Chapter 2

Chapter 2 Her House

"Have a sandwich a few bites before leaving?" Lina offered her friend a rest before moving forth. "Thanks, that's a good idea. I am so tired; a ten-minute break will help a lot." She said softly, trying to reassure that she was not going to load her friend another weight breaking her frustration. Giving a few more breaths to her late friend to inhale, she excused herself to the rest room. Restoring herself to soundness, her eyes happened to bump into a strange man in front of her, Vanna started to wonder. A tall, handsome guy sharing a table with Lina? That is likely questionable, she watched him again and again from his head to his hands lying on the table, and his mouth busily biting his sandwich. So doubt, but was not brave enough to ask before Lina coming back. She drank her coffee Latin, but kept her eye on her opposite seat’s stranger. Her brown big eyes rolling up and down as she moved her beautiful charming face anxiously. In her 21 years old, Vanna was very attractive with big brown eyes, long nose, natural pink lips and long black glossy hair; she was about 163 cm a bit taller than the average height of Cambodian women, but still shorter than her girlfriend. Honestly, no one could refuse to see such a beautiful scene while it came so closely to them. Vichear, while biting his sandwich and drinking his coffee to the last drip, tried not to look at her now and then; he could see the differences between the two women he had just met at the last hour. One looked reserved, while the other was cheerful; however, as long as he had observed so far, the two shared a common friendly character. "You must be Lina's friend.” Surprised at this question, Vanna blurted out what lingered her mind for the last few minutes, “Who are you? What are you doing here with Lina?” He showed his big grin, made his interlocutor thought like what on earth he was grinning about, for awhile. Is it the air of depravity or arrogance? Hope so, Vanna thought alone. “I am Vichear, just known your friend an hour ago,” He smiled, “nice to meet you,” He heard she replied with her doubtful breath. "Yes, I am Vanna. Nice to meet you, too,” Then her face tilted her head close to him, and spoke in tone he could scarcely hear, “actually, I need to treat her today as my apology for being so late." She laughed, but did not sound too aloud, just like one of those adorable ladies. “Do you think she gets mad? I’ve promised her not to be late today. It's her birthday. I failed to keep my words again." He put his coffee cup back on the table, leaned forward and whispered. “I can't read her face. She looks more serious, but carefree somehow. Well...what I can really tell is that...she seemed to have enjoyed reading the book all alone here, had it not been for any interruption.” Vanna smiled hesitantly with suspicion, “An interruption?” A big smile reappeared on her face, "Don’t tell me you’re talking about yourself." There was no another word, though. Silence does mean something and at this very moment their quiet smiles did corroborate it.
Lina walked toward the table slowly and gently, smiling at both Vanna and Vichear, truly from her heart without obliged attitude, making her smile more naturally sweet. Beautiful, Vichear who saw it, had to admit. She would have looked more fantastic if she were able to smile as she did now, he accidentally thought it alone.

“How's it going, Vanna?” Lina sat back. “I'm great. Alright, er... it’s a bit early. Happy birthday to you, Lina! Here!” Saying so, Vanna handed out a beautifully ornate box to Lina. “Open it, Lina!” The amazed girlfriend opened the box carefully with glittering, almost watering, eyes. It’s a white tea cup with colorful flowers pattern, baroque antique like. It was written Lina’s name in the bottom. She held it up and looked at it slowly. Things seemed to move in slow emotions here; even Vichea seemed to hold his breath. Thanks, Vanna. You do know how much I love drinking tea. “I do, Lina, I do and I’m glad you like it.”

The girl put the cup back into the silver box and managed to smile at her girlfriend gratefully. Happy time elapsed fast, but stayed in a person’s heart as long as it could. It happened quickly, but time likely remained still. As deep as it could be in her reflection, her vision met the guy’s gaze, without warning, which was fixing on her. The austere air was what she came to her by osmosis; she was not the one who made an affectionate overture to this stranger, though.

Outside, the sun was bound to ask for a twelve hours’ break, abandoned the earth, no, probably was abandoned for darkness to make life on earth as regular. The three young people were still sharing the table although there were other tables here and there become vacant. Coffee was drunk. Sandwich was eaten. A great number of words and smiles were exchanged. There was nothing left, except noise and laughter drifted about the air in the room. It was about time. “If you both would allow me to ask for dinner today, I should feel very much honored to this small token of new friendship, “ When asked out, usually, Lina would find it a paltry trick, unlike her girlfriend found it rather arduous to reject an offer or refuse a demand. “It doesn’t sound any better, does it?” charmingly seduced her girlfriend. Lina, however, found it rather bashful in such situation. To say “no” is to insult her friend, but to do the wrong way around is against her policy. This guy has a lot of guts to have asked a virtuous girl like Lina. She, eventually, knew it as it happened the way it did. Apparently, the man possesses benign persona, still..., “I’m afraid it’s a disturbance; besides, I’m a little tired today,” Without hearing another upcoming word, he was convinced of the reluctant answer, but he would have these new friends-to-be sharing a dinner nevertheless. “It doesn’t have to be today, though,” cutting in her lines, he continued, “what about next Sunday, at LOMORNG KHMER restaurant?” His speech was in all seriousness for sure. It occurred to him that the encounter was a fluke, and the characteristics he found in their behaviors were another, in a way of his insipient curiosity, or even an enigma he’s ready to be a part of.