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A wistful sigh left my lips, and I felt Lina’s hand atop mine, warm, comforting. "But time ran out, didn't it?"
A nod was my confirmation, "Time ran out, and now... now I'll never know what it was he said. Patrick had wanted to be a chef, you know. But our parents had other plans. When he opened this restaurant, it was like his dreams had come true. His touch is there in every dish here. When you taste the food, you taste Patrick’s love."
"I wish I'd known him," Lina confessed. Her eyes were bright, glistening. "He sounds like a wonderful person."
"Everyone loved him," I admitted, my voice almost a whisper. "You would’ve loved him too."
Her next question broke the momentary silence that had surrounded us. "So, can you cook? Since you had a brother who was so passionate about it?"
At her words, a chill washed over me, reality hitting like a freight train. The 'had', the past tense when referring to Patrick, it sounded so final, so... unreal. I paled, my grip on her hand tightening. Even though the reality was harsh, I knew that death could not sever the bond between Patrick and me. He was still my brother, and while I might never get to hear his sweet laugh again, nothing could erase the memories we'd created.
Lina's smile faltered, a look of horror crossing her features as she realized the implication of her words. "I'm sorry," she stammered, "I didn't mean to..."
I shook my head, putting on a brave face as I cut her off. "You didn’t say anything wrong," I assured her. "As for your question, many have tried and failed to teach me cooking."
Her smile returned, this time a little more confident. "I'll be the one to finally teach you then."
I chuckled at her words. "I’m looking forward to it, but be warned," I added, a playful glint in my eyes, "But let me warn you, I’m much worse than you think."
The arrival of the first course acted as a fresh wave of excitement. A neatly plated herb-encrusted salmon with a side of asparagus was placed before Lina, while my dish, a juicy rib-eye steak, was a vision of culinary art.
Lina's eyes flicked between our plates, and with a pout, she said, "How come you don’t have to eat veggies? That’s not fair."
I chuckled, shaking my head as I said, "Well, if you eat all your greens, you might just grow to be as tall as me one day."
Her eyes narrowed playfully at my jibe as she proceeded to tackle her dish. A few minutes later, with the asparagus untouched but the salmon gone, she looked up at me with a triumphant grin. "Finished!"
I shot her a stern look, which made her blink in surprise. The Daddy persona was not one I often brought out in public. Her eyes widened a bit and I saw her shiver slightly, a response to my dominant stance. With a sigh of feigned exasperation, she turned back to her plate and began to eat the asparagus.
When the second course arrived, it was a delightful spread of sushi. Lina's eyes lit up with excitement, a look of determination on her face as she picked up the chopsticks. I watched with amusement as she fumbled, the sushi slipping from her grip and falling back onto the plate. She let out a small huff, her eyes sparkling with determination.
"I've got this," she insisted, trying again.
I could've helped, could've guided her hand or picked up the sushi for her, but I held back. I was beginning to understand that sometimes, being a Daddy also meant letting her struggle and learn on her own. As Lina finally managed to lift a piece of sushi with her chopsticks, the triumphant smile on her face was worth it.
While waiting for the third course, our conversation took a more personal turn.
"I remember being five or six, and every time I'd find a new fairytale book, I'd insist on playing the part of the princess," she said, her eyes taking on a dreamy quality. "I had this little plastic tiara, and I'd wear it all day. It was a way of escaping, I guess. As I grew up, the make-believe became something more, something I wanted to hold on to."
Her passion for role-playing as a princess was born out of a love for fantasy and an innocent desire to hold onto the magic of childhood. It was a privilege to share in that magic, to potentially offer her the safety and care she sought in her Little space.
"I know it's silly," she said with a faraway look in her eyes, her fingers playing with her napkin. "But I always longed for an idyllic fairy tale romance, kind of like the ones in my favorite childhood books."
Slipping into my Daddy persona, I said, my voice firm but gentle, "You are too hard on yourself, Lina. It isn't silly to dream."
I noticed a small shiver run through her and a soft blush painted her cheeks. The reaction brought a smirk to my lips - I couldn't deny the thrill that rushed through me at the effect my dominant voice had on her.
"When I was a kid, I had a dream too. Patrick and I... we used to stage and recreate advertisements we saw on TV. We had this clunky old camcorder, and we'd spend hours setting up scenes, picking costumes, everything." A small chuckle escaped me. "So guess what? Dreams do come true, because it led us to work in advertisement."
Her eyes widened slightly in surprise, an encouraging smile playing at her lips, and I continued, "Patrick and I also shared a love for model ships. It was mostly his thing, but I joined in, captivated by the need for precision, attention to detail, and meticulousness. Those are the same traits I bring to my role as a Daddy, you know. I remember coming home from school, and Patrick would be right at it, building model ships. I've adopted his hobby now, to honor his memory."
Lina's eyes softened as she reached out to cover my hand with hers. "I can see that Patrick meant a lot to you," she murmured. Her understanding, her willingness to learn about my past and accept it, warmed my heart.
As the rest of the courses arrived, it was as though a switch had been flipped in Lina. Her Little side came out in full force, and I watched in amusement and affection as she navigated the rest of the meal.
She did a little victory dance in her seat when the dessert - a velvety chocolate mousse and tiramisu - arrived, her eyes sparkling with delight. Every time she encountered a vegetable, a comically distasteful expression crossed her face, but she still took a bite, glancing up at me with a mischievous grin. I couldn't help but laugh at her antics, every action only endearing her to me more.
Soon, the restaurant's warm glow faded as we stepped into the cool night air, the moon casting an elegant sheen over the nearby lake. We found ourselves walking towards the water, our fingers entwined.
