woman wearing irish linen shirt

There is a restaurant with a very good reputation in the botanical garden, and a branch has even opened in the Raffles Hotel.Originally, if I was asked to decide on a date location, I would also take it into consideration: but I thought that Miss Pande would choose a more refined restaurant, such as a high-altitude restaurant, Kappo restaurant, etc. In short, it is worthy of her worth place.Most of the restaurants in the botanical garden are built close to the plants, either in the open air, or separated from many trees by beams and pillars. She doesn't like bugs, so she shouldn't have made such a choice.

Yet my wish was undoubtedly granted.The first time I saw her today, I wanted to take a walk with her in that place.For a moment, I didn't know who to thank silently in my heart: Miss Pan De who planned and led this date, or some god that didn't exist.

The car was parked outside, we put on masks and walked into the botanical garden.Miss Pande put down her sleeves on both sides, and even buttoned the cuffs neatly. I couldn't help laughing, but I felt hot for some reason. I carried her bag for her. Folded dress collar.She also buttoned the neckline tightly, and asked, "Isn't this not pretty enough?"

I couldn't help shaking my head: "You really don't know anything about your own beauty."

Miss Pan De raised her eyebrows, took the bag from my hand and said, "Since when did beauty affect clothes?"

"It's always been that way. Fashion is pretty people wearing rags, and then people follow suit."

"Who said that?" She frowned slightly, "This is completely wrong."

"I said."

Miss Pan De paused, and said very fluently: "Let me correct: this statement is not entirely correct. At least we know that the part of 'competing to imitate' is true."

I looked at her: "Since when did you tell such a lie?"

"I'm always considerate to my date."

I quietly guarded her on the side of the path that is a little farther away from the plants, but because the plants here are too lush, many children did not stay in the line according to the rules, and from time to time untrimmed leaves climbed to the side of the road, becoming A harmless stumbling block.When this kind of avoidance was unavoidable, I gently held her shoulders, but I put my hand down after walking through that section.

Miss Pender thanked me in a low voice.

Our destination is not far from Naseem Gate, in the middle of the botanical garden, it is the restaurant with excellent reputation.It will take a little time to walk over. Today is Saturday, and there are quite a lot of people in the park. I asked, "When is our reservation?"

"06:30. The restaurant will hold a table for us until seven o'clock."

I nodded, "Would you mind taking a walk?"

"of course not."

So we took the path with fewer people.She walked side by side with me, and the back of her hand occasionally rubbed against mine. I hesitated, but I still felt it was wrong, and finally put my hand in my trouser pocket.It is undoubtedly a pity that you can't breathe to your heart's content in such a place. Some children around quietly took off their masks and approached a beautiful ginger flower, but they were immediately reprimanded by the guardian in a low voice.

I walked a little slowly, seeing her sandals carefully finding a foothold on the grass-green cement walking path, I couldn't help laughing.

Miss Pender narrowed her eyes: "You often laugh today."

"Anyone who's ever had the honor of going on a date with you will be smiling a lot."

She didn't see the reaction that should have appeared after being complimented, and only said: "This answer is cheating."

"I'm just telling a fact." I suddenly felt playful, "Did you ever play the game 'Walk the White Line' when you were young?"

"You mean, set a goal for yourself, and you can't step on a certain thread while walking?"

I nodded.

"No." Unexpectedly, she denied, "I... rarely have the opportunity to walk to and from school."

I raised my eyebrows: "It sounds like money."

"It's not like that." She smiled and patted my arm. "When I was young, my family was always over-stressed. We are a relatively well-known family in the local area, but because of my face, my dad would There were extra worries. They relaxed a lot when they got to America, and even though it was a boarding school, I still felt like I had a rare freedom.”

I tilted my head and said in a low voice, "Because you are so beautiful?"

Miss Pande glanced at me and said with a smile, "Yes."

She used the word "face" instead of "skin color", and I knew it wasn't a matter of race.But I don't know much about her native cultural background or family, and it may be offensive to express any opinions hastily.So many years of experience overseas have taught me one thing: never cross the line.Sometimes people may feel that they are just curious, but they don't know that there is usually a lot of malice hidden behind it.This kind of ignorance of evil is terrible, and in extreme cases, it can even distort a person's morality.

"I thought you pre-set certain rules, for example, you can step on the yellowish ground, but you can't step on the greener ground." I changed the topic and talked about her criteria for choosing a foothold, "Isn't that the case?"

"It's cute what you say." She winked, "but I'm just avoiding bugs."

