Chapter 55 - Sushi Train

"What do you think of sushi train?" 

From staring at her own reflection on the car window, she creased her forehead hearing Noah talking about 'train sushi'. A faint memory from the past flashed at the back of her mind. She shut it down before her sentimental brain lingers on the image from the past. 

"Sushi train?" 

He chuckled with the puzzled expression on Jess' face. He ran his knuckles on her reddened cheek. It looks like her face got a bit sunburn even though they didn't stay that long under the sun. 

"It's the conveyor sushi. There is a good sushi restaurant in the downtown area." He glanced at his wristwatch, "It was already late, we could grab dinner first before I bring you home." 

"Do you also call it the sushi train?" 

She didn't answer Noah about his dinner invitation. The words 'sushi train' got stuck in her mind. She tried not to remember, yet her brain dove into the few good memories she had with her father. 

"My daughter is the one that called it sushi train. She enjoyed how sushi would run in the conveyor in front of her and she could choose whatever sushi she wanted to eat."

A shadow smile curled at the corner of his lips, remember the few good memories he had with her daughter, - before he messed up their family. He sighed looking over his shoulder to know if Jess would like sushi train for dinner. 

"I would love to have sushi train for dinner." 

She gave Noah a smile, then stare outside the car window again. They were already back in the main street. There is a small traffic build-up ahead since it's almost time when employees clock out from their jobs.

She loves most Japanese food, and sushi is one of her favorites. She eats sushi once or twice a week, but she hasn't been to a restaurant where there is conveyor sushi. She tried to remember when was the last time she had sushi train. She was quite young at that time, and she was with her father and mother. 

That was one of her few precious memories from her childhood. Her parents were civil enough for them to go on a trip as a family. That was the first time they visited Japan, for she wanted to be in Disneyland and eat in a sushi train restaurant. 

She chuckled inwardly with the memory of how her parents fought for they almost missed their flight back home because she and her father escaped from her mother to have another sushi train meal before going back home.

She requested or rather demanded that they eat in a sushi train restaurant every day during that four days family vacation they had. Her mother hated the idea of eating sushi every day, but her father would indulge her whim and would bring her to a different restaurant that has a sushi train.

She smiled with that memory. That was the last vacation they had as family...before her mother died of a car crash a few months away before her 8th birthday… and her father got her mother's best friend pregnant. 

"You okay, Baby?" 

He saw the turmoil of emotion that was playing on her face that he felt his heart being squished inside his ribcage. He had to park the car on the emergency bay of the highway. 

"Huh?" 

Jess was woken up from her daze. She was surprised to hear the worry in his voice. 

He removed his seatbelt and turned to the passenger side. He wiped the tears that fell from her eyes. 

"W-what?...are you doing?", she asked. She blinked her eyes, confused on why Noah leaning towards her seat with his blue eyes full of concern. When she felt his thumb gently brushing her cheeks, she went agape. It took her a while to realize she was crying!

"What's wrong? If you don't want to eat sushi we can go to another restaurant," he said, fretting over her. He cupped her face in his hands and kissed her tears away. "Tell me what you want, I'll do it...just don't cry, okay?" 

"I-I don't know why I'm crying… but it's not because of sushi." she accepted the tissue that he handed to her. She blew her nose, and stared back at his eyes, "I just remembered how I truly love sushi train." 

She gently bumped her forehead on Noah's shoulder. She felt so much better when he gently stroked her back. She tilted her face and kissed Noah on the neck. She watched his Adam apple bob when he swallowed. Her grin stretched across her face, as she realized why girls describe Adam's apple as sexy.

"Are you okay now?" He kissed her temple, glancing the time on his watch. They have to drive away from the emergency bay before the highway patrol approached them and asked what's their emergency. 

"Yes, I feel better now. Thank you." she put back her seatbelt that she didn't notice Noah unbuckled. She took a deep sigh, thinking her memory took her back. And all it needs was a sushi train for her to remember that bittersweet memory. 

Noah drove to the sushi restaurant with her hand clasped in his. Every now and then, he would bring it to his lips and gave it a gentle kiss. 

The stillness inside the car felt like a soothing balm in her broken heart. That she rested her head on his shoulder all the way to the restaurant. 

"Noah, if you don't mind me asking...how old are you?" 

He knitted his brows, glancing at her face. "I just turned 32 last February." 

"February…" 

He chuckled, "Miss Zimmerman, my birthday is on the 29th of February." 

She snapped up, "Seriously? You have the same birthday with one of my best friends!" 

"What a coincidence," she muttered under her breath. 

"What is it? I have a feeling that wasn't the question you wanted to ask."

"Uhm, how old is your daughter, Noah? I mean...I don't want to pry…"

"She's eight going on thirty." he chuckled. Pride was evident in his voice every time he talked about his daughter. 

"Eight, and she has the same birthday as mine…" she whispered, but it was clear enough for Noah to hear.

"How do you know my daughter's birthday?" he asked, surprised. 

Jess went rigid. 'Shit, what did I say?'

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