We ate in silence, we drank in silence, but most especially… we sat in silence.
Through our appetizers healthy and green, through our first refills of sparkling water, we've barely exchanged another word with each other throughout the whole while. Our eyes did most of the talking.
As we fiddled and prodded our plates with salad forks and soup spoons, every once in a while, either her or I, perhaps sometimes both, would find ourselves catching each other's eye almost on the verge of saying something… but ultimately always just staring away with nothing.
Not much of a lively mood, all things considered… and just like my fancy leafy salad chomped and gnashed, the guilt was gnawing at me endlessly from the inside.
This was a grandiose outing generously at her expense. An exorbitant, extravagant date burning a hole the size of Jupiter in her pocket, the least I could do was make an effort here… let her know I appreciate it.