When the Tables are Turned

Chapter 10

Gun's POV

While Linda and I were dancing to the soft music, I could smell her faint perfume. I pulled her a little closer to me and she willingly moved closer, placing both her hands behind my neck.

"Why did you tell my friends that we are childhood sweethearts?" I asked, "not that I mind, but I'm just curious."

She laughed softly.

"If our moms had arranged for us to get married when we were born, we would have to start out as childhood sweethearts, right?" she asked, laughing softly once more.

Somehow I did not have any objections to that idea.

"Hey," she said, tapping my arm, "don't look too serious, I was just kidding."

"Please don't disappoint me," I said, "I was already starting to like the idea."

"Actually," she continued, "I just said it to see who between your two friends would react the most."

"Was it Title?" I asked. I wouldn't have been surprised if it was.

"No, it was Mark." she replied.

"What??? How could you tell?" I asked in surprise.

"I noticed the grim expression on his face and I noticed him holding on to Title's arm to steady himself after Title introduced me to him as your childhood sweetheart," was her reply.

"That's weird," I muttered to myself, looking around to see if Mark was still with my grandfather.

Mark was nowhere to be found.

After the dance, I excused myself from Linda and walked over to my grandfather.

"If you're looking for Mark, he has gone home," my grandfather told me before I could ask him.

"Did he say why he had to leave?" I asked, feeling a little disappointed that I did not get a chance to interact with Mark at all.

"He said something about receiving a text from his mom that she needed his help urgently," my grandfather replied.

"I see," I said, wondering whether I should text him or not.

The music started again.

"I'm gonna sit this one out," I said to Linda when I noticed her looking at me expectantly.

"Would you object if I danced with Title instead?" she asked.

"I have no objections at all," I said, "just don't go falling in love with him."

She laughed as she approached Title.

I sat down on an empty chair and took out my phone from my pocket.

"I'm sorry that you had to leave the party early." I texted Mark.

I did not receive any reply. Perhaps he was still on the road.

I went over to the table laden with assorted delicious Thai dishes. I took an empty plate and placed a generous serving of the Pad Krapow Moo Sap on it.

I went back to my chair and watched Linda and Title dancing while I ate my food.

I was starting to get jealous when I saw Linda gyrating her hips while Title was holding her close.

I asked myself if I should get to know Linda's character very well first before allowing myself to fall for her. Was she someone who could remain faithful to her partner, or was she someone who could get easily tempted by someone else when her partner was not by her side.

I decided to stop watching Linda and Title while they danced and concentrated on eating my food instead. It tasted really good.

Suddenly my phone sounded with a text notification.

I put down my fork and took out my phone from my pocket.

Mark had replied to my text.

"I'm surprised that you noticed my absence."

I tried to ignore that his words sounded a little hostile.

"I'm sorry that you had an urgent matter to attend to and could not stay long enough to give me a chance to interact with you." I texted back.

"No need to feel sorry. i would have been in the way anyway." he replied.

"In the way of what?" I could not help asking.

"Did you even have to ask?" was his reply.

I did not know what to make of that.

I had no time to text him back because the music had ended and Linda and Title came back to join me.