Opposites Do Attract

“How did it go?” Carmen asked over lunch. It was just me and the girls again. Jack had lunch with his parents, Chris had an org thing, and Tommy and Lee had school council. I was supposed to go to the council meeting, too, but they didn’t really need me there so I decided to just spend lunch with my girls instead.

“Awfully surprising,” I answered with a straight face, choosing my words very carefully to sum up the entire talk I had with Luke yesterday.

“How are we supposed to know whether that was good or bad?” Anne chimed in with a frown.

“Well, we are good now. But something weird happened along the way,” I supplied. I had battled with myself whether what happened yesterday was something I’d like to share with the girls so soon. I am actually quite the private person when it came to stuff like these. But my need of assurance prevailed over my need of privacy at the moment.

“Spill it, Miller,” Anne said after a moment’s pause on my end. That’s Anne for you. No-nonsense. Straight to the point. It’s what I actually love about her.

“Well. In the middle of explaining things about what Seth did and about how he acted over the horrendous dinner, Luke actually said he loved me.” My voice had grown tinier and tinier as I reached the end of that sentence. Just the faintest reminder of that moment sent my nerves tingling and cringing and what-not. And my friends did not disappoint either. They all cringed almost in unison.

“Oh. My. God. I would not have picked him for that type of thing,” Olive whispered in shock. Olive was a very opinionated person and she makes herself heard when given the chance. Her commentaries, admittedly, are entertaining for the most part and very brutally honest. Like right now.

“Me neither,” I agreed solemnly. “But it was just a slip, though. He wanted to take it back. But of course he couldn’t. And he offered me an out, which obviously I didn’t take. So there’s that, too.” I didn’t know who I was trying to convince at that point, but I could see clearly that I hadn’t sold the idea well despite my uber-defensive way of explaining things.

“Well, I say if you’re comfortable enough to let it slide and go with it, then I fully support your judgment,” Carmen said with an encouraging smile. And that was really all I needed to calm myself down completely. Carmen was the type of person whose opinion you would really value. She knew just what to say in any situation and how to say it.

Anne remained quiet although she looked as if she wanted to say something. She tackled her veggie panini instead and busied herself with finishing her lunch. I knew exactly what that meant. She had nothing nice to say and would only say things if invited to do so. I was scared to ask her about it, knowing my confidence about staying with Luke was still faltering, so I also just shut my mouth and finished my lasagna.

The topic didn’t resurface in our conversation as we all complained about how wide the scope was for this block and how impossible it was to tackle it. And that went on until lunch break was over. On our way back to our classroom, my phone beeped obnoxiously loud. And twice. The hallway was severely quiet that the beep of my phone visibly destroyed its serenity. People trying to catch up on reading assignments and loitering the corridor were literally startled. I apologized loudly and embarrassedly took the phone out of my pocket as I realized I forgot to put it on silent mode that morning. I was surprised to see both were actually texts from Casey, Seth’s lovable fiancée who made me believe in the theory of “opposite attraction”.

Hey, Samantha! Doing consult at your hospital in a few. Wanna join me for dinner later? I pay, you spill! –Casey

Oh, and don’t worry. Definitely NOT bringing Seth with me. –Casey

I smiled and quickly replied an affirmative. I couldn’t help really liking Casey. She was very thoughtful, welcoming and warm, and she left a very good first impression on me.

“Cabeza at 8!” Casey replied. She was referring to the fancy but laidback Mexican restaurant just across the street from the hospital, which was really nice and convenient for the both of us, I think. I lived near and she’d be coming from the hospital. My inner penny-pincher was also doing a happy dance about the upcoming free food. (So sue me, I love anything that’s free.)

I sat through the afternoon class in a breeze. The topic was relatively easy to digest and was actually very interesting. Plastic Surgery Overview. I never realized the genius behind this specialty until this afternoon. Skin flaps and z-plasties, ah! Whoever thought of how to make a vertical scar horizontal was a god. I mean, who would even think that, right?! Okay, enough of me fangirling.

I was on my way home at five. Luke was stuck with (more) database tweakings and couldn’t time out at five and walk me home, which was absolutely fine with me. Nothing wrong with some time apart. Works with the plan of slowing some things down, right? I also texted him about the upcoming dinner with Casey, but he was no longer able to reply. Must have been a very busy workday for him today.

