Always Have. Always Will

Hot Chocolate

I overlooked the ambiance until he slowly left my hand to draw the chair for me as we reached our table. As if coming out of a trance I looked around, it was a rooftop restaurant and our seating arrangement looked cozy with the night view. It was cold but not too cold as they somehow maintained the temperature with small bonfires that gave the ambiance a cozy and comfortable vibe.

"Are you comfortable?" he inquired while I was busy appreciating the surroundings. His eyes were warm and comforting, with a dark brown tone that looked more like warm honey in the dim light of the fairy lights.

"Yes, thank you," I responded, unable to control the blush on my cheeks that revealed how intimidated I felt in his presence. He looked like he did not belong to the crowd, and exuded an enigmatic aura that transported me to another realm as if he was a familiar stranger. I don't know whether it makes sense, but that's how it is.

"Thanks for?" he asked with an amused expression.

"For asking."

He smiled again, and again I was about to forget everything when the waiter saved me from the embarrassing moment.

"Ok, let's order a drink first. What would you like to have?"

Food was the last thing on my mind sitting in front of him, but somehow, I managed to take the menu and started going through it more to avoid any unnecessary eye contact with him.

"One hot chocolate," I ordered and looked at him, he looked at me as if he had seen a ghost.

"What happened? Are you ok?"

"Huh? No, nothing. Make that two" he ordered looking at the waiter who took the order and left.

"You don't drink? I mean hard drinks...cocktails?" he asked me as soon as the waiter left.

It was my turn to appear shocked, so he meant THAT when he requested to get beverages. I felt silly and embarrassed. "No sorry... but you could have ordered for yourself if you wanted to."

"That's fine, anyways I don't enjoy drinking alone." He said with a grin.

"How old are you?" again an unexpected question from him, he must have seen something on my face when he responded suddenly.

"Oh, don't worry I just wanted to know if you are in the right age group."

"Nineteen. But yes, I would have ordered the same drink even if I were Twenty Five. I don't think I will ever have that stuff." I said with a little disgust which was not intended but I could not help it.

"Ok... one should never say no," he smirked.

"Whatever... How old are you?"

"How old do I look?" he questioned, sitting back in his chair, hands clasped at his chest and a dimpled smile plastered across his face.

I gazed at him intently, and my heartbeat was so loud that I was scared he could hear it. "Twenty-five?"

"WHAT??" he almost jumped out of his chair.

"Do I need to go for a botox treatment or something?" He said while looking himself in the front camera of his phone. I never thought he will be so conscious about his looks. I can't help but start laughing looking at his anxious face.

"How old are you then? Sixteen?" I asked while smiling because my cheeks were hurting now.

"Twenty-three," he said, raising an eyebrow.

"I was close enough"

"No, you were going far enough" his expression became more serious, and I didn't understand why he was getting upset about such a silly thing. Some people can't even take a light-hearted joke.