I finally saved enough to go on a book shopping date here with my best friend. We had a "to-do list" in our highschool years and one of which was for us to go together to a bookstore and buy whatever books we wanted and a book that we thought the other should read.
It was already 5pm here, waiting to see my best friend after six months.YES.SIX.MONTHS. Might not seem like a HUGE deal but let's just say it was too much for me, from moving to dorms,to different colleges,to hanging out with a different crowd. Times change and we eventually change, we need to catch up I swear.
I sip on my latté as I wait for her warm welcoming smile to greet me like the good ol' days.As my eyes were searching her amongst the crowd,they sure did find quite the catch. A really tall , young handsome man with black hair and eyes covered with his bangs. His face was sculpted with such details I swear and his cherry coloured lips contrasting his milky white smooth skin-. "I wish I could find a guy like him...", I sighed in defeat.
"A guy like who?"the one with the brown coat and black turtle neck or-". I almost spit the sip of latté I consumed as a distant yet familiar voice startled me. I turned around to look at her as I couldn't help but smile,"You're finally here!!". We hugged each other and caught up over a cup of coffee until she took out a piece of paper that was too familiar to be forgotten.
"You still carry this around?", I asked not able to supress my smile at how carefully she still remembered our list. "How could I get rid of something that has been a part of my whole life at this point,hmm?". She then took out her imaginary pen as she traced her finger down till the end of the page as she yelled,"TO OUR BOOK DATE IT IS!!".I shushed her down while laughing and dragging her out of the café as everyone started at her..... really not good for my social anxiety I tell you.
We both entered the bookstore and the smell of being surrounded by books,made our memories rush in, as we remembered the days we spent in the school library reading romance novels after school hours to the point our librarian handed us the keys to lock the library after we were done.
At first we stuck with around the other looking at books here and there and criticising the summary written at the back of the books and judging the characters without even opening the book. Then we thought to be serious and split, and promise to meet each other in half an hour.
I had already prepared a list of some books to buy if I ever had the chance to and so I went to buy those books which saved me a lot of time. Now for the book I wanted to search for my friend was , "How to stay away from Red Flags", of course there wasn't a book with that exact title but at least I know they sell those self help books.
It had already been 10 minutes and I still couldn't find the damn book... I left out a sigh in defeat that maybe I'll just buy her a fictional novel where the female lead chooses the villain as her love interest or something....
I looked up at the bookshelf in front of me,where...there ACTUALLY WAS A BOOK WITH THE TITLE "RED FLAGS and How to Avoid them-a self help book". Ok this was totally anything but normal.So I rushed to the shelf trying to reach the book , but thanks to the height I have the book was out of my reach... until I saw a hand reach out to that book and bring it to my eye level covering his face.
He handed out the book to me with a smile as he said ,"I don't know what you're going through but I hope you get over it... Fighting!!". I looked at his face as it struck my mind and I carelessly let my mouth speak,"Mr idealistic boyfriend?". He looked at me confused and covered his face as he looked down and started giggling.
I.am.stupid. I didn't care anymore I dropped my books and rushed out the bookstore as I saw my friend approach me carrying a lot of books in her hands. That didn't stop me I tried so hard not to cry and rushed out the bookstore... l know it sounds so stupid but I really just can't be near him any longer I've embarrassed myself enough for today.
I sat down on the bench of a nearby park as I texted my friend my location so that I could explain her what actually happened. I closed my eyes trying to remember how today was supposed to go yet how I messed it up not only for me,but my friend and that guy as well.
As I opened my eyes I could see my friend walk in my direction along with a man...with a brown coat...and a black tur- WHY IS HE HERE. I got up from my seat shocked why they both were coming together as I made eye contact with the handsome man as he ran towards me with some books in his hands as he stopped right in front of me.
"You left something back at the bookstore and I'm here to return it to." I looked at the books and looked at him back,as he was scratching the back of his neck and spoke,"I never bought these-". "Here's a little gift from me...you might have a terrible taste in guys,but maybe I'm here to change that .",he said that as he winked at me.
I looked down at my shoes as I held the Book I had gotten for my friend and held it out to her as she grinned at me, being proud of being my wingwoman for once but her smile soon disappeared as I spoke,"she's.... the one with a terrible taste... I'm the one with a great and unrealistic taste...". He looked at me confused yet he grinned as if to cover his misunderstanding as he confidently spoke,"Did I stutter.... I'm...more like- I LIKE YOU OK? AND I BELIEVE I CAN TREAT YOU BETTER THAN THOSE FICTIONAL "UNREALISTIC" MEN OF YOURS...So please give me a chance to prove it to you."
I started at him blankly as I blushed and covered my mouth and spoke,"I can't believe this is real but yes!! We can always start with a friendly date and decide if we can actually fall in lo-". "Trust me, in our first date itself you'd want to be more than just friends, I'll make sure to starting today and do text me when you reach home.",he smiled and nodded at me and my friend as he walked away. I was about to shout,"You didn't gi-" , as I realised a sticky note stuck on the top of the bundle of books which had a number with a note written, "To inviting you in my life <3"
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