Theo abruptly pushed his chair back, the legs scraping against the floor as he stood. After everything he'd just heard, it was clear he was ready to bolt. He turned to leave, muttering something under his breath.
But before he could take a step, Cherry moved in front of him again. "Wait, wait—don't go, my little madman!" she said, hands half-raised in peace.
"I get it, okay? You probably think I've lost my mind. And maybe I have. But I really need someone, anyone, to help me here! And at this point, I don't have anyone else to turn to. Please."
Just then, the waiter arrived, placing their food neatly on the table. The plates clinked softly, and the aroma of warm food settled between them. Once the waiter left, Cherry gently gestured toward the meal.
"Alright, look... at least eat first," she said. "We'll talk while you chew. No pressure, no lecture. Just... lunch and conversation?"
Theo didn't look convinced, but he also seemed to understand that this woman wasn't about to let him go anytime soon. So, reluctantly, he sat down again, picking up his fork with a sigh.
A moment later, his eyes narrowed. He glanced down at the spread in front of him.
"Wait a second… this is an entire meal. I didn't order all this."
Cherry gave him a bright, innocent smile. "Wow, you noticed fast."
Theo shot her a look that screamed: As if you even gave me a second to think anything logical.
Cherry laughed. "I ordered it. Thought I'd at least treat you to lunch, since I've already hijacked so much of your time."
"Go on," she added, nudging a plate toward him. "Eat up. It's on me."
Theo didn't say anything, but he didn't protest either. He just started eating, silently accepting the fact that this bizarre lunch was far from over.
Then finally his eyes flicked between his meal and Cherry's, suspicion dancing across his usually indifferent expression.
On his side:
– Starter: Greek yogurt parfait with fresh berries and a drizzle of honey
– Main Course: Grilled salmon bowl with quinoa, roasted sweet potato, and creamy avocado
– Side: Baby carrots glazed in cinnamon and olive oil
– Drink: Chilled coconut water with a hint of vanilla
On Cherry's side:
– Starter: Spicy shrimp ceviche with lime and jalapeño
– Main Course: Rich lamb rogan josh served with saffron rice and garlic naan
– Side: Charred Brussels sprouts tossed in chili oil
– Drink: Sparkling ginger-lime soda
The difference was impossible to ignore, his meal looked like something straight out of a health magazine, while hers radiated heat, spice, and indulgence.
Theo finally pointed it out, frowning.
"What's going on here? You ordered yourself a whole feast of flavorful dishes… and gave me this… baby carrot platter?"
Cherry looked up with playful innocence.
"Well, at home, you always eat according to some strict diet- uh nutritionist, counting your macros and whatever. I thought I'd respect your lifestyle choices and go healthy."
Theo squinted at her. "Since when do you care about what I eat?"
She gave a smug little smile. "Oh, I watch everything. I have a very sharp eye."
A pause. Theo smirked faintly. "Clearly. Otherwise, how else would you have managed to trap my dad?"
"Trap?" Cherry's gasped theatrically.
" Excuse me? That's a bit much coming from a six-year-old."
Theo didn't respond, he just looked at her, unimpressed, and silently returned to eating.
Cherry watched him for a moment, then her expression softened. Without a word, she took a spoonful of her rice and spicy shrimp, carefully balancing it, and held it out across the table toward him.
"Here. Try it," she said simply. " It's good."
" ... "
Theo stared at the spoon, then at her. It was all strange for him.
"What wrong? Just one bite, hmm?" her voice light but persuasive. "I know how much you care about your health and all,
but don't you ever crave something a little spicy, tangy, sweet every now and then?
Cherry continued playfully, "And let's be real, kids aren't supposed to drink tea either, but you sip it like you're some old man in a library. So what's the harm in one little bite, huh?"
She made it sound like nothing and she had a point.
One spoonful wouldn't kill me, he thought.
But then again… it isn't just a bite, it's her bite.The spoon had already been in her mouth. It was technically her leftovers.And I have never eaten someone else's food in my entire life.
