The Date Planner

2. 16. A Night Alone

It's been a whole week since I've been in London and let me tell you, if I did miss anything here before, I don't anymore.

All I miss right now is Justine.

The last time we met was that night when things got all heated and heavy.

God, I can still feel her taste on my tongue.

It makes me want to leave everything here and just go back to her. But I can't. I can tell Justine is in her own dilemma considering, she didn't call or text me before I left for London nor did I because I didn't want to impose myself on her. I wanted to see if she really wanted me there like I did her.

The first two or three days went by without a word from her when one day, I finally received a voice message from her.

I don't know how many times I heard it and found her stuttering, fumbling cute but I did listen it to a point that I've memorized exactly how she said and what she said.

'Hey, how are you? We're all good here. Eleanor came by yesterday to check up on us. Cole's been asking about you too', she nervously giggles, 'everybody kind of misses you already and it's like what? maybe two or three days you're gone', she laughs, 'Anyhow, atleast text me to let me know you're alive.... I miss you even if just a little', the last part, a little silently said but it hit home.

That's all she said and it made my day no matter how busy I was. I texted her immediately to let her know about my whereabouts and I miss her too.

Although I hardly had any time to call her or catch up because of the time difference and with work keeping me busy most of the time, I really missed her.

We've been exchanging texts back and forth because neither of us want to bother each other or seem too much clingy but I guess we're past that point now.

Texts aren't enough though. Things have been crazy in London with my old colleagues welcoming me and giving time to each and every one of them alongside work has been taking up most of my energy.

So most of the time that I do end up having free, I'm taking a nap and trying to catch up on my sleep.

Unfortunately my trip has extended to more than a week no matter how fast I tried to wind up things here. I'll probably be staying here for three to four more days and I already can't wait to leave.

It's the weekend nevertheless and unfortunately my friends have dragged me to a pub. An old spot where we used to go when I lived here before.

I've phased out as usual, lost in my own head while they laugh together at something one of them said. I give a brief smile to one of them, pretending to have heard whatever they said.

Taking a sip from my drink, I finish it off.  Looking around the table I realize that they're running out of it. Downing my own drink, I stand up

"I'll order us up another round of drinks", I announce to my mates.

They holler in agreement behind me as I make my way to the bar if only to get a bit of time by myself.

Sometimes I'm so grateful that my colleagues in London aren't aware of me being the son of the CEO of the company. I guess that's what I loved about being here. I was a normal guy to them. Whereas in America, it was pretty obvious who I was from a young age itself.

Telling the bartender our order and instructing him to send the drinks to our table, I take a seat at the bar myself and have a drink. Running my hand through my hair, I sigh when I feel a hand on shoulder.

I turn around to find James, my best mate and colleague taking a seat beside me. He's gay and I can't say he's anything but a flirt considering the amount of times he's tried to get into my pants.