Felix barely touched his dinner, his mind clearly elsewhere.

Oblivious Carol didn't make the connection that he wasn't keen on sharing the meal with her.

Once the meal was over, she had no reason to stay, but she lingered, unable to bear leaving. Felix didn't say a word to keep her

there.

Eventually, Carol took the initiative, "Could you walkdown to hail a cab? I'm a bit scared."

Their neighborhood was quite secluded, and though there was a bus stop right outside, at this late hour, who knew if she'd run into

the kind of thugs she'd encountered before.

Just as Felix was about to nod, a clap of thunder rumbled outside, followed by a streak of lightning, and the power went out.

Darkness enveloped the room, accompanied by the storm outside.

Old houses were prone to tripping the circuit breaker. Felix fetched his phone for light, "Just sit for a bit, we'll leave when the

power's back."

Carol was only too glad to stay, "Got any candles?"

Felix rummaged through a drawer and lit a few candles before starting to clear the table.

Carol grabbed his hand, "Letclean up, you cooked, so I'll take care of the dishes."

He paused, tempted to shake her off, but refrained.

Eagerly, Carol began clearing the dishes to the kitchen, which was barely big enough for one person and pitch dark, save for the

light from the living room.

Felix placed a candle by the fridge.

For Carol, it was a experience - washing dishes on a stormy night with a man she fancied.

her face, but then she

kitchen door, Felix watched her bend down to pick up the shards

pieces, another bowl slipped from the

he said firmly, "Step out,

but stepped

"Ouch."

the droplets

deepened as he pulled

from the pain, instinctively clung

tensed, he blinked several times to

in the living room, she sat on the couch as Felix lit

toes curled,

as he disinfected

giggling, meeting his gaze, she bit her lip, "It tickles a

Felix placed the iodine on the coffee

I'll finish the dishes. When

kitchen. He swept up the broken pieces and

seemed

finished in ten minutes,

Power was still out.

the couch, perked up when he asked, "Want an

"Sure."

fetched two oranges from the fridge,

was the soft candlelight that made his hands

for a moment, then asked, "Felix, you really don't have a girlfriend?

growing up?"

"No."

the sour orange tasting sweet in

a car or a house, and

rich myself, but we could still

"You don't

guilt; she didn't truly like him that deeply—his face was her favorite thing

tonight, watching him cook, clean, surrounded by books on finance, she felt he wouldn't always work for

saw through her

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