Chapter Twenty-eight: The Two Lines
The savory aroma of garlic sizzling in hot oil drifted into the bedroom, stirring Nathaniel from his sleep. His eyes fluttered open, greeted by the early morning sunlight slipping through the curtains. For a moment, he lay still, allowing the scent to wrap around him like a warm blanket—familiar, comforting, Filipino.
He rubbed his eyes and sat up, stretching lazily before swinging his legs off the bed. The scent was unmistakable now—garlic rice, maybe even fried eggs. And it wasn’t just the food that warmed his chest—it was her.
Slipping out of the room, he followed the smell to the kitchen, where he stopped short at the sight that met him.
Rachel was standing in front of the stove, flipping fried eggs with practiced ease. She was wearing a simple o
