The Lonestar Illuminates Me

That day, my girlfriend and I went to watch the F1 race. By the time the race ended, it was already late at night; the sky was as dark as ink, and the temperature was chilling. Our stomachs were growling, and we decided to find a restaurant or a small shop for dinner.

As I drove, I spotted a restaurant selling Japanese ramen at the corner of the street, so I parked the car and took my girlfriend inside.

"What would you like to eat?" The front desk attendant was a lovely girl with a sweet smile.

I looked around; the restaurant was not very large, but there were enough seats. The front desk was directly opposite the entrance, with about ten square tables around the corner.

I checked the menu handed to me by the girl and asked my girlfriend, "What do you want to eat?"

"I'd like to try the seafood ramen," she replied, her voice like a gentle summer breeze.

So, I ordered a beef ramen for myself and a seafood ramen for her.

"Would you like to eat here or take it away?" the server asked again.

"Eat here," I answered.

"Then please go sit inside," she replied warmly.

I nodded and took my girlfriend's hand, leading her to a corner table.

Before long, the server brought two bowls of steaming ramen to our table, and the rich aroma wafted towards us. "I think it's going to be really delicious," I said with a smile, and the girl nodded in agreement, "It will be."

After she left, I started eating my ramen. After a few bites, the heat hit my mouth, and I couldn't help but tell my girlfriend, "I'm going to get a Coke."

"Do you want one?" I asked her.

"No, I'll just have water."

"Alright." With that, I stood up and walked toward the front desk.

When I reached the front, the girl looked up and asked, "What do you need?"

I took a serious look at her. This Mexican girl had black hair and brown eyes, and she was tall with a sharp face, very pretty. Her voice had a sweet tone that made one feel good.

"A drink." I replied.

"Sure, what do you want? I'll get it for you," she said with a smile.

"Um, why?" I asked, puzzled.

"Is it okay for me to buy you a drink?" the girl asked, confused.

"Uh, I don't need you to," I thought. Working at the front desk must not be easy for her, so I didn't want to let her spend her money. Plus, it felt a bit strange to me.

She smiled and said, "You're really handsome." A casual compliment that made my heart race.

"Really?" I felt a bit shy and was at a loss for words.

She seemed to notice my embarrassment and continued, "Do you think we could have a night together?"

I was confused again. "A night of what?"

She laughed heartily, her laughter ringing like a clear bell. "Just one night."

I was stunned into silence. She had clearly seen me walk in with my girlfriend--anyone could tell she was my girlfriend.

She must have noticed. The spirited and confident Mexican girl was exactly my secret crush. At that moment, I was at a loss, not knowing how to respond.

Then she spoke again, surprising me further: "I'm willing to give you oral sex. It will feel really good; you won't be disappointed."

Oh my God, what a surreal experience! I quickly said, "Uh, I'll just get my own drink, thanks."

She smiled happily, clearly pleased that she had managed to tease me, her face lit up with a cute, satisfied grin.

"Okay, then buy it yourself. No regrets."

"Would you mind giving me your phone number?"

Oh my, this girl is so forward.

Thinking of my girlfriend, I hesitated for a while but ultimately shook my head.

The girl smiled slightly, as if she could see through my thoughts, and teased, "I see, you're a good boy."

Though she was smiling, there was a trace of loneliness on her face. My heart ached at the sight; I felt a twinge of remorse. I picked up the pen from the front desk, and she quickly printed some receipt papers, handing them to me. I wrote my number down and gave it to her.

"Thank you, Derek." The girl looked at me with joy.

"Not at all."

"Oh, I want a Coke, so can you buy it for me?" Since I had already given her my number, I nodded in agreement.

She nodded back and pulled out a drink cup to hand to me. I happily accepted it, smiling, "Thank you."

Then, I turned around and walked back to our table.

That night, my girlfriend and I returned to the apartment. After taking a shower, I held her in my arms as usual, ready to sleep. However, my mind was in turmoil; the image of the front desk girl from the ramen restaurant kept flashing through my mind.

In the two years spent with my girlfriend, I felt a crack appear deep inside me for the first time, as if someone I had only seen once had quietly moved into my heart. I had given her my number but did not have hers.

Perhaps she wouldn't text me, and we would remain as merely a fleeting encounter. But if that were the case, should I feel relieved or restless?

My girlfriend quickly fell asleep, while I lay awake, tossing and turning under the moonlight streaming through the window.

My inner turmoil didn't last long; the girl's text message came swiftly. It was sent at 6:30 PM the next evening, right around dinner time. She asked if I wanted to have dinner with her the next night.

After reading the message, I hesitated for a long time, not knowing how to respond. I had already promised my girlfriend to accompany her to Caesar's Palace the next evening to buy her favorite margarita, then we would go see the fountain at the nearby Bellagio hotel. We had been living in Las Vegas for over three years; we had enjoyed the drinks and seen the fountain countless times, but we were happy to frequently engage in these activities to nurture our relationship. My girlfriend always put in the effort; every weekend I wasn't working, she would suggest we participate in some interesting activities together.

At that moment, the girl's invitation put me in a bind. It was hard to refuse someone I often thought about when she sent me an invitation. Ultimately, I made up my mind to accept her dinner invite; she would choose the restaurant, and I would pick up the tab. She replied, "Sounds good."

I saw the address she sent was a Korean barbecue restaurant, and I couldn't help but smile, thinking that our tastes seemed quite aligned. So, I sent her a thumbs-up emoji and a smile, replying, "Is 6:30 PM good?" She quickly responded, "Sure, see you at the restaurant."

The message brought a sense of anticipation that stirred up complex emotions within me.