"Excuse me sir, can I get the check?" I asked my waiter. Yet again sitting alone at the Hong Kong Grill and Buffet. I guess I should be used to it by now since most of the staff know me by name. The waiter returns with the check looking kind of nervous when he sets the check and fortune cookie down. I decide to open my fortune cookie first pulling the plastic wrapping off and shuffling the cookie out of its container. Snapping the cookie in half I pull out the fortune since I never eat the cookie anyways. What? Why would a fortune cookie say that? Who the hell came up with this bullshit of a prank? I reread it 5 times it never changed. It still read "Your life is in danger. Say nothing to anyone. You must leave the city immediately and never return. Repeat: say nothing." Suddenly the manager comes out a huge smile reaching up to his slanted eyes to tell me that since I'm such a valued customer that the food was on the house.
Then he got serious, "Riza do what the fortune cookie tells you it's for your own good. We're doing this to protect you. There's a taxi that will meet you at 45th and Haven St. from there you're on your own. This is all we could do."
Then he smiled again with tears glistening in his eyes."You were our favorite customer. Good luck and safe travels." Then I realized he had left me in the street. Something rang in my mind 45th and Haven that's one street down where I live. Running across the street making the brand new Jeep Cherokee swerve before reaching the parking garage across the way. I pulled out my keys when gun shots and screams rang out. I ran up 2 flights of steps to my car when I opened the door I realized right away that suitcases were in the back with labels, "For Riza, from the staff at Hong Kong." Then a text appeared from an unknown number. "U R FINISHED." I shove the keys in the ignition and rev the engine to my 2004 Honda Civic. Shift into reverse, shift into drive and off I go into the moonlit night. I drop my car off outside my apartment and lug the suitcases out. Running to the taxi I realize my cat's in the apartment. I text my mom to make sure she comes home early from her binge drinking to feed the cat. Damn I'm gonna miss my obese cat, my brother named him pants when we were 12 and 15. I was older and I'm 25 now. I had just finished med school too and I passed my boards. I was now a doctor. I got to the taxi and threw my bags in the trunk. Stepping into the taxi.
"Where to lady?" I knew that voice. No. Shit. Fuck. Not him. Not now. He looked back at me at first smiling then it dropped to a deep frown and a glare.
"Get the fuck out my taxi," appalled that anyone would speak to me like that.
"Benji please I need to get out of this city," I pleaded.
"Why the fuck would I help anyone with a goddess complex who stands people up on dates?" I guess I deserved that. Sighing I was left with no choice.
"I'll do anything for you if you can get me out of this city so that I can never come back" By this time he was facing forward with a stoic look on his face.
"Fine, I'll let you stay at my place it's right outside the city. Honestly if you weren't so fucking attractive I wouldn't be doing this." That right there is why I stood him up on our date. He's a fucking pig and I'm thankful for him helping me but still. " Riza you're gonna be doing anything for me, eh? I'm guessing I only get one thing alright I'll take it. And by it I mean you have to do whatever I want for an entire day" My heart sank, I hadn't even lost my virginity yet and I especially didn't wanna lose it to him. It took about an hour to get there and I mostly just stared at my phone the entire time. It's a good thing I stuffed my charger into my purse for job interviews today. Of course, I got shot down at each of them. I didn't have enough experience or they didn't have someone for me to train under. We reached his house. It was a 1-floor town house with a basement. He threw some blankets at me and dragged my suitcases downstairs.
"In 2 minutes you have to do whatever I want for a whole 24 hours." He had an evil grin but then when you have to do whatever your enemy wants for 24 hours that's pretty scary. 3. 2. 1.
"Come to bed with me." I obliged knowing I had to. Hopefully he'd have condoms if I lost my v-card here. I'm about to get my bubble popped. He slung his arm around me after we reached the top.
"Do you know what day it is?" Of course February 14th. Oh god it's Valentine's Day. He stopped and moved his hands over mine squeezing with a slight force before dipping down and gently resting his lips on mine. He pulled away for a second,"Happy Valentine's Day, Riza." He then pressed his lips to mine again with a little more pressure. He tasted like strawberries and whipped cream. On top of that he smelled of vanilla. Of course besides driving the taxi he works at a bakery. Wait doesn't he have to drive the taxi. "It's a fake taxi it was all set up someone is seriously after you though so Dan called in a favor to help you." He read my mind pretty much. He smiled gently down at me. My heart raced a little. Oh yeah I forgot that this was why I wanted to fuck him and date him so bad back then. I was a horny, hormonal teenager. I pretty much still am though. He pulled me in tight for a hug.
"I have condoms in my dresser if you want. I'm not gonna force you to have sex with me." And for the first time since I saw that cookie I smiled and he smiled back. I just knew everything would be okay.
