« Come on Burke, don't be such a baby. »
She was dragging him by the hand inside the cinema. Burke seemed reluctant to move quicker and had a sulk on his face.
« Why did you chose the worst movie on screen ? »
« It's not the worst ! And you made a promise, so now you have to keep it ! I honoured my part of the contract.»
She had stopped and was now facing him, his hand still in hers.
« I've been very nice with you more than once this night. It's your turn now. »
A charming and mischievous smile lingered on Burke's face. But before he could utter a single word Cristina warned him.
« Burke...… If you can't keep your word, don't ever dream to have sex again in a cinema, at home or anywhere else !"
Burke laughed heartily as she anticipated his thoughts.
« Dr Yang, you have a diabolic manner.I assume I have to yield to your threat." He admitted as she pushed him inside the dark.
« You are the boss of me. You know I can't resist you. »
The streets were crowded and they weaved in and out of the passer-by, refusing to loose their grip even for a second.
« You seem to know much about Horror movies. »
« I do. When I was a teenage, I used to hide from my mother in cinema. Even horror movies were less scary than to spend time with her.»
Burke giggled and tugged her against him, his arms over her shoulders.
« What a nice girl you must have been. »
He smiled at her as she shrugged, slightly annoyed by his remark.
« Your mother can't be that bad, look at the wonderful and gorgeous daughter she has raised.»
He kissed slightly her forehead. Cristina flashed him a genuine smile.
« Thank you …But anyway, you are totally wrong. »
« You're not wonderful and gorgeous ? Ouch !»
Cristina's elbow had just poked his side.
« You're asking ? »
Burke couldn't help laughing at his girlfriend's fake indignation.
« I just wanted to be sure you knew it. » He whispered it before kissing her cheek gently.
« And i'm sure you were a wonderful and gorgeous teenage girl. Even if I don't know if you could have beared to be your boyfriend at that time. I would have never dared to kiss you in front of a ll this hemoglobin.»
« Momma's boy would have been scared ? Anyway, I don't know if I could have handled an ultra sensitive Burke either. »
« Don't be so sure. You would have fallen for me. Girls were very fond of me. »
He glanced her a cocky smile as she pulled her head back.
« Really ? Did you buy them candies or did you just corner them after biology classes ? »
« You're insulting me. I was much more subtile. I used to write them poetry. »
Burke knew that she was going to make fun of him. But he didn't mind because he also knew that this moment was precious. They rarely talked about how they used to be before they met before their life changed for the best. It was one of the longest talk they had ever had on the subject. And Cristina's giggling made him want to go on.
« So romantic of you Dr. Burke. How come that all I got was a coffee ?»
Burke gasped in surprise at her teasing comment. Behind the sarcasm he could feel a bit of jealousy. Cristina was actually admitting she liked to be wooed. This day definitely full of surprises.
« For a special woman, I used a special way. »
He snaked his arm across in front of her so he held her tight in front of him.
« I couldn't take the risk to fail. I'm sure a poem wouldn't have been enough for you and I missed time to write a whole book. Was coffee a bad idea?»
He knew the answer. They didn't need words or poems to express their feelings. But sometimes silent conversations were frustrating, only half confession. And Burke, even if he didn't doubt a second she valued their relationship, wanted her to say it loud.
« You couldn't have had a best one. » Burke lightly wrapped a strand of Cristina's as she brushed her cheek against his shoulder, leaning a slight kiss on it.
As they resumed their walk, Burke thought they seldom had been so well in osmosis outside an OR or their appartment.
Their day had been perfect. Even the movie wasn't that bad with her at his side. It was rare to see Cristina enjoy something beside surgery. And sex naturally. Even if he didn't still understand why she liked them, he was thankful to horror movies for bringing that spark in her eyes.
She had enjoyed herself like a child, laughing and commenting. She knew the names of the film director and the actors. She told even him a funny anecdote which had happened on the set. Burke was amazed by her knowledge. She hadn't just watched many movies, she was a real specialist. She would never stop astonishing him.
He had quickly lost interest in watching the screen. For more than one hour, he gazed at her in wonder. He laughed when she did because the sound of her voice made him happy. He chilled when she did because the touch of her skin made him shiver. And when she jumped in alarm, he just hold her tightly.
Burke was the first to break the soft silence of their walk. He was so comfortable with her petite figure wrapped inside his arm that he felt the luckiest man in the world.
« So, I told you my secret to seduce girls. What was yours? »
"I didn't go on very well with boys or men when I was younger." She sighed , her voice suddenly voiled with sadness and her gait became heavier.
He had felt so well that he might have pushed his luck too far. He cursed himself for causing her pain.
Burke pulled her closer and turned her face toward him, softly robbing her cheek with his finger.
« What's wrong baby ? » His steady voice was nearly a whisper as he spoke.
This sudden change in her eyes, the gloom of sorrows he had seen, frightened him.
« Nothing. Can we just talk about something else ? »
« Cristina… I'm sorry my question hurt you. »
He turned in order to face her. She wasn't looking at him but he knew all track of cheerfulness had left her.
« No, no ! It's not you. I just…It's just that these years weren't the happiest in my life.»
She looked so unsure and fragile. She raised her head slowly. Her eyes were silently pleading him to give up the subject. Burke gently stroke her hair and drew her to him.
« I wish I had been there for you. But I am now and we are happy. »
« Yes we are... » A shy smile appeared on her face. « Except when you eat all my popcorn. »
Burke laughed heartily to her teasing, relieved to see she had pushed her gloomy thoughts away.
« Want to stop and eat something before going home? »
«Only if you promise not to pick into my plate."
« I promise. » He said before kissing her deeply in an attempt to erase all track of hurt.