"Hi." Genevieve greeted after a second of staring at each other. She could read the surprise on his face. Well, she herself was surprised.

She came home over thirty minutes ago, but she hasn't been herself. Somehow, she'd found herself out of her apartment, down the stairs and jittering with doubt in front of his door.

Her head screamed at her, but this time, she felt rather reluctant to listen to the voice of reasoning. She needed a certain feeling, and her legs led her straight to his door. Gene felt the desire for something different. Mentally, she sighed. Something was definitely wrong with her, and she was probably going to regret her actions pretty much later.

"Hi." He replied as he tried his best to subdue the surprise. He replaced it with a brief smile.

"You're back." He stated.

"I'm back." She repeated and later realised how strange she'd sounded.

He gave a light laugh. "That was... fast, I think." He mentioned and later wondered if he should have said that. Maybe he shouldn't ask.

"Yes." she replied as she lowered her eyes. "I might have ruined it." She added, and he couldn't help raising his brows at her confession.

"So... I want to take a walk and... do you mind accompanying me?"

What are you doing? It's going to be so embarrassing when he says no. Do I stop this now?

"No."

"No?" she repeated, a little wide-eyed.

"I mean no, I don't mind." He replied, a little brighter than usual.

"Wait, a second." He told her before rushing back in.

Gene let out a sigh of relief as she placed a hand on her chest. Crazy. She must be out of her mind. How could the thought of his refusal bother her that much? By the way, since when does she do night walks?

Gene knew she was acting strange, much bolder and taking steps she normally wouldn't so easily do. Almost as if she was being taken over by a better version of her and yet, she didn't hate it so much.

Elliot returned, putting on a jacket.

"You don't need that."

"I don't?" He asked.

"Yes. Rather than feel cold, you'll feel hot so you don't need it." She explained and watched as a brief smile played on his face.

"Alright." He stated as he took it off and tossed it somewhere within before hurrying out. Gene took steps away to give him space and watched as he locked the door and kept the key in the pocket of his sweatpants.

Outside, under the fairly starry night, the first few minutes of their walk down the street were in silence. Elliot couldn't help stealing glances at her or having a small smile plastered on his face. Gene could feel his stare and she spared him a glance, and he eventually looked away.

"What?" she finally asked before looking up at him. She watched as lightly shook his head.

"Nothing... just... this moment. It's special." He replied as he smiled broader.

Gene could see the happiness on his face, but she wasn't sure what it meant for him. Why is this moment special and why this moment with her? She wasn't sure what reply she might get but, suddenly, she felt guilty and regretted knocking on his door and asking him to accompany her. What if she has been sending the wrong signal? What exactly is she even doing?

Gene drew to a halt.

"I think that's enough. We should return now." She stated without looking at him and attempted turning away.

"Wait," Elliot called as he stood on her path, arms widespread, to stop her from taking another step. She stared at him, a little wide-eyed.

"Not yet." He stated before looking ahead, away from her. Elliot sighted a street food stand, and a brief smile appeared on his face.

He placed his hands on her shoulder, which left her quite surprised and speechless as he turned her, so she was facing the same direction as him.

"First, let's have that and then, we can return home." He explained, as he pointed at the stand, but Gene was half bothered by his hands on her shoulders and how close they stood while the other half took notice of where he pointed to.

"Suya?" she asked, a little surprised that's what he wanted to have.

"Yes, it has been so long since I had it. I don't think I recall the taste."

"But..." she started, her expression going a little sour. "... I don't like it. I worry too much about how they make it."

"Has it killed anyone?"

"No."

"Why are you worried?"

Gene sighed. This was a useless argument. She shrugged her shoulders to get his hands off.

"Fine. You buy some and we head back home. Okay?" She straightened out, and he nodded.

"One problem." He pointed out, and she watched as he dug his hands into his pockets and brought out the back of it, showing her how empty they were.

She glared at him and he cheered her up with a warm smile.

"Fine. You should be grateful I have a strange habit of burying some money in my phone pouch." She pointed out before leading the way. His smile broadened as he watched her go. Soon, he was quick to catch up with her.

It was an open-flamed shop that comes to life from the early evening hours and late into the night. With about five more customers, the site would seem crowded. Two seemed like a couple as the young man had his arm around the young woman's neck and whispered words into her ears, which lead her to giggle at intervals. The other two were female friends, and the last stood alone.

Elliot took in the sight. He'd never gotten to see such stands in the U.S. He watched as Gene queried the seller known as 'Mallam' on which thin strips of steak threaded onto sticks tasted better and what their exact prices were.

Gene coughed as she took a few steps back and then to the side of the shop. She needed to avoid the smokes that rose because of the burning coals.

"Are you alright?" Elliot asked, and she nodded, but to him, she didn't seem so.

"You're right. Maybe we should go back."

"What? No." She was fast to grab on to his arm before he could walk away. He stared at her and she gradually withdrew her hand.

"I'm fine. Don't mind my coughing. I'm not too used to it. That's all." She narrated, hoping to discourage his new resolution about leaving. He watched her a little closer, and she tried her best to seem normal.

They both watched as the Mallam cut to pieces into a newspaper, the now well-grilled meat and sprinkled it with a powdered mix, usually spicy, and then some sliced onions, cabbage and cucumber.

Elliot couldn't help picking out a piece and putting it into his mouth. The spicy yet chewy meat reminded him of exactly what he'd missed. Gene reached out and put a piece into her mouth and then another and another. Elliot stared at her.

"I thought you said you didn't like it."

"I don't." She replied without looking up at him, her mouth still full.

"Suddenly, it tastes really nice and I can't stop." She explained as she put some more into her mouth.

In the end, as they headed back home, Gene felt satisfied, free, and happy. She'd never felt this way in a long time. Elliot watched her and could see how satisfied she was even through her movement. Well, she'd eaten most of the same thing she'd declared against.

"You enjoyed yourself, right?"

"Very much." She replied faster than he'd expected alongside a wide smile. Elliot noticed even as she'd looked away quick enough for him to not have noticed.

Gradually, he came to a standstill. For the first time, he saw a genuine smile on her face, and she looked even prettier. A steady smile curved upon his face. He felt his heart race faster than usual. Right there, he knew she meant more to him than he'd thought.