Bland (adjective): mild, tasteless, dull

  “That’s it?” His beautiful face frowned, handsome features rearranged with blank surprise and a tinge of judgment. The fork in his hand stopped halfway to his mouth, the juicy steak simply dripping in the air.

  She didn’t know what to reply. She had been honest.

  Why did you choose the medical field?

  Because it’s…

  The word “fun” caught in her throat. Remembering the lifeless cell structures on her tear-streaked flashcards, she couldn’t bring herself to say it. She knew she didn’t have a noble passion like her roommate, or a deep obsession with biology like the nerds on campus. Instead, she had stared into those brilliant green eyes and opted for the truth: “Because it’s a high-salary career.”

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  Wasn’t that why people worked at jobs anyway? To earn their keep; to have a roof over their head, to have food on the table, and maybe a few luxurious goods every once in a while.

  He had looked at her. Slowly. Before throwing the near-accusational question at her face.

  And as if that moment had dragged on for too long, the rest of the date seemed to lengthen endlessly against her will. The candle’s flickering light no longer caught the viridescent sheen in his lovely eyes as he busied himself with his cutlery.

  When they both finished dinner, he offered a sheepish smile and said, “Ah, the restaurant was nice, but the food was a little bland.”