Until We Met Again ( Rowan and Johnson )
Chapter 41

Chapter 41

The sound of the gas stove igniting echoed from the kitchen, prompting Karla to wander over, only to replace Rowan busy at work. He was bolling a pot of water, and on the cutting board lay some pasta, a pair of eggs, along with a bunch of veggies and some sausage links.

Karla watched as he masterfully cooked the pasta, tossed in the veggies, sliced the sausages, and fried them for a minute on each side in a sizzling pan. Then came the eggs, which he fried and placed atop the pasta, puncturing the yolks so their golden, thick goodness seeped into the sause. Finally, he arranged the sausages atop the dish, completing the hearty pasta.

The aroma made Karla’s stomach growl with hunger. She had barely eaten that day, just a hamburger at the airport and a soy latte, and she was famished, especially after waiting in the cold.

Ravenous, Karla couldn’t wait to sit down in the living room, eagerly anticipating the moment he would serve the food. But Rowan came back with only one plate and one fork, completely neglecting Karla’s share.

What the heck! She thought. How could he forget about a food lover’s portion? Unacceptable!

Fuming, Karla snatched the plate and fork from his hands, slamming them down on the table. “If I’m not eating, neither are you!” she declared indignantly.

She expected him to react angrily, to engage with her, but instead, he stared at her, utterly astonished.

“Why are you looking at me like that?” she asked, perturbed by his gaze.

“Are you not a hallucination?” Rowan stammered after a long pause.

Karla was taken aback. Hallucination? Did he really think she was some figment of his imagination?

Suddenly, Rowan reached out and pinched her cheek. It felt just as he remembered: soft and slightly cool, perhaps because his hands were so warm.

The sensation of being pinched for the first time in her life made Karla glare at him with a look that said, “Try that again, and you’re dead meat, kiddo.”

Rowan snapped back to reality, withdrawing his hand as if he’d touched a hot stove.

Rubbing her pinched cheek, Karla asked, bewildered, “Why would you think I’m a hallucination? Did you think I wouldn’t show up?”

No, on the contrary, he had always hoped she would appear, which was why he thought. he was hallucinating again. Rowan answered in his mind. The reason he said “again” was

that over the past four years, he’d seen her appear countless times. Each time he’d Joyfully run to her, but she’d vanilah before his eyes. Particularly when he was alone, he’d bhen hear her voice, but as soon as he responded, she’d disappear. If he ignored her, she’d stay longer, only to get huffy and walk away when he didn’t engage with her,

Rowan felt like he was sick, seriously alck, even considering the possibility of a split personality, but he never thought of seeking treatment. The illusion of her, even as a hallucination, was comforting enough.

He hadn’t had an episode in over a year, and Rowan thought it was his recent reminiscing that had triggered the vision of her again.

To keep the illusion longer, he had deliberately ignored her. But this time, the hallucination–supposed–to–be had snatched something from his hands. It was this: moment that Rowan realized it wasn’t an illusion. It was her, and she had really come

back to him.

A surge of joy overwhelmed Rowan, his hands trembling with excitement, yet her maintained a stoic exterior. He had to contain his elation, not letting her see how thrilled. he was to see her. After all, she had left him first, and he couldn’t act as if nothing had happened.

“If you don’t want to talk, that’s fine, but I’m telling you

I’m not a figment of your imagination. I’m flesh and blood, I need to eat and sleep, and right now, I’m starving. Can I eat, please?” Karla lifted the plate, giving him a pitiful look.

The food smelled divine, and it ha glutinous mess.

to be eaten while hot or else it would turn into a

Rowan hesitated, then took the plate and served her a generous portion, topped with at fried egg, as if worried that it wouldn’t be enough for her.

Karla devoured the meal with relish, and even Rowan, who initially lacked an appetite, felt a pang of hunger. He got up to fetch himself a plate and fork.

Then they both focused on their food, in silence.

Karla polished off two plates, and Rowan had served her both times, giving her both eggs, which she didn’t touch. Instead, she passed them to him, and he didn’t refuse.