Reo and Me

Twenty One

Aisha's POV

Reo stared at me, unblinking.

"Of course I do." He gave me a grin.

"Which way? Friend or?" I asked. There wasn't any going back now.

"Uhm," Reo stared at me awkwardly. "It's okay you don't have to answer. I was just being-"

"Wasn't that obvious from the way I kissed you?" He interrupted. My mouth was gaping.

"Or do I need to tell you again?" He sighed.

I stared at him, blinking rapidly. "I- I" No words could come out.

"Yes Aisha, I like you and I want to date you." He finally said. I gulped. This was what I had wanted to hear but now that I had actually heard it I didn't know what to say.

"Aisha. Will you be my girlfriend? If you're okay with a long distance." Reo asked, smiling.

I could only nod- and I don't know why but I started getting teary eyed. "Yes." I grinned. Reo returned the grin as we finally finished dinner.

I couldn't stop smiling the entire time. We did the dishes and sat down to watch a movie. "Which movie should I put on?" I asked.

"Anything you want to watch." He nodded, looking at his phone. I put in Bridget Jones' Diary, which was my absolute favourite.

"Bridget Jones' Diary?" He laughed.

"Hey, it's a good movie!" I defended but broke out into a laugh too. I sat down beside him and put legs up on the coffee table.

About halfway through the movie, I felt Reo's arm creep around my shoulders. I did not respond, smiling internally. His arm tightened around me and I leaned into him.

"Is this okay?" He asked concerned. I looked at him. Consent. Good guy.

"Of course it is. If it wasn't I would have told you." I settled into him.

He didn't reply but we continued watching the movie.

———

I didn't know when I fell asleep. But when I woke up, I was in my bed, under covers.

I looked at the time- 8:30 AM. Sunlight was streaming in through the windows. Oh my god. I was late to work!

I rushed out of bed and into the hall, where I saw Reo sleeping on the couch, the TV on from last night. Why would he have slept here if he woke up to put me in bed?

I gave my boyfriend a small smile- he looked adorable. I walked to him and took a picture- he was just so cute. I swiped through my messages as I prepared coffee. There was one from June.

Hey girl. Told that you're sick in office so don't bother coming in. Enjoy your time with Reo ;)

There was her text. I exhaled loudly. Reo woke up with a start.

"Aisha? What's the time?" He looked at the wall clock. "I don't have my glasses on." He scrambled around for his glasses and then looked at the clock.

"Aren't you late for work? I'm sorry, i should have not kept you awake by suggesting a movie." He said embarrassed.

"Well," I said, turning the coffee machine off. "You need to make it up to me- I'll get the scolding of my life from my boss." I lied, walking towards him.

"What should I do?" He asked innocently.

"You could," I was dragging this out deliberately. "Come with me on a London tour." I finished with a smile, as I sat down on his lap.

He wasn't expecting the reaction and for once I thought he didn't want the extra contact. Just as I was about to get up, his arms tightened around my waist.

"I like it. Is it a date then?" He said, nuzzling his face into my neck.

"I guess it is." I put my hands on his head.

———

We both went to our rooms to shower and get ready. I jumped out of the shower in record time and stood in front of my closet, regretting not having picked an outfit.

Because it was now summer at it's peak in London, the weather outside would be hot yet pleasant. I finally chose faded denim jeans, a white sleeveless flared top and white pumps beneath.

I put my stuff in a purse and started on my saving the train wreck that my hair and face was. I did some makeup and left my hair in the beachy waves. I was done- I did a once over in the mirror and I liked how I looked. Casual.

I went outside and saw that Reo was sitting on the couch, reading a book. "Hi." I said, as I stood in front of him.

He looked me over. "Gorgeous, as usual." He said, returning to his book.

"You seem disinterested." I said amused.

"Forgive me but this book is makes for an intriguing read." He said.

"What's so nice?" I sat down beside him, peering into the pages.

"Well, it's about a man who falls in love with a woman who's not accepted by his family. So they run away and start a new life but she passes away soon due to cancer- and now her family is blaming him because he apparently was her bad luck." Reo said seriously.

I looked at him. No offence, but this sounded like crap. Reo eyed me. "I'm kidding! It's a book of poems." He smiled. I exhaled.

"So when do we leave?" Reo shut his book.

"Now? I don't have any plans except for London." I told him. "It sounds perfect." He smiled as he grabbed my hand.

We went outside, standing in front of my apartment building. "Where to first?" He asked.

"Hyde Park?" I looked at him. He nodded and we hailed a taxi. We reached the park soon, where the flowers were in full blossom.

"This is a nice time to come to Hyde Park." I said, as I paid the driver. He drove off after handing me the change and we walked towards the picturesque park.

We walked through the gardens for almost an hour, arm in arm. There was nothing much to do in Hyde Park- you would walk, inhale the beauty that it offered and hope it wouldn't rain.

We decided to go boating in the Serpentine Lake, considering it wasn't too crowded. It was the perks of coming on a weekday.

We boated from one end to the other, almost for half an hour. Correction- Reo didn't let me boat so I was sitting there, looking pretty. We stopped in the middle of the lake, looking at the trees and the grey skies above.

"I think it's going to rain." Reo said worriedly.

"I love the overcast sky. It feels so cosy and warm, makes me want to cuddle on the couch, under a blanket while sipping sweet coffee." I looked at the sky and then smiled at Reo.

He didn't say anything but smiled back.