My New Neighbour

Chapter 14

Manee starts walking towards the employees's changing room and just as she was about to enter the room, Niran who was walking with long strides catches up to her and holds her hand on the door knob.

Manee gets even more flustered as she removes her hand from the knob and looks questioningly at Niran.

Niran also pulls his hand away and awkwardly rubs the back of his head with that hand.

Niran says, "Just forget about what Kim said.."

Manee looks hurt as she hears Niran's words. Forget that you were going to confess to me?

 Looking at her hurt face, Niran says, "Just forget about Kim's words, specially his last statement." But Niran could not say the word "bumbling idiot".

Manee does not like the idea of forgetting any words that anybody said there so she does not respond to Niran.

When he sees no change in the hurt expression of Manee, Niran leans down a bit and tells Manee, "I meant forget Kim's words and only remember what I said."

Manee looks at Niran piercingly and says, "Those were not really your words, they were just your thoughts that you spoke out loud."

Niran finds that there are a few people sitting at a table close to the employee's room who started listening in their conversation so he asks Manee, "Can we at least go inside and have a chat?"

Manee nods and opens the door only to find a couple of employees kissing each other passionately inside the room!

Manee's face grows red with anger and embarrassment. Just as she was going to blast at the two employees and take out all her latent anger on the two, Niran holds her hand and leads her out of the room and says, "Let them be."

Manee retorts, "How can you say that? They are supposed to work..."

Niran says, "That guy was holding a ring box in his hand so ... let them be for a while."

Manee smiles at the thought and nods understandingly. All the while Niran is leading Manee out of the pub and close to his car.

Manee asks him, "Where are we going?"

Niran says, "Everyone seems to interrupt me whenever I try to speak in front of you so we are going to sit in my car and talk."

Manee blushes at the thought of sitting close to her crush of a long time but she tries hard not to show her shyness and just nods at Niran.

When the two finally sit down, Niran just gets straight to the point. 

"I love you, Manee."

Manee who was looking down while sitting inside the car, suddenly looks up at Niran with a mix of emotions - bliss, disbelief, surprise and relief. It is one thing to hear someone say that he wants to confess but when the actual words are spoken "I love you", it makes a world of difference.

Manee just keeps staring at Niran with the different emotions stirring in her eyes and slowly a tear of joy flows down her eye. 

Niran mistakes the tear of joy to tear of sadness or rejection so he hurriedly says, "I'm sorry Manee, if you don't like me then I won't bother you any more, please don't cry."

Hearing that, Manee chuckles and pulls Niran's shirt collar and plants a bold kiss on his lips. Niran totally didn't expect THAT to happen so he gets shocked momentarily but he soon realises the acceptance of his proposal by Manee so he pulls Manee closer and deepens the kiss.

After several minutes of kissing and hugging, Niran holds Manee's hand and asks, "Is it too late to ask you to be my Valentine?"

Manee laughs and says, "I didn't expect you to be so corny, P'."

Niran also laughs and says, "Neither did I. But you didn't answer my question."

Manee smiles shyly and says, "It's not too late and yes, I will be your Valentine." And she ends up laughing.

Niran smilingly kisses Manee's hand and starts the car.

Manee asks in a panic, "Where are we going? I have to return to the pub in case there is some emergency or some issue crops up..."

Niran replies, "I want to be alone with you for just a bit longer. Don't worry, we won't go too far. I will drop a line to Kim and if there is anything where you are needed then he will call, okay?"

Manee nods.

Niran drives the car to a famous patisserie nearby in order to have something sweet to eat with Manee. As he gets out of the car, he notices at a distance, Tae walking away with a patisserie bag in hand and getting in a cab. 

Niran asks Manee, "It seems like Tae is going to meet with someone... there is someone inside the cab. Do you know who that is?"

Manee knows very well who that person is but chooses to answer sensibly.

"Must be one of Tae's friends. Tae told me that he would be meeting with a few of his friends before coming for the singles party later on."

Niran nods with understanding.

Manee continues, "Why are you spying on your brother? Didn't you want to spend some alone time with me?"

Manee puts her hand around Niran's upper arm and leads him inside the shop.

Tae, oblivious to his brother's presence, sat inside the cab and gave Tee a beautiful peach cake with dark chocolate mousse.

Tee instantly exclaimed, "Mmmm... I love dark chocolate."

Tae proudly remarks, "Don't I know that?"

Tee smiles and looks suggestively at the handsome guy with chocolate skin.

Tee leans towards Tae and says, "I should have a lick of you too."

Tae puts down the food on the side and leans closer to Tee and says, "Please do."

The poor driver who has been listening to their flirting, coughs loudly for the fear that these two love birds might actually start something embarrassing for him to see!

Tae and Tee try to hold their laughter as they look at the driver's embarrassed face.

So Tae whispers to Tee, "Later.."

Tee nods but still flirtatiously licks and smacks his lips. Tae groans and says in a low tone, "If you keep tempting me like this then I will have you here and now."

Tee puts up both his hands defensively and laughingly says, "Okay, okay, let's wait till later."

But then Tae thinks why to wait for something that both of them want? 

"Let's skip the after party at the pub and just go to my place." Tae says.

Tee says, "But all of our friends are expecting us.. and what about your brother?"

Tae calls up Manee and tells her that he does not want to attend the after party, rather he wants to go back home with Tee.

Manee threateningly tells him, "Calm your horny self, dude. Everyone is waiting for you to show up at the pub, especially your big brother. Did you forget about him? I am trying to cover for you, don't make it any harder for me."

In the background, Niran calls Manee to ask her for her choice of pastry and coffee.

When Tae hears no loud music in the background which is usual for Kim's pub and his brother asking for pastry and coffee, he wonders where Manee and P' might be?

"Where are you guys? Even YOU are not at the pub and you are asking me to be there?" Tae says.

Manee says, "I will tell you all later. Also, we will be going back soon so don't skip the party. I will be expecting you to come soon. Mainly I miss P'Tee.."

Tae warns her, "Don't you make googly eyes on my Tee."

Manee laughs and says, "Okay, I need to go now. See you at the party."

Tae also laughs and cuts the call.