Here All Along

chapter - 24

"Hey Bright, what's up?" Kavin breathed heavily after opening the door of Win's dorm room. He was without glasses and his shirt and i didn't want to think what they might have been doing inside.

"Uhm, is Win here?" I asked lamely.

"Who's it babe?" I heard Win's voice from inside to which Kavin replied that it was me.

"Hey.." Win came running, his hands busy buttoning his shirt and hair dishevelled.

My face heated up, with embarrassment or jealousy or both, i didn't want to know.

"I'm sorry it's obviously a wrong time. I'll come later" i said hurriedly.

"No it's fine" Win said, "come in.."

I glanced over his shoulder at Kavin who was shaking his head in a no, mouthing what it looked like the word please.

"Uhm no it's fine actually. I remember I've an important thing to do."

"Alright" Win said, "I'll stop by at yours then."

Saying that, he went back inside while Kavin smiled gratefully at me.

"Thanks bro. And sorry. If you had a hot boyfriend like i do, I'm sure you'd understand" he laughed, i awkwardly acknowledged before he shut the door.

I splayed my hands out, there were red angry dents in my palms I had dug in by my nails. Right, i did not have a boyfriend like Win. Perhaps I'd never have but at that moment, I knew someone who was hot as well and more importantly, was a mere stranger who i didn't have to be scared of for breaking my heart. I left Win's dorm.

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"Hi" Mr. Adam Kenith welcomed me with a cordial but also slightly smug smile, "i hope there was no difficulty in finding my place."

"I don't understand why do we need to hangout at your apartment when we can hangout at literally anywhere in the city?"

He shrugged, "I've never cooked for my date before. I'm pretty excited."

Saying that, he starts walking in but I stayed at the threshold of the door. He turned back questioningly.

"This is not a date" i stated.

If Mr. Adam was surprised, he did well to hide it. Crossing his hands on his chest, he walked towards me and leaned against the edge of the door.

"Why not?" asked he calmly.

"I don't know" i said, "I guess I'm not like those guys who go on random dates with strangers."

A faint smile spread on his lips.

"Then may I ask why would a guy like you text a stranger out of nowhere and ask if he was free?"

I had no smart argument so i replied stupidly, "whatever, this is not a date."

"Are you here to book an appointment..may be?"

"I don't need therapy" i snapped curtly.

His eyes travelled up down at me before he nodded slowly, siding away so i could enter.

"Not a date, I got it. Come on in now."

I felt childish but didn't wanna say so and walked in his apartment. It was fairly big for one person to live and very elegant. It definitely looked like his kind of place, vibrant, positive and very self sufficient.

"I'm making roasted salmon and cheese salad. Hope that's okay?"

I nodded absent mindedly, taking a look at his apartment before joining him in the kitchen.