From Pune Sector

Chapter 19||"And there it goes."

"We could leave the Christmas lights up 'til January
This is our place, we make the rules
And there's a dazzling haze, a mysterious way about you, dear
Have I known you twenty seconds or twenty years?"

Lover, Taylor Swift

Chapter 19

Ethan had perfect straight white teeth, I observed as I watched him laugh from across the table.

"So, Jeremy had no idea it was you?"

"Nope, not a clue," I affirmed, smirking. "Once, I promised I'll cook for him and put wasabi in his stew, he was just so happy that I cooked something for him that he didn't even complain once and ate the whole thing."

"You are the evil twin, aren't you?" he chuckled.

"You can say that. He used to be a whole lot madder at me when I used to be at home but once I moved away, he would stay mad at me for a much lesser time because he knew I won't be home for long and he'd be missing time on us."

"You love him, don't you?"

"I'd take a bullet for him, but shush, don't tell him that."

He chuckled.

My phone pinged right then. Speak of the devil, it was Jeremy.

I know you will be tempted to stay late since mom, dad aren't home, but come home asap

I quickly typed a reply.

No, ly xx

My phone pinged again, twice. Ethan raised his eyebrows at me.

Jennifer!

Be back by 10!!!

I ignored the messages, I mean, I did choose today for a date because I knew my mom had a charity event in Singapore and dad would accompany her.

"Ethan, do you want to go watch a movie after dinner?"

He grinned at me, "Sure."

So I have this thing that whenever I'm on a date, the first thing I see are table manners and the way he eats. I'm majorly turned off by a guy who has a low eating etiquette.

But Ethan was perfect.

He chewed with his mouth closed.

He didn't make any noises while eating.

He even crossed his fork and spoon on the plate in the end.

While leaving from the restaurant, I grabbed a tissue and stuffed it into my purse. Ethan looked quizzingly at me.

"Because tissues are expensive?"

I laughed. "No, I just like saving the tissues, like, I'll write your name and date on it, when I reach home. Just something to remember this day by."

He smiled at me and I couldn't help but suddenly think of Soham.

How he would have grabbed the tissue from me and signed his name on it, written something hilarious or vulgar, making sure that the joke stays between us. My heart clenched but I smiled back at Ethan.

"I think I like you more every second," he whispered.

"You'd think I'm artsy and all but I'm really just a girl who can't get her life together."

I laughed awkwardly.

His smile widened as he placed his hand on the small of my back and led me out of the restaurant.