The path to closure

Melanie hesitates to give Caleb an answer because she doesn’t know if meeting up with him will be a good idea or not, but she already sort of agreed to meet up with him even though she didn’t exactly say yes, more so she was the one that reached out first so refusing to meet up will not look well on her path, and a part of her wanted closure, as to the real reason why he unmatched her if he was interested in exploring the possibility of a relationship with her.

Caleb unmatching with her bruises her ego so bad, and she finds herself pondering about the pros and cons of meeting up with Caleb for the second time.

She doesn’t want to discuss anything about Caleb with her sister again because the attitude she gave when she told her about Caleb unmatching her was not welcoming to her at all, so she decides to text Ryan instead because she feels like she will go crazy if she doesn't talk to somebody soon.

“I found Caleb’s number on the dating site and I called him after thinking about if I wanted to or not for three days, just to ask him why he unmatched with me because it bothered me so much but…" Melanie trails off.

"To cut the long story short, he wants to meet up with me to discuss everything that happened,” she texts Ryan who reads the message almost immediately and starts typing.

“Have you made up your mind about what to do?” he asks because he knows about everything that went down when she went on the first date with Caleb.

“I don’t know what I want to do because a part of me wants to know what is going, on but another part thinks it is pointless” she sighs.

“You are the only one that knows what is best for you, but I think that you considering whether you want to go or not is an answer” Ryan points out.

“What do you mean by "me considering it critically is an answer?” Melanie furrows her brows even though he can’t see her across the phone.

“I said that because if you didn’t want to go, you would have told him “NO” on the spot but you have been thinking about it, and if that doesn’t mean that you want to go, I don’t know what is” Ryan points out and Melanie slowly nods.

“Just make sure that you are meeting him in your comfort zone so that he can’t touch you inappropriately” he advises before Melanie can send the text that she typed so clears it to type something else.

“Kalinin doesn’t like him which means that I can’t invite him to Kali’s house, so do you have any restaurant in mind?” Melanie asks him because she hasn’t been to too many places in Orion that she can use as a meet-up point for her and Caleb.

“Since you are trying so hard not to be alone with him in the same room, you guys can have lunch or dinner at Bistro Bliss…whatever suits your taste” he suggests but even though Melanie and Ryan’s mom get along well, her restaurant doesn’t quite match the aesthetic that she has in her head for her second meeting with Caleb so she starts to have second thoughts.

“You know that I love Karen very much right?” Melanie asks him, instead of asking what she wants to ask.

“I know that,” Ryan replies, feeling confused because he just doesn't get Melanies motive behind why Melanie is professing her undying love to Ryan about his mother.

“Remind me why it was important to remind you that you love my mom,” he probes because he is really confused.

“No offense, but it is just that Bistro Bliss is always too jam-packed and it won’t look aesthetically pleasing for mine and Caleb’s second meeting,” she expresses her displeasure to him while trying not ğ her not to be disrespectful towards either Ryan or Karen.

“Have you been to the VIP section of the restaurant?” Ryan asks her and she stops as she shakes her head even though he can't see her over the phone.

“Is there a VIP section?” She answers his question with another question.

“Of course,” he answers.

“If there was a VIP section and your mom owns the restaurant, why were you people not eating there the day that we ran into each other?” Melanie asks him because it just doesn’t make any sense to her.

“Just like you said, my mom owns the restaurant but whenever she is meeting up with me for our mother and son bonding time, she prefers to sit in the regular section of the restaurant so that she can take note of the things that she needs to improve on, and also how her staffs treat her customers “ He explains to her.

“Wow!” she exclaims feeling impressed.

“Karen is exceptional… your father is really lucky to have such an exceptional woman in his life” Melanie complement

“I guess” Ryan answers without delving into any ugly details.

“That reminds me, I have met almost everybody in your family, but I am still yet to meet your father,” it suddenly occurred to Melanie.

“That is because he doesn’t stay around here anymore and he and my mom are separated,” he quickly briefs Melanie about his family’s relationship dynamics which makes Melanie suddenly regret being nosy so she dials his number almost immediately.

“Not having your parents together must be hard for you and your sister but I just opened my mouth to pass comments like that,” Melanie tells him because she feels really bad for what she just said over text.

“I am sorry about that” Melanie apologizes feeling extremely remorseful.

“It is fine, more so it happened like 10 years ago, so you have nothing to apologize for” He waves the issue like it is not a big deal, even though it kinda is to him.

“This night is supposed to be about you and I won’t like to make this night about myself, so would you like to see what the Bistro Bliss VIP section looks like so that you can just make up your mind,” he takes the focus of the conversation off him and asks her but she still doesn't feel comfortable with carrying on the conversation and pretending like everything is okay when it is not.

“I don’t need to check it out because I trust your judgment, all that I just need you to know is to help make a reservation for 7 p.m.” she gives him that duty instead of having to put a call through to Karen that late at night because she just feels that it will make things easier for her, or perhaps make her feel less stupid about what she just did before she says her goodbyes to him and hangs up the phone.

“I have made my decision and I think I would prefer us to have dinner together tomorrow by 7 p.m. at Bistro Bliss” Melanie texts Caleb immediately before she goes ahead to take her bath, get her skincare routine done, and also prepare for church the next day.