We Belong Together

(IV.) Dinner

I park in front of the building in a luxury residential district and tell the gatekeeper that I am headed to Jorge.
"Mr. Lorenzo, Miss Cristina Alba has come," he said when he called him on the intercom. "Sure," he said and hang off and look at me: "He is expecting you."
I smile: "Thank you. Which floor?"
"Seventh, then the third door on the left."
I thanked to him again, then I take the elevator up to the seventh floor. I look around the hallway and ring the bell at the right door.
"Hi," he greets me with a smile on his face. He is wearing a grey T-shirt and jeans. "Hi," I greet him and I nervously step from one foot to another. "Please, come in. We just finished homework."
I enter and his apartment is so huge. I push a chocolate box in his hands, which I bought at the gas station on my way to here. "So, rich apartment's looks exactly like that, I see," I say and put the handbag on the couch. Then I realize that I forgot to take off my shoes. "Sorry, where do you have slippers?" I ask and I put off my stiletto shoes. "You don't need to put them off. The cleaning lady comes every day and cleans. Will you drink something?"
Oh, yeah. The cleaning lady. Anyway, I'm staying barefoot.
"Water, please," I say and follow him to the kitchen. "Em... Adrian knows that we were..." I begin, when he shakes his head: "I told him we're friends," he said and hands me a glass of water. "Okay. Thanks," I smile, when Adrian runs to the kitchen: "Miss Alba! It's nice that you come. Uncle Jorge will prepare us fish sticks for dinner."
"You're eating them, right?" Jorge asks when I nod and laugh.
I help them prepare a table and a tomato salad, then we sit down and start eating.
"For how long do you know each other?" the boy asks. "Three..." I start, but Jorge interrupts me: "Three years."
He looks at me and I nod.
"Do you have a boyfriend? My uncle is single," the boy asks again. "Adrian, don't ask nonsense. Continue eating, then you go to bed," Jorge says. "It's okay. I do have a boyfriend, but unfortunately we don't understand the best."
"Oh, then maybe you'll be single soon?" he asked cheerfully. "Okay, Adri. It will be enough. Sorry," Jorge said, apologizing to me. "I am done eating. I am going to shower and brush my teeth," Adrian said, standing up from the table. "Can you do it by yourself?" Jorge asks him. "Of course, uncle. I am a big boy. Good night, teacher. Thank you for visiting, I'll see you tomorrow at school," he said, embracing me. Then he runs down the hall. "Sorry for all the unpleasant questions," Jorge apologizes and begins to clean up the table. "Don't worry. It's right for him to ask a lot. This makes him more self-confident. Go help him, I'll clean it up."
"Are you sure?"
"Absolutely," I smiled. "Okay, I'll be back soon."

