Having only pure thoughts in mind, Ginny smiled and responded to Alan. "Even if we talk about treating for a meal, it should be me treating you. Not the other way around."
"Huh?" Hearing neither a yes nor no answer, he looked at her with mixed emotions.
"Did you forget? You're the one who helped me find my ring last time. If it weren't for you, I would lose something very precious to me. As a thank you, it should be me treating you to a meal. As for the meal that Lin Que owes me, I was just fooling around when I said it." She waved her hand in a fanning gesture with a smile that showed her top row of teeth and faintly curved lips.
Just like that, he watched her walk to a less crowded corner to not block anyone's path. When she turned around with an indifferent smile, his feet felt like he was super glued to the spot; unable to move a step forward. It was the same feeling he had the other day as well. Mesmerized...or perhaps even moved by her genuine smile.
Watching Ginny approach him, the slowly minimizing gap between them increased the excitement in his drum beating heart; her eyes remained locked to his. "Alan? Are you alright?" She waved her hand in front of his face to drag him out of his dreamland.
She was waiting for him at the corner, but saw him standing in a daze. Worried he might have fallen ill or was in pain, she walked back to where he stood. As she exhaled, her shoulders relaxed. "Hmm? Uhm, Yeah. I'm fine. I was just having some thoughts in my mind," Alan blinked and smiled at her.
"Let's wait for Auntie over there. There are fewer people walking around, so we won't be in anyone's way." She pointed to the corner next to a plant.
"Okay," he followed behind her this time. After some second thoughts, he decided to ask her for her number. "Since you wouldn't accept the free meal because you think you owe me a meal, then how about we exchange numbers? We could go out for two dinner meals. I'll treat you once, and you treat me once."
"Just dinner only? No breakfast or lunch?" She teased as she took out her phone and unlocked it to add his number to the contacts list.
"Any time for any meal." He pulled out his phone to add her number.
"Sure." Just like that he successfully got her number without her noticing a deeper meaning behind his request. As they saved each other's contacts, Alan said, "Oh, I might get you mixed up with another Ginny. How about using a selfie as the contact photo so I could tell it's you?"
"Pfft, then let's take a picture together. This way, it'll be more distinguishable." She opened the beauty photo app from her phone and stood beside him as she aimed the front camera of her phone to fit both of them in the frame. Since she was shorter than him, he extended his hand to hold the phone for her.
"Ready?" He asked.
"Yep! Ready whenever you are." She replied as she smiled towards the camera. Following her bright smile in front of the camera, he also smiled along and took a few pictures. Double-checking the quality of the pictures, Ginny raised three fingers with her index finger and thumb curved to form an "O" shape.
"Sent you the picture by text messages. Oh! Auntie is back." She said as she put away her phone and walked towards Toby.
Toby smiled and said, "I got my phone. Let's go. See you next time, Alan."
Ginny also waved, "Bye Alan!"
"Bye.." he watched as the two of them left to the parking lot. Looking down at his phone, his thumb slid across the picture he received by text. His curved lips reflected from his phone screen as he whispered, "Definitely see you next time."
On Monday morning, Lin Que woke up an hour early to drive to the nearest flower shop by his home, which was located twenty minutes in the opposite direction from where the hospital was located. As he entered, the shop assistant locked her eyes on the potential customer, whose appearance almost blinded her sight under the sunlight that shone on him.
"Sir, how may I assist you today?" Drawing in a steady breath, she gathered her professionalism to greet him with an amiable smile. His pleasant smile perfectly matched with the fresh droplets on the morning delivery of roses in the store.
"Can I get a bouquet of pink carnations?" His sight immediately attracted itself to the protective pink of the pink carnations.
"Of course. Would you like me to wrap it up?" She asked as she presented a few ribbon choices in her hands and gift wraps for him to choose from.
"Sure. It's for visiting a special granny's grave. I'm not sure what color would be suitable for this occasion, so I'll let you be the judge of it." He smiled dazzlingly, almost as moving as the flowers in her hand; similar to miniature pearls of exquisite delicacy, the word, stunning, could not even match its description.
"Yes, right away." She quickly wrapped the bouquet and completed his purchase.
Around eleven, he clocked out of the system and went to pick Lily up. She was already dressed by the time he knocked on her door. After getting used to seeing her in the same colored patient outfit, he almost forgot how beautiful regular outfits looked on her.
Perhaps it was for her grandmother; she wore a long-sleeved cream-colored dress with simple flower embroider designs on the waistband. Seeing Lin Que by the door, she took her purse and phone. "I'm ready to go," she smiled.
"Hold on. It's a bit chilly today. Here, take your jacket with you." He walked into her room and took the denim jacket behind her chair.
"Mm." She replied and followed him to the parking lot. He opened the passenger side first and waited for her to settle before getting into the driver's seat.
Before starting the ride, he took the bouquet from the back of the seat and handed it to her. "Here, hold this, so the flowers won't be squished in the back."
"These are really beautiful. They're fresh too." Taking a close sniff on the flowers, a sense of sorrow showed in her eyes. As if catching her change of emotions, he slowly leaned over towards her side.
Raising her head, she realized that he was getting closer to her. Subconsciously, she squeezed her eyes shut.