IN LOVE WITH YOU [SLOW UPDATES]

5

PHI's POV

This was the best day since I got here. I had her hands in mine, her eyes in mine and maybe her soul too. My heart was fluttering like the wings of a bird.

I had the thought of kissing her again just when her wasted friends showed up and we distanced ourselves a bit.

"Oh boy, what have we got here. You two are like high school kids dancing at their prom," laughed Seth.

Seth was the boy who resembled a cartoon character but I still don't remember which one!

"Hey man, I thought Pam and you had something going on," asked Omer.

I disliked Omer because he was with Naina all the time. Couldn't he just fuck off?

"No, we're just friends. Although with Naina I could have something," I said staring coldly into his eyes.

I wanted to make it obvious that I like Naina and he should stay the fuck away from her. It was not just that he was with her all the time; he always flirted with her in subtle ways, winking at her with his big brown eyes and making her laugh at his silly jokes. She just let it pass giving him the wrong signal.

"I think we should go back to our rooms now, it's late," Naina said breaking the awkward moment between us.

True, both her friends had ruined the night for me.

"I'll book a cab," I said taking out my cell phone from the pocket.

What the fuck!

10 missed calls from Pam. What had happened? I gave her a callback, getting out from the crowd.

"Where were you, I've called a million times," she seemed anxious.

"What happened? Are you alright?"

"Yeah, I'm in the restaurant in the opposite lane. There were some guys in the club..." she said in a low voice.

"Just wait, I'll be there in a second."

I did not have time to get back to others and inform them. I went straight to the restaurant.

Pam was sitting in a corner, sipping coffee. Her eyes were fixated on the door waiting for me and as soon as I reached she stood up and hugged me tightly.

"Where were you?" She asked.

I was startled by the sudden hug but I could feel from her behaviour that something was very wrong.

"I'm sorry I could not pick up your calls. It was so loud there. But what had happened, did someone bully you?"

I feared something like this would happen. Although everyone made us feel warm in the city some assholes just like to bully, especially an Asian girl.

"I was dancing with Emily then I went up to the bar to get us more drinks,  there were some boys, one of them grabbed me from behind. They were everywhere around me. The bartender interfered and I quickly made a run out of that shit. I hope they did not harm the bartender," she sobbed speaking in broken sentences.

"It's alright. Calm down, I'm here no one is going to do anything. Just give me a minute, I'll check if those boys are still there in the club," I said. I'd kick those assholes now.

"No just stay with me, please," she said stopping me.

I felt bad, if only I'd been around her nothing of this sort would have happened.

"I'm sorry I wasn't around. Come let's take you back to your room."

I called a cab and we got out at her apartment building. I walked her to the room, she was silent all along, clinging by my side.

"Can you stay the night with me?" She asked when we reached her apartment door.

"Yeah, sure. I'll stay," I said. I was concerned for Pam. Her apartment was fairly large, with two big bedrooms, a small living area and a kitchen. The living area was unfurnished and I didn't check the other bedroom but I guessed it might be the same since she didn't have a roommate.

I turned on my cell phone and texted Naina, "Sorry can't come, something came up".

Before I could hit the send button, Pam started sobbing again.

"Hey, I'm sorry this happened," I said hugging her tight, "You should get some sleep now. Do you want to change?"

She refused with a shake of her head. I removed her heels and adjusted her pillow and blanket. She picked up a bottle of tablets from her bedside table and asked for water. I fetched it from the kitchen.

She gulped a tablet, which was a sleeping pill. I was reasoning whether to ask about the pills or not but I dropped the idea.

"I'll be there on the couch. Just call out if you have any problem, okay?"

"Yeah, and thank you for being with me," she said holding my hand.

I just nodded. Deep down I felt like it was all my fault.

"Good night then, sleep well," I said and moved to the couch. I let the lights on because Pam didn't want to sleep in dark.

Shit! I forgot to send the text!

I checked my cell phone. One missed call and three texts from Naina.

"Hey.. what happened?"

"Where are you?"

"Are you okay?"

"I'm sorry, something came up. I'll meet you tomorrow," I replied.

I removed my shoes and wristwatch and lay down on the couch, adjusting my long feet to make myself comfortable in the limited space. Placing my arm on my eyes to get away with the stinging bright light of the tube light, I reminded today's happening in my brain.

Just after our first kiss, I left her in the club waiting. What a douchebag I am.

"Phi! Are you awake?" Pam whispered.

"Yeah, yeah I am. Are you alright?" I asked sitting up.

"I can't sleep, I'm still too terrified. I don't know what to do," she said breaking into tears.

"Hey, it's alright. I'm here," I got up and sat beside her on the bed, "nothing's gonna happen now."

She held my arm and slowly pulled me towards her bed making space for me, "You can sleep here."

I was reluctant, she was still wearing that short dress and I didn't want to do anything, especially when I had someone else on my mind.

"Umm, I'll sit here beside you all night. There's no need to be afraid," I said supporting my back on the headboard of the bed with the help of a pillow.

She nodded still holding my hand. After some time she was asleep and I dozed off in that uncomfortable position thinking of Naina.