How to Survive Your 19th Life [BL]

Chapter 59: Obnoxious Me

I waited a couple of days to set something up with Emiel. This part was a bit difficult because I was terrified of being alone with him again. I sent him text messages every morning and usually ignored him throughout the day with excuses for classes and studying or homework. 

When I finally invited him out, I asked him to meet me in Javernick Hills for dinner and a movie. I waited for him in the local George Webb and watched his smile fade when I waved him over to our table. Malai, Tariq, and Kanani were with me. I happened to leave out that this was not quite a date, but a group outing. 

He clenched his jaw and a clearly forced smile spread across his face. 

"I didn't realize there would be other people with us," Emiel said as he slipped into the booth next to me and Kanani.

"I didn't mention that?" I asked. I looped arms with him and nuzzled in. I hated how I was acting. The confusing part was the fact that Emiel hadn't yet deserved this treatment. His past selves did. 

"So when does the movie start?" Emiel asked.

"In about an hour. You have the tickets right?" 

Malai furrowed her brow. "You said you had the tickets Sol," she said. I could tell from the puffiness of her face that she was mortified at how I was behaving as well. I would get a talking to later.

"Yeah, what I meant was that my boyfriend is treating," I said, squeezing his arm tighter. "Right, love?"

"Um, sure. No big deal." He took his phone out to start buying the tickets. 

"We can pay for ourselves," Tariq interjected. 

"Emiel has it," I told him with a smile. I had to make a note to loop my friends in on what was happening. I would need a very good lie to justify acting like this. I braced myself for my next question, then went for it. "Can I borrow a little money, Em?"

He looked at me, shocked. "Let's discuss this privately."

"Privately, why? Are you broke?" I wanted to set myself on fire at this point. Never in my life would I have thought I'd said this words to anyone. It took everything inside me not to sink under the table from embarrassment. 

From the look on Emiel's face, I knew I had struck a nerve. I had to keep going.

"I only need $500. I need help putting a down payment on a new car."

My phone buzzed. It was a text from Malai.

Malai: ARE YOU FRICKIN INSANE?!

"You have something lined up?" Emiel asked.

I froze. Is he serious? I could only laugh in response.

"Well send me a screenshot of the one you want," Emiel said. "I'll get it for you." He had to be joking. I peered closely at him but found his face utterly void of humor. 

"I was thinking an Audi RS-5," I challenged. This was my dream car from high school. I used to have posters of it up in my locker. The new models cost around $90,000. 

"Okay."

"What the hell?" Tariq interjected. "Are you rich Emiel?"

Emiel chuckled to himself and put his phone away. "I just got the movie tickets. There is an earlier show, so let's head over." Because I couldn't afford to be trusting, my quick glimpse over at this phone just showed he sent a series of text messages and emails. There was no movie website up. My palms started to sweat.

"What about dinner?" Malai asked us.

"I ordered catering," Emiel said. "We can eat there. I hope everyone likes Italian." He held out a hand to me and helped me out of the booth as though I were a fragile damsel. As we walked out of the restaurant, he hooked one arm around my waist and pulled me closer, whispering in my ear, "I'm not sure what's gotten into you, but I don't like it. You're getting punished later."

His warm breath on my skin sent electricity pulsing down my neck. My arm hair stood on end.

He then let me go and held the door open for everyone. My face was on fire as I ambled after my friends, staying close to Malai and Tariq. I could feel Emiel watching me. 

I found myself smiling. Smiling so hard that I needed to bite my inner cheek until I drew blood just to stop. It was sickening... truly sickening... that I was so turned on.