REISS

17. The Date

One more hour to go and then I can leave here. Go back to my apartment and lie down in my bed and watch new anime. I thought as I glanced at my watch. I was sitting on the couch listening to a piece of music that Dan was playing. Have I mentioned that Dan is a musician? He plays guitar so well. He told me he used to play guitar a lot during his rebellious phase and was also enrolled in a band.

My phone vibrated in my pocket, I fished it out, and walked away from the symphony that Dan was playing, to take the call.

"Hello?" I greeted.

"Loviana, is it you?" I heard from the other side of the line and instantly recognised who it was.

"Ben. How are you?"

"I'm good dear. How are you?" He asked.

"I'm good too." I replied to him walking out of Dan's room and closing the door behind me softly.

"Yeah. So today I called you for a reason." He informed.

"Okay. What is it?" I asked, my voice amused as I walked down the stairs as I could still not hear him properly as Dan continued to play his melody on the guitar.

"Do you know my son Eric?"

"Yeah. I guess so, because you mentioned him and your family to me four years ago. But why are you asking me about him? Is he not well or something?" I asked him as I paused my movements when I reached the last step.

"No. No, dear. He is absolutely alright. It was just... " He trailed off.

"Hmm. Just?" I pressed him as I walked over to the couch and sat on it, placing my feet on the coffee table.

"He has reached the age of marriage. I have been trying to convince him to but he just says he isn't ready to take such a big step in his life yet."

"Believe me Ben, but I can totally understand what he means." I said as I laid my head back resting on the couch with my one arm on the armrest.

"This generation would never understand that it's never a right time for marriage. You just do it when the time feels right. Even if time isn't right, you both have to work it through."

"Yeah yeah. As if that would help." I said shaking my head as if he could see.

"Coming to the point, I wanted you to go on a date with my son tomorrow."

"What?" I almost yelled as I lifted my head from the couch and sat straight from the shock that he gave me.

"Yeah. I think you would be a perfect match for him. You are smart, sensible, kind, beautiful. I always wanted a daughter like you."

"Ben, you know I'm not ready for this."

"C'mon dear. I'm not asking you to marry him tomorrow. It's just a date. If you feel he is the right guy after that you can hang out and probably get married when the time feels right. And if you don't like him, you can always stay friends."

"Yeah. Bu-"

"Child, you have already spent some beautiful years of your life being stuck in an abusive relationship or working hard to make the ends meet to live a fulfilling life. You should live a little and let others take care of you. How would you ever be taken care of, if you dont allow anyone close to you."

His words hit me like a truck. He was right, if I don't allow someone to take care of me, how would I ever have someone to take care of me when I need. But considering my past. Opening up would be so difficult.

"I know what you are thinking. But you should atleast try. You are too young to give up. You didn't let me give up during my tough times so I wouldn't let you either."