Anyways, I lounged about in my comfy couch for about an hour before deciding to shower and dress up for dinner. Nothing to pressure myself to study on tonight because I had already caught up with last week’s difficult topics last night, and today’s load was relatively ultra-light. I mean, I could probably do with some advanced reading (obviously), but the procrastinator in me was already stomping its feet in utter rebellion, so…

I had fifteen minutes to spare after I had ransacked my closet through and through, and decided I looked nice enough for a dinner with my boyfriend’s brother’s perfect fiancée. I chose to wear a nice pair of washed jeans and a dressy teal top, with a pair of grey heeled boots to finish it off. I gathered my hair up in a messy-but-not-messy ponytail and put on some natural makeup, and I was good to go.

I walked the distance since I didn’t want to have to spend money for cab fare, and I still arrived a couple minutes early. When I walked in, I told the receptionist about the 8 pm reservation on Casey’s name and I was immediately seated in the VIP booth… thing (LOL). I knew it was VIP because these were the booths/tables that my friends and I would despise (‘cause we couldn’t swing it) whenever we had something to celebrate at this restaurant.

I glanced at my phone momentarily, aiming at pretending to busy myself and not look awkwardly out of place just in case a waiter passed through. (That’s just socially awkward me.) I saw two messages, though, so I didn’t have to pretend at all. Score!

The first one was from Luke, saying he was on his way home and that I should enjoy dinner with Casey. I figured maybe he was doing the slowing down thing, too, because it was just so easy for him to invite himself to dinner, right? Him and Casey were practically family, anyways. I was really glad and sorta relieved that he didn’t do that.

The second one was from Casey, saying she was running a few minutes late and that I could order appetizers for the both of us so she could stuff her mouth STAT when she arrived. Yeah, she actually said that. And I panicked a little. I wasn’t bothered at all that she was gonna be late. Most everyone in the profession didn’t actually hold their own time; things happen, people get called to do things. What I worried about was that I was tasked to order appetizers for the both of us! What if she would judge me based on what I ordered for her?! (Ok, admittedly, that would be ridiculous.)

I called the attention of a waiter and asked for the menu. I only ever knew the affordable ones on their list, so I had to take a look. Casey did give me free rein, so I thought I might as well try better tasting things on here. I decided on a sampler just because it all seemed the most authentic and delicious. Plus the waiter also told me it was a running favorite amongst the VIPs, HAHA! (Fine, I cheated there.)

When the dish arrived, I was floored. Everything did look and smell so good, my mouth watered. Casey has yet to arrive, though, but she had already texted me she was gonna be in in about five minutes tops so, even though I so wanted to take a bite right then and there, I knew I had to wait for her.

Within five minutes, I saw her walk in. She was wearing black skinnies and a white chiffon long-sleeved top in an “editor tuck” with black high-heeled boots and her hair up in a loose bun. Gosh, she looked sublime even at a distance. She quickly scanned the room, found me, and smiled a big smile before the receptionist could catch her attention.

“God, I am so sorry I am late!” she exclaimed as she kissed me on the cheek before she sat in front of me. “Haven’t you started yet?” she asked looking down on the untouched plate on the table.

“It just arrived a couple minutes ago,” I smiled at her, trying my best not to show how much I totally admired her. I thought I had gotten over it after I have seen her in her utmost best (in a cocktail dress), but my, my, there’s just something about a lady who glows even in simple clothes.

“Oh! Let’s dig in, then! And thanks!”

After a couple bites, she asked me what I wanted to eat after. I had decided to just let her order whatever for the both of us since she obviously knew the menu better than I did, and I told her that. She had waved for the waiter in no time and was ordering dish after dish of this and that (with several specifications). She kept saying excitedly how she wanted me to try everything she dictated to the waiter, and her giddiness was just infectious.

When all the food came, I was excited to try everything. But before I could choose which one I wanted to devour first, Casey decided to start what we came here for.

“So you thought Seth was a total ass, right?” she was smiling, complete with twinkling eyes. And the visual stimulus was so off the mark from the auditory one. The statement caught me off guard and for a moment, I didn’t know what to say.

“Yes. I’m sorry,” I answered after I recovered, quickly thinking up a standby plan for dinner if ever. I could buy fast food if she should decide to kick me out of the fancy restaurant. McDonald’s was just a block away, anyway.

She laughed. She still looked marvelous, but I couldn’t really figure out why she was laughing like that.

