Yours, Until Needed
Chapter 101: Night Market

Chapter 101: Night Market

Sadly, I was unsuccessful in elbowing my husband. But I’d never admit to giving it my all.

I refuse to believe none of that landed properly.

"Don’t blame me for getting wrinkles. You’re the one that keeps on frowning at everything." Lucian shrugged as we walked out of the cinema hand in hand.

"Wow. Who else would cause me to age like this?!"

"I always treat you like a baby, so I don’t know what you’re on about."

Grrrr!

Lucian seems to be enjoying himself while I seethe in frustration.

"What do you want to eat for dinner?" He asked as he buckled up my seatbelt.

"Street food!" I wasn’t one to shy away from picking, so I immediately gave him an answer.

"I figured. There’s a newly opened night market. Are you okay with that?" He asked as he drove us off.

"Yeah!"

Interestingly, he’s even updated about new night markets. Maybe that was how he always seemed prepared for all business opportunities.

The new night market was bustling with people. It seemed like these vendors managed to attract a sizable crowd. Various food and drinks were displayed for purchase, and my stomach longed to try as many of them as possible!

But then, someone grabbed my hand before I could run off to explore paradise.

"Eh?"

"I had a feeling you’d run like the wind. It’s crowded. Don’t just disappear randomly. You’re too short. What if you get lost?"

"Who’s short?! You’re short! Your whole family is short!"

"Hmph!"

For the record, I was not short, not even by modeling standards. He’s just annoyingly tall.

"Aren’t you being too mean for someone who’s on a date?" I asked, wanting to find out what kind of date this was.

"I don’t think so. Not when you’re fine kissi—" I had to interrupt Lucian’s mouth by plugging it up with my free hand.

"You! We’re in public. Can you control that mouth of yours?!" There was no need to check my reflection. I was sure about the blush creeping from my neck.

It hadn’t even been that long, and I was still reeling from making out in a public cinema.

Rina and I used to think that those people should just get a room instead. Why even bother going to the moviehouse to watch a movie when all they were planning on doing was each other, anyway?

Then, lo and behold. I was being done inside the cinema and enjoyed every bit of it.

Dammit. Now I’m a weirdo, too.

So, I decided to unleash my fury by letting my husband taste test for me.

Every time I see something squiggly or something unique, I look up at Lucian intently.

"Honey, could you please try that?" I said while pointing at a few questionable items.

"And you know to call me honey while trying to kill me, I see."

"Why would I even want to kill my own golden goose?"

"Insurance money." He just retorted while putting his chin above my head.

"Between the two of us, your stomach should be more familiar with such unique cuisine, right?"

To the onlookers, who were increasing by the moment, we probably looked really sweet. Lucian’s chin rested on my head while he had his arms around my waist, encircling me from the back.

But I knew better.

This guy locked me in to taste the food I planned to make him eat! Since I already paid for the food, once the vendor finishes grilling it, I’ll have to take it with my free hands.

That really happened when the older lady tried handing over the grilled sticks, and Lucian really made me take them.

"Hey! You’re really after my belly!" I tried looking up, though my head was blocked by his head.

"Oh! Then, customer, if you’re pregnant, you should probably give these to your husband!" The older lady suddenly interjected, misinterpreting my earlier statement.

"Ah, no—" I raised my free hand to say no, but Lucian beat me to it.

"I see. Then let’s try to preserve that ’food baby’ of yours."

Then Lucian swooped in to take a bite of that grilled pig’s blood that I was holding.

And I just fed him. Holding up the sticks against his mouth. Lucian ate obediently, and the stall owner couldn’t help but sing praises about my "sweet husband"!

Meanwhile, I just watched in horror as his eyes kept on, signaling delayed revenge. These people weren’t aware of how his eyes glinted every time he took a bite.

"Maybe that’s okay. You...you don’t need to finish all of it. We could just bring it home." I trembled as I tried to save myself.

"It won’t be good to waste food, honey."

Oh yeah, I’m screwed.

By the time we finished, we’d managed to attract an audience, so Lucian just smiled at the stall owner before leaving. We did block the entrance for a while, after all.

"Thank you for your patronage, and congratulations on your baby!" She smiled, and I wanted to disappear. But Lucian just pulled me towards the other stores.

This time, I only got familiar items and made sure to only feed him great-tasting ones.

"What, are you trying to atone? Isn’t it a bit too late, my dear?"

That made me shudder. That was not my fault! Who said anything about a baby?

"Hey! It was not me who said anything about a baby! Duke it out with the old lady!"

"Maybe I really ought to put one in there." Lucian looked at my stomach, and my knees buckled at his gaze.

"You’re done eating?" He added, still staring.

So, I panicked and tried to buy time.

"How about we watch the river light show from here?" I pointed to the edge of the night market, which opened into a viewing park.

Lucian just chuckled but went anyway.

We ended up by the river, standing by the bars while looking at the illuminated bridge.

It was still cold, and I regretted not bringing a thicker coat. I wasn’t exactly prepared to go out like this.

"Cold?"

"I’m fine, just didn’t expect it to still be this cold."

But Lucian ignored that. Instead, he pulled me against him, wrapping both of us in his coat.

"Weren’t you supposed to offer your coat instead of this? Now we look like a spring roll." I chuckled at his idea.

"It’s cold, and I’m not a masochist. Plus, this does a better job at warming you."

*Badump!*

How unfair. How very, very unfair.

I closed my eyes and just nuzzled against his chest, savoring his scent that didn’t diminish from all the grilling fumes.

It’s really easy to misinterpret him like this. What does he expect to happen when he acts in this way?

"You should probably stop using your brain." Lucian knocked on my head lightly, and I glared at him for good measure.

"Your weird antics leave me with no choice. You’re all to blame for this." I told him, looking up from my comfortable position.

"You call it weird but I don’t see you hating on it."

"Isn’t that the problem?"

"It wouldn’t be if you just did whatever you wanted." Lucian knocked again.

What am I, a coconut?

"Easy for you to say." It was really easy for him because he’s not experiencing long-term side effects. Who’s going to be liable if I end up developing feelings for this asswipe?

"Since when have I even stopped you from doing whatever you wanted?"

"Then, can Chester sleep with us on the bed?"

His face darkened, and I chuckled as I caught him off guard.

"No, just buy a large mattress, then cuddle with him there."

Eliana: 1 Lucian: 0