(Ruby and Mona are office Colleagues of Andi.)
"Who leaves such a good husband? Poor, I feel bad for Andi only." (Ruby makes a poker face and tells her best friend Mona..)
Ruby and Mona Sitting in the office canteen and were talking about me. I already knew Ruby was interested in me but I never gave her any importance. Ruby suddenly fell silent as soon as I sat down with my food plate placed on their table. " What happened? why did you guys keep quiet when I came? continue what you were talking about. I just came to eat (I pick up my plate of food and indicate.) My food."
"Hoooiie, (Mona pinch my cheeks without my permission.) stop your bullshit."
"Ahhhh, are you nuts? Who pinch the cheeks so hard?" I says to Mona with irritation.
"ah ah, alright, alright (patting my shoulder.) Don't get angry. I was joking."
"(Poker face) it's okay." Whenever I quarrelled with Mona, I throw tantrums like a child. I'm fucking tired of this nonsense but I have to be good in front of everyone. "Well, what are you two doing after work is done?" I was looking at Ruby secretly while playing with food. She was putting her morsel of food in her mouth with her head down. But as soon as Mona said "You and Ruby go. I don't want to be a bone in between." In a jiffy, food came out of Ruby's mouth.
"Hey, ruby are you alright?" I offer a bottle of
water in front of her.
"I..am all right. " She opens my given water bottle and says.
"Ummm hummm, I want to drink water too." Mona says with her dramatic tune.
"I'm done, I have some work so I have to go." Ruby ignores Mona's words and walks away.
"Shy poor my best friend." Mona keeps eating while maintaining her mind-blowing overacting.
7 p.m.
Work is too much, but sleep was also coming. When I looked around, all my colleagues were slowly leaving for their homes.
"You're leaving too?" I ask Mona as soon as I saw she is passing in front of me.
"Yes. Heard you have a lot of work today. Best of luck with that." She leaves without looking back at me.
While working, I did not even know when it was 10:00 at night.
There was nothing left but silence in the office. I was about to get up from my chair only then does Ruby appears in front of me and forwards a cup of coffee "this is for you."
"Ohhhhh Ruby, Didn't you go home?" I asked while holding the cup of coffee. I knew that I am Ruby's crush, but this much I didn't expect that.
I think I should move on. I should forget Jesse. but how? How? How? Whenever I look at another girl, her face appears. How can I forget her? I have done a lot to get her. Was it a futile attempt? No no (screams inside) noooooooo..
I don't even know when cup of coffee falls into the floor from my hand. But when I wake up from my lost world, I see that hot coffee has fallen in Ruby's hands.
"Ruby (astonishing.) Are you all right? (I hold Ruby's hand) I...i...I'm sorry. I....i... Did..not mean that."
"It's...its. .okay" with wobbling lips.
Ruby didn't look as surprised as I was, she just staring at me. From applying ointment to bandaging, she was just staring at me. It was a bit strange but maybe I also wanted from inside to continue. After tying a bandage in her hands I raised my head but before I can see her face she suddenly kisses my lips.
What happened all of a sudden? I made my eyes bigger like a cat and falls to the floor. I did not understand how to react to this act Ruby.
"I'm sorry, I shouldn't have kissed you like this. Please Forgive me." Ruby was about to leave while carrying embarrassment on her face then only I get up and hold her hand.
"No, you did it right." I Pulled her to me.
"Aren't you angry with me?" Ruby down her head but I wanted to see her shy face. That's why I held her chin and raised her face.
"If you look at me then I will not be angry with you," I whisper in her ear in my softest voice. Ruby somehow raises her gaze and meets mine.
"Guess I should go home. bye." Stealing herself from my grip and left with rush steps.
For some time I was immersed in this thought as to what could be the reason for Ruby's departure. Was she angry with me? Or did she shy? Well after working for some time I also left for home.
After some distance, I saw Ruby. She was walking along the footpath while holding her vegetables carry bag in her right hand and her handbag in her left hand. So I stopped my car in front of her.
"Hey Ruby, Come in, I'll drop you home." I opened the window of my car and called her inside.
"Ahh haaa (hesitate) I'll go on my own. you....you... can leave."
You know what I hate the most is when a woman tells me no. I want to be a participant in everything that I love. I care for them that's why I want to get them. Is this wrong?
"Oh come on, I can't leave you here alone. Let's quickly sit inside." I insist her.
Ruby sits quietly on the seat next to me while hiding her blushing cheeks. It felt a bit strange because even Ruby was not saying anything and I was either.
so I was about to say something after going some farther but the light emanating from the glass watch that she was wearing disturbed my eyes. when I looked closely, it was a Jocce brand.
"Are you a fan of the Jocce brand? "
"No." Pressing her lips and replies.
"Auuuuu, I thought you are a big fan of Jocce brand so I asked."
" I am..... I'm....I'm...fan of Ms.Jesse.. So....." Ruby falls silent in the middle.
It is so strange that wherever I go nowadays, I only hear about Jesse. she is not with me but still I can hear her name from others' mouths.
"Do you want to meet Jesse?" I park my car on the side of the road and asked Ruby in a low voice.
"Really? can be? can I meet her? Can you help me?"
As soon as I talked about meeting Jesse, Ruby's happiness knew no bounds. I didn't realize how many questions she asked in a single breath but her glowing face full of enthusiasm appeared so clearly that I can felt it. The girl who had been silent since then suddenly the wave of happiness that would appear on her face as soon as she heard the name of Jesse. wow interesting.
I took my phone out of my pocket and put it in my ear while pretending to dial Jesse's number.
"Oh Jesse, what are you doing?" Pretending to stay for some time. " I? I'm with a friend right now. listen, I have a friend, she wants to meet you. Are you free?" I looked at Ruby, just wanted to see the expression on her face. She was looking at me with her ears up as if her very old desire was about to be fulfilled. "Now?" Ruby's eyes grew bigger as she listen to the "now" word from my mouth. "Oh, okay.. I will be there.". I hung up the phone.
"Does she really want to meet me?" Ruby asks.
I can see in her eyes her desperation to meet Jesse.
"Yes, she wants to meet you now. Yes, both of us are divorced but that doesn't mean we are not friends. So you prepare yourself."
"Yes." Ruby fists her hands and says.
I started the engine of my car for the long drive.