He walked in like he owned the air itself. His shirt sleeves were rolled up to three-fourths, revealing strong forearms and veins that caught the golden restaurant light. As he moved, he was unfolding one sleeve, buttoning the cuff with deliberate precision, each motion calm, confident, elegant.
Behind him, a line of waiters followed, carrying silver trays stacked with steaming dishes. The laughter died instantly. Conversations were cut mid-sentence. Every employee quickly straightened up in their chairs, pretending nothing unusual had happened.
Evelyn was the first to recover. "So," she said quickly, too cheerfully, "how's everyone enjoying the food?"
Ryan nodded, standing up abruptly. "Yes! Delicious. Really great choice of restaurant."
Kai raised an eyebrow but said nothing. He simply moved to his seat, settling gracefully beside Alina. Evelyn shot Alina a glance that screamed, Don't say a word about the director, and both she and Ryan quietly excused themselves, walking over to mingle with the other employees.
The moment they left, Alina was alone with Kai. And then the dishes began to arrive. One after another. Five… six… seven… eight plates, each one carefully placed before her until her side of the table looked like a small buffet of delights.
Alina blinked, confused. "Wait… all of this?" she asked the waiter.
"Yes, ma'am," the waiter said politely, "these were ordered specially for you."
Her eyes widened. "For me?"
She looked at the spread of creamy pasta, garlic butter prawns, sizzling paneer, spicy dumplings, grilled mushrooms, and chocolate mousse for dessert. Every single one was her favorite.
She turned toward Kai. He was seated calmly, a faint smile playing on his lips as he reached for his glass of water.
Did he order it? She thought for a moment. No way, how could he? Her thoughts were coming back to back, who remembered her food preferences, her habits, everything. Who notices such little things, especially for her? But someone did. And now here she was, surrounded by dishes that spoke louder than words ever could.
The moment her fork touched the food, her eyes lit up. The aroma, the flavors, it all hit her at once. She took one bite, then another, then another. Within seconds, she was lost in the meal, completely absorbed, her hesitation forgotten.
Halfway through her plate, Alina paused. Her expression shifted from delight to confusion, and then surprise. She blinked, taking another bite slowly, tasting it again. That flavor… that exact blend of spices… the way the sauce lingered on her tongue, she knew it.
Her heart skipped. This was his cooking. Her roommate's cooking. The same taste, the same warmth, that same feeling of home she had missed for weeks.
Her eyes subtly flickered toward Kai. He was sitting calmly, as if completely unaware of the storm that had just started inside her. There could be no way that he would be here. Is he a chef? She thought about her roommate, impossible, Ryan said he works in a company, how could he be here in this restaurant, but the taste and the feeling she is feeling right now is unexplainable. This wasn't the warmth before; the last time she took the bite was gross, but now it felt like...
If Alina ever had to choose between food and anything else, she would choose food without a second thought, and that's exactly what she was doing now. She was completely lost in the flavors, savoring every bite, too engrossed to question why the taste felt so achingly familiar, just like the meals her mysterious roommate used to make.
They didn't exchange a single word, not even a glance long enough to break the silence between them. Kai simply sat there, his gaze quietly fixed on her as she ate. The faint sound of clinking cutlery, the soft hum of background chatter, and Alina's quiet hum of satisfaction filled the air.
He had seen her expressions countless times before, but never like this. Never this unguarded. Never this comfortable. It was like watching sunlight slip through clouds after a storm. He always wanted to sit near her, this close to Alina, watch her eat, and enjoy her food with different expressions. He always watched her eat food through his door, slightly like peeping towards the dining table. But now sitting here, it feels like he was in the clouds.
A small smile tugged at his lips as he watched her take another bite, her eyes closing for a moment in bliss. He didn't eat. Couldn't. Because all his attention was on her.
The way she tucked a loose strand of hair behind her ear was absentmindedly. The soft sound of satisfaction she made when she tasted something she liked. The way her lips curved slightly upward every time she found a new flavor to love.
And then there was her scent, a delicate, floral fragrance that drifted faintly in the air between them. It wasn't overpowering, just subtle enough to make him want to lean closer.
For the first time that night, he wasn't thinking about the script, his upcoming projects, or the celebration of his ten years. He was just there, sitting beside her, quietly watching her, wondering when this restaurant had started to feel warmer because of her presence.
He noticed how her fingers were slightly stained with sauce, how she smiled to herself after finishing each bite. And for the first time, Kai Arden, the man who had conquered every spotlight, realized how easy it was for someone ordinary to outshine them all.
She didn't even notice his eyes on her, but he noticed everything: the way her eyes slightly lit up with each bite, the little smile she couldn't hide when something tasted especially good.
And her eyes were fixed on another dish before she finished the food on her plate. Kai finally allowed himself to breathe again, resting his chin on his hand as his eyes stayed on her, soft, thoughtful, and completely captivated. He didn't know what this feeling was. But whatever it was, it was dangerous. And addictive.
Alina was halfway through her favorite dish, lost in the familiar warmth of the flavors, when her phone suddenly buzzed on the table. The cheerful noise of laughter around her faded as she glanced at the screen. Her face changed, the sparkle in her eyes dimmed, replaced by worry.
She quickly stood up, chair scraping lightly against the floor. She didn't say a word. Not to Evelyn, not to Ryan, not even to Kai. She didn't look back.
Her phone pressed against her ear, she murmured a few words too soft for anyone to catch and hurried toward the exit. Her steps were fast, almost running, as if the world behind her no longer existed. The restaurant door closed behind her, and just like that… she was gone. No one even had the chance to ask what happened.
Kai was busy at that moment, speaking with one of his employees who stood beside him. His head was turned to the left, eyes focused, his tone calm. He didn't see her get up. Didn't see her leave. But a few minutes later, when the conversation ended, he instinctively turned his head back toward the seat on his right. It was Empty.
He blinked, slightly confused. Maybe she had gone to the washroom, he thought. But as the minutes passed and the laughter around the table continued without her, something inside him stirred that quiet, restless feeling that something wasn't right.
He looked around the table where she had sat, still had her napkin, her half-finished glass of water, and the faintest trace of her perfume in the air. But she wasn't there.
Just then, Evelyn appeared, a small box wrapped neatly in gold paper held in her hands. "Where's Alina?" she asked, scanning the table.
Kai's gaze lifted to her, his voice quiet but uncertain. "Uh… I have no idea."
Evelyn frowned slightly, pulling out her phone. "Let me call her."
Kai watched, the unease growing stronger as she dialed. Evelyn pressed the phone to her ear, nodding slowly as she listened. "Oh… okay. Fine." Her tone softened, and she ended the call.
Kai leaned forward slightly, wanting to know what she said on the phone, where she was, but no words came. He doesn't want to show that eagerness; he doesn't want her to know what was happening inside his mind and how restless he was since the moment Alina went.
As Evelyn ended the call and turned to leave, but then paused as if remembering something. She spun back toward him with a small smile. "Oh, I almost forgot." She extended the gift box toward him. "This is for you. From Alina Carter. She wanted to give it to you herself, but… since she had to rush, she asked me to hand it over."
Kai stared at the box silently, unmoving. His hand slowly reached out, fingers brushing against the soft wrapping paper. The gold ribbon shimmered faintly under the restaurant lights. The noise around him faded, the laughter, the chatter, the clinking of glasses, everything blurred into nothing. It was just him. And that small box in his hands.
No goodbye. No smile. No glance back. The silence she left behind was deafening, and in that silence, Kai realized something he hadn't before: her absence was louder than any crowd, heavier than any noise. And as he stood there, holding the gift she left behind, the world for a moment simply stopped.