The Cherished Wife

Noelle found them a quiet corner to settle down in. The class bell had rung not long ago, so the place was buzzing with students, mostly in small groups, full of life and laughter.

Suddenly, Noelle felt a twinge of envy for those college kids, thinking back to her own university days that had slipped away.

It was a popular restaurant, and even with wait staff on deck, they were stretched thin. Noelle and Charles waited patiently before they finally got to order their meal.

The place was a hit with students and teachers because they could always count on getting a mountain of food. Noelle could still remember their first visit when they ordered way too much and ended up stuffed to the gills with leftovers in tow back to the dorm. That time around, Noelle kept it simple with just two dishes and a soup. She glanced at Charles. "Do you think that's enough? Want to grab anything else?"

She slid the menu his way, but Charles just waved it off with a smile. "We're good!" He was never one for big meals. "This is plenty!"

The waiter zipped off with their order, and the place was buzzing with the post-class rush, filling up fast. Students were wandering in, looking for seats in vain, and a few girls who walked in locked eyes on Charles and Noelle right away.

not every day they saw folks like them in a student joint, and Charles, well, he was hard

even

at our school look that sharp? Anyway,

Maybe he's a professor or one of the big shots from

the girl with him. She's a knockout. They're

were not exactly whispering, and Charles caught a bit of their chat. He quirked an eyebrow. "Hear that?

though. Isn't the university supposed

there yet?" Charles asked, a hint of nostalgia in his voice. "It's been ages since I've cracked open a book. I can't even remember what a school

a hand through her hair. "Guess not. These days, all I've

portion. The two dishes and