Purple Romance

Paula stood at the side and watched as Andy made her pancakes. The aroma took over the kitchen and her stomach rummaged loudly. She placed her hands over her stomach and smiled apologetically.

''Is it alright for you to do all this for me? I feel so apologetic''

''You are our esteemed guest. I have to do this much so that you wouldn't give us a bad review on your return'' Andy said as he fetched the paste into the frying pan. He had a black apron on and had rolled his sleeves up.

''I wouldn't give you a bad review just because of that, but, it's good to see that you are doing this for your guest. Would you have done this for any other guest too?''

''No!!'' he said flatly and turned to look at her, ''I am only doing this because it is you''

Paula blushed and her heartbeat quickened. She looked away and pursed her lips. Andy smiled when he saw how her cheeks had turned crimson.

''There is milk in the fridge over there, bring it. I will warm it for you to drink with the pancakes''

''Oh'' Paula nodded and went to get the milk. When she turned away, he looked at her and smiled.

Paula returned with the paper milk and placed it on the kitchen table before looking at the pancake that he had turned.

''I haven't had those in years''

''Pancakes?''

''Yes. They used to be a constant in my family until my father passed away and we stopped eating them''

''Your father is late for how long now?''

''En, about ten years ago''

''I'm sorry about that''

''It's alright. I still have my mom, though I don't have the best relationship with her''

''I have my mother but she remarried a Chinese man and is living in Taiwan with him and her third child, a girl''

''Whoa'' Paula smiled.

''You can laugh if you want to. My mom is quite eccentric''

''I can relate with eccentric. My best friend Lisa is a true definition of eccentric''

''Right, about Lisa. I heard from Leslie about their arrangement''

''Yes, I don't know what to feel about that. It's weird but it's Lisa we are talking about''

''My brother can be a jerk to women sometimes but I feel that he and your friend have a connection''

''I just hope none of them gets hurt in the end. Arrangement like this never ends well. It's almost like there is a destination ahead that reads ''shipwreck'' she chuckled.

''You are right. We will just have to wait and see. By the way, I want you to accompany me somewhere next week''

''Where?''

''A friend's wedding. Actually, the friend of a friend. He is someone I want to work with and he has personally invited me to his wedding''

''You want me to go with you? Are you sure about that?''

''100%, there is no other person I would go there with than you''

''Okay, then I will go with you. I am a certified NEET and don't have much going on anyways''

''A certified NEET? This is the first time I am hearing someone say that word rather so confidently''

''Can't blame me. I still haven't finished spending my inheritance''

''Right, that inheritance'' they both chuckled. ''You should think of loaning it to me. I could make a lot out of it for you''

''No, I was actually thinking of cashing the entire amount out and then spreading them on my bed and then lie on it at night. Just to let the smell of the dollar bills take over my room for a week before I take it back to the bank and then invest all of it. I plan to look for a job after this tour''

Andy turned off the burner and looked at her. ''Can you repeat what you just said?''

''Which one, I said a lot of things''

''The part that you are redrawing the money?''

''Well, I said I was actually thinking of cashing the entire amount out and then spreading them on my bed and then lie on it at night. Just to let the smell of the dollar bills take over my room for a week before I take it back to the bank and then invest all of it''

''You are one crazy woman'' he said and laughed.

''I actually meant that as a joke''

''You totally got me there''

''I wouldn't be so crazy to redraw the entire money out. What if I get robbed on the way?''

''How about you put it to good use?'' he asked and picked the plate of pancakes, ''take the milk and let's go''

They went to the employees dining table and sat across each other.

''What kind of good use? Don't tell me to give it to charity because I am an orphan too, a NEET orphan at that''

''None of that'' he chuckled and pushed the plate towards her, 'eat while we chat''

''Are you not going to eat?''

''No, not really hungry. I will just have the milk'' he took the glass and drunk some of the milk from it. Paula flushed and pretended not to see it. That was the only glass of milk and he just drunk from it. did it mean they would be sharing an indirect kiss if she drinks it afterwards? The idea made her cheeks to redden.

''A gaming company is offering a few stocks for sale. They are looking for investors and I read their business plan. It will bring you a lot of money if you invested in it''

''But, are you not going to also invest in it?''

''I will but it won't be bad to let you in on some of the money?''

''What if it bounces? Who is going to give me back my money?''

''I will give you back your money?''

''Really? because I will haunt you for dear life''

''Or you could just use that as your dowry if I can pay you back''

''Huh?''

''Eat'' he said and smiled.

Paula swore she saw a sincere look in his eyes when he said that, but she didn't know if she believed it or not. She decided not to think further about it and eat the pancakes in front of her. She started devouring the food.

Andy watched her and smiled. He didn't know why he suddenly said that but he knew he was serious at that moment, but he didn't know if she was ready for him yet. He wasn't someone who slowed down in his relationships. He wasn't someone who did slow burn romance. So, he was cautious not to scare her.

The table turned silent with none of them speaking. Paula hurriedly finished her meal and helped him to wash the dishes before they went to the lobby.

Andy walked her to her room. They walked side by side silently but none felt bored. It was the kind of silence that made them feel even closer to each other without speaking.

When they reached Paula's room, she opened the door and turned to face him, ''so, we are here, at my door step?'' she said and blushed.

''Go in and rest well. we will be going on our last place of the tour before we leave later in the day''

''Sure, you too. Thank you for the pancakes''

''You are welcome. If you want to eat pancakes anytime, just let me know. I will make them for you''

''En, good night'' Paula turned to go in and held a touch on her little pinkie finger and her body tensed up. She turned slowly to face him and he leaned closer and pecked her forehead lightly.

''Good night'' he said and walked away.

Paula stood frozen on the spot for a long while even when he was long gone. She looked at her pinkie finger and touched her forehead. She felt tickles and flushed getting inside hurriedly. One thing was clear. She wasn't going to have a good night because she was going to be reliving that moment for dear life.

….

Andy chuckled and shook his head as she stood in front of his room, ''you are so crazy, Andy'' he couldn't believe he just did that. It was something he had wanted to do for a while but never got the courage but now he just did it. His face turned red just thinking about that moment. He inserted the key and realised the door was opened and he frowned.

He went inside and saw Betty sitting down. this time she was well clothed, but Andy didn't look that pleased to see her at all. He frowned and asked her, ''what are you doing here, Betty?''

''Andy I couldn't sleep so I decided to come and wait. But, I don't have any plans up my sleeves. I just wanted to talk that's all''

''Why couldn't you sleep?'' Andy sat on the bed, far from her.

''While I was having dinner with uncle yesterday he told me something?''

''What did he say?''

''He said he wished that you settle down and give him a grandchild''

Purplebride's corner.

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