HER

WE MADE IT TO THE LOUNGE AT EXACTLY 7:30 PM. We had a good stroll in the park while we were trying to pass time. Carla was already waving at us as soon as we went inside. She is already seated in our favorite spot. We love the lounging area with the comfy 3-seater couches. She would not have been able to reserve that section if it was a weekend. This place is usually bustling with yuppies on Fridays and Saturdays.

I saw Raffy and Jake facing Carla. They were already seated across the other couch. Both of them work in Wall Street and are successful stockbrokers. As much as I want to understand what their work entails, I don't even want to try. It is too much for me! I bought a "book for dummies" on how to understand stocks and do investments, however, up to now, I have not even read a single page. It is still sitting on my coffee table untouched!

"Hey! Why are you guys all together?" Carla said while giving us hugs and kisses. We also hugged Raffy and Jake as soon as we arrived.

"We bumped into each other in the burger joint." I replied.

"What? You already ate?" Carla pouted like a child.

"Bes, I am so hungry. I barely ate lunch. That client that I met at noon wants every single detail laid out for him. I am sorry." I said apologetically. I put my right arm around her shoulder to make her feel better.

"Ok. You are forgiven. But I do not think that is the real reason. I know you! You are still upset about this morning. You are really an emotional eater!"

"Hey, hey! I heard that! What's going on? What happened this morning?" Raine butted in.

"I knew it! Something is up. We usually do not go out on Thursdays! Come on, spill the beans! I want some scoop!" Jill said excitedly.

I pinched Carla and glared at her. I gave her a sign not to tell them about what happened. She actually got it.

"Alecx had a bad client this morning. I just wanted to cheer her up, so I called all of you, guys!" She explained.

Raine raised her eyebrow. I do not think she believed Carla's answer. Jill just smiled and shrugged her shoulders.

"Ok, if you say so. Let's order drinks now! Carla, go ahead and order your dinner. You must be starving." Jill said to Carla.

I was about to sit beside Carla, but Jill already took that spot and Raine followed her. I got booted out. They made Carla sit between the two of them. I bet the girls want to pry Carla about the real reason why we had an impromptu get together on a Thursday night. These two are really something!

I sat between Raffy and Jake across the other couch. The middle table between the two couches was already filled with appetizers - fries, onion rings, mozzarella sticks, chips, and salsa. The boys were probably starving, too, and ordered a bunch of food while waiting for us.

"How are you, Alecx? Rough day, huh?" Raffy asked. He heard Carla's lies about the "client" I had.

"It's not too bad. I was able to handle it." I said to him, smiling.

"Do you want to order something else? How about I get you a drink?" He is about to stand up and go to the bar but Raine shouted.

"Hey Papa Raffy! How about us? Why do you just always ask Alecx?" He teased me.

"Ok, ok, what do you guys all want?" Raffy asked in a resigned tone.

"Just get all of us girls, Cosmo! Thanks, love! You are such a gentleman!" Raine teased him again.

He just shook his head and went straight to the bar. Raffy is a real gentleman. Ever since we all started hanging out together, I have never seen him getting annoyed at us. Raffy is always calm, always in cruise control.

Having a gay friend like Raine, we can always get so loud. Raine usually teases him a lot but he is able to handle all his jokes and banters. Raffy has this boyish look. His eyes completely disappear when he smiles. He has some mannerisms that remind me of Paul. I see him like a brother.

That is why when Carla told me that she thinks Raffy likes me, I just shrugged it off. He does not give me butterflies like what I usually feel when I was still with Tristan.

Oh, Tristan! Just remembering him again makes me worried. Now that I know he will be staying here in the city for the next couple of months, I am dreading going to work. I will try my best to stay away from him as much as I can.

Raffy came back with our drinks. Raine was grinning from ear to ear.

"Thanks, Papa Raffy!" We all shouted in unison. Some of the customers looked at our table and stared at us. We really did not care. We are already used to getting glared at.

While Carla and the boys are eating their dinner, Raine, Jill and I started our drinks. By the time they are done, we are already on our second round of drinks!

Oh Boy, I am starting to feel sleepy! I will never eat a huge meal and drink alcohol afterwards! Bad combination! Raffy, who is seated beside me, probably sensed that I am exhausted.

"Hey, you look tired and sleepy." He offered his right shoulder so I could lay my head and I obliged. He put his right arm around me. I did not even bother to remove it. I feel safe every time he is around me. I really think of him like Paul. They are the same age and I feel safe with him.

I suddenly miss Paul. I miss my brother. I have to call him this weekend so we can have a long chat. When I left home 9 years ago, he decided to transfer to a different company. He does not think it was a good idea to work for Tristan after what I did. He said he has not communicated with Tristan after he left the company.

I closed my eyes while my head was still resting on Raffy's shoulder. I can hear the girls laughing out loud, they are talking about a new comedy series in one of the streaming apps. Then, suddenly, they all stopped talking. They were all quiet. All I can hear is just the soft lounge music.

I opened my eyes to see what was going on. And there he was, standing in front of us, the man I was dreading to see... Tristan! He was looking directly at me!