THE HALF OF IT

Part-2

Disclaimer: The story is a work of fiction n does not have any resemblances to real life.

“I am sorry,” she said, her cheeks blushing with embarrassment. “I just . . . You caught me off guard. Of course you can join me. Have a seat.” The warm, sweet smile she gave me made up for her previous hesitation.

I kept my bag on the ground n stretched my hand introducing myself," Hi, I am Karan", I Said with a wink.

She quickly wiped her hands on a napkin and said shaking my hands," Hi, I am Teju."

The moment our hands touched I felt a connection between us, like a electric current just passed through my body. I looked at her to see if she felt the same and to my surprise there was a slight hitch to her breath and the flare of awareness in her gaze as I  skimmed my calloused thumb across her knuckles and holding her soft hand a little longer than required before letting it go.

"It's a pleasure to meet you Teju", I Said and took my seat. " It's a long night and I am starved, thank you for letting me crash into ur meal." I added

"True", she said, seems like she too is aware of airport being shut down. "And I really don't mind sharing the table but please excuse me if I am not a great company. I am apologizing before hand if I don't come out as... ummm... interesting and a nice fun company to have."

The nervousness, sadness and cracking in her sound compelled me to ask , " Bad Day?" As her words tug at my heart, I don't know why but my heart can't see her sad.

She glanced down at her plate and tried for a casual shrug, but it was weighted by something much heavier. “Yeah, you could say that.”

I waited for her to add more but she didn't and she started poking her burger with her fries. Before I could say something the waitress came with my order and asked Teju if she need anything and she just asked for another beer.

I returned my attention to the lovely woman sitting across from me as she finished off her beer. “So, you come here often?” Yeah, I know it was a cheesy line, but you have to accept that it was a good icebreaker.

The corner of her mouth quirked with amusement, “To this restaurant, or Boston?”

I chuckled as I leaned back in my chair, liking this feistier side to her personality. It was so much better than the wariness. “Boston,” I clarified. “Do you live here or are you leaving after a visit?” It was a casual question, but I would be lying if I said I wasn’t fishing for more personal information, because it would be much easier to see her again if we at least lived in the same city.

Yeah, I was already thinking that far ahead, because there was something about Teju that sparked an interest I hadn’t felt in what seemed like forever.

It was that combination of sweetness along with the new glimpses of vulnerability I had already seen that fascinated me and stirred that protective nature of mine. I wasn’t sure why she evoked those emotions, but it was enough for me to want to pursue her and see where it might lead.

The humor I’d coaxed from her moments ago evaporated. “I’m leaving Boston . . . after being utterly humiliated,” she admitted. “I’m heading back to San Francisco, where I live, because I seriously need to reassess my life and make some changes.”

Her reply took me aback and I wanted to know the whole story behind her emotions. Before I could say something, waitress came with her beer effectively breaking the moment and giving Teju a chance to change the topic. " What about you?" She asked.

Clearly, she wasn’t going to elaborate on those life changes she felt compelled to take. There was no doubt that I wanted to know her secrets, but I also wanted her to share them freely. “I was here on business attending a conference."

I took a bite of my burger and continued . “I live in San Francisco, as well.” Then I gave her a sympathetic look. “And I am really sorry about whatever happened to humiliate you.” I tried the trick so maybe she shares something.

She leaned back in her chair, her pained expression quickly becoming eclipsed by a slow-building anger as she considered the situation. “Honestly, I should have seen it coming.”

“Seen what coming” I asked after another bite, gently providing her with the opportunity to open up, because I could see that she was struggling with the desire to give that frustration inside of her some kind of outlet. Yes, being in business for years taught me to read people and their emotions well as they help me to make right deals and made me so successful.

Lips pursed, she shook her head and glanced away. “Trust me, it’s a long, completely embarrassing story that no guy wants to hear.”

“Try me.” She remaimed skeptical, and I was suddenly determined to prove her wrong about me not caring about her bad day. “I’ve got all night. Literally. And so do you, now that our flight has been cancelled. And if it makes you feel any better, I swear that whatever you say in Boston will absolutely stay in Boston.”

Grinning at her, I made a small cross over my heart with my I index finger to seal the promise, and counted the tiny peek of a smile that appeared on her lips as a small victory.

“You’re very . . . persuasive.”

I shrugged as I finished off my burger, my appetite sated for now. Pushing aside my  plate, I braced my forearms on the table in front of me. “Honestly, I just think it might help to get whatever is bothering you off your chest. Blow off some steam and release all that stress and aggravation so you can breathe again without feeling like someone is sitting on your chest.”

She nodded absently. “It does feel that way,” she admitted.

“No pressure,” I said, putting both my hands up in an easygoing gesture, though I wasn't below trying a little reverse psychology. “But I also understand if it’s something you don’t want to discuss.”

She tipped her head to the side and eyed me perceptively as I took a drink of my beer. “You’re a stranger, and I don’t even know you, at least not well enough to share something so personal with you.”

I was hoping to change all that over the course of our time together, which was at least the next twenty-four hours.
“Even better, don’t you think Who am I going to tell your story to that it’ll matter?”

“That’s true,” she murmured, seemingly considering my offer to listen. As she thought it over and drank her second beer, I watched as she sat up a bit straighter in her chair and her chin lifed with a spark of rebellion.
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Let your imagination unleash itself .