Galaksi reached the restaurant with his Uncle. The restaurant was famous for serving local dishes for decades, which were termed 'lost recipes' as these were forgotten. The menu also included the tasty dishes like classic Peking duck, roasted leg of inner Mongolian lamb, rib stick Shaanxi noodles, and many more.
Galaksi entered the private room that had been booked for them. The six-seater table had a green flower vase adorning it. The interior was an elegant mix of both ancient and modern style, just like the menu.
Soon the waiter arrived to take their orders but Galaksi excused himself to leave for the washroom.
On the other side of the restaurant.
Kezla and her best friend Anne entered the restaurant and chose to sit in the open dining area, where many tables were set in a singular luxurious hall.
No sooner had they sat on their chairs than the waiter arrived. He greeted them and handed over the menu cards before leaving them to decide what they wished to eat.
"What do you want to have?" Anne asked as he went through the menu.
"Anything will do! I can't think of hunger. Just order whatever you want."
"Okay!"
"Bestie, I need to go to the washroom," Kezla said.
"Go, then. You're not a little girl anymore. Do I need to hold your hand and guide you to the door?" Anne was still looking at the menu, but she had a teasing smile on her face.
Kezla groaned in disbelief. "Can't you be serious for once?" She asked, frowning.
"Serious? Okay, then, I'll take you there. Get up," Anne said, pretending to prepared to get up.
"You are impossible!" She glared.
"I know." She smiled, delighted after seeing her annoyed expression.
Kezla stood up, stomping her feet as she left for the washroom.
Anne looked at her friend , who was walking away in a fury. She had a pleasant smile on her face and her eyes filled with love and warmth. "Nothing is more fortunate than having a lovely friend, and nothing is more exciting than annoying her," she murmured.
The waiters were shifting things from the trolleys in the corridor Kezla was walking through. They had left a cart at the turn near the washroom, and the briskly walking Kezla, who was cursing her friend, didn't notice the piece of cloth hanging out from the bottom of the stuffed trolley.
Her feet caught the cloth as she took a right turn, making her lose control of herself and bump into someone as she fell forward.
Galaksi, at the same time, was turning to take a left from the washroom, when someone bumped into him. Before he could comprehend further, he fell on the floor.
In the fraction of a second, Galaksi was lying on the floor with Kezla on top of him. She had closed her eyes to brace herself for the pain from the fall, but she was surprised when she landed on a warm and muscular body instead.
She felt her lips touch something soft and opened her eyes. She saw a pair of black eyes staring back at her. For a split second, their lips touched. They remained frozen until Kezla recoiled, realizing that it was close to a kiss. She pushed herself off his body and was about to hurry when she slipped and collided with his body yet again.
"Ah.." Galaksi cried in pain and clutched at her arms tightly.
The cry startled her, and she didn't dare to move. "I-I am sorry. A-are you okay?"
"M-mo...ve....a...w...ay." Galaksi gritted his teeth.
Kezla couldn't make out his words through his painful voice. "What? " she asked, still lying on top of him.
"You are crushing my mother's dream to have grandchildren," he replied, pain evident in his eyes as he pointed downwards. Having answered the question, the man lay his head back down on the ground and groaned out loud.
Horror seized Kezla as she realized something and moved away from his body. Looking down at her legs she understood what exactly she had done to pain the man.
Her leg had hit his crown jewels when she slipped and fell again.
Kezla scrambled up, this time very carefully. Kezla got up as well but kept sitting on the floor, hoping this encounter wouldn't extinguish his mother's wishes.
"I-I am sorry. I didn't do that on purpose. Are you okay?" Kezla was filled with guilt when she saw Galaksi 's painful expression.
Trying to suppress his pain, Galaksi replied, "I am fine."
"But you don't look good. You should see a doctor." Worry seized her.
"No need." Saying Galaksi got up from the floor, supporting himself on the wall beside him.
Kezla's guilt stopped her from worrying less. "Why not? My friend is a doctor, and she is in this restaurant."
Suddenly, she paused for a moment, thinking over what she had said. "B-But she is a cardiologist, not the doctor of... she trailed off, disguising her embarrassment with a cough. "Dummy!" she mumbled to herself. "Think before you speak."
"I told you that I am fine." Galaksi was annoyed but felt slightly better as the pain slowly dissipated away.
"But-"
"Do you want to check it personally? I don't mind it." Galaksi interrupted her as his lips curved up and stared boldly into her eyes.
"W-what?" Her eyes left wide open as she thought, 'You were in pain a moment ago. Now you have shown your true colors, you pervert!'
Being at fault this time, Kezla avoided saying anything useless. "I'll take my leave as you are fine now." Saying she turned towards the washroom.
"Thank you so much for your kindness. I'll make sure to repay it," Galaksi said to her retreating back.
Halting in her tracks, Kezla turned around to ask him what he meant when Galaksi spoke again. "It was a short but sweet kiss. I would like to get another taste of it." His voice was soft as he touched the corner of his lips with his thumb.
"You-"