James smiled: "The woman in this country is still cute as ever. I can't wait to meet a girlfriend here."
Zach opened the beer and filled two mugs. "You're just like how you were, making eyes at the old and
the young. When will you find someone and settle down?"
James raised his mug and finished all the beer. Then he said, "No, no! Zach. You didn't get the point.
What I am, in your language, is called an 'expert in love'. There are many women out there waiting for
my love. I'll be damned if I turned my back on the forest just because of one three. That's just not me...
you know?"
Zach drank slowly and said, "You should settle down. It's no good for you to always get lost amid
different women. Does it really make you feel so good to find different women every night and wake up
to different faces every morning?"
"Zach, you're still as boring as you were. It's a waste of your good appearance. You're rich and
handsome, yet married young. I think that's a huge loss. You had never begged anyone, except for
your so-called wife this time. Congratulations, you've become a real househusband.
James looked a bit envious. "Well... to be honest, I envy you because Ophelia is a good woman. She's
attractive and treats everybody properly and nicely. She's way better than you first love."
"Envy?"
James picked up a bottle of beer and gulped. The darkness of the night might have let him take off his
guards. He said, "I envy you. I haven't been to clubs for long. It's getting boring for me now. I love your
country and I'm planning to live here. Am I welcomed?"
Zach took a gulp from the bottle and said, "Where does that thought come from?"
"It has been years, but the plan was delayed again and again because I couldn't hand over my works
completely to other people. Now we have another exchange program here, and I've already applied for
it. I'll be here as an exchange doctor." James said as he drank.
"Will they pay you higher?"
"Yes, but the works are not that challenging. I've heard about your traditional medicine, and I want to
carry on some research while I'm here. That's part of my reason to live here too. I'll go back to my own
country the I finish learning your culture and medicine. Maybe I'll find a wife here, and then my root will
be here, too."
James looked very decisive, "I've aged... although other people might not be able to tell. A man should
be independent at the age of thirty, and it's time for me to start my career and have my own family."
Zach keenly sniffed that he had something on his mind.
"James, we're buddies, right?"
"Yeah, definitely. Are you questioning our friendship?"
"Then tell me if anything has happened to you."
James froze for a moment and then laughed. He raised his head and finished the beer. "Nothing. I just
need to change my living environment. This is a nice place with a massive population. I like the bustling
vibe. The food here tastes good, unlike some other country that has nothing but pizza and hamburgers.
Those foods have lots of fat and high calories, which made people prone to cancer.
Zach said, "Just tell me if you need anything. It's just a hand's turn."
James raised his hand and patted his chest. Then he gave a thumb up. "Zach, you're a real man."
The lady served her grilled food and two servings of soup she specifically cooked for the two. She said,
"You two handsome young men are drinking so much. You'll need this seafood soup. It's on me and
just for you two. Enjoy yourself and come again if you like it"
James made eyes at her and said, "You're beautiful and kind... I hope your business goes well and
money rolls in. May you get more and more beautiful day by day. Wish you a happy family."
The lady could stop giggling. She said, "You're speaking our language so fluently. I'll take you as a local
without seeing your face."
"My face looked exotic, but my heart always goes with you. Just take me as your people."
The lady was even happier. She said, ''Enjoy your food. I gotta go now."
"Bye, sunshine."
Zach picked up the good on the table naturally and ate after the lady left.
James said, "Zack, you scorned the food here because you thought it's unhygienic. I take you here
once and you hadn't taken a bite. You pulled a long face and watched me eating. Why are you eating it
now?"
"She liked it," Zach said.
James didn't need to think to know who the "she" referred to.
James picked up the chicken wings and chew. When he finished, he looked serious.
"Zach, listen to me. The blood clots in Ophelia's brain are constricting her nerves. Even if she recovers
later, she may go blind."
Zach was holding a bottle of beer. His hand paused and his face suddenly looked bad.
"What blood clot?" Zach asked in a low voice.
Zach was holding a bottle of beer. His hand paused and his face suddenly looked bad.
"What blood clot?" Zach asked in a low voice.
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