While at Cedarwood, Sam and Aurora exchanged phone numbers.
It was then that Sam unexpectedly learned Aurora’s father was originally from Cedarwood.
It was also during this ti that Sam beca aware of the situation between Aurora and Mia.
Speaking of which, Sam, who had recently taken a part-ti job at a convenience store, noticed that Mia had stopped ntioning Aurora, continuing to avoid discussing her family matters as before.
After the sowhat flirtatious incident at the bar that night, it seed as if nothing had changed between them; they continued to interact as usual.
This was why Sam preferred dealing with mature won. They tended to be more emotionally stable, not rushing to escalate relationships over minor issues, allowing him to keep pace...
And yes, he was referring to Angel!
After pondering for a mont, Sam answered the call.
The bus hadn’t arrived yet, and he had nothing else to do.
"Hello, Officer Aurora, what’s up at this hour?"
The voice on the other end was straightforward.
"I got off work early today. Are you free to grab so dinner?"
"Ah, unfortunately, I’ve already eaten."
Sam lied effortlessly.
"It’s only this early and you’ve already had dinner? Don’t joke with , you should just be leaving school around now."
Sam looked around, wondering if this woman was nearby, keeping an eye on him.
After hesitating briefly, he heard the voice from the phone.
"I don’t have the ti to surveil you, and my duties wouldn’t allow to do such a thing to civilians, rest assured."
"Ha-ha, why would I ever think that of Officer Aurora? In my heart, you’re definitely a person of integrity!"
"That’s how you should see . So, about my earlier proposal, how about we have dinner together?"
Sam chuckled before responding.
"No need for dinner, just tell what’s on your mind directly, that way we won’t waste any ti."
"Even though you’re younger than , you do have so ideas. However, I usually dine alone, and today I suddenly felt like trying sothing different. Alright, I’ve made a reservation at a restaurant and will send you the location. Just co."
With that, the call was promptly ended.
A few seconds later, a location not far away popped up on his phone.
Sam hesitated as he looked at his device.
What’s with won these days... all trying to act mature in front of ?
But then again, he had no choice. Besides Ava and Sophie, all the won around Sam were older than him.
Even Angel was a few months his senior.
Aurora had made her intentions clear, Sam sighed and watched the bus that had just arrived.
If only the bus had arrived earlier. But life is devoid of "ifs," everything is as fate deems best.
Watching the bus leave the station, Sam turned and hailed a taxi nearby.
Following the location sent by Aurora, he headed straight for the destination.
Actually, among other won, Aurora made Sam slightly more at ease because the purpose of her reaching out was solely about matters concerning Mia.
Even before eting, Sam pretty much knew her intentions.
Given Aurora’s identity as a police officer, her moral integrity likely made her actions seem more normal.
Soon, he arrived at the location. The journey didn’t afford Sam much ti to enjoy the scenery, and the gloomy weather gradually darkened, signaling the early arrival of autumn with its noticeably earlier nightfall.
Of course, it was only early evening.
The restaurant was located in a relatively less bustling area of the city, adorned with a whimsically large fork-holding figure at its entrance.
Hmm... it looked quite like Louis.
At this ti, the restaurant wasn’t crowded, with only two or three tables occupied.
A solitary female figure seated by the window, exuding an aura of loneliness yet possessing an undeniable air of elegance, was unmistakably the most dazzling presence in the room.
Aurora’s charm was direct and unmistakable, not the kind that’s hidden but rather unique and prominent.
It wasn’t her sensuality that stood out, but a certain ’dashing grace’ that likely stemd from her profession and lifestyle, giving her an air of straightforwardness and acuteness.
She was dressed in casual attire—a short-sleeved shirt paired with slim-fit jeans. Her face was bare of makeup, and her hair was tied in a high ponytail, epitomizing the image of an urban beauty.
But being in her presence naturally ca with an invisible pressure, as if one automatically beca a suspect under interrogation.
Sam approached her and took his seat calmly.
Aurora looked at Sam and smiled slightly.
"You got here quite fast; I thought you’d be later."
Sam responded with a smile, "How could I dare delay when commanded by an officer?"
"Now is not work hours, and I’m not in uniform," Aurora replied with a smile.
"Are you carrying handcuffs, then?" Sam joked.
"If you attempt anything illegal right now, you’ll find out soon enough," she quipped, her professionalism evident even off-duty.
Sam took a sip of water from his glass.
"Alright then, Officer Aurora, let’s get down to business."
Aurora gazed out at the darkening sky outside the window.
"Let’s talk over dinner; now that you’re here, it would be rude not to eat first."
Sam ordered a fillet mignon, and Aurora chose a steak as well, followed by so appetizers.
As the restaurant’s soft music began to play and more people started to arrive, their table gradually filled with dishes.
After taking a small bite of her steak and chewing thoughtfully, Aurora finally spoke up.
