The record player was playing the tune can't take my eyes off you. The candle lights danced gently in the night breeze through the open window.

Nathalia couldn't understand the mixed feelings in her heart. The food was beautiful, but she found it difficult to be present and suddenly, she remembered something. She put her fork and knife down and said, "Please lend me some money. I will give it back to you when I get back to Miami."

​​

It came like an icy cold shower and killed the fire in Spencer unexpectedly. Is she doing it on purpose? I've taken time to prepare all this, and she's not even in it.

"Have you got your passport?" Spencer asked indifferently.

"Shit. No." Now Nathalia had then realized she literally had nothing with her. No money, no passport, no phone, and she couldn't even speak Italian. Frustration was all over her face. She put her head down, defeated.

Spencer's heart melted, seeing her frustrated face. "Don't worry. We will go back to Miami tomorrow together."

Nathalia looked up and glanced at him. She hesitated, but eventually, she said, "Thank you." She sounded meek and uncertain. It somehow irritated Spencer, and he put down his fork and knife angrily. "You know what, sometimes you are really annoying." Why does she have to spoil things? What does she have to create this distance between us?

It was the first time he had put so much effort into arranging this dinner, but now she had spoiled it.

Nathalia looked down at her feet, trying to hide her facial expression from him, and indifferently, she said, "You are the same."

Seeing her avoiding the conversation again, Spencer stood up and left, or he would explode.

Why have I fallen in love with such a strange and stubborn girl? It's so tiring and exhausting.

Is this karma?

The next morning, Spencer woke up to a knock at the door. He sat up quickly, startled, got out of bed, hesitated, then said, "Come in."

Nathalia came in with a tray, on which displayed a beautifully prepared breakfast. The pleasant smell of coffee greeted Spencer's nostrils, and his face lit up. "What's this?" he asked excitedly.

"Birthday breakfast. Do you want it or not?" Nathalia tried to sound indifferent, but couldn't help noticing the excitement on Spencer's face.

Spencer quickly took the tray and started devouring his surprise birthday present. "Did you cook it, especially for me?" He asked with a bright smile, thinking she remembers my birthday!

Hmmm. Yum, yum.

Nathalia blushed. "Yeah. Just something simple. I hope you like it." She was shy, but still tried to sound calm. She had thought of pretending that she did not remember his birthday, but eventually, she couldn't help thinking more about it. And he had asked her to cook for him before on his birthday.

Watching him enjoying the food, Nathalia felt somehow completely content. It was actually the first time she had ever cooked for others. Soon, Spencer wolfed down all the food and let out a content burp. However, he still requested cheekily, "The scrambled eggs tasted good, but I wish I had sunny side up eggs."

"Huh. Greedy." Nathalia was almost speechless. "Ungrateful thing."

"Come on, and I can eat more. That was so good. Please make me two sunny sides up eggs. Just two." Spencer pleaded like a kid.

He's acting like a spoiled kid. My goodness. "Don't be so greedy. I've made you breakfast, and you had finished it. Just be grateful and say thank you. That's it."

Spencer glared at her, or he tried to but failed to hide his smiles. "Please, please, I'm still hungry."

Cook for yourself then, if you are hungry. I'm not your servant. Nathalia thought, but two minutes later, she found herself in the kitchen, making sunny side up eggs. Why did I say, yes?

Spencer followed her into the kitchen and stood aside watching her. He watched her take the eggs out of the fridge, pour some oil into the pan, broke the eggs into the pan... every move, every expression on her face caught his attention.

"There. Ready." Nathalia handed him the plate and said casually. She had never really learned how to cook, only the simple stuff, but to her surprise, she actually enjoyed cooking for him very much.

Spencer took a big bite and ate with a smile. All of a sudden, he pulled Nathalia over and embraced her in his arms. Nathalia was taken aback and was about to push him away when his somehow sad and happy voice said, "Nathalia, I'm soooo happy today. You and mum are the only two people who ever cooked for me on my birthday. I love the sunny side up eggs. So tasty."

Every time when Spencer mentioned his mother, Nathalia felt a sudden pain for him. "Does your mum still cook…" she asked gently.

"She forgot a lot of things since the accident and has never cooked again..." his voice was calm. Too calm.

It sounded so calm that it hurt Nathalia even more. She felt her inability to comfort him despite how much she wanted to. It was something that she had never learned or had lost.

Spencer looked her into her eyes, "Will you cook for me again next year? Please?"

Silence. She couldn't promise him anything.

"Please? Will you?" he carried on.

"Will you?"

"Will you?" Disappointment started to show on his face.

She couldn't bear the sight of it, and quietly she sighed, "Let's see what happens."

He took it as a yes. His face lit up again, and he embraced her tighter. "A promise is a promise.

You have to keep it." He said excitedly.

When have I promised you? That wasn't a promise. Nathalia thought reluctantly, but seeing how pleased he was, she couldn't help feeling the joy as well. A smile appeared on her face.

Thinking back, Nathalia had passed out on the way to Venice and had no idea what was happening. Spencer was terribly worried and had almost set his mind to beat up anyone who was hurting Nathalia. Now on their way back to Miami, they were together, both feeling relieved and happy to have each other's company.