"Oh! Our takeouts are here! They’re fast."
Conrad exclaid after checking his phone, seeing the notification of the lunch delivery. His cry broke the eye contact between Lariette and Ruediger. They looked at the sound engineer.
"How about having lunch in the backyard?" Conrad suggested. He took off the headphones from his head, then put them on the console, "The weather’s nice."
"Sounds good," Ruediger quickly agreed. He glanced at Lariette with a smile tugging on his lips, "What do you say, Lettie?"
"Ah? I’m good."
Lariette nodded, her eyes still having traces of haziness. As Ruediger and Conrad resud talking, her gaze drifted to her hand which was still held by him. Pursing her lips, she sensed the heat emanating from her cheeks.
Sohow, his touch seed to tickle her heart more than usual.
Lariette lowered her chin. She didn’t attempt to take her hand out of Ruediger’s. A wish to have this mont stayed longer blood in her heart.
"I gonna get the takeout. Rudy, show Lariette to the backyard."
"Yeah. We’ll get so drinks too."
Ruediger only released Lariette’s hand before they headed out of the studio with Conrad. While the sound engineer rushed to the front door, he led her to the backyard. They brought along so drinks from the pantry.
A modest but charming backyard welcod Lariette. Her lips curled as she saw a small patio lined with wooden furniture and potted plants, sheltered by the extended roof.
A tree stood imposingly at one corner of the yard near the black steel fence. The afternoon sun basked everything in its golden hue. Its warmth helped to lessen the chill carried by the crisp autumn breeze.
"You can put the drinks here."
Ruediger’s voice lured Lariette’s attention away from the surroundings. She saw him placing the drinks on the bamboo table in the middle of the seating area.
"Okay."
The dazed look in Lariette’s eyes earned soft chuckles from Ruediger. Standing with one hand on his hip, he said, "It’s not as peaceful as your cottage back in Moonville, but this place is quite calm."
Lariette laughed before nodding. She threw her gaze around, "I didn’t even hear vehicles here. Haven’t anyone bought or rented the other units yet?"
The entire compound was gated and guarded. Lariette thought more people were available in this place, yet it was hard to hear even a car’s engine as it rolled down the street.
Ruediger’s eyes glinted mysteriously upon hearing Lariette’s inquiry. A corner of his lips rose higher.
"Last I heard, the owner hasn’t listed the rest of the units for rentals. I’m lucky enough to buy one lot before he bought the others."
Lariette whistled softly. Shaking her head, she asked with a frown on her forehead, "Who is the owner? Does he like collecting properties like playing a board ga? And just let them all rot?"
Ruediger almost choked on nothing. He laughed awkwardly, "Haha... Maybe he is."
Lariette exhaled a sigh. She cast another look at the unoccupied buildings. This place was suitable for tech startups, architects’ offices and designers’ studios.
Ruediger darted his eyes elsewhere, hoping Lariette wouldn’t ask more about the sad, vacant units. He almost cried in relief once he saw Conrad appearing with the takeout bag.
The three of them sat in the seating area, enjoying lunch. The scent of beef and chicken dumplings, also of the marinated chicken, mingled with the earthy sll of fallen leaves.
Lariette quietly listened as Ruediger and Conrad talked about the recently completed recording session. She didn’t really understand, but it was obvious how well invested the two n were in the topic of the cover song.
Boosting the lower harmonies? What was that?
Smoothing out the breaths in the bridge?
Cleaning up sothing in the mix before mastering?
What were those?
Even without Lariette asking for the anings, Ruediger usually paused from talking to Conrad just to explain them to her. She was able to understand his simple yet concise explanation.
Lariette enjoyed being here. As she silently watched Ruediger bickered with Conrad over their opinions, she saw another side of him that glowed from within.
’He said he started singing out of a whim. He won’t keep it going for over a decade if he’s not passionate.’
Lariette inwardly laughed at herself as she recalled the tis she spent listening to Mr. Drear’s cover songs. She also rembered when he replied to her comnts, usually thanking her for the ongoing support.
The Lariette from ten years ago wouldn’t ever expect to be in a contractual marriage with the faceless singing sensation behind the na Mr. Drear.
’Life is unexpected.’
When the breeze picked up again, Lariette instinctively tucked the stray strand of her side bangs behind her ear. She glanced between Ruediger and Conrad as they shifted talking about the release schedule. Her ears perked up because she wondered about it too.
"Done with your illustration yet?" Conrad asked. He took a few mouthfuls of drink before resuming, "Just send it to by next week. I’ll schedule the upload on Saturday at midnight."
"Yes. I completed it the other day," Ruediger replied, referring to the art he often used for any of the videos. Grinning, he glanced at Lariette, "I gonna show it to Lettie before I send it to you."
Conrad scoffed. He deliberately rolled his eyes as if Ruediger’s remarks annoyed him, "Yes, yes, show it to your dear wife first. Don’t bother about a pitiful single one like ."
"Of course, I need to prioritize my dear wife. Don’t be jealous."
"Urgh..."
Ruediger and Conrad’s exchange flushed the bloom color on Lariette’s cheeks. Her eyes traced to the crimson-haired man, whose strands fluttered softly by the breeze.
This was bad.
Why did she feel too conscious about such things as if she was a high school girl having a crush?
Blinking, Lariette darted her gaze away. She stared at the takeout box on her lap. Her heart quivered as what she tried not to think about before was conjured in her mind.
’Like... Do I like him more than... No. This too fast.’
Lariette paused her thoughts, afraid of giving a na to the feeling in her heart.
But not for too long.
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