa, drawing the attention of both men and women as they made their way to an upscale restaurant.
The restaurant’s layout was clearly geared towards couples, with only a few large tables and the rest being exclusively for pairs. Heart-shaped chairs and two red roses adorned each table, with even the napkins fashioned into rose shapes.
Elisa didn’t think much about it until she sat down and noticed something odd.
A waiter approached with the menu, and Elisa immediately noticed a prominent section for couple sets.
Elisa sat across from Finn, watching him skillfully order a few dishes before pushing the menu towards her, asking if she had anything in mind.
Elisa, not one to mince words, was having a meal with a man she had just met, and she wasn’t familiar enough to let him treat her.
So, she suggested splitting the bill. As long as she didn’t feel awkward, then the awkward one wouldn’t be her.
Elisa ordered a few light dishes, asking for her beef to be cooked medium-rare.
“Wine?” Finn inquired.
“No, thank you.” Elisa kept her head low, looking at her phone. Hamish had messaged her again, asking what she had for lunch.
Elisa replied with just two words: “Steak.”
Hamish, concerned about her stomach, was especially cautious about her diet, reminding her to go easy on the pepper.
Propping her chin on her hand, Elisa’s eyes softened as she read the text.
While waiting for the food, Finn, seated across from her, squinted as he studied Elisa. He thought she looked even more beautiful after not seeing her for a few months.
Feeling uneasy under his gaze, Elisa hesitated for a moment before putting down her phone and asking, “Why have you been staring at me?”
Finn put on a mysterious smile and said, “It might be a bit forward, but I want to tell you that I’ve fallen for you.”