Hearken

Chapter 6: How Dating Feels Like

“Yeah, I haven’t had fresh pasta with marinara sauce in a long while.” He agreed.

About to take a cut of the Chinese sponge cake in front of me, Luke held back my hand. Bringing out his mobile phone.

“Before you eat, because I know you’re hungry. I should do a video recording of this.” He blushed, zooming his mobile camera on my food. “I’d like to update my status, post on tictok, Tumblr and, of course, Genevieve, my darling wife. She’ll prepare this for me. My woman can cook.” Luke praised.

It puzzled me for a moment.

“Okay, eat. You can eat now.” He ordered. It took me a while, pondering on his words.

“Pardon me.” I smiled. “You just said something about your wife. Are you married? I thought you’re single.”

“Come one, Evelyn. Can’t you see I drive a space bus?”

“Space bus? What does that mean?” I furrowed at him.

“That’s my car. I use it to move my family around, not animals. I have three children, almost four. My heavily pregnant wife, Vive, Penelope, Charles and Elizabeth. Yes, Betty is as tall as you are.” Luke gazed up, trying to recall their features. “My son, Charles, could ask you out.” he said proudly and our eyes met.

“You’re asking if I’m married? My good and young looks often give me that grace, yeah. I’m older than you think. I am actually 50, but I’m sure I look younger than 45.”

“I’m doomed!” The words dropped out of me in shock.

“Are you saying something?” Luke asked, taking a mouthful of cannoli into his mouth. “Frankly speaking, you’re exquisite. Prettier in person than in pictures.”

“Thank you.”

“You’re beautiful.” He shrugged, licking his bare hands. “Let me check on this.” Luke took his phone again. “Oh no, your fingers distracted this picture! I need to take another. Move you hand aside.” He said, and I instantly gave him a hateful look.

I didn’t look around, but I felt eyes focused on us. This guy has a goddamn voice. He could as well be a parrot.

“Move your hand aside.” Luke repeated.

I folded an arm under my jaw, giving him a tight-lipped smile.

“So, do you tell your wife everything?” I queried, jeeringly.

“Of course,” he agreed. “Aren’t we a couple? Why would I hide such from my wife? I just sent her this.” He showed me the pictures he had just took.

“Does your wife know you’re having a date right now?” I raised an eyebrow.

“She does.” He replied, filling a transparent wine glass with a screaming eagle cabernet.

I’d ordered two bottles for the both of us. Immediately the wine reached its brim, Luke gulped the content down his dried throat and I silently and guiltily watched him drink.

“Although, I only told her I got a lunch date with a friend of mine. He confessed. I didn’t tell her it’s a man or a woman.” I chuckled at his smartness and he joined me with laughter.

“I understand.” I replied him, faithful. Knowing meeting him was a mistake, a big one, but I rolled with him as if enjoying his company. “So, would you tell your wife if this date ended up in sex?”

“Come on, darling. I can’t tell her such.” Luke vividly sucking on his teeth and lower lips. “What kind of man would say such a thing to his wife? She has caught me cheating thrice.” He blurted out. Then gazed up, pondering on the thought and rambling. “No, it’s six times. The last time was two years ago. I couldn’t tell who could have told her where we were! Vive just stormed into where we were, right in the action's thick! Ouch!” He moaned aloud, and I looked around, embarrassed.