Accidentally become a father-Chapter 29: The Neutral Ground
---
Evening descended slowly, without fanfare.
The light in the window shifted from white to pale orange, then to gray.
I hadn’t turned on the main light yet.
The television had been on since the afternoon.
The program had changed three times.
Now it was the local news.
---
Yuna sat in the exact same position. I was at the exact same table.
Only the distance between us no longer felt unfamiliar.
My stomach growled quietly.
"Hungry?" she asked immediately.
"Do you have a radar?"
"I heard it."
"Should we order in or cook?"
She thought about it seriously.
"If we order, is that wasteful?"
"A little."
"If we cook?"
"More dishes to wash."
She weighed the two options as if deciding her future.
"Cook."
"Alright."
---
We made a simple dinner. Rice. Eggs again. The last of the sausages.
No debate about plating this time. She still arranged it neatly. I didn’t protest.
After eating and washing the dishes, night truly set in.
The main light was on.
The room turned a warm yellow.
We sat side by side in front of the TV.
The distance was... normal.
Between us, on the small table—
the remote.
Silent. Neutral. Like a referee. 𝕗𝐫𝚎𝗲𝘄𝐞𝕓𝐧𝕠𝘃𝕖𝐥.𝐜𝚘𝚖
The news broadcast ended.
Commercials started rolling.
We both looked at the remote.
Neither of us moved.
---