While I wait Jorge, I wash the dishes and clean the table. I just wash my hands, when he returns. "Oh, you didn't use the dishwasher?" he asks wonderfully. I smile: "No. I am used to wash it by hand. It's faster."
He raises his eyebrow: "Do you think? I put everything in the dishwasher and it's washed in an hour."
I laugh: "I finished in less than ten minutes."
"Fine, I give up. I'll try it once. Enough about housework. What would you drink?" he asks, as he opened the fridge. "Whatever," I said back and sit on the bar stool at the counter.
"Beer, white wine, red wine, juice, milk?"
"Okay, red wine, then."
"Good choice," he smiles, takes two glasses and pours us. "Come on, let sit in the living room," he said and I followed him to a huge couch. I sit and laugh. "What is it?" he asks. "My entire apartment is as big as your living room," I say and drink some wine. "I don't believe," he laughs. "Really. You can visit me with Adrian," I say, but at the same moment I regret what I just said. "Maybe."
"When are his parents coming back?"
"They said they hoped to get to Christmas," he said and drank to the bottom.
"Oh, nothing sooner?" I ask with anxiety. We're at the beginning of November and there is still a lot of time until Christmas. He shakes his head: "My sister is excited about this project and the salary will be great."
"The career and money are more important than a child?"
"You can't have a child without money, don't you think?"
He is right. I didn't think much about children yet. I want to answer him when his phone rings. He silences it. "Won't you answer it?" I ask. "No, it's nothing important," he says, and pours some wine to both of us. The phone stops ringing but at the same second it starts to ring again. Jorge sighs: "Excuse me," he said, takes the phone and step onto the balcony. I am not eavesdropping to a conversation, but I hear a bit of conversation.
"I can't, Laura. Adrian is already sleeping. No, I am not alone, I have a visit. No, it's my friend - we're playing a PlayStation."
I roll with my eyes and look at the clock. It's half past ten. It's already late. I drink wine, when Jorge returns.
"Playing PlayStation, right?" I laugh. "Ah, sorry. It's a bit complicated," he said. "You don't need to explain. It's not my business," I say and get up. "It is not?" he asks, when he comes to me. My heart goes wild. "Adrian is close and he can wakes up," I quickly say when he encapsulate my face and leans closer to me. We're looking eye to eye and he got me. We sit back, when he removes a lock of my hair. He kisses me gently. I close my eyes and we're kissing for a while, when I move away: "It's already late. I have to go," I say and get up. "Wait, we drank. I won't allow you that you sit behind the wheel." I laugh: "I am not drunk."
"Please. Who can pick you up?"
I sigh, then I take my phone and call Lupe.
"Tina, is something wrong?" she asks. "Hi, am I interrupting you?" I reply. "No, my series has just ended. You can't sleep?"
"Actually, I am not at home. I need a ride."
"Of course, where are you? At Andres?"
"No, elsewhere."
"Oh, Tina. I'll be right there. Does he really live in that rich quarter?"
"Yes, I am waiting for you."
"Okay, I'll be there in 15 minutes."
I put my phone back: "My ride will be here in 15 minutes."
"Good. You can come tomorrow after work to pick up your car."
"Mhm, okay. I have to go to the bathroom. Do you tell me where it is?"
"Down the hall, last door on the left."
I smile and leave. I open the bathroom door, step in and open the water. I wash my face to refresh. I take a deep breath and fix my hair. I hope Lupe will hurry. I can't be alone with him. I decide to return back to the living room, when I hear that he's talking with someone again.
"No, Laura. Don't insist. Forget me. I told you that it is over between us. I am sorry, but I am not in love with you."
Oh, let me just wait to finish the conversation or may I return to the living room? So, he is in some relationship, but he gets entangled with me and he still insists on meetings.
I lean on the wall and wait for him to finish the conversation.
"Laura, don't cry. I am really sorry, but... hey, calm down," I hear his voice softening. "We can go to a coffee tomorrow morning and talk."
My heart fasten up.
There is a possibility, that they can be together again after this talk. Why am I so worried about that? I have a boyfriend and I love him and I have to try to save things with him. Has it already pass 15 minutes?
I take a breath and walk in the living room and he is still talking on the phone. He looks at me. I take my handbag and the phone from it. It only took 7 minutes.
"Okay, I have to finish. See you tomorrow morning," he said and hang off. He puts his phone on the shelf and walks to me. "Problem with your woman?" I ask and I hope I don't sound disappointed. "There is nothing serious between her and me. She is not my fiancée," he said, glare at me. "Mhm," I mutter. "Why didn't you tell Adrian that you have a fiancée?"
"Ah, children do not get to know about it," I am trying to get rid of. "Really? Or you just told him the truth. I didn't notice the engagement ring," he said and takes my hand. "I don't like rings or jewelry in general," I quickly respond. He laughs: "So you're not like all women?"
"No, you can't buy me with diamond necklaces, hanging earrings..."
"With what can I buy you, then?" he asks daringly.
I quickly start to breathe faster. With kisses, embraces, touches, muscles, with all of you.

My phone rings. It's Lupe, so I quickly answer her.
"I am already here," she said. "Finally," I quickly respond, "I'll be right there." I postpone and walk to the door: "My ride. Thanks for the dinner and wine," I thanked, when he smiles. "Good night," I wish and step out. Before I close the door, our eyes meet and my heart fasten up again.