Eat, Pry and Love

As the aroma of sizzling street food filled the air at the Shilin Night Market, Charlie turned to face a familiar voice, only to find Peng standing there, casting a sudden shadow over the lively market.

Peng greeted Charlie with politeness, “It’s nice to see you here, Charlie. It’s been a few days, hasn’t it?”

Charlie, visibly surprised, stammered, “Peng? Hey, it’s good to see you too. How are you?”

Peng’s expression shifted slightly, sensing Charlie’s discomfort. “I’m here to grab some food after my photo shoot. You know Shilin Night Market is one of my favorite spots for local delicacies. Running into you here is just a coincidence, Charlie.”

Unsure how to respond, Charlie hesitated before finally saying, “I see, Peng. It is indeed a small world, bumping into you here.”

Out of the blue, Ming appeared and stood next to Charlie, pulling him closely upon realizing Peng was also there. “Hi Peng, it’s been a while. It’s good to see you. How are you?”

Peng, maintaining his easygoing demeanor, replied, “Hey, Ming. I’ve been good. I just thought I’d see how Charlie’s been doing since I spotted him here. What a surprise to see you both at the night market tonight.”

Now feeling the weight of the unspoken tension, Charlie forced a smile, “Yeah, well, I’ve been busy lately, Peng.”

Peng responded wryly, “You have been so busy that you can’t even take some time to call or text a friend?”

Realizing that he needed to be honest with Peng, Charlie answered, “Peng, listen, you are right. I should have called or texted you to see how you were doing. The truth is, I like you as a friend and nothing more. I don’t know if calling or texting will give you the wrong impression. I hope you understand where I am coming from.”

Observing Charlie and Ming together at the night market and sensing their closeness, Peng gradually realized that they had been spending time at work and after hours.

Slowly, Peng expressed, “I get it, Charlie. You’re occupied tonight with Ming, and it looks like you’ve set your sights on someone else. Thank you for being upfront about your feelings. As I told you earlier, I genuinely like you and had hoped to get to know you better. I’ll leave you two to enjoy your dinner. Maybe we can catch up sometime if you’re open to it. Good night, Ming.”

As Peng walked away, Charlie faced Ming and began, “Before our Tamsui trip, I had a late-night dinner with Peng. Did Wen not mention it to you?” Ming shook his head.

“Well, anyway, Peng and I shared a kiss at the end of the dinner, but I didn’t feel any sparks. Tonight made me realize I like Peng, but only as a friend and nothing more. I haven’t been able to tell Peng this until now.”

Ming smiled warmly and reassured Charlie, “I appreciate your honesty, Charlie. It’s good that we can communicate directly now instead of passing notes between us.”

As Ming spoke, Charlie giggled a little and finally realized that Ming left the note weeks ago after dropping Charlie off at his apartment. It was Ming all along wanting to know Charlie better.

Charlie responded with a genuine smile. “I’m glad we can be open with each other, Ming. Let’s enjoy the rest of our night at the night market.”

Ming nodded, and they resumed their exploration of the bustling market, soaking in the fragrant flavors and vibrant atmosphere. Despite the unexpected encounter with Peng, Charlie and Ming found peace in their newfound understanding, strengthening their connection as friends or possibly developing their relationship to something more.