crossroads

15. aCUTE episode

" cheddar? Mustard? Or caramel? " He asked.

" What? " I said not clearly sure of where we are going.

" popcorn flavour ? You can also have nachos? Or cake? " He said.

" Are you taking me to a movie? " I asked.

" Uh.. " he shook his head slowly " well, yes. And no. Wait? Are you not into movies ? " He tilts his head.

" cheddar " I said. " And cake " I smiled.

" Done " he said after he texted it to someone. We were quite far from school, but I didn't feel like asking questions. He had a good collection of songs. We collected our snacks from an attendant booth in a parking lot and went uphill we stopped near the edge of a rock face . I looked around, the view was ok, not so great. He lowered our windows upto mid and turned the heater on. After a minute, the weather inside the car was amazing. Slight cool breeze outside and a tint of heat inside. It was like being inside a giant blanket in cold weather. It was realllyyy comfy.

" What's the time? " he asked.

" 10:25 " he nodded " PM "

he gave me a funny stare. He took our snacks out, gave mine to me and we settled inside. It was just me expectantly looking out for something - anything to happen for the next 5 ' 10 mins.

" So, what are we waiting for ? Alien ships? Meteor raid? " I mocked. And then it started. A huge screen lit up a few meters away from us. People cheered from below, it was a outdoor movie night area, and this place was like a VIP seat. Akil pushed my jaw up , closing my gawking mouth. Smirking.

" Shut up " I said as the movie started.

" I didn't say anything " he said.

" Yeah whatever " I spat. We settled on our seats, the movie started from half-time, it was " Adithya varma " , a movie of a guy with anger management issues and the love his life. I am watching it for the third time. We sat in silence munching on our snacks the whole movie. It was good.

" I don't buy it " i said.

" What? " He switched the car light on, as the huge screen went off.

" Their love! I mean, the second he looks at her, he falls madly in love with her! Pure crap" I said.

He nodded slowly. " I mean, you can't look at a person for the first time and know - he is the one !" I went on.

" Don't tell me. I don't even buy the concept of " the one " " he said hand quoting it.

" Yeah. It's all romcom bullshit " I said. He chuckled. He took out two Starbucks deliveries and handed me one.

" So, you planned to bring Julie here tonight? " I ask. Very slightly disappointed. Very very slightly.

" Why do you think that? " He said adjusting to sit facing me.

I tilt my cup to show her name on it to him. " Yes. But then I changed my mind " he said

" How did your high school sweetheart take it? She was all " hey honey" " let's go honey " I said mimicking her voice.

He chuckled " well. I guess she is not the one " he hand quoted it again " for tonight " he smirked.

I stop my drink mid-gulp " How many girls have you had up here? " I said, expecting a big number.

" You mean this week or? " I looked at him shocked " kidding." He waves his hand " It's been so long I came here. But I have had hundreds of dates here though! "