June's POV
Friday.
Friday is here already, I guess the week went really fast. Gosh, I'm so nervous, this is literally my first date. My life so far, I've only seen and watched my mates going on dates, having boyfriends and stuff but no one has really asked me out probably because they view me as weird, maybe a psycho or a freak, a nerdy girl who is no fun to be with, I don't know. So rather than wallow in self pity, I chose to stay on my own, be myself and also avoid paying attention to others. Stepping out of the bad memories, I release a sigh. Standing in front of the mirror, I checked myself for the umpteenth time for any flaw. I mean today's my first date and in as much as I am excited, I feel very nervous. Lost in my nervousness, I felt someone hugging me from behind.
"I love this your black dinner gown, it suits you well. I bet I would have taken it away from you but, I'll let you off as today is your special day." I heard Luen saying as I looked up at her smiling face from the mirror.
"Thank you Lu, for being here." I said to her placing a hand on her hand that was around my shoulder while smiling at her from the mirror. She came to help me and her being here really means a lot to me.
"Did you feel this nervous when you went out with Luka." I asked looking at her eyes. Taking off her hands that were around me, she jumped onto the bed before saying.
" You are calm compared to how I was and guess what, Mum just laughed at me." she whined frustration evident. That sounded like what aunt Maggie would do. Laughing, I was soon relieved of my nervousness.
The door was suddenly pushed open making both Luen and I turn towards it to see Maa coming in. Walking towards me,
"Oh my baby is looking extremely beautiful." Mum complimented.
" Thanks Mum." I said smiling.
" Is everything okay?" she asked.
"Yes Maa, just a little bit nervous." I said to mum. Coming to stand close to me, she said
"Don't worry, everything will go well so just chill and enjoy yourself okay?" Nodding my head it response. I was about to say something when we heard the bell chime.
" I think he's here, I'll go open the door for him." Luen said making her way down the stairs. When she left, mum tapped my shoulder saying, "Keep calm and have fun okay."
"Mm." I said before we both made our way downstairs.
Luen's POV
Downstairs, I opened the door to see Alex standing there.
"Hey handsome." I greeted. "Come in, she'll be here in any minute."
"Mm, okay." he replied while stepping into the house. I could clearly see that he was nervous from his body language but he was very good at keeping his facial expression not giving hint of nervousness.
Few minutes later, June came down the stairs with her mum. Standing up, he respectfully greeted aunt Rose.
"Good evening Mrs Evans."
"Good evening Xander, you're here." she asked to which he gave a slight nod. Looking at June, he said.
"Hey!" with a charming smile.
"Hi." she responded nervously.
"You look beautiful in the dress." he said in almost a whisper but audible enough for all of us to understand. Tucking a loose strand of her hair behind her ear, Juni said thank you with a blush. At this point, I wonder if the blush I put on her was even necessary.
"Shall we?" he asked bringing his hand forward to take hers. Placing her hands on his, she hummed in response.
"We'll leave now Mrs Evans." Alex said politely.
"Oh, you can call me Rose. Take care of my daughter, you guys should have fun." she said bidding them good bye.
"Don't be nasty." I said with implied meaning only to be shot a glare from June. I chuckled before turning to face aunt Rose who was leaning on the door frame when I heard her say, "They grow so fast".
"That's true." I said looking at the path were the car drove through. I look at the road people going about their own business when a food vendor passed by. Inhaling the aroma of her dishes, I remember a meal which I had been longing for. I suddenly grabbed aunt Rose's hand smiling and acting spoilt as I said to her "Lets go in, I want to eat your noddles. It's been so long since I had it." Laughing, I heard aunt Rose say
"Okay, let's go in, I'll prepare some for you." Yeppe.
June's POV
Diner
After placing an order, Xander and I sat facing each other as we conversed while waiting for our food. Our table was by the window and I could see people moving around.
I was admiring the beautiful scenery of our present surrounding when Xander speaking brought my attention back into the diner.
" It's really nice to be out with you today." he said.
"Yeah it is." I said. It is a dream come true but I obviously wouldn't say that out loud.
"You look more beautiful." he said followed by an awkward silence which was broken by the entrance of the waiter. This waiter needs a tip
"Thank you " we said at the same time. We turned facing each other before laughing at the coincidence.
After fiddling with his spoon for sometime, he finally said.
" I want to apologize for how I treated you in the past." I heard him say making me raise my head up from my plate. Pausing my action of putting the food in my mouth, I looked at him with confusion and curiousness as to why he suddenly apologized. He looked out of the window saying,
"I had always wanted to be friends with you but you never gave me your time of the day. It was more or less like I didn't exist to you so when I realized you weren't going to acknowledge me, I grew a resentment towards you. I would look for every possible means to offend you." he chuckled looking down at the table before raising his head up again. "I know it was childish of me, well I was still immature but that was when you did talk to me. Though it was on a bad note, I was glad you spoke to me." He looked at me and I could see and hear the sincerity in his eyes and words.
"I'm sorry for calling you a nerd and for always troubling you. Can we have a fresh start, but on a good note this time." I heard him say as he looked at me expecting an answer.
Never in a million years would I have thought that there was a story to his behaviour. I sat there all confused and overwhelmed with all the information I just got totally forgetting the fact that I was eating as I had dropped my spoon a long time ago. I tried processing and remembering all he said and talked about. I mean I did avoid him but for an absolutely different reason. Looking forward, lost in thought, eyes focused on nothing in particular when he called out to me
"June, are you there? Can you hear me."
"Yeah, yeah, I heard you." I said snapping back to the present. Thinking back to all he said, I pursed my lips before saying,
"I'm sorry for ignoring you all these time and I'll really like us to have a fresh start."
"So we are cool right?" he asked. With a smile,
"Yes, we are. Handshake?" I said while stretching out my hands which he shook.
I'm so glad we got to clear our differences, although it wasn't totally what I expected, it was nice to have gone out and and opened up our grievances.
"How about we go to the park afterwards?" he suggested. Already feeling tired of sitting at one spot and having lost appetite,
"Yeah, that's a nice idea. We can go now besides we are done eating. We'll walk down." I said.
"Okay, I'll go check the bill." Xander said before leaving for the counter.
Stepping out of the diner, I inhaled the fresh air feeling ecstatic. I admired the surrounding once more before turning to see Xander walking towards me. On getting to where I was, we walked side by side as we strolled towards the park.
"What do you want to do when we get to the park?" I heard Xander ask. Turning to look at him, I looked forward in thought.
"I have always wanted to go on the roller coaster ride with a friend but as you know, Luen is a chick-en." I said rolling my eyes "so I would like if we do that." I completed my statement with a smile. Laughing probably at the fact that I called Luen a chicken, he said
"It's settled then, roller coaster it is."
We both walked up to the park, went on the roller coaster ride which was a-w-e-s-o-m-e and bonded over a cotton candy. We watched the sunset together before leaving the park in the evening. It was the best date yet and ever.