I laughed. "Maybe the botanical garden is not the best choice for us. Although there are not many mosquitoes here, it is not impossible to say that there is not one. You are going to have a hard time tonight."

She gave me a meaningful look back: "Let's hope it's worth it."

The restaurant arranged "window" seats for us.But there are no windows at all here, and everything beyond the beams and columns is green, and the palm tree closest to us is so close that we can touch its leaves with our hands.It feels a bit like eating in the forest - but on the ground there are blue and white patterned tiles embedded in small gray pebbles, full of Southeast Asian style.

Considering that Singapore is such a special place, it seems only natural to have dinner next to a palm tree.

The theme of this restaurant is ginger, and the modified French dishes are generous. The roast lamb chops are especially excellent. We all chose them according to the waiter's recommendation.Miss Pan De seemed to be here for the first time, but she had done a lot of homework and was able to introduce a few words when the main course came.The buttons on her neckline and cuffs returned to their original positions when she sat down, occasionally covering her chest when she was speaking.

I want to say that it doesn't matter if it is buttoned up, but when I think about it, I can't say it.

She hates bugs so much and still insists on choosing this place, she can't live up to her affection.

Had a great time with dinner.

It was already dark on the return journey, and all the lights in the botanical garden were turned on, which looked different from the daytime beauty.The night scene here is more local than usual, maybe it's my prejudice?I always feel that the scene at night is easier for people to realize the essence of Singapore.

Shanghai is bustling and Hong Kong is bustling, but Singapore is a well-ordered city surrounded by greenery.

I walked through the woods with her.

"Sometimes I feel like I still like it here." My shoulders occasionally rub against hers, with a secret sense of intimacy, "There are many, many trees, the transportation is convenient, people are efficient in doing things, and the local cats in Singapore are also very cute. .”

"Do you get bored sometimes?" She looked at me, not seeming to mind the touch.

"Well... the place is too small on the one hand, and on the other hand, the weather is too monotonous. It's either too hot or rainy." In order to cooperate with her, I walked out very slowly, and my body was a little wobbly.

It was clearly Miss Pan De who started this first, but she was the first to laugh again, almost unable to stop, really domineering.Fortunately, there are no companions on the road, and our childish behavior will not cause trouble to others.

When she was about to fall, I held her wrist, and let it go quickly: "Before I came to Singapore, I lived in a place where it snows heavily in winter. Occasionally, I will inevitably feel nostalgic. Do you like it?" Is it snowing?"

Miss Pender was still persistently playing the slow version of "Treading the White Line", saying: "I don't know. After a long summer, when it snows for the first time every year, I will have an inexplicable sense of excitement. Maybe Because it’s Thanksgiving and Christmas soon? But come to think of it, that’s not my holiday. Combined with the fact that Boston can get really, really cold, it’s really hard for me to express my feelings about winter.”

"Did you start school in Boston? When you first came to America."

"Correct."

"Wow. That's been years." I do the math. "It's pretty much your home in terms of time."

"Yes." She spoke in a soft voice, stopped and looked at me with dim eyes, "but it's not."

I drove the car on the way back.She was obviously very relieved to hand over the car to me, but to be honest, my third-class driver's license was changed directly after taking the theory test, and my experience in driving a right-hand drive car is quite limited. I didn't forget to ask her about the car after I fastened my seat belt. insurance situation.

Her mood improved slightly because of my joke.

"Sonia." At the traffic lights, I turned to look at her.Seeing her looking over, I couldn't help laughing, but at the same time said solemnly: "I had a great time today. And I was very relaxed, which is rare. Thank you."

Miss Pan De's eyes are so gentle that one can fall into them for a long time.But almost instantly, she had a teasing expression on her face, and said, "You should send me a message to tell me this after you get home."

"—and then you can get the signal for a second date?"

She glanced at me, only looking at the road ahead: "I'm good at reading signals, don't need that."

I lightly tapped the accelerator with my foot, without looking at her: "I want to have a second date with you."

Her reply was a few beats slower: "Each to each other."

The car drove back to the parking lot of Miss Pender's apartment.I deliberately slowed down my breathing, for fear that any change would betray my nervousness.She almost followed me out of the car without even reaching for her cell phone, which was still in the glove box.

I handed her the key back.Miss Pender stood some distance away from me.

I moved my throat: "Sonia."

"Ok?"

"Do you mind being intimate with me in public?" I looked at her.

She took a step closer without speaking.But Miss Pender's unfinished words leaked from her eyes, and I could feel it, as if an invisible hand was lingering around my cheeks, finding a satisfactory resting place at last.

she kissed me.