I couldn't go back to sleep after being confess by Liam. Technically even Adam in his own way.
I prepare myself to meet Gerald in front of the building. He wants to grab coffee and have a chat. It's a regular hang out.
After being confess by two men that I wasn't trying to be romantically involve with them makes so confuse that I accept the offer from Gerald.
I casually wear my turtle neck sweater and jeans. I wear winter boots since snow appear last night. There will be snow on the ground.
When I step outside, my boots press the snow seeing my footprints.
Gerald is waiting leaning against his car smoking a cigarette. When he saw me, he quickly throws it out.
"Hey," he said.
"Hey, Gerald."
He opens the passenger door for me. I enter.
He close the doors and walks around to the driver's seat.
He enters and start the engine.
"I can't believe it's snowing," I said.
"It might be snowing on Christmas day," he told me.
"I always want to see snow on Christmas day as a kid."
"It hasn't snow on Christmas day since forty years ago."
"That long!"
"Odd, isn't it?"
Gerald turn on the heater feeling myself getting toasty.
"What café are you thinking about?" I ask.
"There's a small café I go to by my work place."
We made it to the café in thirty minutes as for parking. We went to the parking lot in ten minutes.
[Love Café]
We enter the small café seeing a number of people sitting at their laptop or chatting with a person they were with.
"Any drinks you want to get?" Gerald ask.
"hot chocolate."
Gerald walks over to the cashier order the drinks.
"wait, let me pay," I said.
"I got it."
Gerald takes out his wallet and takes out his debit card.
"Gerald, It's okay. you don't need to pay me."
"I want to treat you. Think of it as a Christmas gift from me."
"okay."
We standby waiting for our order. We chat about different things about coffee we drink, work and Christmas.
"Anything you doing for Christmas?" I ask.
"Go to a bar and drink. Christmas is same like any other day for me."
"What about your family?"
"They're in another state. I don't have time to see them."
"you should go. They will be so happy."
"What about you?"
"........I can't afford to go. I don't have enough money to fly off and see my mother. Sometimes, my mother wants to see me and things just change of plans. She often can't go."
"I'm sorry."
"It's okay. I send her gifts at this time of year and I call her on Christmas day."
"What Christmas do you want the most?"
I look at Gerald staring at me when he ask that question. I had to avoid eye contact a moment.
"I don't know. It's always a lonely Christmas year for me."
"Then, What do you want to change for Christmas?"
"I guess......See my mother. Have someone I love by my side. Have money."
"Hot chocolate!"
A cashier put our hot chocolate in front of us. I take the mug feeling the heat at the palm of my hand.
Thank goodness, that worker interrupt our conversation. I nearly felt like crying talking about this with Gerald.
I don't want to give another waterworks.
We went to the table by the window. I took sip of my hot chocolate.
"hot. hot. hot" I fan my tongue feeling the heat sensation at the tip of my tongue.
Gerald laugh.
"not funny," I said leaving my tongue out.
"Sorry, you should expect it," he said.
"I want to drink it."
"does it still burns?"
"yeah."
He leans in from the table and said, "do you want me to kiss it?"
.....
...........
...........................................................
WHAT THE FU-!?!!?!?!?!!!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?
The people in the café glance at us hearing an old lady says, "oh my."
Gerald chuckles and sits back down, "I'm kidding."
With that expression, you look effing serious to be freaking kidding!?
I laugh awkwardly, "ahahaha, you surprise me. I didn't know you were comedian."
"Sadly, I'm bad at jokes."
No kidding......I nearly spill my hot chocolate.
Gerald sips his hot chocolate and I'm looking at the window calming my beating heart.
After drinking hot coco, Gerald gets a call from work.
We had to end the day early.
We left the café.
"Thanks for inviting me," I said.
"I'm happy you came," he said.
I gave him a hug and he accepts it. When I was about to let go, he kept staying on.
"Gerald?"
"there's something I need to tell you."
"uh...sure."
He let go of me and stare at me with a serious expression.
"Would you....um...would you...."
He's fumbling his words. He remind me at the time when he try talk to Addi in high school.
"would you...."He pause. "Are you....."
Why is he fumbling?
"would you what?" I said.
He rub back of his neck, "Do you want to have another cup of coffee hangout with me again? that is, if you want to."
Is that all?
"yeah Gerald. We're friends. You don't have to be shy about it," I told him.
His eyes look at the side.
"You should go to work," I said patting on his shoulders.
I turn around and walk away. I thought he was heading to his car.
"I'M IN LOVE WITH YOU!!!!!"
I turn around and saw Gerald looking at me with his face beat red.
My eyes widen.
I stand there.
The people were watching us.
My brain is not processing........
Gerald walks over to me. I honestly want to run away. I can't move.
"Is it okay that I'm falling for you?" he said to me in a whisper.
I didn't answer just look at him.
Is this real?
Are there hidden cameras somewhere?
Gerald never will do anything like this.
He never even confess to Addi like this.
How?
"I want to hear your answer whenever you're ready."
He kiss my hands and he left to his car.
I'm still standing there as he goes to his car and drive off.
...............
..................
I need aspirin.
I'm walking aimlessly down the streets.
Thinking of three guys who confess to me that I didn't even thought of them as love interest.
They're nice guys, but all of sudden they in love with me.
There's no hint of flirting, inviting places so they can see me every chance they get, you know the vibe that I like you.
"I'm going to go nuts," I said.
"Hey! Look out!"
Someone yank my arm pulling me in. A car drove by super fast.
I was so into my thoughts. I didn't see where I was going.
I look at my savior to give him my thanks and then we both look at each other.
"Dexter!"
"You!"
[Gerald]
[Heart meter: 100%]
[Two more to go]
[Saving.......]
[Are you happy with this, heroine?]