Chapter 36: First Date
Chapter 36: First Date
Mrs. Sara glanced at her daughter awkwardly, "How could an unmarried girl talk about these things so
casually?"
"Hey, mom, it's not in the 1970s. Now that pupils start to date in primary schools, I just tell the truth, but
you give me the evil eye. Forget it. There is a generation gap between us. I will just shut up."
Aurora got up and said, "Alicia, let's go together. Or after I leave, no one will save you." Contentt bel0ngs to N0ve/lDrâ/ma.O(r)g!
Alicia smiled gently, "It doesn't matter. You should go first. We are not going to the same direction."
"Then I am leaving."
"Take care."
When Aurora left, Sara sighed heavily, "You'd better go as well. It's not good to be late for work."
Alicia really didn't want to see an old lady disappointed, but there were some things she couldn't do.
She comforted Sara, "Mom, I understand you, but don't worry. I think what's more important than
having a baby now is to help Carlos out of the shadow of the past as soon as possible."
On the way to school, Alicia repeatedly thought about a problem. Last night, she clearly told herself that
she should never let Carlos fall in love with her, but what was she doing this morning? Why did she tell
him that she was claustrophobic? Why did she promise Sara that she would never leave?
When she said those words and made those decisions, did she still remember the original intention of
getting married?
The day passed quickly. After school in the afternoon, Alicia and Ellie walked out of the school side by
side. Alicia lowered her head while walking, and Ellie beside her suddenly exclaimed, "Wow, you're
really going well."
"What do you mean?"
Alicia asked with no clue.
"Look over there."
Looking along the line of sight of Ellie, Alicia' eyes widened and asked in disbelief, "Is that Carlos?"
"Of course. How could you not recognize your own husband?"
In fact, it's not that she didn't recognize him. She just felt incredible. It's so unbelievable that Carlos
would appear at her school gate.
Carlos wore a pair of sunglasses and leaned against the car with his arms around his chest. Because
of his handsome appearance, he attracted the attention of many schoolgirls.
Noticing them coming, Carlos stretched out his hand and opened the side door. Alicia looked at him for
a while, and sat in without asking anything.
"Do you want to come together?"
Carlos asked Ellie, but Ellie shook her head, "No need. My home is near here."
She winked at Alicia meaningfully and left.
When the engine of the car was ignited, Alicia couldn't stand the dull atmosphere and pretended to ask
casually, "Do you pass by here?"
"Yes."
Carlos responded lightly. As a proud man, even if he came specially, he was unwilling to admit it.
It was hard for Alicia to break the silence, but his indifferent response made it reach a deadlock again.
After a long time, Alicia spoke again to remind him, "You are driving in the wrong direction. It seems
that this is not the way home."
"I didn't say that we would go home."
"Where are you going if not home?" Alicia asked nervously.
Carlos glanced at her indifferently and said angrily, "What are you afraid of? I won't hurt you."
The mid-summer night wind blew on people's faces, liked the feeling of silk sliding past, soft and warm.
Alicia didn't expect that Carlos would take her to the noisy open-air stall. When she got out of the car,
she blinked blankly, "What are we doing here?"
"Nonsense! For food, of course."
Carlos took the lead in moving forward, followed by Alicia. He picked a clean seat and sat down
casually.
"What do you want to eat?"
The boss wearing an apron covered in lampblack came smiling and presented a shabby menu.
"You order it."
Carlos pushed the menu in front of her, and it was not easy to keep the gentlemanly manner in such a
place.
Alicia did not refuse. She simply ordered two plates of meat and two plates of vegetables and closed
the menu, "Thank you, that's all."
"OK, the dishes will be ready soon."
When the boss left, Alicia suddenly laughed and Carlos frowned, "What are you laughing at?"
"I didn't expect you to eat in such a place."
"Is it strange? You just haven't seen everything happening in this world."
Alicia shrugged, "I just feel incredible."
"I'm afraid you are accusing me of being mean. You are taken to such a cheap place to eat by a rich
husband. Won't you feel unbalanced psychologically?"
"Of course not."
Alicia shook her head and said with a smile, "Compared with those five-star hotels or famous
restaurants, the open-air stalls have become my first date with you, which is absolutely unforgettable."
"I must correct you, and this is not a date. I don't have that kind of relationship with you."
"Then what is this? Why are we sitting here now?"
"I have said that we are here to eat. Are you saying that it must be a couple who could eat together?
Then I wonder what is the relationship between you and Noah."
"Noah and I are friends. So, you also want to treat me as a friend?"
Alicia asked slyly. This man was so exclusive to women that it was extremely difficult to be his friend.
