Chapter 4: Dinner

I groaned as the sound of my alarm blasted through my ears, making me wish I could just hit snooze and roll over for another five minutes. But I knew that wasn't an option. With a sigh, I reached over and silenced the alarm, burying my face in my pillow for just a moment longer.

"Ugh, I just want to sleep for a month and wake up when everything is better," I muttered to myself, staring up at the ceiling. But my stomach had other plans. It growled loudly, reminding me that I hadn't eaten anything since the night before.

Reluctantly, I dragged myself out of bed and shuffled into the kitchen. I opened the cupboards and scanned the shelves, hoping against hope that some miracle had occurred overnight and my empty kitchen would now be stocked with food. But of course, that wasn't the case. All I had was a sad little packet of instant noodles.

I couldn't help but think of that old fable about the man who lived on instant noodles. He would cut them in half and save one piece for later, and somehow he never ran out. "Yeah, right," I scoffed, shaking my head. "As if that would ever happen to me."

With a sigh, I filled a pot with water and set it on the stove to boil. As I waited for the water to heat up, I couldn't help but feel a sense of despair wash over me. I had been unemployed for months, and my savings were quickly dwindling. I had no idea how I was going to pay my rent this month, let alone buy groceries.

Just as I was about to pour the noodles into the pot, I heard a loud noise coming from outside. It sounded like someone was moving furniture. I peeked out the window and saw a moving truck parked in front of my apartment building. Looked like I had a new neighbor.

I shrugged and went back to making my sad little breakfast. I was just about to sit down and eat when there was a knock on the door. I hesitated for a moment, wondering if I should answer it. But curiosity got the better of me, and I opened the door to find a tall, handsome man standing in the hallway.

"Hi, I'm Eddie," he said, extending his hand. "I just moved in next door. I thought I'd come over and introduce myself."

I shook his hand and introduced myself. "Nice to meet you, Eddie. I'm Luna."

Eddie smiled and handed me a bag. "I brought you a little welcome gift," he said. "I hope you like it."

I peeked inside the bag and was shocked to see that it was filled with all sorts of goodies: fresh fruit, a loaf of bread, a hunk of cheese, and even a bottle of wine. I was touched by his generosity. It was like a miracle had come out of nowhere, like finding a fresh, sweet orange in the middle of a barren desert.

Eddie didn't seem to notice, but my eyes were practically popping out of my head as I took in the contents of the bag. I was so caught up in my excitement that I didn't even realize Eddie was still standing there until he cleared his throat.

"Oh, um, thank you so much, Eddie," I said, trying to compose myself. "This is really kind of you."

Eddie just waved his hand dismissively. "No problem at all. I just wanted to do something nice for my new neighbor."

I couldn't help but feel a little embarrassed that he had seen me about to eat instant noodles for breakfast. It was clear that he had noticed the smell, too.

"You can eat this before the instant noodles, at least it's a little healthier," Eddie said with a smile.

I nodded, feeling a little self-conscious. "Yeah, things have been a bit tough lately," I admitted. "But I'm hoping that will change soon."

Eddie nodded sympathetically. "I hope so, too. In the meantime, I hope this helps."

I thanked him again and closed the door, clutching the bag of goodies to my chest. I couldn't believe my luck. Not only did I have a new neighbor, but he was also charming, handsome, and generous.

I quickly finished off my instant noodles and then dug into the food Eddie had given me. It was like a feast compared to what I had been eating lately. I savored every bite, feeling grateful for this unexpected blessing.

As I ate, I couldn't help but feel a sense of hope. Maybe things were finally starting to look up for me. Maybe this was the turning point I had been waiting for.

I finished my meal and then returned to my room, feeling a little more optimistic than I had in a while. But as I lay in bed, my mind started to wander. I couldn't help but wonder who Eddie really was. Where did he come from? What was his story? And why was he so nice to me?

There was something about him that seemed almost too good to be true. I couldn't shake the feeling that there was more to Eddie than met the eye. His unique charisma seemed to beckon me to dig deeper, to uncover the secrets that lay hidden beneath the surface.

I didn't know why, but I had a feeling that Eddie had a very interesting past. And I was determined to find out more.

**

The following morning, I awoke feeling refreshed and rejuvenated. I got dressed and headed to the kitchen to whip up some breakfast, but to my surprise, the fridge was completely empty. I frowned, trying to recall if I had finished all the food Eddie had given me. And indeed, I had consumed it all the previous day. It seemed that I would have to confront my financial issues once again.

"Looks like it's fasting time for you, Luna," I joked to myself, attempting to lighten the mood with my odd sense of humor.

Just then, there was a knock on the door. My eyes widened, as if I knew who it was and hoped that the person would bring me some good news. I opened the door to find Eddie standing there, holding a bag of groceries.

"I thought you might need some more food," he said, handing me the bag. "I hope you don't mind."