I Sorta Panicked

A/N: Here you go, guys. Thanks for hanging in there and I hope you enjoy! I'd love to hear what you think by the end of it!

I was panicking. I could feel my heart rate going up. I could already sense my breathing. I could almost even feel my pupils dilating (LOL, what?). In short, I wanted to take flight was my initial reaction. Why would he even say anything like that? It’s all too soon! Does he expect me to say it back? How can he expect anything like that? I can’t say it back! This is all too fast! my mind raced. It felt as if everything was on a standstill waiting for me to respond to what Luke had just said. And I had no idea just what exactly I had to say.

Luke had calmly and slowly let go of my hand after a couple seconds of me just staring at him in dumbfound shock, probably recognizing there wasn’t gonna be an answer any time soon. My mouth was dry and I had no idea how to respond to that. Surely, he understood where I was coming from, right? Or maybe I just heard him wrong. Please, let it be just me hearing him wrong, I prayed dramatically in my head, complete with cracking voice even.

“Whoa. Wait. What?” I managed to utter after a few seconds of complete wordless shock, and after I had successfully laid down my coffee cup onto the table (and not shattered it into pieces like the dramatic girl in me pictured in my mental version of how things happened here). That wasn’t the best-worded response, in retrospect. Nor was it the best-toned one. But I had enough sense to filter some word vomit right then (thankfully) and, well, that was all my filter could let through. I was still praying I had heard Luke wrong, but each second that passed only proved the opposite. Man, why did he have to say things like that?

Luke had been looking at anywhere but me after he had said the precipitous L-word. He looked like he never meant for any of it to spill out, but then it did, and it was a very bad slip, and he couldn’t take it back anymore even if he clearly wanted to. His eyes had actually widened minutely upon hearing the panicked words out of my lips. That reaction somehow calmed me a bit. It was just a slip, hopefully. He never meant to say anything. Wait, was that even calming enough? my thoughts raced and I was back into full panic mode again. Thanks, brain.

“I should’ve stopped at I wouldn’t wanna change anything,” he answered meekly. He rubbed his temples with his right hand, like one would do with a migraine, as he continued to evade my eyes. “Fuck,” he breathed more to himself than anything.

“Are you okay?” I asked with concern. He definitely looked like he was beating himself up from the inside, and I felt for him. I could have probably worded out a better response than what I had just said. Maybe he wouldn’t be, I don’t know, panicking himself at that moment if I chose my words better.

“No. I’m not thinking straight is what I am right now,” he answered desperately as he slumped resignedly onto his couch while still not looking at me. He looked so much like a kid in distress and I just wanted to smile at how adorable that was if not only for the situation we were currently in. “I was too wrapped up in what I was trying to say about Seth and everything… Just – I guess I can’t ask you to just forget this ever happened?” he asked the floor, sounding hopeful.

I actually considered the thought for a second, and it sounded totally tempting. Everything’s gonna be fine if I pretended none of this ever occurred. But then again, no. How can I forget how he told me that he freaking loved me? “I don’t think we can forget this ever happened, though,” I told him after a breathy, shaky sound that I tried to pass off as a laugh.

“Yeah. Me, too,” he agreed. Finally, he was looking straight at me again. He steeled himself before saying, “Nothing left to do but own up to it, I guess.” His eyes were dead straight intense at that moment, and I could feel him pulling me in. His look turned serious and he held me in his gaze. “You can walk away, Samantha, if you think this is too much for you,” he uttered softly.

“What? Why would I?” I asked quietly. I was confused at the suggestion. Didn’t he just say he loved me? Why was he telling me to walk away then? I couldn’t understand where he stood. Or maybe it was just his eyes that were mesmerizing and mind-blocking, and I couldn’t look away. For some reason or another, the way he looked at me was actually calming my thoughts. My mind had begun to slow down.

“Doesn’t this scare you?” he asked as he slowly moved to angle his face closer to where I was, resting an arm on the table between us to support his leaning weight. “I know it’s all too fast.”

“Yeah, it does. And it is. Too fast,” I muttered, almost to myself.

“And?” It was as if he was expecting for me to run for cover and he seemed ready for anything.

“And I can’t walk away,” I told him quietly. I realized it was true the moment I said it out loud. He gave me an out and I couldn’t take it. I can’t. I can’t just walk away. That was clear enough. Yes, things were moving way too fast for my taste, and I can’t say things back to him right now, but he wasn’t really pushing me to say anything. He even recognized how fast everything was.