"Have you been working lately? I haven’t seen Mia post any photos of you recently."
Aurora’s dining manners were indeed graceful, displaying both culture and basic etiquette.
Sam responded calmly, "Of course, I need to work. Otherwise, what would I eat? Are you offering to support ? As for the photos... I might have ntioned sothing to her, so Mia has toned it down a bit."
Aurora smiled at Sam, then squinted her eyes playfully. "If you want to support you, I’d have to send you to jail first. That way, the governnt will take care of you. Want to give it a try?"
Sam rolled his eyes, prompting a smile from the woman across him, who continued, "Did sothing special happen between you and Mia? She’s not one to change her habits often. There must have been so reason for her to avoid doing such things."
Sothing special?
The bar incident... That probably counted. Indeed, since that day, Mia hadn’t attempted to sneak photos of him anymore. The specific reason, however, was unknown to Sam.
"It was okay, I guess. She insisted on taking to a bar a few days ago, so I went. Didn’t notice any change after that."
There wasn’t much to hide about this incident. Apart from playing gas, nothing more ambiguous had happened, so Sam could speak of it without guilt.
"A bar? She took you to a place like that?"
Seeing Aurora’s hesitant look, Sam couldn’t help but say, "You think it’s excessive too, right? Trying to turn an outstanding high school student like into a degenerate youth, only knowing how to hang around bars and drown in alcohol, it’s practically criminal!"
Aurora blinked at Sam. "Just a reminder, among those caught for drug use and trafficking in bars, nine out of ten claim they were dragged into it by soone else."
Sam awkwardly took a sip of water. "But there’s still one left, isn’t there?"
"That last one overdosed and is now in a vegetative state, incapable of speaking."
"...Okay, then."
The conversation hit an awkward pause, and Sam thought Aurora had a unique talent for steering discussions into dead ends using her job.
However, Aurora quickly shifted gears. "So, how are things progressing with Mia?"
"Progress? What progress? I’ve said we’re just in a normal employer-employee relationship, not much private communication."
"I an about the matter I’ve entrusted to you."
"Oh... that," Sam realized.
Aurora fixed her gaze on him. "What else? Tell , when can you get her to sit down and have a proper talk with ?"
Sam pondered for a mont. "I haven’t exactly agreed to do this... But since Officer Aurora is treating to dinner, I’ll try a bit. However, there doesn’t seem to be any indication of such a possibility recently. She still won’t bring up anything about you guys on her own."
Aurora expressed her frustration. "Of course, she won’t bring it up herself. You need to initiate the conversation or hint at it sohow."
"I’m just an outsider; how can I bring up such topics?"
"Then find a way to get closer to her."
"Huh?"
Sam imdiately sensed sothing off.
Aurora coughed. "I an, beco good friends. There’s a saying, isn’t there? If you can’t be lovers, you can still be good friends. Beco the kind of friends who can talk about anything. Then, when she lets her guard down, you make your move..."
Wait a minute.
Wasn’t this getting weirder the more she talked?
"Officer Aurora, you’re a cop, why does it feel like you’re tempting to commit a cri?"
Aurora glared at Sam. "That’s because your thoughts are improper. My approach is perfectly normal, and you should work towards that direction."
Sam spread his hands in response. "If you’re so knowledgeable, why don’t you do it yourself?"
Aurora’s tone heightened, sowhat angrily. "If I could do it myself, I would have by now. It’s just that my relationship with her is currently quite awkward!"
It was strange for Aurora, who was usually so calm and composed, even in the face of dangerous criminals, to lose her temper like this during a al with Sam.
"This is how it is... I’ll try, but no guarantees. My stance is the sa as before: I’ll help if I can, but I won’t quit my part-ti job just to assist you. You understand that, right, Officer Aurora?"
Aurora took a sip of water, not replying but staring intently at Sam.
"Are you done eating?"
Sam paused. "Yes, what’s up?"
Aurora nodded. "Good, then you should have energy now?"
Energy... for what?
"I always have energy... but what do you want to do?"
Aurora smirked, her gaze becoming oddly intense, so much so that Sam felt a chill run down his spine, tension building inside him.
Aurora glanced at the darkened sky outside, then back at Sam with a perfectly curved smile. "Great, now that it’s dark, taking advantage of this ti, this great opportunity, we should deepen our conversation." Discover stories with .Côm
"Deepen our conversation?"
Aurora leaned forward slightly, hands on the table, moving her face closer to Sam’s. "Don’t you think it’s a waste not to have a bit more... interaction on such a good occasion?"
"That’s... probably not a good idea. We’ve only t a few tis, and I might not be in the best state today..."
"It’s either a yes or a no. What do you an by not being in a good state?"
"I an, I’m definitely capable, but..."
"Then no need for further talk, co with . Waiter, the check."
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