Chapter 43-Wouldn’t lie about food

Chapter 43: 43-Wouldn’t lie about food

"But all of that are based on me, what about you? What have you decided for yourself?"

Aymara’s breath caught. It had been a long time since someone had asked her about herself and the plans she was thinking of concerning her own life.

"Me-me?" She asked, startled.

With Dylan, Aymara had never really thought about herself. Her world had revolved around him, and she had measured her happiness by his approval and her worth by the love she thought he gave her.

Now Nathaniel had put her on the spot with one simple question: What did she want for herself? For once, Aymara had no answer. She had spent so long planning how to survive the apocalypse that she had never considered what she would do afterward.

She knew how to secure the ship, grow crops, preserve supplies, and protect Nathaniel. But what did she want when there was no apocalypse to prepare for, no enemy to defeat, and no crisis demanding her attention?

The answer was simple. She wanted to survive until the very end, then live well—a peaceful life, a comfortable home, good food, warm mornings, laughter, and freedom. And perhaps Nathaniel beside her.

He picked up his spoon. "Then don’t sit there watching me like I’m a guest," he said, changing the topic to stop giving a hard time.

Whether she had a plan for herself or not wasn’t something she needed to decide on immediately. They had time and she could think it up slowly and come to a decision that is just hers, not one born out of desperation or pressure.

She blinked. "What?"

"If this is our fortress..." He glanced at the second plate. "Then eat with me," he invited her.

For a moment, Aymara could only stare at him. She had prepared the meal for him and imagined watching him eat, imagined the system declaring her mission complete. She hadn’t expected him to pull her into the moment, to make the dinner something shared instead of something she had done for him from a careful distance.

Her throat tightened. "Okay."

She picked up her own spoon and sat down next to him to join him to eat.

Nathaniel took the first bite, and his eyes widened almost imperceptibly. Aymara watched him like someone waiting for the result of an examination.

"Well?"

Nathaniel swallowed. "It’s good."

Her face lit up. "Really?" She was fishing for praise and compliment from him.

"Really. It’s finger licking good. When did you learn how to cook so well?"

Aymara’s smile became enormous at the praise. She quickly looked toward the invisible system. "Come on. Give it me now."

Nathaniel raised an eyebrow. "Come on what?"

"Nothing," she waved him off.

She clasped her hands beneath the table. The system remained silent. Aymara wanted to drag it out and force the mysterious gift out of it.

Nathaniel took another bite, then another. Aymara’s eyes followed every movement, but this time he noticed her watching him and met her gaze.

"You can stop staring and eat your food now, Mara."

Nathaniel looked at her innocently, as though he hadn’t just dropped a bomb into her heart. He didn’t know he had.

"I need to know if you like it," he added with a small smile and then she froze.

"Hic!"

Aymara’s eyes widened.

"Hic!"

Another hiccup escaped her before she could stop it. The intimate nickname had finally registered. Mara, he had shortened her name.

And hearing it from Nathaniel made her heart flutter in a way she absolutely wasn’t prepared for.

Nathaniel, apparently oblivious to the chaos he had caused, reached for the water pitcher. "Here."

He poured a glass and handed it to her. Aymara quickly accepted it, trying to regain her composure.

"Thank you," she whispered.

Their fingers brushed when she took the cup from him. "Hic!" Her entire body stiffened as another series of hiccups hit her.

That tiny touch only made things worse. Heat rushed from her fingertips up her arm, spreading across her skin until her cheeks felt like they were on fire.

She lowered her gaze, desperately hoping Nathaniel wouldn’t notice. Unfortunately, her hiccups seemed determined to betray her.

"Hic!"

Nathaniel frowned slightly. "Are you okay?" he asked in a worried tone.

"I’m fine!"

"Hic!"

Aymara wanted to disappear. Nathaniel stared at her for a moment before gently pushing the glass closer to her again.

"Drink."

She nodded rapidly and took several gulps, refusing to meet his eyes.

How was she supposed to remain calm when the man she had spent six years missing was suddenly sitting in front of her, calling her Mara and casually touching her hand?

Her heart was beating far too loudly and judging by the warmth spreading across her face, she suspected the apocalypse wasn’t the only thing threatening her anymore.

"So do you like the food?" She asked between sips. Changing the topic, again.

"I said I did. It’s delicious... Why wouldn’t I like it?"

"You could be lying."

"Why would I lie about soup?" He asked, taking another spoonful. The taste reminded him of home, which from the start until now has only ever had only one name, her. "I’m enjoying the meal."

"You could lie to make me feel better."

Nathaniel lowered his spoon. "Aymara," the quiet warning in his voice made her look at him. He held her gaze. "I wouldn’t lie about food."

The words were simple, but they landed with startling force. Outside, the world was collapsing. The television continued counting the dead. Yet here he was, looking at her as if this small meal mattered enough to be honest about.

Aymara lowered her eyes. "Then keep eating."

His mouth curved faintly. "Yes, commander."

Finally, the system reacted.

Ding!

Aymara nearly jumped with excitement. She was looking forward to the gift that she started shaking her leg.

[Mission Complete.]

Her eyes sparkled with anticipation. Butterflies fluttered in her belly.

[Congratulations, Host.]

[Beloved has enjoyed a good dinner.]

[Mysterious Gift unlocked.]

Aymara’s lips parted.

The system paused. Then another message appeared.

[Would you like to reveal the mysterious gift now?]

Aymara stared at the words. Her entire face lit up. "Yes!"

Nathaniel stopped eating. "What happened?"

Aymara immediately covered her mouth. "Nothing. Keep eating."

Nathaniel narrowed his eyes. "You said yes to nothing. Is it just me or have you grown weird with time?"

Aymara smiled innocently. "I was talking to myself." Again.

Nathaniel sighed. "I’ll learn not to ask about it in the future."

Aymara barely heard him. Her attention was completely focused on the system. The mysterious gift was about to be revealed, and judging by the system’s dramatic pause, it was probably something extraordinary. She could hardly wait.

Nathaniel watched her for another moment, then quietly reached for the serving bowl and placed more food on her plate.

Aymara looked down. "You gave me more?"

"You barely ate."

"You noticed?" Her eyes raised to his, feeling touched to have him put food on her plate, just like he always did in the past. ℯ

"I notice things."

Her heart gave a small, painful flutter. She was moved by his attention to detail.

The tsunami continued through the night. Meanwhile, Aymara sat beside Nathaniel, sharing dinner in the fortress they had just begun calling theirs, smiling like a child waiting to open a present.

For the first time since the apocalypse began, she was genuinely excited to see what tomorrow would bring.