Chapter 4 - Fake Date

Yes, we are fake dating right now. I admit it, I was so stupid. But…what she told me was right, I mean.. I want to date Caroline so bad and I think it is a good idea to make her jealous first, and plus Tiere needs my help to move on from her ex -boyfriend. Tiere said Caroline likes me.. from how I told her when we go on a date. She said she is just an asshole who let me wait. I don’t know, I know nothing about that. I wonder how it works. We are not going to do anything weird, I promise. I promise to myself, I mean. Despite of being my temporary fake girlfriend, she is still my best friend. I have to take good care of our friendship.

Today is Saturday, I woke up really late. I tilted my head to check the time from the digital clock on my bedside table, the numbers 10.34 glowing in blue, I changed the color yesterday.

I rose from my bed, scratching my itchy stomach and walking towards the

bathroom. Haven’t worked out for days, I gain a lot of fat in the stomach, kinda feel tormented right now. Geez, gotta get a work out today.

I took off my clothes, starts the shower by pushing the button as the water pouring down, flushing against me.

I closed my eyes enjoying the warmth of the water. It’s so refreshing.

DING DONG DING DONG DING DONG DING DONG

Who’s that? Damn it’s still early.

DING DONG DING DONG

My gosh, really? You gotta be kidding me. I still want to enjoy my bath.

DING DONG DING DONG DING DONG

I clicked the shower off and wrapped a towel around my hip. Then I peep through the peephole.

Tiere? why so early?

I clicked the door opened, and Tiere startled, staring at me from head to toe then back from toe to head, my hair is soaking wet.

“WHOA! We just dated yesterday and you are being naughty huh?” smirking on me. “What do you mean?” I huffed.

“Hah! Don’t act innocent! Guys are the same!” she hissed as she walks in cheerfully, kicking off her slippers without arranging them, soon I stopped her but I didn’t catch her up. I ended up I arrange it for her.

“I will continue my shower” I locked the door and went back to showers without her answering me. Ah, Tiere likes to touch my stuffs, I afraid she turns my computer on and find some private videos inside. It isn’t porn or something like that, but I have a lot of interesting 21+ movies according to the story not to the sex scene. Please don’t get me wrong.

I dragged the door half opened and yelled “DON’T TOUCH ANYTHING!!” to Tiere. I scrubbed my hands over my head. It’s okay she will not touch anything. She will just take my comic books and read them until she fell asleep. I locked the door and get back to my shower. The shower turns on at the press of a button, the perfect pressure and temperature. The water pours down like hard rain, dripping on me, as my mind fades into shreds and everything became a foggy illusion. When I think I am clean enough to finish, I turned the shower off and put my complete outfits on, with a loose thin t -shirt and casual sweat pants.

I shut my bathroom door and walk through the hallway, seeking for Tiere’s presence, it feels like nobody inside the apartment. I check her at the kitchen then my bedroom, found her there. She’s already asleep in my bed, drolling on my pillow. “Ew gross”, her appearance changed a lot but she is still the dirty and messy Tiere I used to know.

I sit beside her on the bed, watching her sleep. Tiere is so pretty while sleeping, so peaceful like an angel. During middle and high school, she has pimples all over her face, but now she is way prettier than that time. Did she put some thick make ups on? I touch and rub her face trying to wipe her make up off. It doesn’t mean she is not worthy at all when she was ugly, she has pure sincere and faithful heart that nobody has, she never take advantages of people’s kindness. That’s how I judge her. She is a perfect woman for me, as a friend of course. Wait, no make up? Then I tried to touch her eyebrow, which used to be thick as leech during high school. Tiere grabbed my wrist to stop me, “DON’T” she said, with eyes stay shut. “Sorry?” pulled my hand back.

She grabbed my wrist again and set my palm on her cheek “It’s so comforting when you do this to me” she sniffed a smile. “Do it for me..” she added, “Until I fall asleep..”

I laid beside her, rubbing her cheek with my palm to comforts her, she fell asleep fast and her smile hasn’t faded away. I feel better because she feels comfortable by my side.

I shift my laying position so I can see her clearly. My heart beats faster, pretty unusual for me. Her smile is still the same, the pure, smooth and sincere smile. However I kinda feel different watching her smiles nowadays. Is this how it feels when a man date a woman? Is this what we call as dating?

***

I blinked my eyes slowly semi awake, as the afternoon lights blinding my eyes. It’s not a normal nap I used to have, like hugging a heavy and bigger bolster right now, and I smell a floral, musky, perfume scent. I tilted my head slowly looking down, then my eyes meet a woman leaning on my chest, it’s Tiere, her hair left untied, very soft, and smells really nice. We were so close during school but we never fall asleep like this. She tightened her arms around my waist “Ryan?” she mumbled. It triggers my heart to beat faster and I can feel it pumping away, harder and harder. My body weaken, loosen itself especially when she called me softly by my name. She lifted her head slowly, her face crinkled with sleep, then she smiles, a very calming smiles. I feel my chest become tighter, the heart beating so loud as it echoes until my ear drums. At this moment, I concerned about how she could hear them loudly from my chest. Please, stop beating so fast. I barely move my body, I feel like either want her to stay, or wait her until she is totally awake.

“Do you want pizza?” Tiere asked, then she yawns with a horrible smell. Sometimes I feel flattered, but sometimes I feel horrible. Dammit.....