I was speechless. I couldn't believe he had gone out of his way to buy me groceries. "Thank you so much, Eddie," I said, my voice filled with emotion. "You have no idea how much this means to me."

Eddie smiled and shrugged. "It's no big deal. I just wanted to help. Plus, I thought it would give us an excuse to get to know each other better. How about we cook dinner together tonight?"

I was taken aback. I never expected Eddie to say that. It was as if an angel had been sent to ensure I didn't starve to death.

I nodded eagerly. "Sounds good. I'll make something special."

Eddie grinned. "I'm looking forward to it. See you tonight."

I closed the door and looked at the grocery bag in my hand. I couldn't believe my luck.

"Is my luck finally turning around?" I whispered to myself.

I knew I wasn't a generous person due to my limited funds, but it was as if some divine force had sent Eddie to keep me sane and well-fed.

I paced nervously around my apartment, trying to decide what to cook for dinner.

"No, Luna, you can't cook something that will embarrass you," I whispered to myself.

Just as I was about to start chopping vegetables, there was another knock on the door. I opened it to find Eddie standing there, holding an even larger bag of groceries.

"Hey, Luna," he said, flashing me his sweet smile.

He had left earlier and now returned with even more groceries.

"I hope I'm not bothering you again," he said.

I shook my head and ushered him inside. "Not at all. I was just about to start cooking."

Eddie placed his bag on the table and began to remove the contents. I was impressed by the variety of ingredients he had brought: fresh vegetables, meat, spices, and even a bottle of wine.

"Wow, you really came prepared," I said, raising my eyebrows.

Eddie chuckled. "I think we should make the most of it. Plus, I love to cook."

He explained that the groceries he had given me earlier were for my personal use, while the ones he brought now were for our dinner together.

"I don't want you to feel like you have to use the groceries I gave you earlier for our dinner," he said.

I nodded, feeling a little intimidated. I wasn't exactly a pro in the kitchen, and I was worried that my cooking skills wouldn't be up to par. But Eddie seemed unfazed by my lack of experience.

"Don't worry, Luna," he said, sensing my hesitation. "I'll help you. We'll make this a team effort."

I smiled gratefully and handed him the apron. "Okay, let's do it."

We spent the next hour chopping, sautéing, and seasoning. Eddie was an expert in the kitchen, and I found myself in awe as he effortlessly maneuvered around the stove.

At one point, I even jokingly asked him if he was a chef. Eddie chuckled and replied that he was just a factory worker.

As we cooked, we talked about many things, including our shared love for nature. Eddie's words resonated with me.

"I've always been fascinated by how nature works," he said, stirring a pot of boiling sauce. "There's something so beautiful about the complexity of life."

I nodded in agreement. "I know what you mean. I'm always amazed by the way everything is interconnected. It's like a giant puzzle, and I love trying to figure out how all the pieces fit together."

Eddie smiled and looked at me with a warmth in his eyes that made my heart flutter. "I couldn't have said it better myself."

As we continued to cook, I couldn't help but feel a connection with Eddie. It was as if we had known each other for years, even though we had just met.

However, as the evening wore on, I began to feel nervous. The apartment building had strict rules about cooking, and I was worried that the smoke from the stove would trigger the fire alarm.

And then there was the fine for violating it. I was already struggling financially, and I couldn't afford to pay a fine.

But Eddie seemed to sense my worries.

"Don't worry, Luna," Eddie said, sensing my concern. "I have a portable fan. We can just point it at the smokestack, and it should be fine."

I breathed a sigh of relief and thanked Eddie for his foresight. We finished cooking and sat down to enjoy our meal. The food was delicious, and I couldn't help but feel grateful for Eddie's help.

As we ate, we continued to talk about our love for biology. Eddie told me about his favorite books and documentaries, and I shared my own recommendations.

However, as the evening progressed, I began to feel a different connection with Eddie. There was an undeniable chemistry between us, and I felt drawn to him in a way that I couldn't explain.

Eddie must have sensed it too, because he reached across the table and took my hand. "Luna," he said, his voice low and husky. "I have to tell you something."

I stared at him, my heart pounding. "What is it?"

Eddie took a deep breath. "I know this might sound crazy, but I feel like I've known you all my life. There's something about you that just... clicks. And I don't want to let it go."

I felt a lump in my throat. I'd never felt this way before, and I didn't know what to say.

But before I could answer, Eddie leaned in and kissed me. It was a soft and gentle kiss, but it sent jolts of electricity through my body.

When we finally pulled away, I looked into Eddie's eyes and knew that I felt the same way. "I feel it too," I whispered.

"How about we start with a blessing?" asked Eddie, and I nodded.

We spent the rest of the night chatting, laughing, and getting to know each other. It was the best night I'd had in a long time, and I couldn't wait to see what the future held.

Lying in bed that night, I couldn't stop smiling. I had never felt so happy and content.

"It seems that luck is finally on my side," I said as I tried to close my eyes, not realizing that it was very wrong. The biggest misfortune of my life would come after this.