Was this unconventional? Yes, totally. A deal breaker? I didn’t really think so. I didn’t think it was an impossible notion for the future, either. Things have been running smoothly if you took his older brother out of the picture. We just needed to slow down, in my opinion. A lot.

He smiled his small smile at my response, and sighed what sounded like one of relief. “That’s good to hear.” The relief in his voice was just too obvious and I couldn’t help but be relieved myself. Gosh, I thought I’d be running away in the opposite direction right about now. I had actually considered it. But then again, I couldn’t.

“May I ask one thing, though?” I said tentatively. He nodded. “Did you mean what you just said?”

He looked down at the wooden floors for a couple seconds first as though he was weighing whether to tell me or not. He gazed back at me after and said, “I meant every word, but I never wanted to say anything too soon because, well, I knew it’s too soon. It just… it slipped.” He was shaking his head lightly at that, clearly thinking what he just did was stupid.

I honestly just wanted to hug him at that moment to make him feel a little bit better. But an awkward “thank you” was all that escaped from my lips, not entirely sure of what the correct response might be after an “I love you” was said to you and you weren’t reciprocating nor rejecting it.

I wanted to ask when he knew. A little part of me was curious. But I figured I wasn’t really ready to know right now. What good would knowing be if I didn’t have anything to tell him in return, right? And I thought knowing just how early he knew would probably scare me to death and make me chicken out of what this was. I was happier not knowing and I wanna be happy longer.

After an awkward couple of minutes, the conversation started to flow little by little between us up to a point when I had almost forgotten about the mishap. We sipped our coffee and told each other about our lousy weekend not talking to each other and about what we did the entire day today and we were almost back to normal.

I am sure I am about to sound so clingy but I did miss Luke over the weekend. I missed this. Just talking to him made me feel a whole lot lighter than when I didn’t. He had this way of making me take my guard down and just be comfortable around him. I had some big enough trust issues that this feeling with Luke is just so welcome and so unthinkable to let go.

A couple hours had passed before I remembered I had some studying I actually had to do. I told Luke I had to go home. Since the caffeine had already kicked in, I figured I could study in my apartment that night instead of staying out late. Luke was nothing but understanding when I told him I had to study and even volunteered to walk me home.

I was battling with myself whether I should invite him over as we both walked the short distance to my building. I knew I really had to study because I had only three free weekends left before I had another set of exams. But my mind was saying it’s still only Monday anyway. Long story short, I was still undecided when we reached my building.

“Here we are,” Luke said when we stopped and I hadn’t yet figured out what I wanted to do. He leaned in for a kiss and I met him halfway. It was soft and hesitant at first until it deepened. I was out of breath when he pulled away and smiled, “Have a good night studying.”

I rolled my eyes at him knowing he was clearly teasing me, before I opened the door and looked back at him one more time, still considering letting him upstairs. I shook my head to dissolve the thought and I saw his smile widen.

“I’ll walk away now. Goodnight,” he laughingly said before he turned and started on his way.

“Goodnight,” I called and he stopped and turned back, grabbed my hand and gave me another kiss. It was outright intense and my knees weakened when he grabbed hold of my waist and neck with each hand.

“Go up now or I’m coming with you,” he muttered after a while. I seriously considered the thought, but he gently pushed me inside my building and closed the door himself.

As I walked up the stairs, I couldn’t help but think it was a good thing I didn’t take it when he gave me an out. Everything was simply better with Luke. And I am really just happy that we were talking again. I was even hoping things go better with his brother next time. If there was going to be a next time. Honestly, I’d rather the next time was way, way far into the future.

Author's Apologies

I'm very sorry about not posting this week. I thought I could write in between exams since I had four days vacant in between two sets of exams (a block and the finals). But I overestimated myself and it turns out my body needs sleep, too. I'm actually in the middle of a panicky cramming session for finals next week and just remembered I left a blog hanging here. I'm actually too out of it right now and I think I'm rambling.

I am sincerely sorry about my erratic posts. I did try to stick to it though. But then, I am now trashing my schedule as I can't stick to it religiously anyways. Will figure it out later on. Sorry for letting you down, guys. I just have a lot on my plate right now. Will post soon enough. Hope you'd still read it when it goes up. :(

On another note, I would like to share other similar blogs that I have been reading, as well, to sort of make up for not posting here.

