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Chapter 4 - CHAPTER 5: THE DATE

I walked towards Cheelee Restaurant, my heart racing with excitement. It's a restaurant

that I just can't get enough of. I've been eating there since I was 14, and now

I'm 27, and it's still my favourite spot. The food is amazing, the vibe is so

chill, and the people are always so friendly. I've had so many great times

there, from dinners to hanging out with friends. It's just one of those places

that's always there for me, you know? I'm really grateful for it, and I'm sure

I'll be going back for many more years, especially with the love of my life.

As I approached

the restaurant, I couldn't help but feel a sense of nostalgia. I remembered the

countless times I had eaten there, the laughter, the conversations, the

memories. It was more than just a restaurant to me; it was a part of my life.

I waited at the

door and looked around to see if Ham was still waiting. I saw his backhead from

afar, and he was sitting just at my favourite spot, as if he knew me. As if he

knew that's where I always love to sit. Fate must have really brought us together.

I walked up to

him and tickled him from behind. He held my hand at the tip of my finger.

Ouuuuuch! It hurts ... I screamed, laughing sheepishly. He chuckled, and I knew

he was happy to see me.

"I knew

you were the one," he said to me, his voice low and husky. "What took

you so long? You're 2 hours 43 minutes late, Jayde...."

"Oh,

honey, I am so sorry," I replied as I was about to explain myself. But he

interrupted me, his eyes sparkling with amusement.

"You look

very happy like one who just signed a billion dollars deal... Ohh yess honesty,

you got it. My company just signed a really big deal with The Big 4

group," I continued talking, still grinning from ear to ear.

The moment he

heard The Big 4 group, he trembled. It was like he had flips of events... He

shook and couldn't hear other things I was saying. I noticed, then I stopped

talking...

"Ham! Ham!

Are you good?" I asked, concern etched on my face.

He snapped out

of his thoughts and smiled at me, saying congratulations.... He poured out the

liquor in the bottle into our glasses and wanted to pass me one, but I rejected

it, insisting that he must explain what had crossed his mind.

He insisted

that he was fine and nothing crossed his mind. He said he was just happy for

me. I couldn't believe him, but he continued to convince me that he didn't

think of anything.

I looked at

him, searching for answers. What was going on? Why did he react that way when I

mentioned The Big 4 group? I knew him well enough to know that something was

bothering him.

"Ham, tell

me the truth," I said, my voice firm but gentle. "What happened when

I mentioned The Big 4 group?"

He looked at

me, his eyes locked on mine. For a moment, I thought I saw something there,

something that looked like fear or anxiety. But then, it was gone, replaced by

a smile.

"Nothing,

Jayde," he said, his voice smooth as silk. "I just got a little

overwhelmed with excitement for you. You're really making a name for yourself

in the business world."

I raised an

eyebrow, skeptical. But I decided to let it go, for now. I would get to the

bottom of this later.

"Okay, if

you're sure," I said, taking a seat next to him. "But promise me one

thing."

"What's

that?" he asked, his eyes curious.

"Promise

me you'll always be honest with me, no matter what."

He looked at

me, his expression serious. "I promise, Jayde. I'll always be honest with

you."

I smiled,

feeling a sense of relief. I knew that I could trust him, and that was all that

mattered.

The sun had

just set, casting a warm orange glow over the cosy Italian restaurant. Ham and I

sat across from each other, their eyes locked in a loving gaze. The sound of

soft music and gentle chatter filled the air as we began our conversation.

"So,

what's your favourite kind of music?" Ham asked, his eyes sparkling with

curiosity. I thought for a moment before responding, "Hmm, that's a tough

one. I think I love all kinds of music, but if I had to choose, I'd say indie

folk." Ham's face lit up with excitement.

"I love

indie folk too! I've been listening to a lot of Bon Iver lately," he said,

his voice filled with enthusiasm. My eyes widened in surprise.

"Oh, I

adore Bon Iver! 'Skinny Love' is one of my favourite songs," i replied, my

voice filled with passion. As we continued to talk, we discovered that we had a

lot in common.

Ham learned

that I loved to read, hike, and try out new recipes in the kitchen. I was an

avid fan of authors like Jane Austen and J.K. Rowling, and i enjoyed spending my

free time exploring new hiking trails and experimenting with new recipes.

I found out

that Ham was a big fan of playing guitar, watching movies, and playing sports.

He had been playing guitar since he was a teenager, and he loved watching

classic movies like The Shawshank Redemption and The Godfather."

Our

conversation flowed effortlessly as we shared our dreams and aspirations. I

mentioned that I had always wanted to visit Rome and try all the pasta dishes.

Ham told me about his trip to Italy a few years ago and how much he loved the

food, culture, and scenery.

As we talked, our

connection grew stronger. Ham was impressed by my kindness and compassion when I

told him about my volunteer work at a local animal shelter. I was touched by

Ham's genuine interest in getting to know me better.

"I've

always been passionate about helping animals," I said, my eyes shining

with enthusiasm. "I love volunteering at the animal shelter and helping

out with events and fundraisers."

Ham smiled, his

eyes filled with admiration. "That's amazing," he said. "You're

so kind and compassionate. I admire that about you."

As the night

wore on, we laughed, shared stories, and enjoyed each other's company. The

chemistry between us was palpable, and we both felt a deep connection.

As we finished our

dessert and prepared to part ways, Ham reached out and took my hand. "I

had an amazing time tonight," he said, looking into my eyes. "Would

you like to do it again sometime soon?"

I smiled, my

heart racing with excitement. "I'd love to," I replied, squeezing his

hand gently. At that moment, we both knew that we had found something special.

As we walked

out of the restaurant, hand in hand, we felt a sense of excitement and

anticipation for what the future might hold. The warm summer air filled with

the scent of blooming flowers and the sound of chirping crickets.

We strolled

through the quiet streets, enjoying the peaceful atmosphere and each other's

company. Ham turned to me and smiled, his eyes filled with affection.

"I'm so

glad we met," he said, his voice filled with sincerity. I smiled back, my heart

filled with joy.

"Me too, I

replied, my voice barely above a whisper. As we continued to walk, we both knew

that our connection was something special, something that could last a

lifetime.

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