Unrequited Love

Chapter 4

I took a stroll through central park early one morning before work to gaze at the Autumn leaves that were in full bloom. I texted Leo back agreeing to go out with her this week, mostly because Yuri and Ari convinced me.

"You're late" Jo greeted me as I walked passed the reception desk "And what are you wearing, are you trying to look twenty five?" Jo looked me up and down. I was wearing dark blue jeans with a green sweater that day.

"Thanks Jo!" I stopped before I walked passed his desk, "Oh I'll be going out to lunch."

"You have a meeting-"

I walked away before he could finish his sentence. My eyes were heavy and a little puffy from not being able to sleep for the past couple of nights.

Even if it were five years ago, I still do not think I would be interested in giving dating a try. Back then, I made excuses of why I did not want to date or look for a partner and the one time I did end up becoming close to someone, it did not end so well. This really has only happened once, I started seeing a girl that I met at a gay bar. I thought we were on the same page, both using each other to fulfill our sexual desires. Before sex we would go out to dinner then after, we would grab coffee where Yuri works. And one night while we were in bed, she told me that she loved me and I said thank you- like the dumbass I am. But I did not feel the same way towards her and because of that, I broke her young heart. After that she called me a whole bunch and non stopped texted me about how heartless I was. That was five years ago, now she is married to a male lawyer and has a two year old child. That was the only time and the last time I saw someone more than once, ever since then- it has been a one and done (minus Yuri), mostly for the other persons benefit.

"Don't lead that poor child on too much" Jo said as I walked passed his desk to meet Leo for lunch. I walked out of my work building, clouds were starting to appear in the sky that was clear a few hours before.

"Ren!!" I looked over, Leo was standing to the side of the front building door.

I walked over to her, "Hey I thought we were meeting at the restaurant?"

She was wearing black pants with knee high boots and a white knit sweater on top of a dark grey long sleeves shirt. When I looked back up at her, she smiled, "I came to pick you up."

She looked so happy, but I was a little creeped out that she was waiting for me outside of my work building. Leo then dragged me to some sushi shop a couple blocks down from where I worked, "Have you been here before?" I asked as we entered the shop.

We sat at a table near the window, "No, I just found it on the internet" She smiled at me as she pulled the chair back signaling me to sit, "Let's order sake!"
Before I could say anything, she called over the waiter and ordered two bottles of sake and three different sushi rolls.

"Are you trying to get me drunk?" I watched as she poured two shots for the both of us, "Don't you have school during the week?"

She laughed, "Today is my day off" She was staring at me with her hazel eyes that looked as if they were sparkling at that moment and was wearing black eyeliner that made the color of her eyes pop out even more, "Another shot?"

I nodded my head yes, "You getting around New York alright now?"

She placed her head on the palm of her hand as she looked at me, "All thanks to you" She winked then leaned back into her chair, "And the internet" I quietly laughed, "So what do you do for fun?" She looked genuinely curious as she asked me this.

I stared at her for a bit too long, "Drink" I really do not know what I did for fun anymore, I don't think I even had fun anymore. What a childish question. The word fun, what an odd word- with really no stable definition to it. I was a bit over this conversation but re-asked, what she asked me, "Uh, so what do you do for fun?" I was hesitant as I asked her this.