He was about to turn away, about to mutter a rejection when something strange happened.
Something about this moment, about the way she offered it so naturally, so gently…
Without realizing it, his body leaned forward. His mouth opened on its own, and before he could stop himself, he accepted the bite straight from her hand.
The taste surprised him.
Soft rice, perfectly cooked. The shrimp, tender and flavorful. The seasoning bold, spicy, but balanced. His eyes widened slightly. It is… delicious.
Cherry caught his reaction and chuckled softly to herself.
No matter how grown-up he tried to act, how stiff he kept his expression, deep down, he was still just a kid. And when something delighted him, it showed right away on his face. That brief flicker of wonder, of enjoyment, it was childlike, and very real.
Without waiting for anything, Cherry began sharing more of her food. She pushed little portions of her spicy lamb, the charred Brussels sprouts, and even a bit of the fiery ceviche onto his plate, just a bit of everything.
Theo looked up at her, his brows twitching slightly in protest, but she raised her hand and waved him off.
"Eat, eat. And don't argue," she said, scooping a small portion of his quinoa and sweet potato salad onto her own plate. "You've got so much food, you won't finish it all anyway. Let's trade a little, it's fair."
Her tone was light, like she wasn't doing anything out of the ordinary. Like sharing food between them was the most natural thing in the world.
Theo didn't say anything. He simply picked up his fork again and resumed eating.
In between bites, Cherry continued trying to bring the conversation back to what was truly on her mind.
"So... like I was saying earlier, according to this novel world's logic, you've been some kind of science prodigy since childhood, right? … can't you help me find a way back home?"
"Can you… I don't know… build a time machine? I mean, sure, it would need a lot of complicated stuff, but you're from a wealthy family, aren't you? Getting those materials shouldn't be that big of a deal for you. And you already got the brains. You have both!"
"Or maybe you know someone like you? Another genius? A professor? Some eccentric old scientist? Someone who might actually understand what I'm going through? Who could help?"
"A mad scientist? A magical object? Some new-age experiment? Shock therapy? Space travel? A secret tunnel that leads to the Earth's core? Anything?! I swear, I'm ready to try it all!"
"What if... what if, there's some magical object? Or a bizarre experiment gone wrong? A hidden cave that leads to another dimension? Maybe I need to go to space? Or take some kind of... shock therapy? I'll do anything, I'm not joking?!"
"Please, little madma-Theo… I don't know anyone here?! No one would believe me if I told them the truth. But I trusted you. I thought... maybe you'd listen? And maybe… you'd able to help me?... "
Her eyes searched his face, waiting for even a flicker of emotion, a hint of support or help. But Theo didn't just say a word. The little boy heard everything, but he just remained silent.
A few days passed in a blur, each blending into the next. During this time, Cherry continued to casually talk with Theo now and then, sharing light moments, asking questions, making casual conversation.
But deep down, she had slowly come to terms with a quiet truth: no matter what role the novel claimed he played, Theo was still just a school-going child. Expecting too much from him would be hopeless.
So, while she kept up her friendly interactions with him, she began focusing more seriously on her own escape. If she wanted to find a way back to her world or at least understand what had happened, she would have to rely on herself.
These days, Cherry had collected stacks of books, thick and thin, on every strange concept she could think of: parallel universes, soul exchanges, transmigration, time loops, metaphysical phenomena. She read them page after page, highlighting theories, scribbling notes, and connecting dots that may not have even existed.
Papers were scattered across her bed, post-it notes covered the walls, and her brand new laptop remained open to tabs discussing interdimensional travel and bizarre case studies. She had even begun contacting people, researchers, bloggers, conspiracy theorists—anyone who might know something, anything. Any phone number or contact she found tucked inside dusty indexes or obscure websites, she followed up.
But despite all her effort—no breakthrough. No hidden code, no portal, no answer.
Still, she didn't give up. The weight of disappointment pressed against her chest at times, but her determination was fiercer.