09
I'm trying to be your person
I was back in Cape town, in my one bedroom apartment where my thoughts were loud and going out alone was forbidden. I had an early shift in the morning and drinking was an option, but I knew better. Basim hadn't texted me other than the text that he landed safely. Did he expect me to respond? I didn't trust myself at night so I placed my phone on the kitchen counter and headed for my bedroom.
The clock blasts its ringtone at exactly six in the morning and I groan in annoyance. Sometimes I do wish I had a routine. Wake up. Go for a jog. Jump into the shower. Have breakfast. Go to work.
But wishes don't always come true. Most days, I skip breakfast, all because I ignored my alarm and slept in. Those are the days my boss isn't happy with me, I'm cranky and unbearable to work with. Those are the days my pockets cry because they barely made any tips.
I hadn't spoken to any of the girls in the past week, but it wasn't uncommon. We all had lives to live, and me, I had a few tables to clean.
I stop in my trail as I look closely at the person in the seat. Jared? I was so confused, I had left him in London, and I swear he was the last person I expected to see here.
He looks up, locking eyes with me and a gleam smile plastered on his face. It was like minutes had passed by before I made my way towards him. "Hi," I say, my voice barely a whisper, somewhat sounding hoarse.
"It's good to see you," he says, staring at me like he did that night.
"What brings you here?" The more I stood in front of him, with ketchup on my apron and a small notebook in my hand, I began to feel subconscious. It was a weird feeling to experience. This was never me - maybe because any man that I tangled in the sheets with never knew what I had to do to get my money. But now he did and I was ready to puke out the cheese sandwich I had taken from the display counter without asking for permission.
"I would be lying if I said I wasn't here to see you. What time does your shift end?" He asks.
"Umm…" I wanted to lie and say I had a night shift and would be very tired afterwards, but the more he stared at me, the more I wanted to spend time with him.
"I have an hour left," I tell him honestly.
He waited for me, patiently sipping on his wine as I finished off my shift. We drove around for a bit, not knowing where to go.
"You've been on my mind since that night," he says, breaking the silence. I somewhat felt different - not talking as much as I did.
"What's wrong?" I steal a glance at me before returning his eyes back on the road.
"Nothing, I just didn't expect you to be here."
"I should have called, but then again, I don't have your number." A half smile makes its way across his face, "Am I making you uncomfortable?"
"Gosh, no!" I squeal. "The last thing I want you to think is that you're making me uncomfortable. I am glad you are here, just shocked."
"I still owed you that kiss." He laughs, bringing the car to a halt in front of his hotel.
"What makes you think I want it now?" I knew I still wanted it, but would he?
"I don't, but I had to try." He seemed too good to be true. There must be something here that I'm not seeing or maybe I was just overthinking it. A good man is sitting right in front of me and I would be a fool to ruin this.
"Want to grab some dinner? I hear the restaurant here is pretty good," he asks me and I nod affirmatively.
We walk into the restaurant, him pulling the chair for me - chivalry is definitely not dead.
"This place is beautiful," I say after the waiter places the menu on the table.
"It truly is." He orders a bottle of wine for the table.
"Can't wait to see how the bedroom looks like later," I let him know after the waiter leaves, and he nervously laughs in response.
"How long have you known Azaila?" He asks.
"Quite a while now, about two years. How do you know her? I never did ask."
"Not long, mostly through mutual connections," he admits.
"You know what I do for a living, and I still don't know yours," I say. The waiter returns with the bottle of wine placed in a bucket of ice and two glasses. We order our food and watch as he leaves our table.
"I'm an investor. I actually have business up in Dubai in the next two months. Maybe if you're not busy by then you can join me."
"You have seen my life, I'm a busy girl." We both laugh, bringing our wins to our lips.
"Is that a no?" He asks.
"I would love to come with you. Are you filthy rich or is this just to impress me?"
"Are you impressed?" He arches his eyebrow.
"Not sure yet, you haven't kissed me."
"Touché." He leans back, and I can't help but notice how charming he is and how I feel so at home with him.
The waiter joins us with our food and our conversation comes to a sweet halt. We eat our dinner in a pleasant aura with miniscule exchanges.
"I would offer to pay for my half of the bill, but I don't think I can afford this place. Usually I'm the poor one out of my friends but tonight I felt extremely poor, I couldn't even afford a glass of juice. Maybe I could but that would cost me my rent for the next month.
"It's on me," he tells me and I smile.
"So… want to take me upstairs" I ask, squeezing my arms up against my breast to bring them into view.
"I want to-"
"Don't say but," I cut him off. "You can't have possibly come all the way here to have dinner with me."
"I don't want this to be a one time thing, and as tempting as it is to go upstairs right now, I have an early morning."
"What exactly do you want from me?"
"A relationship, is it not obvious?"
I looked at him in silence, trying to figure out what angle he was playing at. If I said yes, I'm laying it all out there to be hurt - badly.