P'Chao Rocks the MeanPlan Ship

Chapter 5

Plan's POV

After I parked my car in the driveway of my house, I sent a quick text to my mom that my fan event was over but that I was hanging out for a little bit with a friend to catch a late dinner.

Talking about dinner, I was truly hungry. Apart from the quick lunch I had earlier in the day, I had no time to eat any snacks to tide me over until dinner time.

I walked out of my gate and went over to P'Chao who parked his car just a little bit farther away from my gate.

He had already unlocked the passenger door so all I had to do was to open it and climb in.

"Finally," he said after letting out a sigh. He watched me settle into my seat and fumble with the seat belt.

"Finally what?" I asked after I had fastened my seat belt securely.

Did I just imagine the back of his ear grow red?

"Finally..." he was groping for words "... finally we can fill up our empty stomachs."

"You're absolutely right," I said, "let's not waste any more time and just go for it."

"Yeah, let's go for it," he said but he said the words almost in a whisper.

He quickly started his car and drove in the direction of the restaurant.

I was so happy to notice that it was more of a seafood restaurant than anything else. I mean the restaurant also offered meat dishes but its specialty was seafood.

I'm such a seafood foodie, and that's probably why I rarely got sick. The zinc content of any seafood is the one that boosts one's immune system.

When we walked into the restaurant, we were greeted by a waiter who seemed to know P'Chao personally. He guided us to a secluded corner of the restaurant, away from the boisterous late night crowd whose tables were full of empty beer bottles.

I settled for the shrimp pad thai and the grilled baby squids in creamy satay sauce.

I heard P'Chao say to the waiter that he wanted the exact same dishes that I had ordered.

When the waiter asked what we wanted to drink, I tried to order an orange soda.

"Oh, come on, Plan," said P'Chao, "I thought we had agreed earlier that we were going to get drunk."

"Yeah, and then crash your car into a lamp post after," I said with a laugh.

"Fine, we're not getting drunk," he said, "one bottle of beer is not gonna get us drunk. I recommend a bottle of Heineken each for both of us. How does that sound to you?"

"I've never tried one," I confessed.

"Then you must try it," he said, "it's one of the best beers around."

"Alright then," I said, keeping my fingers crossed that the most it could do to me was to get me buzzed.

After the waiter left to take care of our orders, I asked P'Chao if he was a frequent customer in this restaurant.

"Not really," he replied, "why do you ask?"

"Because the waiter addressed you by your name as soon as you stepped in," I replied.

"I guess it's because each of the few times that I have dined here, he's the one who has waited on me," he explained.

"Mmm, you made very good choices," said P'Chao, as he bit off a grilled baby squid from the stick. 

"Have you tried this dish before?" he asked, as he wiped off a smudge of the creamy satay sauce from his chin.

"Not in this restaurant," I replied.

"Which restaurant and who were you with?" he asked.

"Whoa, whoa, whoa," I laughed, "you're asking too many questions."

Again, I noticed the back of his ears turn red.