A silence settled between them.
Both of them understood that marriage wasnât an immediate possibility.
The rumors and challenges Edwin faced were too burdensome for any hasty decisions.
Laura, empathizing with his plight, pressed gently against him.
âWeâre almost like a married couple already,â she whispered.
Edwinâs response was a light laugh.
He leaned close to her ear.
âSo, should I stay over tonight?â
Laura knew it wasnât right to let things go too far in her parentsâ house.
Just then, Linaâs voice called out, inviting Edwin for his late-night snack.
Edwin, still close to her ear, teased in a playful tone, âYou know Iâm too worn out for anything else tonight.
â
Laura blushed at his implication, biting her lip.
âI wasnât thinking of anything.
â
Edwin looked at her with a smile, knowing that despite her shy exterior, Laura was quite passionate in their more intimate moments.
He casually dr@ped his coat on a coatrack in her room before leading her out to eat.
Lina had prepared sweet glutinous rice balls for him, some filled with sesame and others multicolored.
Edwin moved comfortably into the kitchen to find a smaller bowl, dishing out two for Laura.
âI know you donât want to gain weight, so just two for you,â he said, understanding her concerns.
Laura accepted his gesture with a soft murmur, her obedience clear.
Lina, watching this, laughed and turned to her husband.
âSee how thoughtful Edwin is? Why canât you be more like that?â she playfully chided.
Peter was engrossed in the World Cup finals on TV when Linaâs playful accusation prompted him to respond.
âIf you were eighteen again, Iâd be all over you,â he retorted with a light harrumph.
âBut at our age, too much affection just gives the young ones something to laugh at.
â