"Hi"
Someone texted Mean anonymously.
"Who's this?"
"How do you get my number?"
"It's me, Ziek! I got your number to Aki"
Oh! It's Ziek. Mean is not surprised at all.
"What do you need?"
"Why so stingy? HAHAHAHA"
"Just tell me what do you need?"
"It's almost 7, I'll wait for you in the lobby"
"k."
Ziek's POV
I smirk even I got "k" as a reply.
Now I just need to do my best to entertain Mean and befriend him. I really don't need to do this, but I guess, I'm already here, so why not? There's nothing to lose.
Ever since we are Highschool, I see Mean and easily got attracted to him. He's good at academics, he even won as the Batch President, so I know that many people trust him and liked him. He's also good at singing, I bet if he joins a singing competition on TV, he has a chance. I love the way he talks to people, he's so nice to everyone.
Mostly, he has a good heart. One time, when I was about to ride a bus going home, I saw him and decide to follow him. Yes, maybe it's a little creepy but why not? He's going to am Orphan House and I learned that he is a Volunteer Teacher to the kids there. Since then, he already won my heart.
"Hey"
Someone shouted at Ziek's back. It is Mean.
"Hey"
"Let's do what you want to do, then we're done"
"Easy stingy boy!", Ziek said while laughing.
"Let's go", he added.
"But we're here?", Mean noted.
"Do you really think that this is the place where we will eat? It's no fun", Ziek grabbed Mean's arm and pull him.
Ziek stopped a Taxi, they are going to Tanger Outlets Ottawa.
The whole ride is silent, Mean don't know what to do and what to say. He feels awkward but he's trying not to show it. At least he's trying to act right and ride to what Ziek wants.
"Hey, you are too stiff", Ziek came out with those words because even Mean tries very hard not to show him that he's uncomfortable, Ziek is very observant.
"Since when do you came here?", Ziek tried to start a conversation.
"And since when do you care?", Mean is so stingy.
"Why he's like this?", Ziek mumbles so that Mean can't hear him.
"Like this? so what are you trying to say?", Mean heard it and replied.
"Nevermind, why do you act like this? Do you really know how to be with people who are just trying to be nice to you?", Ziek got aggressive.
"I didn't ask for this, remember? you invited me! You cornered me!"
"But you still agreed and you know what? It doesn't make sense", Ziek got slightly furious.
The ride was a complete mess and silence. They didn't talk until they reached their destination.
Mean realized that he acted like a bitch and Ziek didn't deserve to be treated like that. So right before they leave the car, Mean spoke.
"Uhm Ziek, I'm sorry about that. I don't mean to be a bitch to you. I'm just— I'm just not in the mood for everything"
Ziek is still disappointed, but hearing those words from Mean, he just got more dedicated to tame him.
"No, it's fine. Maybe I'm just to importunate", Ziek replied.
"No! Don't think like that. I'm the one who acted wrong. It's good to have someone to be with while I'm here taking a vacation", Mean opposed Ziek.
"It's good to have a new friend also, so? shall we go?", he added.
"Do you wanna eat first or look for something fun?", Ziek asked.
"I'm kinda hungry", Mean said with a soft voice.
"Okay then, let's eat something. I reserved a restaurant"
Ziek is well prepared for that night. He even reserved a restaurant where they will eat.
When they got there, Mean is awestruck on how beautiful the place was. Chandeliers, classical music, fine dining, pleasant waiters, and most of all, the food is really expensive.
"Uhm, Ziek! I think we should go to another resto. This place will make me zero money", Mean avouched.
"This is on me, don't worry", Ziek avowed and did a bright smile.
"I really can't order these foods, it's so expensive and I don't want you to pay big amount just for this, we can hang out in another place", Mean tried to convince Ziek but he failed.
"Then I'm the one who will order for you", Ziek noted.
Ziek called a waiter and ordered foods that Mean don't know what is it. A few minutes pass, the food is ready to deserve. It looks tasty and you can really tell that it is expensive. The shrimps are perfect in color, the steaks are good-looking and juicy as you can tell. And the other food is really good too.
"Why are you not eating?", Ziek asked.
"Don't mind anything, just eat", and he did a bright smile again.
For a while, it was silent. Mean decided to start a conversation.
"So, when did you come here?"
"I came here last month, I visited my grandparents here"
The whole ride is silent, Mean don't know what to do and what to say. He feels awkward but he's trying not to show it. At least he's trying to act right and ride to what Ziek wants.
"Hey, you are too stiff", Ziek came out with those words because even Mean tries very hard not to show him that he's uncomfortable, Ziek is very observant.
"Since when do you came here?", Ziek tried to start a conversation.
"And since when do you care?", Mean is so stingy.
"Why he's like this?", Ziek mumbles so that Mean can't hear him.
"Like this? so what are you trying to say?", Mean heard it and replied.
"Nevermind, why do you act like this? Do you know how to be with people who are just trying to be nice to you?", Ziek got aggressive.
