The soft glow of the evening sun painted the streets gold as Julian and Rosalie arrived at one of the city's most luxurious restaurants around five-thirty in the afternoon. The building carried an elegant blend of classic and modern architecture, its warm lights glowing behind enormous glass windows.
After parking the car, Julian walked around to her side and opened the door for her naturally, as though it had become part of his instinct.
The moment they stepped inside, the rich aroma of grilled meat, wine, and expensive perfume drifted through the air. Crystal chandeliers reflected against polished marble floors while soft piano music echoed quietly throughout the restaurant. The place was crowded with wealthy guests dressed in elegant attire, yet Julian's attention remained solely on the girl beside him.
They took a seat near the corner of the restaurant where the atmosphere felt quieter and more private. Julian pulled out Rosalie's chair for her before sitting beside her instead of across from her.
When the waiter arrived, Julian ordered grilled lamb, fresh salad, and fruit juice for Rosalie without even needing to ask what she wanted.
Just as the waiter left, Rosalie's phone began vibrating.
"Mia?"
"Rosalie! Are you already heading back to campus? If you haven't left yet, can you pick me up later? If not, it's okay…"
Rosalie glanced toward Julian briefly before answering calmly.
"We haven't left yet. We're having dinner right now."
There was a short silence.
"W-We?"
Mia's voice immediately suspicious.
"Ro… don't tell me I'm interrupting something important. If it's awkward, I can just ask Jordan instead."
"You're not interrupting anything,"
Rosalie replied with a helpless smile.
"Come with us. It'll be more fun that way."
"Hehe… you say that now, but I know couples like you two secretly want alone time."
Rosalie could practically imagine Mia grinning on the other side of the phone.
"Anyway,"
Mia continued, lowering her voice slightly,
"Ethan came looking for me after the party that night. He kept asking where you went."
Rosalie's expression dimmed faintly.
"What did you say?"
"I told him I didn't know anything. Good thing he didn't see you leaving with Julian. Honestly though… his friends looked terrifying. Tattoos everywhere. They seriously looked like gangsters."
Julian's eyes narrowed slightly after overhearing the conversation, though he remained silent.
"It's fine,"
Rosalie said softly.
"Just act normal. I'll call you before we leave."
After ending the call, the food finally arrived.
Julian immediately began cutting the lamb into smaller pieces for her before placing the plate neatly in front of her. He pushed the orange juice closer to her side and carefully spread the napkin across her lap.
Only after making sure, she was comfortable did he finally touch his own meal.
Every movement was gentle and meticulous, almost like a father caring for his precious child rather than simply a boyfriend taking care of his lover.
Rosalie watched him quietly.
In her eyes, love had never been about grand confessions or expensive gifts.
It was moments like this.
The way he remembered every detail about her health.
The way he worried whenever she skipped meals.
The way he instinctively placed her comfort before his own.
Even after two lifetimes, Julian still cared for her exactly the same way.
"Mm… it's delicious,"
Julian said after tasting the lamb.
"Rosie, eat more meat. You've been overworking yourself again."
Rosalie pouted slightly.
"And whose fault is it if someone keeps working overnight at the hospital?"
Julian chuckled softly.
"I have an important patient tonight. I can rest later."
"That's exactly what you always say."
His expression softened as he looked at her.
"Rosie… I'm serious. Even if your blood test results are improving, you still need proper rest. Don't push yourself too hard once classes start again."
He reached over and gently brushed her hair behind her ear.
"I'm not saying this because I'm a doctor,"
He murmured quietly.
"I'm saying it because I worry about you."
Rosalie's chest tightened slightly.
Even now, he still looked at her with the same protective warmth.
Like someone afraid of losing her again.
"If something ever happened to you…"
Julian whispered, his fingers tightening around her hand slightly,
"I think I'd lose my mind."
Rosalie stared at him silently for a moment before smiling softly.
Perhaps some people would call this kind of love obsession.
But to her—
Being loved by the same person over and over again across different lifetimes…
Felt more like a miracle than madness.
After finishing their meal, Julian raised his hand slightly to call for the waiter and settled the bill while Rosalie took out her phone to call Mia.
"Mia, we're leaving now. We should arrive in about ten minutes. Did you already eat? Do you want us to buy anything for you?"
"Ah, I already had dinner,"
Mia replied cheerfully.
"But if you're feeling generous, buy me some snacks for the road. My mouth gets lonely when I'm not eating something. Hehe…"
Rosalie laughed softly.
"Alright, I'll get you something. See you soon."
"Okayyy…"
After leaving the restaurant, Julian wrapped an arm naturally around Rosalie's slender waist as they walked toward the parking area together beneath the dim evening lights.
At that moment, his phone suddenly rang.
"Hello."
"..."
"Yes, I'll be there tonight. Continue the treatment exactly as before."
"..."
"Don't change the dosage yet."
"..."
"Alright. I understand."
After ending the call, they arrived beside the car. Julian opened the passenger door for Rosalie before helping her inside carefully. He leaned closer to fasten her seatbelt himself, his fingers brushing lightly against her shoulder.
Then, as if it were the most natural thing in the world, he pressed a gentle kiss against her forehead.
"Comfortable?"
He asked softly with a faint smile.
Rosalie looked up at him quietly before nodding.
Only after making sure, she was settled properly did Julian close the door and walk around the car toward the driver's seat.
On the way back, Julian stopped by a nearby G&G convenience store to buy snacks for Mia. Rosalie followed him quietly through the brightly lit aisles while he filled the basket with chips, cookies, candies, and various drinks as though he were shopping for a child.
"You're buying way too much," Rosalie said helplessly while watching him place another bag of snacks into the basket.
Julian only smiled calmly.
"Your friend talks a lot. People who talk that much usually get hungry faster."
Rosalie couldn't help laughing softly at his ridiculous logic.
After paying for the snacks, they walked toward a small fruit shop beside the convenience store. Fresh fruits were neatly arranged beneath warm yellow lights, their sweet scent lingering in the cool evening air.
Julian carefully picked out strawberries, oranges, grapes, and several boxes of freshly cut fruit before handing them to the cashier.
"Julian… that's enough already," Rosalie said softly. "I'm only going back to campus, not moving there permanently."
He ignored her completely.
"These are healthy. Take them with you."
A few moments later, he carried the fruit basket toward the car himself before placing it carefully in the back seat.
"Rosie, take these with you, alright?" he said while closing the car door gently. "Share some with your friends too. And you need to eat properly yourself, baby."
His voice was low and warm, filled with the same quiet concern he always carried whenever it came to her.
Rosalie stood beside the car silently, watching him.
For a brief moment, her chest tightened faintly.
This man truly never changed.
No matter how many years passed…
No matter how many lifetimes separated them…
Julian still loved her with unbearable gentleness.
He worried about whether she ate enough.
Whether she slept properly.
Whether she was overworking herself again.
Sometimes, his protectiveness felt even greater than that of a parent caring for their precious child.
And perhaps…
That was exactly why she kept falling in love with him over and over again.
Rosalie slowly walked closer before lightly tugging at the sleeve of his coat.
Julian lowered his gaze toward her immediately.
"What is it?"
Instead of answering, Rosalie leaned forward and rested her forehead briefly against his shoulder.
A faint smile appeared in Julian's eyes almost instantly.
Without another word, he wrapped one arm around her waist and gently stroked her hair beneath the dim evening lights of the parking lot.
For him, these quiet little moments with Rosalie were worth more than anything else in the world.