Chapter 20: Challenges and Walls

"How's work?" he asked, as soon as both of them sat down.
"Great." she answered, smiling. Edmund nodded.
"I heard that you are quitting?"

Emma looks at him, ready to answer when the waiter came upon them with the menu. She signals with her eyes that the answer will have to wait until they'realone again.

"Chicken salad and onions." Edmund the first to order.
"Same here." Emma follows.

"Drinks?"
"Emma?"
"Lemon snooze." she looks at him intently.
"Same here." he said.

The waiter moves away.

"Wow, you're a copycat..." she jokes.
"You're the unoriginal one. Chicken salad and onions..." he replies.
"Well, I didn't mean to have the same craving for onions."
"Same here."
"Copycat!" she laughs. He laughs with her, enjoying the sound of it. Enjoying the fact that he made her laugh.

"Yes, I quit. But I still have to work there for another 60days." she said.
"Why?"
"Because Adam said that he needs me there to train his new sec. And it's in the protocol that I have to stay for that duration."
Edmund nodded.

Typical Adam to do that. Letting her go without letting her go. Just like once before.

A different waiter comes with their orders. Putting the same chicken salad and onions and lemon snooze on the table.

"Well,is this what you want really? To quit?" he asked her.
"Yes. I'm not going anywhere staying there. If I wanna move on, I can't be doing the same thing." she answers.
"Like killing the cancer." he retorts.
Emma smiles acknowledgingly.
"Yes, like killing the cancer."

"I'm glad that you finally make this decision." he said, boldly touching the back of her hands in encouragement.
She opens her mouth to say her appreciation when she saw him.

Him. Standing behind Edmund, staring intently at his hand on hers.

"Adam?"

Edmund looked at her quizzically before realizing she wasn't looking at him. He looked back,and saw Adam. And not understanding why, taking his hand off hers in silent grudge.

"Hi, Emma. Didn't know you're here with... ah, the family doctor. How are you, Ed?" his gaze moves from Emma to Edmund, giving him an unknowing look.

"Fine, thank you."

"Oh, matching dinner. Interesting. I didn't know you had it in you, Edmund... this old age way to woman's heart. A bit tacky, but still works." he laughs, patting Edmund's back. 
"Yes, Adam. A bit tacky. But I started it." Emma answers.

"Touche..." he answers, smiling undefinitely.

"Oh well. It's a pleasure to see both of you. Well, I gotta go. Anything, I will be there near the pool there. I'm having dinner with Mr Takeyoshi, as you know, Emma. We met him before."
"Oh yes, the D-tech Project." she answered.
"Yes, the D-tech Project. I proposed to you right after that, remember?"

Edmund saw her face changes.

"Yes." she answers timidly.

Adam looks at Edmund and smiled, and Edmund understand that look clearly. It's not just a friendly smile. It's telling him that all their agreement in his office once upon an April is now off. He is backing out from the plan. Adam doen't want him in the picture.

"Oh yes, I remembered that one too. I saw you right after he proposed and thinking what a lucky guy... the most beautiful girl I've ever seen. I kept thinking if I can be at his place, I would not let this one go." he took Emma's hand again, and gives her the most encouraging smile. Emma mouths her appreciation to him.

He turns his gaze towards Adam, knowingly informing him with his eyes that he isn't going nowhere. He IS in the picture, and Adam must find another way to delete it.

"Yes, and she is still not being let go. I can assure you that." Adam challenges. "Good evening to both of you chicken-saladers." he gives them a little head bow, his eyes sparkling anger towards Edmund, and a knowing acknowledgement towards Emma.          

Edmund understands it well.
And Emma...

She starts to build a wall inside her, without knowing what it is she is trying to avoid.

To be continued...