An Encounter for a Lifetime

Chapter 7

It was the day of the long-awaited party. The weather, as if a testament to the event to come- was overclouded with a thick atmosphere casting a shadow over the once bright and lively sky; Kanan was deep in thought. The events of yesterday lingered heavily on Kanan's mind. With Nathaniel's mother's birthday celebration in tow, his siblings would gather for the occasion, a recipe for disaster based on Nathaniel's previous actions towards his family. The celebration would be nothing short of grand as it appeared that Nathaniel hailed from an affluent family. He knew that with the dynamics between Nathaniel and his family, the road ahead seemed challenging.

"What if they turned me away at the gate or threw expensive wine in my face," He chuckled at the thought- A scene he had seen often in movies that left an unforgettable memory. With mixtures of anticipation and uncertainty, hoping for the best, and acknowledging the unknown ahead, Kanan waited out the day at home, his thoughts his only companion. His lovely abode was more than a physical shelter but a haven for a chapter of his life where he could process, reflect, and navigate the complexities of the changes he encountered. However, there are days when his haven seems less than a haven. In the wake of a life-changing event, fueled by the gravity of it all, Kanan decided to drop everything. The decision to be home most of the time was not about isolation. He'd venture beyond the threshold when called for. This retreat was not an escape; it was an intentional pause for restoration.

~~

The day was uneventful. Before he knew it, Nathaniel came to pick him up, and he was back at his lavish home. They had two hours to be ready for the celebration at 7 pm. An air of anxiety enveloped Nathaniel. He was tense and barely uttered a word. His energy cast a shadow of nervousness on Kanan.

"Do you not want to go?" Kanan broke the silence.

"I don't," Nathaniel spoke honestly. "I wasn't going to, but my mother was persistent."

"That's what led to the invite?"

"To be honest, having lunch with me was the intended repayment," Nathaniel admitted. "Seeing that my mother wasn't giving up, I needed a companion if I was attending, and you insisted that you owed me," Nathaniel added. "Killing two birds with one stone. What about you? Change of heart? It's a stranger's party you're attending. Plus, we haven't known each other for long."

"It's a little too late for that now," There was a question that haunted Kanan. "I've been wondering, what are we? Acquaintances? Friends? Strangers?"

"You're in my house, so you're not a stranger, and I'm comfortable enough to think we're friends. If this continues, I think we could have a great friendship."

It lifted a weight off Kanan's shoulders that he didn't know was weighing on him. The question lingered on his mind-Would they lose contact when it's all over? In their brief time together, he felt a good energy emitting from Nathaniel. While Kanan was generally friendly, forging true friendship was a rarity. However, Nathaniel seemed to possess a quality that hinted at the potential for a meaningful connection. Something about him felt promising, and importantly, they got along well.

Nathaniel then asked, "How good are you at wrapping presents?"

"I'm a professional gift wrapper," Not to boast, but Kanan possessed a quiet finesse when it came to gift wrapping, a skill subtly tucked away, obtained from wrapping gifts for his family. Nathaniel brought the gift he had purchased along with wrapping paper and other essentials and placed them on the coffee table.

"Would you mind wrapping it for me?" Nathaniel asked. Kanan didn't mind. "I feel like I'm always asking you for something."

"Maybe I should start asking for stuff," Kanan finished wrapping, adding a cute ribbon for added details. "All done."