Mark was sitting on a chilly tile floor with a takeaway dish in front of him for the first time.
In stark contrast to his customary formal dining habits, the air was filled with the subtle aroma of spicy noodles and sweet-and-sour sauce, creating a cozy mood.
He took a disposable wooden chopstick and began eating without feeling disappointed.
He felt a serenity wash over him as he stared at Joan. She sat across from him, savoring every bite and chattering incessantly, entirely in the zone.
Her first hesitations appeared to have disappeared, and Mark could tell she had finally begun to let her guard down around him.
The tension that had previously been between them had disappeared, leaving behind a genuine connection that filled the room with ease.
Although Mark could sense she was hiding something, she had informed him about some of her early childhood memories.
