LOVE ME A LITTLE MORE (M×M)

10.

Not edited

I have always believed money can buy anything. Food. Clothes. House. People. Entertainment. But money can't buy you happiness, taste, ethics and love.

When Mrs. Claire brought us food, my nose picked up its aroma and my mouth watered. The tomato soup looked beautifully red. The garlic bread looked no less. My eyes followed Mrs. Claire as she served the food on the table.

"It's been very long Alderic brought a guest with him. Flynn was the last person he brought here. You must be special to him. Please enjoy your food, gentlemen. If you need something more, please feel free to call me." Mrs. Claire said and we nodded our head in unison.

"You come here often?" I asked taking my bowl of soup before raising the spoon to taste it.

"Hey, be careful! The soup is steaming hot." Mr. Hudson said, gripping my wrist and my cheeks reddened as I nodded my head, blowing on it.

"And yeah, I do come here often." Mr. Hudson admitted and I nodded my head, tasting the soup.

"Now I know why. This taste amazing. It's been very long I had visited a diner or a restaurant. Especially one as good as this." I said, my eyes rolling back in pleasure as I savours the taste of the tomato soup.

"Not only food, Mr. Roosevelt but also the vibes this place gives me makes me feel home. You see how peaceful this place is even though it's not very silent here. People often come here when they can't sleep and Mrs. Claire's hot soup and a bowl of steaming pasta is a helpful remedy to go back to sleep."

He said and I slowly rolled the pasta in my fork before tasting it. The creamy texture of the pasta only added on the mixture of the red sauce and white sauce. I have cooked pasta many times. But never did the pasta tasted as good as Mrs. Claire's pasta.

Mr. Hudson grinned at the expressions on my face and my face heated up under his gaze. Clearing my throat, I broke a piece of garlic bread and dipped it into the cheese before putting it my mouth.

"Damn, if I knew working overtime would cost me this diner, I'll gladly do overtime every day. Thank you for introducing me to this diner. This place is awesome. I'll bring my parents here one day." I said, taking another sip of the soup and he smiled softly at me, eating his own pasta.

"If you ever wish to dine here, Mr. Roosevelt, call me, I'll gladly take you out here. But please don't overstress yourself with work to enjoy the food here." His words made me choke on my bread. I looked at him wide eyed and he smiled mischievously at me, passing me the tissue papers.

"You look shocked, Mr. Roosevelt. But I am very serious. Next time you wish to dine here, let me know, I'll take you out here." He said, seriously this time and I bit my lips as I felt my fingertips turning cold at his words.

My eyes suddenly looked into his piercing brown eyes and my breath hitched. His eyes were like that of an ocean— deep and neverending. I felt myself losing in the abyss of his brown pools.

Every time I looked at him, he made me realize, beauty is just a word. He gives the meaning to those words. Like an universe, he seemed endless to my eyes. Like a sky, he seemed out of my reach. And I, like a bird wanted to reach out to him. To embrace him in my wings.

But like a dream, he was out of my grasp.

"Your pupils are dilating, Mr. Roosevelt." He said with amusement and I blinked back, blinking my eyes several times to get rid of his carved image in my eyes.

"You're beautiful." I couldn't help but mumble and he laughed softly, throwing his head back and my heart was beating loudly in my chest. With every passing second, my heart was only turning into a hammering instrument.

"You don't get to say that, Mr. Roosevelt. Not with this face of yours." He said and I blushed red. I rubbed my neck, avoiding his eyes as I ate my last piece of pasta.

"You don't have to be humble, Mr. Hudson. Anyways, I'm done. Are you?" I asked, pushing my empty utensils away and he nodded his head, wiping his mouth.

"Butterflies never realize how precious and beautiful their wings are. Butterflies spend their entire lives admiring flowers and mountains but they never realize, they are the real sight. Anyways, I am also done. Do you any of these again? Maybe a bowl of soup again?" He asked me and I shook my head.

I was still in daze at what he had just said. He had called me a butterfly. He called me beautiful. And how subtly he said everything, like he meant every single word of his, made me feel butterflies in my stomach.

"No, I am good. We should just ask for bill now. How do we even call her now?" I asked him and he smiled, pointing at the red button under the table.

