My Love Journey's
Another Dinner

Suddenly the hospital called me this morning because they were short on staff, right after Paul came home, and inevitably I had to go there.

Now that the clock has shown at 6pm, for the first time all day, I can finally rest for a while. I was sitting in the locker room, trying to get my energy back with a cup of coffee I bought at the hospital cafeteria.

To: Paul: Sorry, I'll be a little late.

A minute later, he returned my message.

From: Paul: How can you?

To: Paul: The hospital is a bit busy these days and they need additional nurses. I'll be home for a while to change clothes and then to your house.

From: Paul: Okay, no problem. Alfred's gonna pick you up.

To: Paul: _________Paul:

***

I was exhausted when I got home.

Travis didn't ask me why I refused lunch with him today, it seems he thought because I I was busy today. Well, I'm busy. But the reason I honestly turned down Travis' offer is because of Paul.

Even so, Travis kept asking me when I had time to have lunch with him, but I haven't said anything. The situation between Travis and Paul confused me because I wasn't ready for a serious relationship for now. All I want now is to enjoy tonight with Paul, forget all the consequences and focus on the process.

After taking a shower, I decided to wear a simple black dress that was not too tight but still managed to show my curves from the chest to the knee, accompanied by thin makeup and high heels matching my dress. I grabbed the handbag from the nightstand before coming out of the room.

"Sorry, I'm late." I muttered to Alfred who was waiting beside the shiny black Range Rover with the door open, then hurriedly walked inside.

He smiled kindly at me. "No problem, Miss. Mr. Klug told me about your busy schedule at the hospital. That's understandable."

"Thank you." I returned his smile.

All the way I spent time chatting with Alfred. He is a very fun person and also smart.

"See you later, Bianka" said Alfred, reaching out to help me get out of the car.

I smiled to receive his hand. "Thank you."

My heart was racing to realize that I was standing at the gate of Paul's house, considering that the first time I was here my condition was very embarrassing. Drunk and woke up alone.

I stood there for a while, hearing the gate slowly open while Alfred's car started to run. I calmed down by taking a few breaths before entering the area of Paul's house.

The house is really modern, very different from my home. One of the other things that made the difference between us became clearer. If Paul and I, if only, had a more serious relationship, we would not have been able to live in a place that suited both of our tastes. I love my house, though it's small and doesn't have the technology of Paul's house, but I feel comfortable living there.

Nervously, I pressed the bell beside the entrance. What's going to happen tonight? And, why did I accept his offer?

"Hey," As soon as I saw Paul appear in the doorway, dressed in a white shirt and black trousers showing his beautiful, seductive curves, my nervousness rose to the top. "Wow. You look amazing." she said as she hugged me.

I returned his embrace. "thank you. You too..."

"Come in, I'm preparing dinner." He smiled enthusiastically.

"I hope you don't burn down your own house." I joked back, and Paul laughed.

Paul closed the door, then suddenly he kissed me on the lips. Both of his hands held my waist and pulled me closer to him. His sudden movements jolted me and I almost groaned, but a second later I replied.

"Hi," her voice softened on my lips.

"Hey," I nodded back. We laughed.

I just nodded. Any food doesn't matter as long as I'm with Paul. Wait for. Whahuh? Oh, Lord. You must be crazy, Bianka! The bitches!

"You don't like it." muttered Paul as he shook his head, watching me as I finished the first mouthful of lasagna he made.

I chuckle. "I like it, really. I just found out you can cook."

I didn't until the heart told her that there was some undercooked pasta. It's kind of hard for me to swallow it, but I can tell it tastes really good. The spicy taste and the flavor match perfectly with the taste of my tongue. Hah, is there anything else that he can't ignore?

"I rarely cook. That's my grandmother's recipe, she's Italian. You don't feel too much basil?"

I nodded, smiling at him. "No. It's really good, honey." I teased him a little.

"alright. Now, tell me why you're so anxious to be a nurse."

This is the only topic I want to avoid. "I told you, I want to help others."

"Yes, I think everyone has the same desire to help others. But I'm sure, your reasons won't be that simple."

I felt the more I opened up to her, the more were lost when our closeness ended. Only a few of the people closest to me knew about my past, and my common sense forbade me to tell Paul everything.

"Why do you want to be a famous soccer athlete?" I wanted to turn the conversation around, knowing that it was enough to distract him.

Paul grinned, realizing that I was changing the topic while I was raising my shoulders. "I'm just doing something I love, Rapunzel. Famous isn't my main goal, it's just a small bonus to what I've achieved all along." He puts his shoulders. I know his goal of saying about fame was his attempt to thin the distance between us.

Just watching him eat makes me feel hot. Plus he is wearing a shirt and trousers suit that shows off his body shape that every woman dreams of. Makes me have trouble focusing my mind.

"But I can say, indirectly it's beneficial to you." I replied.

"Indeed. I'm grateful because it's also what makes me avoid bad life. Fame scares me about touching drugs and stuff. A lot of people choose that, when there's something else that's worth doing."

"So, what are you doing? I don't think you're a typical person who likes art and so on for escapism." I smiled in response to my own words.

Paul chuckles. "You're right, I'm not really interested in art. I prefer to spend time with my friends. Friends outside the football club, of course. And there's you too..."

"I don't think it's possible that I, or anyone else, could have saved you from fame and attention." I reasoned.

"It was more like a place of rest for a moment. I've tried to adapt to the fame I've gained, but there will always be times when the people closest to me remain uneasy and slowly move away from me."

I know talking about who we are or what's going to happen in the future is not a good thing right now, but I want to know what he thinks or wants. "Have you ever thought of a life other than the one you're living right now?" I tried to get my questions in such a way that he could read my point.

Paul looked at me for a few seconds, the glint in his eyes at a glance indicating that he understood what I was saying. "Like living with you? Yeah, I'm thinking about it. Maybe you wouldn't be afraid of me if my life wasn't like this."

"I am afraid of the excessive attention of people, and at the urge to run away from it. You know, there's a lot of people today who've been plunging themselves into drugs just because they thought it could save them. I don't want that to happen to me."

"I know, love." Paul smiled faintly, implying guilt. "I just..."

"Paul, I care about you." I decided to be honest with him. "You're an amazing man. I know you wouldn't be yourself without playing ball, and I really like you. And now my words are starting to sound absurd..." I nodded in disbelief at my own words.

"No, I get your point. I'm glad to hear you say something about me, you're usually very secretive and I find it hard to understand." Paul smiled meaningfully.

Ugh. Bianka, bitches!

I had just revealed what I felt to her, and it was impossible to take back all my words.

There was a moment of confusion at the dinner table, we looked at each other while thinking about something in each other's heads, which I guessed was the same. Our next relationship.

Then suddenly we snapped when her phone rang, she apologized and walked into another room to answer the call.