Charlie
I lift my phone to turn off my alarm as I close my laptop. Me and my friends, after two weeks of constant rescheduling, finally agreed to meet tonight at 6 pm at Doris' Coffee Lounge. Since I resigned from the previous company where the three of us worked, to be an individual author, we always hang out and talk about lives every Saturday night. But not during holidays, when most publishing companies are busier than normal. Instead, we were able to freed our schedule and meet in the third week of November.
I decided to wear a bell bottom jeans in the darkest denim shade with a leather belt—a black knitted off-shoulder top, partnered with a black hobo bag and pointed leather ankle boots with two-inch heels to compensate for my short size. Top up with copper dropped shoulder wool coat because it is -5 C outside.
A last glance at the mirror, and I'm good to go.
~
Doris Coffee Lounge is not just packed because of its fancy coffee but also for its relaxing atmosphere. Anyone would like to stay for a coffee or two just to enjoy the classical rock music from the background and the soothing vibe brought by the Lounge interior. It is located two blocks from Bayland City, just a few steps from Chester Town.
The shop is built like a modern boomhut with a combination of marble counters and wooden floorings and walls. There is a rectangular wooden plant box full of moss and different houseplants, long enough that some leaves hang like a chandelier. On either side grows a medium-sized fiddle leaf fig tree that serves as decorations or relaxation therapy.
At 5:55 pm, the two girls I am waiting for, arrive with their usual sparkling eyes and tiny shrieks as soon as they see me. Penny wore a yellow knitted sweater underneath the denim jacket and white maxi skirt, while Sam wore black fitted pants, a white turtle neck sweater, and her usual high ponytail.
"I admire your bravery for wearing an off-shoulder top during winter, Charlie," said Sam sweetlyas she sat on the couch adjacent to mine. Penny sits beside me, nodding.
"I have a coat." I simply reply, pointing to my bag and coat on my other side.
" Elegant as usual, Charlie. Miss you!" said Pen.
As soon as they were settled, we ordered our drinks and snacks. Mine is an iced Latte, while the other girls take hot cappuccino as usual.
No weather can stop me from drinking iced coffee; last winter, it was —15C. Sam stared at me with a scowl as I drank the cold Latte without shivering.
We talk about what happens to our every day and the drama surrounding us—them. I do most of my job at home; thus, I have no drama to share, but theirs are always interesting. It was Penny who knew most of the drama as she was the talkative one.
Sam had been promoted as team manager while Penny remained as marketing assistant. They still work in ALS Publishing company and have no sign of resigning as soon like I did. It's hard to find a stable, good paying job with a great environment in the city. I got lucky by having a creative mind that I allows me to write my book. Thus, I still let ALS publish my works but not as their full-time worker.
Our conversation about work drama lasted for an hour and a half; thus, Sam started to talk about what she liked most—sex life.
"Oh. So you mean you met this guy in Chester Town, and he's been crossing the city just to fuck you?" Penny exclaimed, surprised but excited.
I bit my lower lip hearing Penny's remark, and thank God we're on the corner side of the Lounge and no one might hears what lewd things we're exchanging here.
Sam and Penny used to be tight-lipped about this topic three years ago, but not until my first book was published. They say my books opened them to reality and brought in the real them. They realize how great sex is and how much they are missing in being a virgin at 20.
What more at 22?
Penny leaves my side and sits beside Sam, raising their hand together as her eyes sparkle with anticipation for Sam's sex life story. Who could imagine that these two were too shy to mention breasts before and are now publicly talking about their sex experience?
Again, I bit my lip harder. What should I say this time?
"Not every time Pen. One time, we did it in his car. I'm telling you, the thrill and fear of being caught is exciting! or when you suddenly attacked by the urge to give him a blow while watching movie!"
"What!" Pen, too delighted by what she hears, almost screams, but Sam's hand is fast to seal her mouth and calm her down. "Tone it down Pen. Or I'll stop. Look at Charlie, she's natural. "
The two girls look at me. Then Penny said, "Of course she is. She wrote the dirtiest, the filthiest, and the most lewd scenes we can imagine than this, no."
Those words seem to dry my throat, albeit suffocating me, depriving me of air as reality kicks my gut, shouting at me to function natural. Closing my eyes as I breathed out an air of composure, I gave them a fake smile, hoping they would see it as a surprise response as they changed the subject to me instantly. Penny moves on and glares back at Sam, who is, like me, not pleased taking the spotlight from her.
Leaning onto the couch, I turned my attention to the people coming in and out of the Cafe. On the table on our right, not far from us, I caught a man staring at me with gauging eyes. He might be hearing what we are talking about, which might be the cause of his scowl. He turned away as soon as I stared back, continuing his business to his phone.
"—We were to meet again tomorrow, by the way," Sam says. I was too busy regaining my composure as I didn't hear the rest of her story. "What about you, Pen? How is it going with you and Mike? Mark, is it?" asked Sam
"It's Miles, Sam. We broke up two days ago," she said with her usual tone and expression without a hint of despair.
"Are you okay, Pen?" I asked. Wondering why she said it as if she anticipated it.
"Yeah. I wasn't serious in the first place, anyway. And here—" showing her phone, a picture of a man in her late 20s there —I have been talking to this man for a week. We'll be hanging out later," she winks, EXCITEDLY
"OH," Sam and I responded in unison. That was quick.
"See these long fingers? Gosh! Can't wait to feel it inside me."
And they started again.
~
Three hours had passed when we decided to call it a night and part ways. Penny and Sam took a separate cab to go home while I marched to the back of the Lounge. I took my cigarette and lighted one as I'd been itching to do a couple of hour ago. A long drag of cigarette tingles my tense muscles.
I've been under a lot of pressure lately, and I forced this date to relax, have fun with them, but it got even worse.
Drowning through my worries, I did not feel the other presence that had been watching me from the side. The person realizes my gaze, walks and closes the gap between us from 20 meters into one. Coming from the shadow was the same man staring at me from the Lounge.
The back alley is dark; only a broken, dim street light is the source of light, but its piercing green eyes seem to glow, illuminating the gloaming surroundings. He might be 6 foot 4, considering that I'm just within his shoulder and I'm wearing heels. His white V-neck shirt is not precisely caging his muscles, as I can see his biceps trying to get loose from his sleeves. From a distance, I can smell his expensive cologne blend with his masculine natural scent oozing with appeal.
He might look good-looking, given his pretty eyes and hot, but following a woman in the back alley without making any sound screams creep.
"Did your friends know your virgin?" he asked, unabating.
My brain managed to respond faster than my heart. I bit my lip before I could even show any emotion.
"Who says that I'm—"
My instinct told me to step back as he started walking, closing the gap between us until my back felt the cold of the wall. He's looking down at me, shifting from my eyes to my cleavage.
My mind should be ordering me to scream at that motion, but rather, she thinks that was hot.
"I know a virgin when I see one."
My gasp sounded like a tiny whimper when his large hands traced my cleavage to my chin, gauging the size of my neck, and then he squeezed—choking me.
He stared at me for a long second. Watching as oxygen started to leave my system. As I desperately gasp for air, he gave me mercy, and let go. He pulls something from his pocket, slipping it deep between my breast.
By the time my composure recovered, I realized it was a calling card.
"I'm looking for a model for my new exhibit. And you are very suitable for it," he says, turning his back a few steps from me.
My mouth twisted, and a conflicted look passed across my face. "What the hell was that for? You almost killed me."
"I didn't, though." he looked at me again, those piercing eyes, " And I am not asking. Either your friends or me. Your choice." and he left.