"By pressing it. See." He said, pressing the button and within a minute, Mrs. Claire was at our table with her soft smile again.

"Are you gentlemen done? Alderic is our usual customer but you, Sir are my new guest. Did you enjoy your food? Was it worth your time?" She asked, taking our utensils and I nodded my head.

This time I didn't had to fake my smile because my lips genuinely curled up. This was one of the rarest moments where I didn't had to fake my smile but I smiled genuinely just by looking at the person. Mrs. Claire was one of them. She was a very humble lady. Not to mention, a real admirer of the art. I liked such people.

"I regret not knowing this place before, Mrs. Claire. The food was really amazing. I forgot for a while that we were sitting in a diner. It felt like I was eating in home. And not to mention the beauty of your place. It's a shame people spend thousands in restaurants and don't dine here. I'll bring my parents here. They would surely love this place."

"That's very sweet of you, Sir. I hope to see Alderic and you here again. Here's your bill."

"You'll, of course, see us again."

I said, adjusting my glasses and she smiled, her cheeks had turned a bit pink, making me laugh gently as I removed my wallet from my pocket.

"Nonsense. I brought you here. I'll pay." Mr. Hudson said, his eyes sharp, daring me to oppose him and I rolled my eyes at him.

"I know chivalry isn't dead yet, Mr. Hudson. But chivalry doesn't mean you have to pay for the other person too. You understood me back in the restaurant was more than enough for me, Mr. Hudson. Besides, I earn enough to at least afford my own meals." I said with a polite smile and Mr. Hudson laughed, shaking his head at me as he removed his own wallet too.

"As you feel comfortable, Mr. Roosevelt." He said, making me smile as we split our bills.

"And Mrs. Claire," I said, making her look at me with her raised brows and a soft smile. "Your diner is indeed a very beautiful. But I see your diner is in an urgent need of renovation. Some of your walls seem weak to me. If you don't mind, I can visit you later in this week and have a look at your walls and propose a design to renovate it."

Her smile widened as she nodded her head but then her eyes lost its light and a frown replaced her smile.

"But I don't want to lose the memories and hard-work of my ancestors. They designed it so well. Nor do I have much funds to support the renovation. Though I know this place needs some renovation." I smiled at her concern as I stood up to look at her.

"I'm sure we can work something in installments. You can pay me in installments every time you earn from profit. And I'll make sure I don't ruin the touch and art of this place. How does that sound?" I asked and she nodded her head at me with a wide smile.

"You're a really sweet boy, you know. Flynn wasn't as sweet as you. Don't lose this one, Alderic. He's a keeper. I should go now. My other customers are waiting for me. Have a good day, gentlemen." With that Mrs. Claire was out.

My fingers irked to know more about this Flynn. This was the second time Mrs. Claire mentioned him. From her words, it looked like Flynn was Mr. Hudson's boyfriend or husband. Maybe he still loves him.

But the thing that Mr. Hudson brought me here after Flynn made my heart to flip. Do I mean something to him?

"Shall we head back home?" Mr. Hudson asked me and I turned my face to look at him. Just like that? Won't you tell me who Flynn is? Will you leave me in suspense?

"Of course. The sun is also up. I am sure you have patients to look at. And I have a meeting with Mr. Blue— the secretary of mayor, for whom I am working on this project. I hope I can at least get a couple of hours of sleep."

"Don't you think you're neglecting your health a bit too much than you really should? I know work is important but you work like the world would end if you would take a day off." He said, frowning a bit and I laughed at him.

"I don't know about the world but if I took a day off my boss would surely end me. I know it's unhealthy but that's what you get to work for Penny and Cents." I said with a chuckle but he wasn't amused. In fact, his frown only deepened.

"No appreciation is worth your health, Mr. Roosevelt. If your boss will fire you despite of your hard-work, I'm sure this is your sign to resign from this job and look for a new one." He said, opening the passenger door for me and I mumbled a 'thank you'.

"I know. Buy if I would leave Penny and Cents now, my boss will give me a red mark. I can't afford that now. Not when my career is on its prime." I said and he shook his head.

"Where shall I leave you? I need an address, Mr. Roosevelt." He said and I blushed, nodding my head, telling him where I live.