My Cup of Tea

Part 4 "The start"

I left my condo at 6:30pm. Siam District is just 30mins drive from my condo. Even though I knew that Somchai and Pan will be late, I still want to come on time because Tad will be there as well and I don't want to give a bad impression to him. Pan texted me to meet them in their favorite hotpot restaurant inside the mall. Both of them loved that restaurant because first, Pan is fond of hotpot, second it's a BUFFET, Somchai's favorite. While walking at the mall, I have this habit of using my phone and listening to music while walking, specially when I'm alone. Then suddenly I bumped to someone and my phone fell.

  "SHHHIIIAAA!" I said. Then I saw the person that I bump into. It was Tad.
"Sorry Tad, I didn't see you"
"It is okay" he responded. Even though he's still talking to me I was impressed on the way he looked. Geez, he look handsome. The way he dress is a total knockdown! He was wearing a white button-down long sleeves with chinese collar, a pair of jeans, and paired with brown top sider. Then I checked mine. Well, I could say that I know a bit of fashion. I was wearing a Dark Blue button-down long sleeves but I leave 2 buttons open, a pair of grey ankle length pants, and a pair of black loafers. Then he tapped me on my shoulder.

" Chris! Are you okay? Did you understand what I'm saying?" He said. Then I came back from my consciousness.
"Yeah! I'm okay, you're sayin'?" I replied
"I'm saying that you should avoid holding your phone while you are in public places. It's dangerous, you're just lucky that it was me." He said. His eyes are telling me that he was really concerned. Those eyes!
"Sorry, It was a habit of mine when I'm alone at the mall and no worries I'm not doing it outside" I explained
"Please don't do it again" he said.
"Okay" I just said it to drop the issue, I really don't get why suddenly he became concerned to me. It's like my actions is a big deal to him. But then again, maybe he was like that. I was going to ask him if he saw the others, then Pan called us from the reception area of the restaurant and told us to come inside.

  Thankfully the restaurant is not full during weekdays, we could enjoy the night without the hassle. When we reached our table located in the middle of the restaurant, Somchai saw us and waived while grilling the meat for us.

  "Man! Thank you for coming to celebrate our anniversary" he said to Tad. Then turned to me and said "See, I even get you a date so you won't feel lonely while watching us cuddling with each other" then he kissed Pan in the cheek.

"Please excuse me. I'll go to the wash room" telling to Pan and Tad, Then I gave a signal to Somchai to follow me.
"I'll come back. Tad, please sit and eat" Somchai said to them, the he rushed to me.
 
When we entered the wash room I asked Somchai what is it all about.

"What was that?" I was angry when I asked him. He was setting me up again but this one is different, HE IS SETTING ME UP WITH A GUY! A GUY!
"Chill! Man! He is a nice guy" he said while his hand was defending himself from any physical attack that I might throw at him.
"When will you stop setting me up with other people and now with a GUY? Are you out your mind?" I could feel all the blood running in my body started to rise up.
"Is that the reason why you gave my Line ID to him and why the both of you left me when I'm going to meet Tad for lunch?" I added
"Sorry Man! Give him a chance. He's nice, you even said that he is different from the others" He explain while rubbing my arms like a child asking for forgiveness.
  "Please! Don't ruin the night for me and Pan" he added.
  "Well you are the one who ruined it, not me, you are lucky that Pan is here if not I'm definitely going to leave you" I said to him
"Thanks Man! Oh change your face, both of your eyebrows are starting to connect with each other" he said while laughing and dragging me outside.

  At the back of my mind, I was asking myself if this is real. Do Tad really like me? Or maybe I was still dreaming from my nap and I was still sleeping. But no! It's real.