"I swore that I would never be friends with women again, but I will make an exception for you today."
Carlos held out his hand, "Congratulations, from this moment on, you are my unique friend of the
opposite sex."
"It's really exciting, a unique friend. I think I should buy a lottery ticket later. Maybe it is very likely that I
will hit the jackpot."
Alicia smiled heartlessly. In fact, she knew clearly that Carlos would make friends with her only
because he was grateful that she didn't choose to leave when he was in a mess, which was a
reservation to his self-esteem.
"In order to celebrate us becoming friends, we must have a good drink tonight."
She shouted to the busy boss, "Please send us ten bottles of beer."
"Aren't ten bottles too much?"
Carlos stared and asked. He really didn't know this woman can drink so much.
"No. If a man can't drink ten bottles of beer, he is simply not a man."
Carlos raised the corner of his lips in a sulk, "Is this your first time to come to this place?"
"What do you think?"
Carlos looked her up and down a few times. In fact, since they got married, he seldom paid attention to
her.
"It should be your first time. Although your family is not a chaebol family, it can be regarded as a rich
family, whose wealth is enough to provide you with a comfortable life."
"If you think that the daughter of a rich family will not come to such a place, then you are wrong. I have
come here more times than those with poor family background."
Alicia's eyes blurred, and in the hazy sight, she seemed to see herself at the age of seven, sweating
with her mother washing greasy dishes that could never be finished.
"Are you joking?"
Carlos changed into an expression of incredible. He didn't believe Alicia will often come to this place to
eat. Anyway, she came from a rich family.
Aware of her gaffes, Alicia quickly adjusted her state and said casually, "It's not strange at all. A rich
guy like you can come here. Isn't it more normal for me to come since my family was just doing some
small business?"
"Don't compare with me. I am a man, and you are a woman. As the saying goes, men should be given
little wealth to cultivate his character while women should be given as much as possible. It is natural for
me to come here, but it is not normal for you to come here."
Normal or not, Alicia's life was abnormal from the moment it started.
"Well, no more talk of this. Eat now as the dishes are turning cold."
Alicia poured a large glass of beer and held it up, "Cheers."
She raised her head and drank it upside down, then poured another cup and drank it in one gulp.
Carlos was shocked by her actions and asked in a heavy voice, "Does Colton Joliot-Curie, your father,
often take you out to the dinner party?"
"No, why?"
"Then how do you practice your ability of drinking alcohol?"
"I only drink two glasses of beer. What kind of ability is this? Have you never seen a woman who can
drink?"
Carlos snorted, "Yes, I haven't seen one."
As time went by, the dishes were barely touched as they were drinking beer. Most of time, it was Alicia
who was drinking alone, and gradually, she was drunk.
"It's late. Let's go back."
Carlos raised his right wrist and pointed to the Rolex watch worn on his wrist.
"Is it late?" Alicia looked around, "No, there are quite a lot of people."
"No matter how late, there will be people in the night stall. Do you have to wait until everyone is gone
before you are willing to leave?"
"Have a few more drinks. I am very happy today. I haven't been to this place for a long time. Thank you
Carlos for bringing me here and evoking some memories that I can't forget."
Alicia was clearly drunk, but from her words, one could vaguely feel the sad mood contained.
"What memories? Is it... have you been abandoned by men?"
"Do you think others are just as unlucky as you are?"
Carlos' eyes dimmed. Alicia suddenly woke up half drunk, "I'm sorry. I didn't mean it. I didn't say
anything. And you didn't hear anything."
"It doesn't matter. I'm not as fragile as you think. And besides," Carlos glared at her, "I won't dispute
with a drunken person."
"Who are you talking about? I am not."
Alicia opened the last bottle of beer, squinting and pouring it into the cup. She was already wobbling,
and half of the wine was spilled on the table.
"Well, don't drink anymore. It's time to go."
Carlos stopped her, but Alicia pushed him away wildly, "Don't be like a nagger. The beer all bought with
money. We must finish this."
"Are you going or not?"
Carlos has lost patience and finally threatened, "If you don't leave when I count to three, don't blame
me for being ruthless. I will leave you here alone."
"No, now that we are friends, you will not do it."
Was she challenging his bottom line? Fine. Carlos stood up, and really went away without any worries.
Out of the busy city, on the spacious road, Carlos' car was parked. He pulled out the car keys from his
pocket. When he was about to pull the door, he hesitated. Did he really want to leave the drunken
woman who couldn't even tell the direction here?
After a short hesitation and struggle, Carlos finally showed compassion to her, and walked back.