You and I, Wolf

Chapter 8

Luke could not take his eyes off of her, watching her closely as she started with her food. He watched her mannerisms, and found it cute every time she would glance away when he caught her staring at him.

“How do you do that?” he asked, narrowing his eyes.

“Which one?” she curiously asked, wrinkling her forehead as her confusion grew even more stronger.

“Being lovely,” he quickly replied.

“Stop that!” she sneered, rolling her eyes at him. “I know what you are trying to do.”

“I am not doing anything,” he quickly answered.

“You are trying to win me over so you can take advantage of me,”

“Are you kidding me? I am not like that! If I want to take advantage of you, I could have done it earlier this morning when you were at my apartment.”

Veena picked up the irritation at his tone, and she felt she needed to apologize to him for her remarks. “I am sorry, Luke,” she humbly stated.

“That's fine, but I want to tell you that my intention of getting to know more about you is pure. Just give me a chance and suspend your judgments, Veena.”

“I think we should enjoy this time, Luke.”

“I think so, but I suggest that you loosen up a bit. You look really nervous, I am not going to bite you,” he quipped, trying to lighten the mood.

“You are right, I just can't believe that I am actually having dinner with you right now.”

“It's me that should be telling you that, I wasn't expecting that you would accept my invitation, Veena.”

“Ms. Ami thinks that you are a good guy.”

“Oh really, I guess I really am. I haven't killed anyone and I am not planning on harming anyone, to be honest. Look, I am very happy right now, and my heart feels so filled. Thank you, Veena.”

“This steak is so good, “ she uttered.

“You can try some of their other food, if you are still hungry.”

“Oh, I am already full. Do you think they serve tea?”

“I know a good cafe that serves good coffee and tea, do you want to check it out?”

“Maybe some other time, Luke. It's already past 9, and I didn't even notice the time.”

“Me too, Veena. I could only wish for this night to stay longer. I wish I could have more dinners with you.”

“That would be very costly,” she said to him. “I am willing to have another dinner with you again, but you have to let me pay. The thing is, I can surely not afford this restaurant.”

“That is so sweet of you, Veena. I can't wait for that time to come, honestly.”

“Mind you, I only spend 50 baht daily, anything more than that would surely make me go hungry on the following days.”

“You are just so pure, Veena, do you know that?”

“I am ignorant, I think that's the best term to describe me,” she stated.

“No, I disagree,” he hissed, furrowing his eyebrows. “There's just so much that you have yet to know, Veena.”

“Why did you choose to be a humanitarian here in my country?”

“That's a good question! Now we are talking,” he quickly stated. “I just feel like the world needs help from time to time, and I also think that I can make use of my free time to share kindness.”

"Does it pay well?”

“No, I am just a volunteer,’” he answered. “I get to travel for free, get free meals, and discover places I didn't know that exist.”

“How do you afford to live without being paid?’’

“Trade, stocks, something like those,” he answered.

“I have read about those before, but I couldn't figure out how it really works.”

“I can teach you, if you want,” he offered, his tone suggesting willingness and authenticity.

“What does your country look like?”

“It's a very huge country, and each state varies. Different cultures, different accents, and different people. Unlike here in Thailand where everyone seemed to know each other, my country feels like a home for strangers.”

“Is that the reason why you decided to move here?”

“That's one of the reasons, Veena,” he sighed., blowing some air to let go of some tension inside his heart. “How was your life back in the orphanage?”

“Sad, but I believe I have some happy memories as well. I was brought there when I was just a year old. I don't know much about my parents and my past, and I was taught to actually focus on what I currently have and prepare myself for what's to come.”

“You have a very nice perspective in life, Veena.”

“I just can't let my painful past haunt me for the rest of my life, Luke. You know what was the hardest part of living in an orphanage?’

“No, will you tell me about it?”

“Seeing kids being adopted, while you were left there asking yourself why they didn't choose you.”

Luke saw the tears that were about to fall from her eyes. He grabbed a piece of napkin and handed it to her. Veena pursed her lips and wrinkled her nose, as if trying to control the tears from falling.

“I am sorry, let's not talk about it if it doesn't make you feel comfortable,” Luke worriedly suggested.

“No, it's fine! I have a very positive outlook in life, Luke. Maybe there is something else for me, and even if luck doesn't seem to favor me, I chose to remain hopeful.”

“Bless your beautiful heart, Veena.”

“How old are you now?”

“This is so embarrassing to tell, but I think your age is half of mine,” he answered.

“You're 36, am I correct?”

“Just 4 years younger than that,” he smiled, then he cleared his throat. “I think I am old enough to be your uncle.”

“Thirty two never looked that young, I guess,” she sweetly uttered, staring at Luke's eyes that were glistening along with his wide smile .

“Thank you, I am going to take that compliment only because it came from you,” he softly said. “Stop staring at me like that, Veena.’

“I am sorry, I just found your eyes so beautiful and enthralling,” she replied, keeping a steady stare at his face.

“Yours are even more beautiful, Veena.”

“I really had an awesome time with you, Luke, but I think I better go home now. I am already tired and sleepy, you know that I got up early this morning to get to your apartment.”

“I know, that's why I really appreciate you going out with me tonight. Let me just settle the bill, and I will take you home right after.”

“I can just take a tuk-tuk,” she muttered

“I picked you up, so I must bring you back. I also made a promise to Ms. Ami that I am driving you home tonight, so don't even think of saying no to that.”

Veena smiled, and Luke caught her doing that. “Is that a sarcastic smile?”

“Sorry, I just found your dominance a little too cute for me,” she replied.

“I am not being dominant here, I am just fulfilling my promise to your guardian. If there's someone else, aside from you, that I don't want to disappoint—-it’s probably Ms. Ami.”

“I can already imagine her asking me about this dinner when I get to work tomorrow,” she stated.

“I am not going to stop you from telling her everything,” he mouthed.

“Shall we go now, Luke?”

Luke hesitated to hold her hand as they walked, but they were walking side by side, and Luke noticed that Veena seemed more relaxed at that time already. He opened the car's door for her, and Veena had already fastened her seatbelt by the time that Luke got in.