What is happening here?
Tsubaki couldn't even count how many times the same question had popped up inside her head. She glanced at her surroundings. A walking waiter in a neat black and white uniform, couples enjoying their meals and the clinking sound of wine glasses. Unable to take it anymore, she focused her gaze at the man sitting in front of her.
"Mr. Fuse, why are you taking me here?" Tsubaki honestly couldn't understand the man titled as the most eligible bachelor in the city, coveted by the ladies like what Chiyo had told her. He was... unpredictable.
"You haven't eaten, right?" Ren knew why the lady was staring at him like he was the world's most complicated puzzles. "Enjoy your dinner. We could talk business later if that's what you'd prefer."
Tsubaki nodded slowly. She looked down at her steak. As she didn't know what to eat, Mr. Fuse was the one who ordered her dinner. He also opted for a steak. Both of the steaks were medium well. Tsubaki didn't know Ren had chosen it because that was what she preferred. She just stayed quiet when the waiter came to take their orders.
"Here. Take this."
Ren swapped his plate with Tsubaki's. He had cut the steak into tiny pieces. Tsubaki was flustered with his gesture but she accepted his offer nonetheless. She silently ate her meal.
As Ren needed to drive and Tsubaki wasn't fond of alcoholic beverages, he ordered two club soda with lime for both of them. He smiled seeing the faint blush on her cheeks. He knew his little actions had stirred her heart.
"Mr. Fuse, do you want me to make some of your grandmother's favourite sweets?" Tsubaki asked once she finished half of her plate.
Ren took a napkin and wiped the corner of his mouth. It seemed like Tsubaki couldn't bear to stay in silence any longer. So he just went along with her.
"I want you to make three of her favourite sweets and another three suitable for younger people."
"Most of the guests should be around Matriarch Fuse's age, right?" guessed Tsubaki.
"Yes. Most of them are her friends."
"Do you know her favourite sweets?" Tsubaki took out her notebook from her bag. Even though it seemed improper considering the restaurant's atmosphere but she couldn't stop herself from writing down any important information.
Ren kept quiet for a bit, trying to remember which sweets his grandmother loved to eat. "Pecan pies, natural molasses cookies and apple muffins. Or you could make gingerbread cakes and walnut snowball cookies."
Actually, his grandmother didn't have her absolute favourite sweets. As long as they tasted good, she would finish them without even batting an eyelid, making her personal doctor nagging at her continuously. He just muttered some sweets he knew the name of.
"Those indeed what the elders usually have." Tsubaki wrote down all the suggestions. "As for the younger guests, do you have any suggestion? Or do you want me to make the final decision?"
"I don't mind, as long as you include the hummingbird cakes in your list."
Tsubaki giggled hearing what he had said. "You sure are fond of them. Do you have a reason why?"
Ren smiled mysteriously. "It just became my favourite. Till now."
Tsubaki nodded in understanding. The man in front of her clearly had a reason on why he loved the particular cake but she didn't want to probe in any further. It might be something personal.
Afterward, they finished their meal in silence. A beautiful piece accompanied them, being played by a pianist. It wasn't an awkward silence. It was as if both of them enjoyed each other company without the need to verbally expressed anything.
While Ren had long been familiar with the warmth enveloping his heart just by having her near him, Tsubaki was still questioning herself. The way her mind and body reacted even to his slightest smile confusing her. It was as if she had known him before.
Who is he?
Once their plates were cleared, Ren ordered the waiter to bring in the desserts. The young man served two plates of vanilla panna cotta. The red of the dripping raspberry sauce against the white pudding glistening under the chandelier. Tsubaki was in awe. She had made this Italian dessert before but she was still mesmerised with the way it was being presented to her.
It was obviously crafted by a top pâtissier!
"Please, help yourself." Ren could't help but smile when he saw the way her face brightened up at the sight of the dessert.
"Thank you." Tsubaki smiled sheepishly.
She spooned the pudding and carefully popped it into her mouth. Closing her eyes, she indulged in the sweet and savoury taste that had started to melt inside her mouth and burst its flavours, making her giddy in excitement.
It was totally exquisite!
Tsubaki opened her eyes and met a pair of gentle dark eyes. She instinctively covered her lips, her cheeks reddening. Ren chuckled at the sight of her adorable face.
"Do you like it?"
Tsubaki nodded meekly. "I've never tasted such a delicious panna cotta before. Mine is still miles away before I could reach this level."
Ren smiled in satisfaction, pleased with himself because he could make her looked so happy over something so simple like this little dessert.
"As long as you want it, I'd bring even the world's rarest dessert for you."
Tsubaki blinked, her smile frozed on her face. Her already blushing cheeks reddened to the darkest shade of red.
Did he just openly flirted with me?