“Sure?” I lifted an eyebrow, a hand covering my nose.

She rolled her body backwards then rose up from the bed, stretching her arms up to the air and say “I am terrible at cooking. Someone likes to complain my cooking”

Her cooking is not that bad honestly.

***

It’s evening.

“ARE YOU READY?” she yelled impatiently.

“Well, technically in, like one or two minutes. I should get dressed first unless you prefer me naked” I pulled a t –shirt from my dressing room.

“Ew what a pervert” she said in disgusted voice. The jokes slightly make her cringe.

There’s a difference between me and her, even though we are friends since we were kids. Tiere is agile, she eats fast, take a bath for only 5 minutes, everything is practical for her.

Me, a perfectionist. I will never quit the bathroom before I feel light and clean, eat slow cause I want to digest better also feel more satisfied with each meal. I’d like to do it slow but sure.

“Yes I took a bath imagining things” I joked. She stares me with disgust “Ew”

I giggled and we both coincidentally pushed the same elevator panel, which caught us awkward all of sudden. I cleared my throat. We used to hang out together, like only both of us but somehow it feels kinda weird since we know we are dating. Tiere didn’t say anything on our way, she is just gazing through the window without saying a word. I don’t know what is she thinking right now.

We arrived at the Italian Restaurant with a moustache logo above the entrance. The restaurant looks deserted and I’m so relieved by that, somehow I afraid meeting people. She stands by my side narrowing her eyes on me, I know Tiere will ask something from me. She lifted her hand “Hand”.

I give her my hand and she hold it tight, like how normal couple does.

“You have to hold my hand like this” she stated. Her palm is warm and small, her long finger nails tickling my skin. I feel like a giant holding her, my palm turns sweaty and my head starts spinning. I’m clueless when it comes to dating, but I can feel the flutters of my heart, it beats faster and faster. It’s weird for me, it usually happens when I’m with Caroline. But with Tiere, it happened just like that.

“YOU BLUSHED!” she snorted. Oh really? Well, this is embarrassing.

“No.. I’m not” my voice squeaked, and I coughed to cover it.

Shame on you Ryan. I threw my gaze away, trying to look normal. I am a grown up man, but I just acted like a high school dude.

“It’s not really crowded”

She clicked her tongue and say “Yeaa yeaa”.

Nobody will recognize us, I thought we are going to be as normal as we could, but holding hands like this isn’t normal for me. People might freak out, wait, who will freak out? There’s no Caroline here!

There’s a waiter outside the entrance smiling as he pulled the door open for us.

The pizza restaurant isn’t as deserted as the parking lot, it’s very crowded inside. Hell, this is hell. No, what if I really meet Caroline or her gang here? I hesitate, not sure I wanted to tell Tiere directly about the crowds I afraid of. I turned my body about to leave, she sighs, pulls my hand and drags me towards the seat. For a while she doesn’t say anything, she looks kinda irritated. I’ve promised her that we will share anything special as a couple. She must be angry about what I did earlier.

“VALERIAN!” I flinched. DAMN! Somebody just called me?

“Holy shit” my eyes popped open wide.

We turned our body to look. It’s GARRY! MY CLASSMATE!

“Hey” my jaw stiffened, now I look horrified. I’m worst at hiding my expressions, what a bitch.

Tiere let my hand go, gestured me to talk to them. She walks towards the empty table without me.

As I come approaching Garry and my other classmates, he then whispered, glancing at Tiere for some moments, “Who is she? Your girlfriend?”

My voice wobbly and unsteady “Em.. n..” I talk as I look at Tiere for a second.

“Baby!” Tiere mouthed, waving her tiny fingers. I can feel my face warmer and warmer again. At the same time, Garry and my other classmates wow –ing me, some of them whistling.

“Woaw! I thought you and Caroline are dating. Your girlfriend is pretty!” somehow I feel a bit proud. The other, Yosua says “I thought you were gay”. Gary immediately elbowed him and glared.

That’s a joke right? Am I looking that gay out there? What the hell, I am a straight man. Ben stretched his neck “She is more beautiful than Caroline!”.

OH REALLY?

“Your girlfriend is waiting for you. Go on! Have a nice day buddy!” Garry strongly slapped my shoulder until I almost fell.

“See ya buddy!” They waved and laugh, including Garry. Everyone is talking too loud.

I go back to Tiere. She leans her head on my shoulder, in a very clingy way.. my heart beating fast.. again…my god this is really awkward.

I gazed her eyes without a blink, yes she is pretty.. How can a simple and nerd girl turned into this pretty? She doesn’t have a thick make up on, just a complete eyebrows. Oh my…her lips are very sweet and tiny, I kinda feel addicted to kiss her again.

WHAT? RYAN! WHAT A PERVERT! I just got addicted to do it again and again

because I have never done that before.

“Ryan?”

“Ryan”

“Oh Ryan” she waved her hands in front of my face.

“You never stop daydreaming” she pouted.

“Beef” I threw my gaze away.

“I like beef” I repeated. Damn, this is awkward.

I was about to drive her home but then she looks pretty upset.

“Tiere” I glanced.

I sucked my breath in sharply “Do you want to sleepover?”

Tiere turned her head right away, looking delighted, her eyes shone with excitement, which suddenly she became so happy “YES!”.