Page 59 of All That She Needs

Once we emerged onto the sidewalk, the chaos of the street greeted us. This part of the city was busier, more chaotic than the business district where our office was located. The air was alive with the scents of street food and smoke, the city's energy pulsating around us.

"It's only a short walk from here," I told her, while she was busy glancing around, taking in the scene in front of her with fascination. She nodded, mumbling anokay, her gaze never leaving the colorful storefronts and bustling streets, even as she trailed behind me.

I slowed my pace, allowing her to catch up as she became captivated by a group of boys gathered on a nearby bench, singing a rap tune. We stopped for a moment to watch them. "It's amazing, isn't it?" I asked, smiling at her enthusiasm. "So alive in here."

Her eyes turned to mine, and she smiled. "I've never been here before," she said, her voice full of wonder. "I can't believe this is so close to our office."

"It's not that close if we take the car," I replied, chuckling lightly. "That's probably why you've never seen it."

"It reminds me of my teenage years. I used to live in an area like this," She said, as we continued our walk, her eyes sparkling with nostalgia as she pointed at the boys now behind us. "I had friends who liked to dance and sing on the streets, just like them. I joined in a few times, but I can't singordance," she chuckled lightly. "So, I just watched them. I loved watching them."

A subtle worry pulled at my heart as I watched her expression turn wistful. "My Ma didn't like it, though. She said it disturbed my studying." She paused for a moment, allowing the memory to surface. "Our family had little money. The only way for us to afford a higher education was through scholarships. That idea was drilled into us since we were little. So, I didn't have many experiences having fun with the other kids. I missed out on being that carefree."

Her voice held a bittersweet quality, and I could sense the weight of her past. I squeezed her hand gently and said, "You can still do that now, you know. Having fun."

She looked up at me, her eyes reflecting a hint of hope. "Yeah?"

"Asha, you can do whatever you want to make you happy."

"And no one's going to stop me?" She chuckled, a musical sound that bubbled out from her lips.

"Who dared to stop you?" I replied playfully, giving her hand another light squeeze. "No more holding back, Asha. You deserve to enjoy life."

"Yeah, I know." She grinned broadly, causing her nose to wrinkle slightly, and I felt an overwhelming urge to trap it between my teeth. "I might do that."

"This is the place." We stopped in front of a Chinese restaurant called Double Dragon. The restaurant had a simple yet welcoming façade, with a red awning and a wooden sign that hung above the door. Lanterns hung from the awning. A large mural of a majestic dragon decorated one wall right next to the entrance door. The Double Dragon had been around for over fifty years, run by the same family from generation to generation.

"It looks authentic," Asha commented, her eyes sweeping over the façade. "I can imagine the food must be good."

"Oh, definitely so good," I confirmed as I opened the door. The enticing aroma of spices immediately made my mouth water, and the sound of clinking dishes promised a satisfying meal. "I've been coming here for ages. Never found any place as good as this one."

"Liam!" a familiar voice called out from my left, followed by the unmistakable sound of heavy footsteps—more like sprinting than walking. "Liaaaamm!"

I spun toward the voice and grinned when I saw a short, heavyset man wearing a white apron over a black T-shirt and Hawaiian shorts, his hair tucked under a black hairnet. "Andy!" I spread my arms wide, already knowing what was coming. As usual, he rushed toward me, ready to jump into my arms. Andy, a sixty-year-old Chinese guy who owned the restaurant and served as its main chef, was a serious hugger. He hugged just about everyone he knew, and there was no escaping it.

"How are you doing, old man?" I gave his back a firm rub. "Business good?"

"Good, good," he nodded eagerly, finally releasing me from his grip. "I couldn't be more grateful." Then he slapped my arm with surprising force, making me wince. For an old man, hestill had quite the swing. "I haven't seen you in months! Too busy for me, huh?"

"Sorry," I said sheepishly, rubbing my arm, which still stung from his slap. "I've been swamped with work."

At that moment, Andy's gaze shifted to Asha, who stood beside me, watching him with a curious smile.

"Andy, meet Asha," I introduced, gesturing toward her. Then I thumbed back at Andy. "Andy's an old friend of mine. He owns this place."

"What a lovely lady!" Andy's booming voice echoed through the restaurant, even louder than before. All eyes turned to Asha, and her cheeks flushed a deep red.

I couldn't help but chuckle softly, finding her reaction absolutely endearing.

"I've known Liam for over ten years, and this is the first time he's brought a lady," Andy continued, clearly enjoying himself. "Usually, it's just him. Sometimes, he brings his brothers, but never a lady. Now I see why." He reached out, gripping Asha's arms, and she immediately tensed. "He was waiting for someone as beautiful as you."

Asha shot me a glance, clearly flustered by all the attention, and I quickly stepped in. "Alright, Andy, let's not scare her off before we even sit down."

"Yes, yes." Andy looked around the bustling restaurant, searching for an empty table. I suddenly realized that I'd forgotten to call ahead and book one, too caught up in the excitement of finally having a date with Asha.

"I'll set you up at my table," he said, nodding toward the back. "Nobody's using it right now."

Andy always reserved a spare table for himself or his family, who would often drop by for meals. It was his personal spot, and offering it to us was a very special gesture from him.

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