Over a Glass of Beer
Elize Finch. A wonderful girl indeed. She is my coworker in a luxury department store. We have known each other for two years now but never did I cross the line to even ask her about personal informations. We are close friends though, but not that close either.
She the kind of lady to catch people's attention, specially men. Her charms always makes men ask for her personal informations, since she doesn't know how to deny, I told her think of a solution to make it easy to avoid those situations, without hard feelings.
She does not seem to be friendly but she is sweet and caring. She does not see that part of her.
Despite being good friends with her, I cannot help but to slowly fall for her.
It seemed slow but I am planning on asking her out.
One day, a VIP stopped by at her section and asked for her assistance.
"Hey miss, how much are these shoes?" asked the guy, even though there was already a price showing on the shelf.
She went to him with gentle steps and answered "It is $10000 sir. That is one of our best selling and most famous shoes." The guy looked intimidated but he did not buy her sentence.
Instead, he told her to sit down next to him, and asked her "How about your number? How much is it?"
She was shocked but answered without hesitation, "I am sorry but I have a boyfriend, sir." In her defense, the VIP customer stopped and said sorry. "I guess that guy is a bit lucky to have you as his girlfriend." he said.
A boyfriend, huh?
"So how did you meet such a guy?" he asked. He was intimidated but still did not believe her. "It has been two years now. I met him in a very unexpected situation, we were both unorganized and hagard back then. But with the help of the other, we kinda pulled it off together, I guess that was when we got to fall in love with each other."
Her story was so realistic, I never knew she had a boyfriend myself.
After our shift, I asked her to have a dinner with me. Over a glass of beer, we got into a serious talk.
"I guess we're not that close yet. I didn't know you have a boyfriend. I thought you were single since birth." I said.
"I don't have any." she replied.
She looked serious when she was talking with the VIP just a while ago. I guess I'm still not that close to her, seeing her not sharing it to me.
"But you said earlier.." I stuttered. "Ahh, that? Didn't you say I should think of a solution to avoid those situations?" she chuckled. "That was what I thought. Was it good?"
That gave me a shock, but this means she is single. This means I still have my chance. "What the- I thought it was for real. So... you don't have any. Did you ever have one, though?"
"Ah, I did have one, but he cheated on me with my best friend." she answered. "I don't really have good memories with love."
The atmosphere was heavy, but thanks to the beer, I could easily step on some information "Ahh sorry I asked."
"Don't be. They're just a part of my past now. I don't really mind their existence anymore." She said, as if she has abandoned her past.
She was somehow satisfied after saying that. This should really be the time for me to ask her out, right? "So-" before I could continue with what I'm about to say, she started talking.
"Do you ever felt like erasing your memories and never be reminded of them ever again?" she asked, right above my breath. I did not expect her question but I still manage to answer.
"I think it is better to remember than to forget. There are still good memories, even between the sad and bad memories that are worth remembering." I said. I somehow mustered up some courage to ask thanks to the flow of our talk, but the words didn't go out.
"But what if those memories keeps on giving you uneasiness? What if you became too uncomfortable?" she asked. Following her sigh was a statement I never thought I'd hear from her. "I don't want to involve myself with love anymore." she said with a satisfied tone.
"I don't want to date."
My smile went from bright to dark, but I kept on smiling even just slightly.
I never expect her to say that. I stayed quiet as she continued talking. "You get what I told you a while ago, right? I think that became the main reason why I can't fall in love anymore. No, I mean I don't want to love anymore."
"It just hurts so much." she whispered.
I played with my hands while listening to her. Then I asked, "Not even once again? Don't you want to fall in love again, even just once more?" She took the beer and poured her glass full. "It's not that I really don't want to, I'm just afraid. Afraid I might feel the same thing again. I don't want that."
As she was pouring my glass full, I took her hand and drank the rest from the bottle she was holding. "You wouldn't take the risk? Even if it's with me?" I asked. She looked at me with her eyes half open.
Since she would not even remember our conversation, and though I would look too cowardly, I might as well tell her while she's drunk. "Don't blame me for falling for you. You are just too lovable. But don't worry, I won't make the same mistake that jerk did, he did not see how great a lady is hiding in you."
I went straight to the point, but it does not look like it went through her. She looked perfectly beautiful when sober, now I discovered she looked much beautiful when drunk.
She hit the table with her hand and said "I guess it won't be such a bad thing going out with you." With a hiccup following her sentence, her head landed on the table and she finally fell asleep.
Just softly above her ear, I whispered, "The Holden Richmond in my head is elated to know he will be spending his night staring at you, since you did not even tell him your address. But it won't really be a bother looking at you all night, in fact, it is my pleasure to just be beside you." And slowly, I gave her a kiss on her cheeks.
I woke up with a blanket on me, Elize already took off but she left a letter.
"Thanks for spending a night with a nobody. I appreciate the thought of you not leaving me here last night. It's also my pleasure being with you. Thanks also for the drinks last night, I totally enjoyed it."
At least she did not remember the kiss... right?
