...The rest of the afternoon passed quietly....
...Damien continued stocking shelves while Lyra wandered through the store, looking at different snacks she had no intention of buying....
...Every few minutes, she'd glance at him....
...Every time she caught him looking back, she'd smile....
...Damien quickly looked away....
...She laughed to herself....
..."You really are shy," she whispered, knowing he couldn't hear her....
...A few minutes later, Damien's manager walked over and tapped him lightly on the shoulder....
...He exaggerated his words so Damien could read his lips....
..."Lunch break."...
...Damien nodded....
...He removed his apron and headed toward the small staff room in the back....
...Just as he opened the door, someone gently tapped his arm....
...He turned around....
...Lyra stood there, holding her notebook....
...She wrote quickly....
...Is it okay if I wait for you?...
...Damien blinked....
...Wait for me?...
...She nodded....
...If you don't mind....
...For a second, Damien forgot how to respond....
...No one had ever asked to wait for him before....
...He looked down and smiled....
...Then he wrote,...
...I don't mind....
...Lyra's face lit up....
..."I'll be right here," she said slowly so he could read her lips....
...Damien nodded before disappearing into the staff room....
...Twenty minutes later......
...He stepped outside carrying a small lunch box....
...Two slices of bread....
...A boiled egg....
...And a bottle of water....
...Lyra looked at the lunch, then at Damien....
..."That's... all?"...
...He shrugged....
...She frowned....
..."You call that lunch?"...
...Damien smiled awkwardly and took out his notebook....
...It's cheap....
...Lyra stared at those two words....
...Then she quietly opened her backpack....
...She pulled out another lunch box....
...Damien looked confused....
...She opened it....
...Inside were homemade rice balls, fried chicken, sliced fruit, and vegetables....
...She pushed the lunch box toward him....
...Damien immediately shook his head....
...No....
..."Why not?"...
...He wrote,...
...It's yours....
...She smiled....
..."My grandmother always makes too much."...
...She paused before adding,...
..."And if I take everything home, she'll make me eat it all."...
...Damien raised an eyebrow....
...She looked away dramatically....
..."I'm serious."...
...He wasn't convinced....
...She sighed....
..."Fine."...
...She grabbed her notebook....
...That's only half true....
...Damien laughed silently....
...She smiled proudly....
..."There you go."...
...She pointed at him....
..."I made you laugh again."...
...He wrote,...
...You're impossible....
..."I've been told that."...
...She broke one of the rice balls in half and placed it on a napkin in front of him....
..."Half for you."...
...Damien looked at the food....
...Then at Lyra....
...Then back at the food....
...Slowly, he accepted it....
...He picked up his pen....
...Thank you....
...Lyra smiled softly....
..."You don't have to thank me every time."...
...Damien looked at her for a moment....
...Then he wrote,...
...No one's ever shared their lunch with me before....
...Lyra's smile disappeared....
..."What?"...
...He lowered his eyes....
...I usually eat alone....
...For several seconds, she didn't move....
...Her heart ached....
...She couldn't imagine spending every lunch break alone....
...She gently pushed the rest of the lunch box toward him....
..."Then..."...
...She spoke slowly so he could read her lips....
..."You don't have to eat alone anymore."...
...Damien looked up....
...Their eyes met....
...He felt something warm spread through his chest....
...Not excitement....
...Not nervousness....
...Comfort....
...A feeling he hadn't known in years....
...Without realizing it, he smiled....
...A real one....
...Lyra smiled back....
..."I like that smile."...
...Damien quickly looked away....
...His cheeks turned pink....
...k do have a sense of humor!"...
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