"I didn't ask for this, remember? you invited me! You cornered me!"
"But you still agreed and you know what? It doesn't make sense", Ziek got slightly furious.
The ride was a complete mess and silence. They didn't talk until they reached their destination.
Mean realized that he acted like a bitch and Ziek didn't deserve to be treated like that. So right before they leave the car, Mean spoke.
"Uhm Ziek, I'm sorry about that. I don't mean to be a bitch to you. I'm just— I'm just not in the mood for everything"
Ziek is still disappointed, but hearing those words from Mean, he just got more dedicated to tame him.
"No, it's fine. Maybe I'm just to importunate", Ziek replied.
"No! Don't think like that. I'm the one who acted wrong. It's good to have someone to be with while I'm here taking a vacation", Mean opposed Ziek.
"It's good to have a new friend also, so? shall we go?", he added.
"Do you wanna eat first or look for something fun?", Ziek asked.
"I'm kinda hungry", Mean said with a soft voice.
"Okay then, let's eat something. I reserved a restaurant"
Ziek is well prepared for that night. He even reserved a restaurant where they will eat.
When they got there, Mean is awestruck on how beautiful the place was. Chandeliers, classical music, fine dining, pleasant waiters, and most of all, the food is really expensive.
"Uhm, Ziek! I think we should go to another resto. This place will make me zero money", Mean avouched.
"This is on me, don't worry", Ziek avowed and did a bright smile.
"I really can't order these foods, it's so expensive and I don't want you to pay big amount just for this, we can hang out in another place", Mean tried to convince Ziek but he failed.
"Then I'm the one who will order for you", Ziek noted.
Ziek called a waiter and ordered foods that Mean don't know what is it. A few minutes pass, the food is ready to deserve. It looks tasty and you can tell that it is expensive. The shrimps are perfect in color, the steaks are good-looking and juicy as you can tell. And the other food is really good too.
"Why are you not eating?", Ziek asked.
"Don't mind anything, just eat", and he did a bright smile again.
For a while, it was silent. Mean decided to start a conversation.
"So, when did you come here?"
"I came here last month, I visited my grandparents here", Ziek explained why he was in Canada.
His grandparents settled in Canada while their family is in the Philippines. Ziek's family has a big business where they provide tools and parts for Car Companies. For him, Canada is not new, he goes here for at least six times a year, so it is just a routine for him.
"So where is your grandma", Mean asked because he didn't notice anyone else with Ziek.
"I left her in Toronto, she lives there. I just stayed at the hotel because I want time for myself before I go back to the Philippines next month"
"Oh! I'm going home too next month, do you already booked your ticket?"
"Not yet! Do you wanna go with me?", Ziek proposed it to Mean.
"Yeah! Sure, but I already have a target date when I will come back", Mean note.
"Sure! Just tell me when"
After they ate. Ziek brought Mean to a play world. The place was loud and full of games to play. Mean is so delighted, Mean grabbed Ziek's hand as he ran towards the booth.
Ziek's POV
Mean is so happy, he didn't even notice me while he's playing, he's childish...but cute. I dreamed of this to happen. I can't believe it. I feel like I'm in cloud nine seeing my greatest love being happy with me. I guess I have a chance, I guess we can be together someday, how I wish this will never end.
What if we go back to the Philippines? will we ever meet again? are we going to see each other again? what if he has no time for me? How I wish this will never end.
After Mean got exhausted in playing, they walk through the mini-park. It is good and mesmerizing, aesthetic vibes are present, night lamps, crickets' sound, windy, and there are only few people, it was like they are walking in the moon.
Mean took his phone and earphones.
"Do you wanna listen?", Mean asked Ziek.
"Yeah sure!", Ziek delightedly respond.
"You won my heart
with just one smile
And that dimple on your cheek
makes me wanna kiss you
And your eyes,
They speak of a thousand words
But it makes me feel giddy
When you tell me that
I'm beautiful" (Dance without a Music- Yeng Constantino)
"This is my favorite song", Mean said and then smiled.
"Mean! can I ask you something?", Ziek suddenly spoke.
"Sure! what is it?"
"I just noticed that you're not doing okay, why do you really go here?"
"Uhm! Because....", Mean is being hesitant to say his reason.
"If you don't really wanna share it, it's ok", Ziek see Mean hesitant.
For a minute there is silence.
...
...
...
"I broke up with my boyfriend"
"Newt?"
"Yes, he cheated on me. I was just too devastated and I couldn't afford to stay there so I decided to be here for two months"
"Maybe this is not the right to pursue him", Ziek whisper to himself.
"I'm sorry about that, I didn't mean to interfere"
"It's okay, by the way, thank you for doing this, I actually looking for distractions, but I don't know where to start"
"If you have nothing to do, text me and I'll go with you"
"Sure, thank you! I really appreciate this"
"No problem"
The day ended with smiles from both of them.
Ziek is really happy because he's finally befriended his love but sad about the fact that they can't still be together because Mean is still trying to heal and fresh from a breakup.