After the payment was completed, Dylan slipped the ring onto Lola’s left ring finger. Her heart raced.
Is this excitement, or is it just nervousness?
She wasn’t quite sure what this feeling was.
“I’ll put the ring on for you.”
“Go ahead.”
Dylan extended his left hand. Despite being a man’s hand, it was soft and smooth, with long, delicate fingers. As Lola slipped the ring onto his ring finger, her fingertips trembled slightly.
“Dear, do you like the ring?”
Watching her carefully, Dylan replied,
“If you like it, then I like it too.”
What kind of logic is that?
Yet, not disliking it, Lola found her lips curving up slightly without her realizing.
“Shall we head out now?”
“Where to, exactly?”
She didn’t understand why being with this man made her feel so foolish.
Even as she tried to focus, Lola found it difficult.
“It’s lunchtime; shouldn’t we eat?”
“Ah, yes.”
How pathetic must he think I am, seeing me react so slowly and foolishly?
Sometimes, she felt a sense of despair, and there were moments when she felt down. However, when she held his outstretched hand, it was warm, and her heart quickly calmed.
‘Can I hold your hand while we walk?’
From the moment she voiced that thought, he had never forgotten to reach out his hand whenever they walked together.
Seeing that, he didn’t seem like a completely cold man. Lola still found it hard to understand what kind of man he was.
******
They decided to have lunch at a traditional Asia restaurant.
If he had asked her what she wanted to eat, it would have taken a long time to decide, which would have been a headache. Fortunately, Dylan didn’t ask her and took her directly to the restaurant.
There happened to be a private room available. Dylan, who hated noisy and crowded places, was assigned to the room he wanted.
As soon as they entered the room, Dylan sat down and glanced over the menu.
“We don’t have much time for lunch, so let’s keep it simple today. Is that okay?”
“Yes, Dear.”
“Then I’ll order.”
“Okay.”
While Dylan was ordering food, Lola’s gaze kept drifting back to the ring on her ring finger.
It was a clean and pretty ring.
After seeing Gia wearing an expensive ring on her ring finger before her wedding, Lola had often wondered when she would receive a ring from a man.
But now, getting a couple ring with Dylan Eve felt like a dream.
As Dylan closed the menu and pressed the bell to call the waiter, Lola pulled her gaze away from the ring.
When the waiter entered the room, Dylan ordered a set meal for two.
Once the waiter left the room, leaving just the two of them, Lola tentatively opened her mouth.
“Um… De.. Dear, can I ask you something?”
“If I say no, you won’t ask?”
He spoke with a serious expression, leaving Lola unsure if he was joking or being serious. Nervously, she swallowed hard. It took a bit of courage to say the next words.
“Ah, no. I will still ask.”
“Now I’m even more curious. What is it? Let’s hear it.”
After taking a sip of water and taking a deep breath, Lola cautiously posed her question.
“Why did you want to date me?”
“Why do you ask that?”
What could her intention be behind that question?
One of Dylan’s eyebrows raised.
“Do you dislike dating me or feel burdened by it?”
Lola was a bit taken aback by his straightforward question.
“Ah… no.”
“Me neither. I don’t dislike dating you. And to be blunt, we’re not complete strangers. I find you comfortable and nice. Isn’t that enough? Do you need more reasons?”
His words didn’t feel forced. They seemed somewhat honest, making Lola worry that she might have made him uncomfortable.
“I think I might have asked something unnecessary. I’m sorry.”
“No, it’s fine. If you’re curious, you should ask. That way, there won’t be any unnecessary misunderstandings.”
After taking another sip of water, Lola stammered as she interpreted her thoughts.
“I thought you were too good for me. You’re handsome, talented, smart, a genius, and a successful prosecutor. But I…”
Lola was aware that when they went out together, there was a noticeable difference between them, and she felt a sense of alienation. It had been the same earlier when the store employee looked at them with curiosity, as if they were observing two creatures that didn’t quite match.
“So you were worried that I might hurt you?”
Sometimes, Lola couldn’t help but be startled by his sharp insight.
When he pinpointed her insecurities, she found herself at a loss for words.
“Lola, I don’t think there’s any difference between us in terms of being too good for one another or someone being particularly better. We are in an equal relationship. And the things you’re worried about won’t happen. Even though I can be decisive, I’m not the kind of person who would carelessly abandon someone out of boredom. So, I won’t be the one to leave you first, so please don’t have such foolish thoughts in the future.”
