Chapter Twelve
The day had just begun. Everything will go great. That's what I told myself to calm my flaring nerves. We walked out of the room and out in the parking lot, side by side. The whole time we walked beside each other, I felt like the air was charged. Like something was different about the whole aura around us. It was intimacy and pull that I could not describe. Side - glancing at Mike, I wondered if Mike felt the same way.
Anyway, for some reason, Mike opened his car door for me. It surprised me because I could do it myself. He did not have to do it. Still, I felt good that he did it for me. I mean no guy has ever done anything like this, any gesture of kindness for me. Well, except for that one time when a guy opened the door for me to enter in the cafe where Shirley worked. But that was one time. Not to mention, I later realised that he had basically opened the door for himself. When he saw me coming towards him, he entered first but he certainly did open the door for himself.
And that made me think, did Mike do this for every single girl out there or was I special? Did he do this to Shirley as well? I gave myself a shake internally, telling myself to not go that way. It was not good for me to compare myself with Shirley. No way. It will mess with my head.
Mike shut my side of the door and walked on the other side of the door. Opening it, he slid inside the driver's seat and put his seatbelt on. I followed his suit and put mine on too. He glanced my way and gave me one of his excited grins. "Get ready to experience the best date of your life." He said with an excited tone, before he turn on the engine and pulled the car out of the parking lot. And then our ride started.
"Did I tell you that you look damn beautiful today?" He asked, shocking me. My shocked and widened eyes turned to look at him, I did not reply. Lost in shock and loss of words. Did he just say that I looked 'Damn' beautiful? Perhaps, he saw the shock written all over my face because he let out a hefty laugh. "So, I didn't." He said, laughter dying down and a smile taking its place.
He gave me a side glance. "You do look beautiful." He whispered, before he cleared his throat. "Anyway, do you have any allergies that I need to know about? Or any particular food that you dislike?" He asked. My brows furrowed, thinking why was he asking me for any food allergy. So, I merely just shook my head and simply just told him no. "No. Why did you ask though?" I questioned him. Shifting in my seat to get more comfortable. "Just wanted to make sure if you have any particular dislike towards any food. I didn't want to take you to the wrong restaurant." He answered me.
I suddenly realised that apart from all the arrangements for the movie, he was also planning to take me to one of his restaurants. I can't let him take me to any restaurant. No. Not only because I face too much anxiety when I do but also because he had planned everything. I did not want him to do this either.
So, I shook my head. "No, let's not go to any restaurant." I told him. His brows curled inward. He took a quick glance in my way before returning to the road. "What? Why?" He asked.
"Because ... just leave that to me. Consider it as a surprise from my side." I told him and grinned his way. He saw me from the corner of his eyes before he smiled on his own. "Well, I can't wait for this surprise." He said. Then continued by saying, "You know, I like you better like this. Smile and open with me."
Rounding the road, he shifted the gear. He still stared on the road when he continued. "Since the party at my house, I always felt like you were more reserved around me. Like you did not know how to talk to me." He said and my whole body tensed. His words hit its mark. He was right, I did not know how I should behave around him. An abrupt nervousness and fear clogging my throat. Was my behaviour that apparent?
"But now, you are talking to me freely. Without holding back. And this is the version I prefer to the one I saw at the party." He told me and smiled from the side. He gave me a warm look, facing me before he turned to face the road again. My nervousness and fear eased but did not fade away. Should I take what he just told me as a compliment? Or was it a taunting remark that he made my way? From the warm look he just gave me, I assumed it was the former one.
I closed my eyes to gather my thoughts and shake my overthinking brain away. I needed to be present right now. I needed to live in the moment. Or else everything would just go pass in a blur and I will never get to live this moment. And I would certainly regret it later. This was the only chance I got to live a life that I only once imagined. I needed to focus on Mike.
I peeled, my eyes opened and smiled at Mike.
"How far is this movie theatre?" I questioned him. Sitting up straight to look at the road. For a few seconds Mike did not answer, until he made a cut on the road and then nodded towards a movie theatre that just appeared in sight. Mike smoothly parked the car before he turned to me.
"Already here." He answered my question and we both let out a chuckle. Indeed, we were here. I didn't even realise how much distance we covered, that I lost track of time. Or maybe it had been the conversation we were in. We both pulled our seatbelts off, got out of the car. We both rounded the car and began heading to the movie theatre.
Mike extended his hand to me, silently asking for me to take it. My gaze went from his hand to his face, and then with a second hesitation, I grabbed his hand. Warm and rough. Shyness and embarrassment took over me, making my cheeks heat. Apart from that, my heart fluttered as we both walked together hand in hand. Soon, I was left with nothing but bubbly happiness. This date was starting to turn out great.
We both walked to the popcorn counter and got in line. Me standing in front of him. I was very nervous. If or when Shirley dragged me to go and watch a movie with her, which only happens two times before, she was the one to buy us any snacks or popcorn and not me. Of course, I paid the bill but that was it. Now, I was suddenly cursing myself for not doing it myself. For the lack of experience. Why did not I do this myself before? Why didn't I just do it with Shirley. I would have embarrassed myself, for sure. But, it would have been with Shirley. It would have a been a thing to laugh with her but with him? It was very different. There was a very big difference between embarrassing myself in front of her and embarrassing myself in front of Mike.
I felt someone hover over me. Their presence covers up my whole personal space. Mike whispered in my mouth. "Why don't you let me get you some popcorn? You could go and find our seats for us." He whispered. His mouth was so close to my ear that I literally felt those words instead of hearing them. My nervousness spiked up so high, that I realised my hands were shaking.
Mike's offer provided me an escape. I knew that he had read my body language and sensed my nervousness, otherwise there would be no way he would suggest an escape route for me just when I needed it. His suggestion sent a wave of relief down my spine. I was so damn grateful for his help, that I couldn't really find a way to say thank you to him. My shoulder sagged in relief, and I nodded in a yes.
Just as I turned to leave, I stopped and grabbed his hand and gave it a squeeze. Right the moment I took Mike's hand in mine, Mike's surprised gaze met mine. I mouthed thank you and in return Mike's eyes softened and I got the same warm smile that I had gotten before, I walked away from the line.
I knew where our seats were, so I walked there. Taking a seat, I tried to calm my nerves. Waiting for Mike to come back in.