JULIAN

️️ ️️ 予我黄金以承重，然吾心惟愿烈火洗尽。 ️️ ️️

️️ ️️ He paused just long enough to meet her eyes again, amusement flickering there. “Though between us, I think it’s you they’re trying to impress, not me.” ️️ ️️

️️ ️️ The smirk softened briefly before returning, sharper now. “But don’t worry, I’ll play along. Wouldn’t want to ruin your mom’s effort—or the dress she picked out for you.” ️️ ️️

️️ ️️ ㅤ ┃TABLE FOR TWO: @Kanyariwa & @dominusvail. But what was that look supposed to mean: boredom with tonight’s dinner or the shadow of something left unfinished in the past? ️️ ️️

️️ ️️ “Tell me,” the playful edge lingered, but his tone softened as he settled back. “Are your parents here as well? In Indonesia, I mean. Or did they leave this entire… arrangement to you?” —@Kanyariwa ️️ ️️

️️ ️️ He leaned forward a little, lowering his voice. “Or maybe you’re just saving that smile. For when I actually deserve it.” He murmured, almost to himself. A subtle smile appeared on his face. ️️ ️️

️️ ️️ Then the smile returned. “I’ll take whichever you’re having. Seems only fair I let you choose for the both of us.” It wasn’t just nothing—it was his way of apologizing, handing her the reins, letting her decide how the evening would go. —@Kanyariwa ️️ ️️

️️ ️️ His eyes caught hers deliberately, holding them just a beat longer than necessary. “Wouldn’t have felt right otherwise.” “Thank you for asking, Anne.” He added. ️️ ️️

️️ ️️ The pause that followed felt heavier than the minutes he’d stolen from her. He let it stretch before asking, softer now, “How have you been, Marianne?” —@Kanyariwa ️️ ️️

️️ ️️ “I should’ve been on time.” Paris, the flight, the business—none of it excused the wait when he had flown across continents just to see her. ️️ ️️