part 3

Daren stepped towards the reception while Saya moved towards the exit.

Daren spent a few moments inquiring with the young man at the reception and then walked back to Saya.

"Today is my lucky day," he said. "There's a restaurant just a short walking distance from the hotel that you'd like."

"What's it called?"

"Bascule."

"How's the food?"

"Bascule is a bar," Daren said, winking with his left eye. "Let's go there first; we'll eat later."

"Where?"

"At Sushi."

"Who's Sushi?"

"That's the name of the restaurant."

"How's the food?"

"Excellent."

"Great."

"We'll have that excellent meal later," Daren said. "First, we go to Bascule."

"But I'm hungry."

"Then let's go to Sushi first," Daren agreed to his wife's request and added, "We'll have our drinks back in our room later."

Saya was pleased and extended her hand. Daren took his newlywed wife's hand in his. Enchanted by love and eager for an open-air dining experience, Saya walked with him to the restaurant named Sushi, which was, in fact, just a five-minute walk from their hotel.

"Oh…" The moment they placed their order, a sigh escaped Daren's lips.

"What happened?" Saya asked, surprised.

"I think I left my phone back at the hotel," Daren said while checking all the pockets of his suit one by one.

"It's not there?" Saya watched as he finished his search and asked.

"No," Daren said, making a face.

"Let it be," Saya said. "We'll be going back after dinner anyway. You can get it then."

"No," Daren said with disappointment. "I might get a call."

"If someone calls and doesn't get an answer, they'll call again," she reasoned. "Just let it be for now."

"No, Saya," Daren said, visibly distressed. "If Dad calls and I don't answer, he'll get worried."

"You can call him back later."

"No, I don't feel right about it."

"If they don't reach you, they'll try my number. I have my phone with me."

"No, I have some important calls to make, too."

"Where?"

"Several important ones."

"More important than having dinner with your wife on your honeymoon?"

"Now don't make a big deal out of this," he said, annoyed. "The hotel is nearby. I'll just go and be back in a flash."

"You're going to leave me here alone?"

"For just two minutes."

"But you are going?"

"Listen," Daren reached out and held Saya's hand. "I left my phone back there, and I feel strange without it. The simple truth is, I won't be comfortable here without it."

"What call is so urgent that it's more important than your wife?"

"Not court," he said. "Please, let me go. Just two minutes."

Saya turned her face to the left without answering.

"Please," Daren pleaded. "I'll be back before you know it."

Saya stared into the void.

"Now don't act upset over such a small thing," he tried to convince her. "Be a sport."

"Just two minutes!"

"No," she muttered.

Daren stood up. "One minute, fifty-nine seconds."

"At max?"

"Yes."

"Fine, go," Saya said begrudgingly.

"Just a sec… I'll be back in no time," he said, turning swiftly toward the hotel. "Before the food is even served, I'll be back."

And indeed, he didn't take more than two minutes to return.

It was their first argument after marriage.

And the last.

They finished their dinner in peace. Although the atmosphere between them was no longer the same, they both tried to move past the unpleasant moment and enjoy their meal.

"You're still upset," Daren observed.

"No, I'm fine," Saya said, looking at the tangerine-hued sky stretching over the distant Table Top mountain.

"Look at me," Daren moved to the chair beside her. "Don't spoil your mood over such a trivial matter."

"It's not trivial, Daren," she said. "You left me alone to fetch your phone. Your phone was more important than your wife?"

"Oh my God, not again."

"Let's go back to the hotel," she said, standing up.

"Alright, alright, I'm sorry," Daren turned her face toward him and said, "Think of it as your husband's first mistake—one he promises never to repeat."

"Promise?" Saya locked eyes with him.

"God promise," Daren said, kissing her forehead. "Now shine.

Give me a smile."