My date

“Don’t you think this rose lipstick is weird on me?” I asked, looking at my reflection in the mirror. My long black frock, straightened hair, and high heels made me look different than usual. Despite how much Mira tried to make me beautiful, I was never satisfied. She did an amazing job with the makeup but something was lacking; confidence.

I didn’t know why, I always felt I was abandoned because my face didn’t please my parents. It started from there. Every time people adopted my friends at the orphanage, my classmates got praised for how perfect they looked, all those little things somewhat increased my insecurity about my looks. 

“You look amazing,” Mira shouted, fed up with my doubts and questions. “Don’t think much.” She wrapped her arms around me, saying “Remember, you are going on a date. You better don’t ruin this makeup.” 

I was not sure why he asked me to go on a date with him, I didn’t even know what he meant by a proper date. Anyhow, I accepted as I wanted to spend time with him. 

“Mira! Why do you think he asked me out on a date? Do you think he knows about my crush on him?” 

“Or he may be interested in you.” She said. 

“Really?” I smiled. “Mira, should I have said I need time or something like that? Did I make it so obvious?” 

“God!” she banged her forehead. “Why do you think so much? Give some rest to your little brain.”

After I got a message from Eric, Mira and I walked out of the house. As I got inside the car, she walked to her home though we insisted on dropping her off. 

I couldn’t stop fidgeting with my black frock. My nervousness took a toll on me and I got noticed by Eric. He said “Serena! I’m sorry if I’m making you nervous…” 

“No… not like that.” I pressed my lips together. “It was so sudden. I didn’t expect it.”

He took me to a restaurant and we ordered our food. It didn’t feel any new or strange to me. It was like another usual hang out with him and nothing special. However, it felt good to be with him. 

“And, that was how I took a week's leave.” He laughed. 

“Seriously, how many times will your friend meet with an accident?” I laughed along with him. “You deserve a worse punishment.” 

We kept talking and laughing while cracking jokes. I asked “So, what are you planning now? Are you going to settle here? Or will you again leave for abroad and settle there?” 

“As of now, I have no plans. At present, I just want to forget about my life abroad.” 

I nodded. After having our food, we took pictures and then he dropped me at my home. 

Though I felt nervous about the date, it was nothing like what I expected. We both were comfortable with each other and spent time like always. 

I entered in and took off my high heels. I sat on the couch, thinking about our date. Seriously, for it, the date was a big word.

As soon as I turned on the mobile data, notifications started to pop up. They were messages from Mira and uncle Otis asking how did my date go. After the day when Otis and I had our dinner, we got close. In a very few days, we became so close that I changed his contact from Mr. Otis to uncle Otis. 

It was good but don’t expect much. Got to spend some quality time. – I texted them both. 

Feeling uncomfortable with my dress, I stood from the couch to take it off. I heard the sound of the doorbell and again I adjusted my zipper which was half opened. 

“Hayden?” I was confused to see him after I opened the door. 

He looked tired, at the same time, a little sad. His entry was the last thing I expected. After he left the amusement park, I didn’t see him or talk to him even though I had his number. 

“What are you…” I chose to ask questions later and I asked him to enter. 

“Um, do you want to have something? Juice, maybe.” I said, not understanding what else to ask. 

He sat on the couch and looked at me for a few seconds before asking “Have you gone somewhere?” 

“Yeah, I went out with Eric,” I replied. 

If I was not wrong, he clenched his jaw. He ran his fingers through his hair and kept quiet. 

“A-are you okay?” I asked. “You seem a little off.” 

We were never close and I couldn’t understand why he came to my home when he was not feeling good. 

“A date?” he asked. 

“A kind of… but not exactly,” I said. “Hayden, what happened to you?” I asked, walking towards him. 

Out of blue, he pulled me by grabbing my arm. I fell beside him and I yelled: “What the!”

“How can you go on a date with your friend? That too, looking this.” He scoffed. 

“What!” I shouted. “I can go on date with whomever I want. You have no right to say anything.” I gritted and then put my palms on my head, mumbling “What do you mean by your sentence ‘looking like this'? Am I looking that weird? I planned to look beautiful by putting on this weird makeup.” I said lowering my tone at the last sentence. 

“You are fucking beautiful with or without makeup. Don’t you know that?” he shouted. “And this bloody attire of yours today.” 

My lips parted a little in surprise. I received a compliment from him that turned my whole face red. It was not like I never received compliments but I never felt they came out of their hearts. Hearing it from Hayden’s mouth, it felt really special. 

“Am I beautiful?” I asked which made us both, embarrassed. 

He cleared his throat and shifted his gaze away. A small smile bloomed on my lips and my already-blushed cheeks turned red. 

“Thank you, I guess,” I mumbled. Then I asked, “Why are you here?” 

After a few seconds of silence, he spoke “I was tired of everything. I couldn’t breathe with all those people around me.” Then he turned to me, and looked into my eyes for a moment before he said “I wanted to see you.” 

It made me feel he had no single person with him to share his feelings. It saddened me. 

“Shall we go for a walk?” I asked offering him my hand. 

He looked at my hand for a few seconds before taking it. The road was empty with no one roaming around. Under the dark sky, feeling the cold breeze on my skin, I walked with someone who entered my life as an annoying jerk, and it felt unreal. 

“That day in the amusement park… I had to leave because I got an important call.” He said. 

“That’s fine, I understand. But, you could’ve at least informed me.” 

We again became silent and focused on our walk. 

“I have never walked like this with someone before. It is strange.” He said. “I don’t even know why I came here when I felt exhausted.” 

“Family issues?” I asked. 

“Not like that.” He replied. “There’s something that I need to achieve and sometimes, it is tiring.” 

I nodded. I could understand the problems of being rich; must learn so much, and take care of businesses, family reputation, and many things. 

“Hayden, if you ever feel tired, take a break and talk to someone you love. It makes you feel better.” I suggested. "Don’t think I am being nosy again.” I let out a sigh. 

“Taking a break or not is not in my hands.” I heard him muttering. “Fuck! What am I doing?” 

I narrowed my eyebrows. He was suppressing himself from talking so much. 

I held his hand, stopping him from his walk. I said “You don’t have to suppress your emotions or hide them when you are with me. Though I don’t know much about you, I can be someone with whom you can share everything. You can be yourself.” 

He smiled. He brought his palm near to my cheek, saying “I am more myself now than ever.” 

I didn’t clearly understand what he meant. 

He spoke leaning closer to me “You don’t have to know about me but if possible, let’s stay like this.”

Then he stood straight, waved his hand, leaving. He walked forward a little but again turned to me, shouting “Fuck it.” 

I remained in the same position, confused. With his words, and actions, he always made me confused but the next thing he did, not only confused me but also increased my heart’s pace. 

He hugged me. A proper hug that took my breath away.