Tiger and His Bunny

Part 14: Feeling Guilty

"So, who's that guy?" Zoe asked in a playful way.

Two girls sitting in Zoe's room.

As soon as Zoe got Calista's message, she invited Calista to her place. 

They have been friends since high school, and they went to the same university, both majoring in English. They are very close, so Zoe knows Calista very well. They basically share every secret with each other.

Unlike Calista who's very shy and quiet, Zoe is outgoing, vivacious, and sociable. She is also rather experienced compared to Calista in terms of dating.

"I met this guy on a dating app..."
"Cool, which one?"
"Not those regular ones..." Calista is too shy to admit that she met this guy on a kinky dating app.
"Come on. Many people use dating apps nowadays. There's nothing embarrassing!"
"Well... I mean..." Calista is blushing. "It... It doesn't matter! I just... keep thinking about him after our first date..."
"Are you in love with him?"
"I don't know... It feels weird..."
"You guys just met for the first time, right?"
"Yeah..."
"Well, you might just feel excited. You're not necessarily in love with him. You know, it's normal, cause you've never gone on a date with a guy. This is new to you." Zoe says, "Just enjoy it, and don't think too much. It's just a date. What did you do and where did he bring you to?"
"It... It feels like... more than just a date..." Calista couldn't help but keep stuttering. Her face is red like a ripe apple.
"What?"
"He..." Calista covered her face with her hands. 

"We......" Calista told Zoe everything they did in Dennis's car.

"Oh my..." Zoe got so excited, "Seriously?! He touched you like that?! On the very first date?!"

Flabbergasted, Zoe looked at Calista with her mouth wide open.

Calista nodded.

"Go for it girl! It must be so much fun! I'm so happy for you!" Zoe seemed to be even more excited than Calista. "Is he cute?"
"Thank you Zoe... and yes, he is very handsome..."
"Then why do you not look happy?"
"I... I don't know... getting attached to someone I barely know is not good, is it...?"
"Well, you're right," Zoe said rationally. "It understandable that it makes you feel sort of confusion or infatuation."
"It's... kinda scary... I'm actually feeling self-conscious..."
"What for?"
"I think... Dennis is out of my league... He is so handsome and confident..."
"Then be confident!" Zoe laughed. "Don't be scared!"
"I know... but... but he said something about BDS..." Calista was too shy to tell Zoe.

At this very moment, Calista got a notification. It's a message from Dennis.

"Oh my. It's Dennis." Calista got anxious immediately.
"What did he say?" Zoe leaned forward, grinning from ear to ear.
"He said... how was your day..."
"Hey, Calista, if you wanna meet him again, I suggest you ask him out this time."
"Wait... should I...?"
"Just go for it. I guess you probably fear that he might reject you. Am I right?"
"Yeah... sort of..."
"But I could tell you really like him. Maybe just try meeting him again?"
"I... I'll think about it..."
"Just don't get hurt." Zoe gave Calista a hug. "I know you might not tell your parents about this guy, but you can always tell me anything. You know that, right? I won't judge, and I'll always sipport whatever decision you make."
"Thank you... you're so sweet..."
"Awww come on, I've known you for more than 5 years! I know your parents are strict, and you may find it guilty when you do something exciting like this."
"Maybe you're right..." Calista keeps thinking about what Zoe said.

Maybe what Dennis gives to her is a sense of freedom.
Do I really want to break the rules that I have been obeying for years?