Chapter 567 A Quiet Blossoming of Love
Once the photo booth images had been printed, Patricia clutched them in her hands, her face alight with delight. James, however, seemed rather indifferent to the whole affair. Noticing his lack of enthusiasm, Patricia reached behind his head, pushing it down with a playful force.
"Look at these, they're wonderful," she urged, pointing at the pictures. "See the bow on your nose? It's quite the contrast to your usual stern facade, don't you think?"
A simultaneous twitch at the corners of James's mouth and eyes was his only response. He found himself questioning Patricia's peculiar taste in aesthetics. He couldn't fathom why she had a fondness for masks that bore an uncanny resemblance to wicked witches.
Yet, paradoxically, she also reveled in taking these saccharine, heart-filled photo booth pictures, adorned with bows and all things pink.
Wasn't there something inherently discordant about pairing a wicked witch with pink hearts and bows? And why on earth should he, a man of his stature, be expected to don a Spiderman mask for these decidedly feminine photo sessions? A butterfly bow hairpin atop Spiderman's head - was that really fitting?
It was in this moment that James discovered a hitherto unknown facet of Patricia - her girlish side.
Observing his silence, Patricia prodded, "Isn't it lovely?"
James's lips twitched in response as he muttered a half-hearted, "Lovely."
Patricia, blissfully oblivious to his lack of enthusiasm, continued to admire their chosen backdrop. "I think it's lovely too!" she declared contentedly.
She then extended her hand towards James, her palm facing upwards. James looked at her, puzzled.
"Give me your phone," Patricia demanded, a hint of impatience creeping into her voice.
Still not comprehending her request, James dutifully took out his phone and handed it to her. Patricia, without a moment's hesitation, snipped a photo sticker and affixed it to his phone.
The sticker depicted the two of them against the pinkest, softest, most adorable background imaginable. There was a pink balloon in the photo, and he was wearing a Spiderman mask while Patricia sported a witch's hat. Both of them had their cheeks puffed out, and Patricia was making a delightfully cheesy 'yay' gesture above his head.
The space around the balloon was filled with a myriad of colorful balloons, all in varying shades of pink - pinkish-blue, pinkish-purple, pinkish-red, pinkish-white. In short, it was a scene of overwhelming femininity.
James was left utterly dumbfounded.
Patricia, however, seemed thoroughly pleased with her artistic endeavor. She held up the phone, admiring her handiwork from different angles.
"This doesn't look half bad! You better not peel it off, or I'll be cross," she warned.
James couldn't help but question, "Do you think it's fitting for a grown man to have this on the back of his phone?"
Moreover, considering the current status of their relationship, wasn't this a bit premature?
Patricia, oblivious to the subtext in his words, peeled off another sticker and stuck it on her own phone. She giggled as she retorted, "What's the problem? It's rare to find photo sticker booths in Ivara City these days. I last took photos like these ten years ago. It felt like stepping back in time. Such a nostalgic moment."
James remained perplexed.
Patricia handed the phone back to James, not forgetting to remind him, "Take care of it, and don't peel it off, okay? If I get angry, there will be consequences."
James's slender fingers traced the edges of the sticker a few times. After a moment of hesitation, he resigned himself to silence and slipped the phone back into his pocket.
By the time they exited the mall, it was already eight in the evening. Regardless of the city, summer evenings always held a certain vibrancy. This place was no exception.
During the day, office workers sought refuge in their air-conditioned homes, only to emerge like nocturnal creatures once the sun had set, infusing the streets with a bustling energy.
"James, the hotel is within walking distance. Shall we make our way back on foot? Are you up to it?" Patricia inquired, her tone laced with an easy familiarity that had gradually woven itself into their exchanges.
She addressed him by his given name, dispensing with the formal 'Mr. James', subtly closing the gap that had once separated them.
Patricia had also observed a notable change in his persistent cough, which had been a constant source of irritation. It seemed to have subsided somewhat that day. He would still cough intermittently, but it was no longer the desperate, hacking cough of days past.
A spark of vitality flickered in James' eyes as he reflexively covered his mouth to suppress a cough. "I can manage," he assured her, "as long as we maintain a leisurely pace."
Patricia's smile revealed a row of gleaming teeth. "Then let's proceed on foot. I've heard that we'll pass a street bustling with snack vendors and a night market. Apparently, it's a culinary treasure trove."
Witnessing her smile, James felt a wave of warmth wash over him. It had been an eternity since he had seen her smile with the unadulterated joy of a young girl. This was their first such moment since their reunion.
Feeling the heat, Patricia found her mask increasingly suffocating after prolonged wear. She removed it and stowed it away in her bag. James followed her lead, discarding his mask and casually slipping his hands into his pockets as he ambled alongside Patricia.
As anticipated, after traversing a block, Patricia spotted the street. Food vendors occupied one side, while the night market sprawled across the other.
Her eyes sparkled as she neared a stand selling American-style waffles. She ordered a serving and remembered to extend the offer to James. "Would you like some?" she asked.
James declined with a shake of his head. "You go ahead—I'm not particularly hungry."
Aware of his health concerns and uncertain whether he could stomach such food, Patricia didn't insist and savored her waffle. She ate as she strolled, sampling anything that caught her fancy and even items that didn't.
James maintained a silent vigil, trailing closely behind her. A tender smile danced in his eyes as he watched her, seemingly captivated by the sight.
Before long, Patricia's stomach signaled its contentment. There were too many tantalizing treats, but eventually, she had to yield to her satiety. After exploring the snack street, they meandered through the night market. She selected various trinkets and remembered to purchase small gifts for Charles, Randy, and Fannie.
Initially, Patricia was the one carrying the bags of gifts. As they continued their stroll, Patricia noticed that James had somehow ended up holding all the items.
With her hands now free, she patted her rounded belly and sighed, "I think I may have overindulged. I'm rather full."
James regarded her with a puzzled expression.
It was more than just a little.
He began to question if her stomach was a bottomless pit.
How could she accommodate so much food?
They had only just finished dinner.
He had never observed her to have such a voracious appetite!
While James was musing to himself, Patricia abruptly seized his arm.
He halted in his tracks and turned to look at her. She was gazing at the night sky, her eyes wide and gleaming.
Illuminated by the soft, yellow glow of the streetlights, James found himself entranced by the sight of her.
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