The Mysterious Mr. Black

20.4

"I told you, I'm seeing some friends in California and we're supposed to go to Cancun for our spring break. Go to a casting call in LA if I'm in the mood."

"So you want to be an actor?"

He sighed and put his hands inside his pockets. "Not really no. But it pays a lot if I wanted to be independent."

"You ran away?" 

He laughed. "No! I told you I'm on a spring break. You know what, why don't we walk a little faster. The sun is killing me."

We continued on walking until we reached the auto repair shop. Rick and Hector talked or a long time about his car, the cost, the repairs, parts needed and timeframe. I kept myself entertainted by watching one of the guys cover a primed car with paint. I never noticed that they're done talking until Hector tapped my shoulder.

"It's almost lunch, any recommended diner nearby?"

"Does that mean your treating me to lunch?"  That sounds leechy. "Cause I don't have cash right now, I'm just saying." except for that five dollars at home.

"Don't worry. If I asked you for something, I'm paying." 

My broke ass self was celebrating internally. It's a one of a lifetime experience to have a wealthy guest, might as well take advantage for it. I chose my favorite diner which I only dined for a handful times since my parents would often choose the cheapest available resto in town.

"What's the best meal here?" he asked.

"Their specialty fried chicken meal, which is what I would take please."

"Okay. Make that two please. How about your drink?"

"Uhhhmm..." I mumbled as if I was looking at the options but in actuality I expected him to ask that and I already prepared my answer. "Ice tea would do."

He smiled and gave the menu to the waitress. "Then that makes two fried chicken meal and two ice tea."

The waitress repeated our orders and tried to offer some specialty of the day. Hector declined and she left us but I heard her giggle as she walks away. My hunch was now confirmed-- she's having a little crush on my companion. I noticed that when she was repeatingly tucking her hair behind her ear while she was smiling so widely with eyes intently focused on Hector. I've never encountered a waitress so joyfully dedicated in her job before so I guess that concurs my conclusion.

"Is your name really Hector Montgomery?" 

He raised his eyebrows. "Yeah. What about it?"

"It doesn't suit you. Sounds like a made up name if you ask me."

"Blame my parents if you want to." he then proceeded to take a sip on the glass of ffree water.

"Hector... Hector... There's something I about it." I thought about it for a second and a silly thought appeared on my mind. "Hector... sounds like a pornstar name."

He almost spilled his drink when he snorted. "Are you always this blunt to strangers?" he asked me.

"Maybe?" I admitted. "My classmates sometimes tell me to  shut my trap when I observed something they don't want to hear."

"Is that why you got no friends?" he shot back.

I gasped a little. I knew he meant that as a joke but what he said stings a little. "I don't know." I whispered. "I was always the weird kid in class. I guess, I lack the social skills since our home is far from town and I'm the only teenager in our limited neighborhood."

"Oh, I'm sorry. I didn't-" 

Just in time, the waitress came back with our orders. Good. A distraction from the awkwardness that now surrounds the table.

"Look, I'm sorry. I didn't mean what I said. That was a tasteless joke. Hector apologized after the server was gone.

"I know and it's okay since you're paying for this glorious food." I seized the cutlery and took a bite of my anticipated meal. "Now that's what I'm talking about."

-------

We have already left the diner and we are already home but I noticed that Hector is still staring at me once in a while. It's making me self-conscious that I decided to confront him. "What?" I said.

"You know... I was thinking about what you said earlier."

"It's fine, really." 

"If you want I can be your friend." he said. We both stopped walking.

"Come on now. I don't want your pity friendship. You're our guest and I'm okay with that."

"I mean it. You seem like a nice person."

"Now this is awkward but um after a week, you'll be out again on your own and I will be here on my own. In the second week, we both have forgotten that we even encountered each other. So to save the drama, let's remember, you're our guest and I'm one of your host."

Hector shook his head and laughed in disbelief.

"You know, you could gain more friends if you would stop being cynical. I really do want to be your friend and I promise you, I won't forget about you. You basically helped me last night and I'll always remember that. If you want, I will call you once in a while or someday I'll come visit your place again and then we'll have lunch with your favorite meal like an old friend. How about that?"

He sounded sincere with his words but the eyes tell more and I knew he was telling the truth. His eyes were one of his best asset, piercing but full of warmth. So alluring you could practically stare at them all day long.

"Okay." I said.

"Now that wasn't so bad isn't it?" he said then placed his arms around my shoulder like old pals. It made me uncomfortable at first since I'm not used to other people touching me but I found myself smiling for the rest of our walk.

It was the first time I made a friend. He promised not to forget about me and I know I should have done the same but sometime later, I was the one who have forgotten about his existence. Not until now that I'm thinking about what went wrong a week later.

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