To the Love of My Life

Ruby’s dark eyes are fixed on Steve for a long time before she finally blinks. After another long while, she blinks again and finally realizes that Steve is apologizing to her.

In her memory, Steve has always been a very proud man since childhood. Hearing him apologize, let alone uttering sweet and gentle words, was a rarity.

But now, he is actually apologizing to her.

Ruby feels her heartbeat speeding up inexplicably; she senses some barriers deep in her heart slowly breaking apart.

Ruby’s lips tremble slightly. Though she has accepted others’ apologies before, it is Steve’s “I’m sorry” that leaves her unsure how to respond. After a while, she manages to compose herself and smiles faintly, gesturing at the dishes on the table, “It’s okay… all that is in the past… if you really like the food I cook, I can make it for you in the future.”

As she speaks, Ruby picks up her chopsticks, takes a piece of tofu, and puts it in Steve’s bowl, “Let’s not talk about those unpleasant things from the past. The food’s getting cold; let’s eat.”

Afterward, Ruby gives Steve a bright, open-mouthed smile.

Steve looks at Ruby’s smile, blinks, nods gently, and starts eating with his chopsticks lowered.

Ruby never knew that an apology from Steve could lift her spirits like this.

Even she doesn’t understand the reason for her elation; thus, she can’t help but smile at Steve from time to time while eating.

Perhaps it’s the influence of Steve’s “I’m sorry”, but when she sees him finish a glass of milk, Ruby boldly gets up and refills his bowl with the milk left in her pot.

Steve had actually eaten dinner before coming to find Ruby, so he wasn’t hungry. If the food hadn’t been cooked by Ruby, he wouldn’t have eaten at all. After drinking a glass of milk and having some light dishes, he’s already somewhat full. However, when Ruby personally refills his bowl, he doesn’t refuse.

Living alone, Ruby cooks just enough food for herself to avoid leftovers. Today, she added more water out of haste when leaving the house, resulting in twice the amount of milk she normally makes.

She’s actually eating more now than in her previous meals, but she’s still not full after finishing her glass of milk. Perhaps it’s because her mood has improved that her appetite follows suit.

The meal initially prepared for one has now left only a little soup between the two of them. Ruby, slightly unsatisfied, uses her spoon to scrape up the remaining rice grains in her bowl and puts them in her mouth. As she glances up, she sees Steve elegantly and unhurriedly sipping his now nearly full bowl of milk across from her.

Suddenly, she feels a pang of regret at the bottom of her heart; she shouldn’t have so generously poured all the milk for him earlier. She should have left half for herself.