44 Favorites?

With her assiduousness, she managed to not only cover the beginner's trail but also aced the intermediate trail. She was about to move to the next when Shui Xian had to hold her back saying, "Let's leave something for next time."

Raelle didn't argue with that especially since the sun was already setting. Taking off their gear, he took her to the coffee shop in the resort. Taking a seat near the window, Shui Xian went to place their order.

Raelle looked out the window as she placed her clasped hands over the table. Though the land outside was a shiver of white, sunset came in with those warm orange hues. As the sun peeked from behind the white peak, it felt as if the snow was in the warm embrace of the sun. It looked surreal.

Hearing a sound, Raelle turned her eyes and saw that Shui Xian had placed a ceramic mug before her that had swirls of white milk foam on top, spotted with cocoa powder. A chocolaty aroma assaulted her senses making her mind wander.

"You really didn't get hurt?" he asked looking at her with concern.

Raelle had her hands wrapped around the ceramic mug, letting the warmth flow through her fingers, banishing the wintry chill. She shook her head, "Why are you making me repeat it? I'm really okay."

Shui Xian took a sip of his hot chocolate as said, "But you fell so many times. And yet you insisted on continuing."

"I don't have a habit of giving up," she retorted with her eyes stuck to his lips that had a cream mustache. She stretched her arm and wiped the cream mustache with the pad of her thumb. Shui Xian went stiff for a moment and heard her say, "I just saw that girl doing it."

As she was about to take back her hand, he held her wrist and put her thumb into his mouth. She continued to blink at him with her unchanging expression as he licked her thumb clean and said, "I'm sure this was the next part."

Raelle asked curiously, "How did you know?"

He pursed his lips to hold back his laughter and said, "Because I've seen it way too many times."

The most simple things in life are usually the most beautiful ones like this one cup filled with dark, rich hot chocolate that coated her tongue thickly before flowing down her throat. After that tiring activity, this moment was definitely meant to be relished.

"I like all seasons," she replied sincerely. "I don't pick favorites. What if the rest mind?"

"The rest?"

"The rest of seasons," she elaborated. "That's why I don't pick just one."

"Why did I ask that question?" He muttered to himself after having a moment of silence.

Raelle responded with, "How would I know that?"

"What about your favorite color?"

"I like it all."

"What about your favorite food? Any preferences?"

"I can eat everything. No preferences."

He was just trying to figure out her taste but apparently, she didn't know it herself yet. He really couldn't understand how someone didn't have a favorite food. Don't we all have that one comfort food we can eat whenever and wherever without getting tired?

Shui Xian leaned back into his chair with a deep breath and asked, "Since you love to read, you must have a favorite book."

Raelle still shook her head, "I told you already, I have never read the same book twice. As for why I don't have favorites..." She thought about it before trying to say it in simple words, "Every book I read has taught me something. Something new. So, each book has its own special meaning to me. How can I just pick one? Wouldn't it be unfair?" Shui Xian was staring at her silently as she went on, "Hope you can see now why I said, I'm peculiar."

Shui Xian listened intently and knew he wouldn't be able to find faults with what she said. He bit his bottom lip while his eyes wandered out the window. "Won't you ask me about my favorite color or food?"

"Your favorite color is white," said Raelle taking him by surprise. "And you like to eat sweet things."

Shui Xian's lips parted slightly but for a moment nothing came out except for the breath that he could see. "How do you know?"

"Your personal space is filled with white," she answered. "Either it's your bedroom or study. Everything is white." Shui Xian nodded his head as she went on, "As for how I know that you like sweet things... Don't you make it too obvious?"

"I did?" He questioned. "When did I?"

"You ordered yourself Tiramisu coffee when we last time met at a café," she told him. "You're having hot chocolate with extra cream and syrup. You keep chocolates in your side drawer."

"When did you see that?"

"When you're taking out your watch," she replied.

"I don't even know what to say right now," he said in a low voice as he ran a hand over his face.

"Then don't," was her response.

Shui Xian rubbed the nape of his neck and nodded his head, "Yes, I shouldn't say anything for now."

"Xian?"

Raelle heard a feminine voice calling out her husband's name with a bit of uncertainty from right behind her. But she didn't turn, instead, her eyes were on Shui Xian's expressions that seemed to have hardened.