Chapter 11

Nate.

"Damn!!! I'm happy for you, Jess!" I said as I hugged Jessica.
"We all are, babe," said Kevin bringing 4 cups of earl grey tea.
We hung around after works in a coffee corner near my office. Jess just told us that Sean proposed her last night.

"Sorry guys, I'm late. Jessieeee.... deaaar...., I'm happy for you, I envy you. Why didn't you wake me up last night and shared this? You even didn't talk to me this morning! How dare you!!!" Jo came, burst up the door, and run toward Jess.

"Yeah, I was pretty shocked last night. But hey, I'm engaged now," Jess explained while showing a ring on her finger.
"Anyway, why don't we celebrate this? My place? Tonight?" she continued.
"Sorry Jess, I can't. I have date. Tomorrow maybe?" I replied.
"Sure, no problem. Guys?"
"I'm in," said Kev.
"I'm all yours. Send my regards to Andy, would you?" It was Jo.
"Well, actually, I'm not going out with him tonight"
"WHAT??????"
"Nate always surprises you, eh?" I couldn't resist to laugh leaving they gawked.

***

"You'd better told me whom you were with last night, Nate!" asked Jo the next morning.
"You called me this early just to ask me that?"
"Yes, I'm worried about you."
"Hahahaha.... You tell me!"
"C'mon Nate, it's not funny. You never be like this. Couple days ago, you were with Andy, and now you are going out with someone else. It's not you!"
"Okay, okay. Well, I feel like to weigh my options. I had fun with Andy, but i felt Dave completed me."
"DAVE?!? Isn't he Andy's friend? Nate, what are you thinking?"
"Relax bitch! I'm just hanging out with him. I put my interest in him but we were just talking. I felt more comfortable when I'm with Dave."
"And you felt he completed you?" I sensed mocking in Jo's sentence.
"Okay, 'COMPLETE' might sound too much. Anyway, I haven't decided anything. Don't be so serious," I lied for sure.
"That's the point. I know you have no commitment with neither of them. Yet. But you can't hanging out with both. You have to choose," she continued.
I knew I did, but I kept silence.
"Well, at least I know you are okay. Talk to you later, k? I have to go," she continued.
"Great. And Jo?"
"Yes?"
"Thank you."


***

A night before...

I was waiting outside a mall when he walked out that parking lot. He wore red t-shirt with short pants. He smiled entering my car.
"Hi," greeted Dave.
"Hi," I felt awkward, "where are we going?"
"I'm thinking of.... DUCK?"
"Hahaha... Really? Let's go then."

We talked along the way and we had more chats in the restaurant. Andy kept texting me, asking my whereabouts and what I did, and I lied, I said I was with my sister, talking about business we'd like to do. I felt bad about it, but at the same time I felt so glad to be with Dave that evening.

Time flew so fast, I asked the waiter for the bill. Surprisingly, Dave paid his own meal. I didn't expect it, but it was nice, for me. There was a unwritten manners that said guy should pay his girl's meal. But hey, my date was a guy too. It was a plus for me he paid his own expense. Andy did not do it. Oh gosh, I was comparing.

Time flew, and I drove him to where he parked his car. When we were near that mall, he asked "What if I wanna be a little bit longer with you?"
A lighting stroke my head. Andy never showed that he wanted to be with me, though I knew he wanted to. Another comparing.
"What if I can make that happen?"
"But I don't know where to go"
I stopped my car at the roadside. He was starring at me when I turned my head to him. He was smiling, beautifully. I held hard my urge to kiss him, and I somehow knew he did the same. We had another talks for another half an hour then we decided to call it a night.

"I hope I'll see you again, Nate," he said.
"Sure," I nodded.
"Okay then," he nervously patted his own thigh, then said "awkward, sorry. I'd better get going."
I just smiled, trying hard to be still. He opened my car's door, stepping his left foot outside, getting up, and I gave up. I pulled his right hand and when he looked forward me, I placed my lips on his. I took this risk. For a moment there I believed he would pushed me back. But then I felt his lips moving, replying my kiss. It was the sweetest thing I ever had.