• lovesexpizza.blogspot.com
• newyorkdixie.blogspot.com
• moderndayfaith.blogspot.com
• crazyadventuresinny.blogspot.com
• highheelshappyhour.blogspot.com

The Fast and The Serious

“I was about to call you to talk over coffee,” I told Luke meekly after his passionate conversation starter. He looked surprised about that. Which I thought was weird. I was deferring on talking to him, yes, but I never thought of just not talking to him altogether. That’d be simply immature.

“Oh. Okay. That’s – That’s good, I hope,” he acceded, visibly relieved. He exhaled deeply and looked the tiniest bit more relaxed.

We walked out of the building quietly and got to my usual coffee shop. We ordered our drinks and sat on a secluded corner. We each sipped tentatively, calculating what to say to each other, I think. He seemed nervous. I knew I looked anxious, too. And the coffee now seemed like a bad idea. Did I really need additional sympathetic nerve stimulation? Nope, not really.

He cleared his throat. “Let me just get this out of my system. You’re not thinking of breaking up with me right now, are you?”

I stared at him quietly for a while, my mind whirring unstoppably. No, I did not even consider breaking up with him at all. That was just crazy. “No, Luke, it hadn’t crossed my mind. Why would you even think that?”

He looked down and rubbed his forehead. “Look, I know Seth screwed things up. I screwed things up by having you meet him so early on. And it was him that has a problem, I realize that now. I just – I wanted you to know how serious I am about you and that’s why I wanted you to meet him. Obviously, the plan backfired on me.” He finished passionately, leaning back on his seat like he was relieved to say what he had to say.

“I don’t wanna get between the two of you, though. I know how much you adore your brother.”

“And he should feel the same way about you and me.” He looked very pissed about Seth.

I had nothing to say in response to that. Luke seemed legitimately mad at his brother. I meant what I just said about not wanting to get between the two of them. But this reaction from Luke would have been welcome last Saturday. And I told him exactly that.

He apologized about how he reacted that night. He said he had already talked to Seth about me before the actual dinner and he was expecting a better welcome than what I received. Obviously, his brother did not follow through, and he just did not know how to react. He had not appreciated the fact that Seth was being rude to me, but he also could not just call him out in front of me because that would only make Seth more unreasonable than he was actually being. (Yup, I thought Seth was an egotistical maniac who was being ridiculously petty at that exact moment, too.) The explanation itself was complicated and Luke had rambled on for several minutes before I got the gist. And miraculously enough, I understood his side of the story. Seth, though, was a different side of the coin.

“Why was Seth even like that to me? And for Christ’s sake, why did he have to be debriefed on how to act in front of your girlfriend? Shouldn’t that be, I don’t know, general knowledge?” I didn’t mean to sound aggressive, but it came out that way. Really, I have yet to learn how to contain my emotions. Thank God, I have the bedside voice nailed perfectly or my future patients will not want to even go near my future clinic.

“I’m sorry. He’s always been like that.” He breathed deeply before he continued, “I’m the kid who screwed up in my family. They still treat me like I need protection from them, especially my brother.” He paused, looking at me thoughtfully as though he was considering if he wanted to tell me more. “Seth thinks anyone that comes in my way is only there because of my advantageous background ever since I almost married a girl who was exactly that a few years back and they lost me.” He stopped and I let the information sink in. He almost got married was what sank in.

“You had a fiancée?” I asked in surprise.

“I had bought a ring to propose, yes,” he replied solemnly. “But that was years ago. Is that seriously all you took from that?” he asked, a ghost of amusement shadowing his features with a small tentative smile.

“I’m sorry. It was what sank in…” I replied wistfully, blankly staring through the glass windows and towards the street. I was trying to imagine him married to some girl. I could not. He was simply way too young. “When did you almost get married?”

“Four years ago. We were twenty-one and in love. Or so I thought. It’s a long story and I don’t really know how to work that into a normal conversation, but suffice it to say that my brother and I fortunately found out early enough how she was merely after the money and connections of the family.”

Turns out Carmen and Olive were both right about Seth’s reasons, then, I thought.

Luke paused to take a sip from his coffee before continuing on. “I was devastated when I found out. I built my life around her at one point in my life. And I threw away everything for about a year and a half after what she did. And then I realized I needed help when everything went really bad with me. I was a lost cause and Seth helped me recover. And now I have all this fragile connotations all around me from my family.”

