Though I was busy looking at the new project's design, my mind was wondering about her. I was waiting for the clock to strike 8.
When I heard footsteps near me, I looked up from my screen. She was there in front of me.' 'Ash…
I shrieked, actually my inner self screamed in joy.
She didn't dress up, she was wearing the same dress I saw in the morning. 'You're here?'
Her eyes unsettled and frustrated, she questioned,' You wanted me to?'
She didn't wear any makeup. She looked more natural than this morning. I walked up to her, "No…No…I was just ... .ugh…come on…sit…" I directed her to the couch. We sat opposite and I felt like she was starving.
'So what you'll have? Your favorite spaghetti bolognese or chicken risotto? I asked but worried if she'll be upset with me for the first thing I asked her is food.
To my surprise, she counter questioned with her mouth open and brows raised up, "You remember?"
I rejoiced, 'Of course! Now they are my favorite!'
"Ah!" she looked as if I made her uncomfortable.
'I am so excited you know, to have you here, to have dinner…dat…, my throat gulped the word date before I say, 'dinner with you!' I managed.
She ignored me, as if she read my mind, my words, My eyes that kept looking at her for any signs that favors me. But none. She urged me to tell about her father's incident. I heard her stomach growl, maybe she didn't have her lunch I thought, 'Oh! Let's eat first!' I said.
I was shocked when she refused, realizing her rage, I made her took my bait of innocence and hurt.
She agreed and I ordered the food. We sat at the corner. Food and wine were arranged, starlit sky and the well-lit tall building outside the window screamed 'What a perfect date!'
I turned to her, but she was gobbling up the rice. She might choke up if she devours the food like that, but I was stunned that she could be so hungry and eat up like that with me. I felt happy that she is loosening up with me, "Woah ! Slow down !" I chortled.
She talked with her mouthful, "Wow, she looked so cute, I saw the innocent Ash once again! The naughty Young girl! " I giggled.
And she told me the reason why she eat so after a paintballing game!
'A paintball game?' I was taken aback that I wasn't informed about her interests in the paintball game.
To my awe, She ignored my reactions and enjoyed the food and suddenly teared up.
'You alright Ash?' I asked her and she wiped them and acted like it was nothing and looked at her plate to eat, but she was surprised she ate all of it.
I laughed out loud, looking at her shocked face," Should I get you another plate?" Damn she ate like she starved for days, "I wonder whom you've taken with to the game?" I asked eagerly.
Her answer, 'That's none of your concern!' strike me hard and made me aware of how it got interpreted.
I understood what she meant and teased her and she fell right into my trap. She fumed with pure rage when I told her that she took my bait.
So I suggested a toast, to let her relax, but it took a wrong turn and she gulped the whole glass down and the waiter poured another.
I couldn't contain my laughter, when she poured another drink. She chugged down another in embarrassment. I couldn't let her drink more and I made the waiter clear the table after I finished.
She was intoxicated already and I just had a sip from my wine. How unfair, I thought.
"You…." she pointed at me, startling me. She moved closer to me, her eyes moving from me to my right, 'How come there's another?'
'You're drunk, I'll drop you .' I said trying to hold her extended arm.
She shoved my hand, tripped and tumbled on her back, and started giggling.
"Oh man! She is gonna make my night worse!" I realized looking at the face, those intoxicating eyes, blinking. The luscious glossy lips and the pearly smile, shattering down my wall of control.
I gave her a hand, but she refused giggling.
I bent and lifted her, she kept resisting and we both fell one over the other, my reflex landing myself on a plank position,' Such an uncompromising position!' I murmured over her and she answered, 'Who told you to fall over' grabbing my collar.
"Damn…Why is she doing this to me?" I may lose my balance, my hands shaking next to her head, her face inches away and her eyes roaming over. My heart breathing a thousand times and before I could move, she moved closer to my side, sniffing my scent making my hairs stand up in my neck. She said a decade ago that I smelled good for the same scent I'm wearing today. Her nose tip touched my skin on my side neck sending cold shivers, that made me topple over her.
She smelled me, despite the fact I fell over her and her soft lips brushed my face, flushing my cheeks with all the blood rushing in. I let myself fall to the side lying next to her and I faced her.
"You smell so good !" she inhaled and turned to my side pulling her knees into a fetal position, her eyes fixed on me.
She batted her eyes, her hands holding her face ,'Tell me the truth?'
Seems like she wasn't the only one intoxicated.
"What truth?" I questioned.
'Everything!', her drunken eyes moved from my eyes to my lips.
"What you are asking for now is not really a good idea! "
She shifted her sight to my eyes, inching closer. My hand grazed over her head, tucking a bundle of hair behind her ear. My thumb caressing her cheek. She grabbed my hand, our eyes met, the temperature around us sweltering despite the cold night, and the air conditioned room.
"Where is the bed?" she inquired.
'What?' my face clearly expressing shock.
"It's cold, I can't sleep on this cold floor! I'll catch a cold !" she said innocently and pushed herself up with her hands on the floor and I sat up with her. "I'm sleepy!" She extended her arm to me. I got up and lifted her up from the floor, directed her to my bedroom inside and made her lie down on the bed. She snuggled up in the bed with my blanket.
'Tch…Damn you lucky blanket….' I felt envious like a teenager. 'I should be there instead of you!' I sighed. I looked at her calm face and felt relaxed.
I walked back to my working table and settled on the couch. I was startled by the sudden ringing sound of my phone. It was my father.
I answered, 'Hello..'
"..."
'I am stuck here with the new project dad, I'm sorry, I can't make it! ' I lied to him, not that he would mistake me ,but it came naturally.
'Good night, Dad.' he hung up.
'What's going on with me? Why did I lie to him?' I leaned on the couch lost in thoughts.
I was alarmed when I heard scream and lament from the bedroom. I ran inside wondering what had happened, I stopped in shock, when she lamented and shrieked while lying with her eyes closed.
I felt a lump in my throat, I rushed to her and caressed her forehead, her knitted brows.
She opened her eyes slowly and looked at me.
"Why do you keep showing up in my dreams recently?"
'I'm sorry for not showing up before!' my voice broke, as I brushed her hair off her face.
"You've taken longer than I expected and you're too late!" her eyes welled up.
'Sorry if I had known, No…I was in the wrong. I was stupid. I am sorry!' tears fell off my eyes.
She rose up and wiped my tears with her thumb. Her warm touch broke my stubbornness and I gave in. I hugged her tight. 'Sorry, I wasn't there! I've let you suffer alone! Forgive me! ' I knelt before her on the floor.
She stared at me for a while without moving. She took off the blanket and got down the bed suddenly, "Noah…You…" she was on her knees facing me, her shaky hand touching my face, "It's not a dream? ", she uttered. Her both hands held my face and her eyes probed me for something.
When our eyes met, she embraced me, her arms snaking around my neck. The warm embrace loosened up the tension, leading my hands around her waist for a tight hug.