While these two potential boyfriends were coaxing their qualified other halves, Selina was busy chewing on her sushi while watching the show. She asked the waiter to bring her an extra container to take some sushi for takeout. As she packed her food, a small smile appeared on her face. 'My darling hasn't eaten lunch yet. Hehe. I'll surprise him with sushi.'
To Selina's right side, Michael started to perspire from anxiety. He has used all the sweet words and flirting lines he could think of from his mind, yet none of the lines were working. No matter what he said, Aaron wouldn't give him even a side-glance!
He tried tickling, flirting, sweet talking and even asking him for a kiss! Nothing worked, and he turned to his left, pleading for Selina's help. In the middle of tasting her sushi, she almost choked from the SOS gaze Michael was giving her.
Lightly coughing, she texted him secretly from under the table. She hinted him to tell Aaron about what he was meeting up with Bryan for and why he didn't pick up his calls. She also reminded him to delete this text message after reading it, so Aaron wouldn't know about the under table exchange they just did.
Michael sighed as he reached his last choice and that was to tell him about his secret birthday party. "Aaron, I was planning on giving you a surprise birthday party. Since this was our first time celebrating your birthday as a couple, I wanted to make sure everything goes well. I asked Bryan out today to try out different foods so I could bring you to the best one."
"Remember? Last time, you waited an hour long for the sushi and I ate most of it? That was the time we became a real couple and I want to cherish these moments. I wanted to order the best sashimi for you and hold our private birthday party. So, don't be mad at me. Please?"
Aaron placed his chopsticks down and took another sip of green tea. Michael tugged his sleeve and acted pitifully. "I didn't pick up your call because I didn't want to lie to you about my whereabouts. If I told you where I really was then it'll give away my plans. It wouldn't be a surprise. How will you make it up to me now that my plan is ruined?"
Selina wanted to finish her tea, but Michael's words somehow filled up her stomach up already. Michael might have missed the small smirk on Aaron's face, but she didn't. Aaron already forgave him and was fooling around with him. Soon after Michael had confessed to him, Aaron got up from his seat and took Michael with him.
Before leaving, Aaron thanked the girls for the meal. Although she didn't know where this couple was going, but she caught them turning the corner into the emergency exit. Without a doubt, they were making up in their own way.
Selina smiled as she turned her attention to the other pair at the table. She knew Celinda wouldn't ask about Bryan's relationship with Michael. Therefore, the best way is for her to hear about Aaron's relationship through Michael's explanation.
Although Celinda's head was facing down, her wiggling ears gave her away. She was secretly eavesdropping on their conversation, trying to figure out what their relationship was. Now that the dating status has been exposed, Celinda has no more reasons to feel jealous.
At the same time, Celinda could follow the plot line she made up about her feeling ill and not reveal her true feelings. After hearing about Aaron dating that lady at the table, Celinda felt a heavy burden lift from her chest. She sighed, took a deep breath and sat up properly.
Bryan asked if she was feeling alright and she whined childishly. "I feel tired that's all. I think I'm running a little low on sugar."
Quickly, he picked up a pair of chopsticks, took a piece of sushi and fed it to her. Taken aback by how worried he looked; she could tell he cared about her a lot. Though she told a small lie, it was one that made her happy. At least she knew he wasn't ditching her for a date, and he actually cares for her.
Piece by piece, the plates emptied on the table. Bryan fed almost two platters of sushi to her and held the cup of tea to Celinda's mouth when she asked for water. Selina was already crossing her arms, leaning on the back of her chair and feeling bloated from the amount of dog food they fed to her.
Suddenly, her phone vibrated and a sweet smile appeared on her face. 'Darling is here!' She took the container of sushi and her belongings before bidding farewell to the almost-lovers pair at the table.
Bryan wiped her lips with a napkin and asked. "How are you feeling now? Do you feel dizzy? Can you walk? We can get dessert or something sweet after this." Seeing the wrinkles on his forehead, she could tell how concerned he was. Even so, she wanted to see more of this side of him.
"My legs feel kind of numb." This time, she wasn't lying. She was walking around since six in the morning and her legs were definitely overused for the day. After facing a few minutes of silence between them, she wanted to tell him she could walk on her own.
Before those words left her mouth, he had taken off his hoodie and tied it around her waist. He handed his card to pay for the bill for both tables. Once the transaction has been completed, he took her purse, shopping bags and made sure their belongings were all taken.
"I'll give you a piggyback ride. Hop on." He knelt down by her chair and waited for her to get onto his back patiently. Eventually, she climbed onto his back and rested her chin on his broad shoulders.
Tightening her arms around his shoulders, she smiled. 'he took off his sweater to cover up my bottoms and thighs, so I won't flash my bare skin in public. How considerate...He makes me feel so safe.' She thought to herself as they continued having their conversation about dessert spots in the mall.
On the opposite side of the mall, Selina caught sight of the lovely pair. She walked and texted Jason at the same time. She typed, "Ahhhh, I suddenly want a piggyback ride too."
The response she received were multiple smirking emoticons. With that face as a response, she knew her piggyback ride was coming up really soon.