“They love you,” I told him in a small voice. Seth made sense now. I am an older sister, too. And I understood exactly where Seth was coming from now. I’d probably be doing the same thing. Although less harshly, ideally.

“I know that. But they are overbearing. I have literally regressed to an adolescent in their eyes, and I can’t really blame them. I screwed my life up consciously.” He couldn’t look at me anymore at that point. “I was fine with it at first, thinking I deserved it, but I admit I was relieved when my parents decided to go on a cruise, thinking I could be just normal again. I had never realized Seth would take on all the overbearing for the whole family. And I only recognized that the night you met him.”

I was speechless. All of this history coming from Luke was too much to take in, and I was starting to chicken out from all the drama he has revealed. So this was what I was waiting for for him to divulge. It was seriously so naïve of me to think there was no baggage to this man. Or at least not a baggage that was this big. I had been thinking it was something lighter, something petty like sibling rivalry or whatever. And I was so hugely off the mark.

“You’re the first girl I’ve introduced to Seth ever since that failed one, you know. I know I’ve moved on from that, but clearly my family hasn’t. And it also doesn’t help matters for them that we’re technically moving fast,” Luke continued. He reached across the table for my right hand and squeezed it gently. “But I don’t care about our pace. I know this is right. I want it to be. You’re the right fit for me and I wouldn’t wanna change that. I love you, Samantha.”

I was drinking from my cup when he said it. I almost spit my coffee out of pure shock, but thank God I didn’t or that would have been completely embarrassing. Not to mention offensive.

But come on, the direction of what he was just saying? Who would think it was headed to that? And wouldn’t you think that this was all going too fast? Because I certainly did.

Diagnostics

The night I actually met Seth was horrible. The drive home was awkward and quiet. Luke kept looking at me worriedly whenever we stopped at a red light. And we seemed to be stopping at every freaking red light. I was determined not to look at him because my level of annoyance had reached that part where one jostle and I could cry. I felt violated for some reason. And to think I had been so excited to meet Seth that day.

When we reached my apartment building, Luke ran out to open my door for me but I didn’t wait to let him. I opened the door on my own and hurriedly fished my keys out of my purse. I just wanted to get out of there and let out my tears. It was so difficult keeping them in. I needed a good two or three sobs, for God’s sake, and I blame it partly on the hormones.

“Hey, talk to me,” Luke had said quietly as I was busy trying to unlock the building door. “We said we won’t shut down on each other,” he said before I pushed the door open and went inside. I had no reply. I knew he wanted to come into the building when I saw his eyes, but he let me shut the door.

Anne was furious at Seth the moment I recounted to them what happened over lunch the following Monday. “Okay, did you really just tell me he was thirty? Because I don’t believe you right now.”

Carmen seemed to be calculating what she was about to say. And Olive was simply dumbstruck. I hadn’t really wanted to bother them with stupid stuff, especially since we all had mountains of notes to pore over. But I simply couldn’t figure out whatever it was I did wrong, and I needed some consult.

I hadn’t talked to Luke yet, either. He hasn’t called since he dropped me off and I closed the door on his face. I was secretly hoping he’d magically appear out of nowhere, trying his best to pacify me and figure out what was wrong, but it was radio silent between us over the weekend.

I knew how it was so totally juvenile for me to give him the cold shoulder (and suspect that Luke was doing the same), but I didn’t exactly know how I could communicate to him effectively about how his “perfect” brother was simply rude and how he didn’t stand up for me when I expected him to. (Even I thought the latter statement sounded way too demanding from a girlfriend of a mere one week.)

“There has got to be a reason why Luke’s brother was like that. You said Casey herself told you he was just being protective,” Carmen said over the incomprehensible mutterings Anne was doing. “Let’s get our facts straight here. You are a medical student. Luke’s family is basically made up of doctors with apparently sparkling practices and huge connections. You have only been dating Luke four weeks and he’s already arranged for you to meet his family, basically, a week after you went exclusive. Something in that storyline must have sent his danger warnings through the roof. Although, that’s one big paranoid person, if you ask me.” She finished with a meaningful look towards me.

I was speechless. I never thought of it that way. “So let’s say Seth thinks I am a social climber to his brother’s alternative medical connections. Why would he, though? I never even knew half of Luke’s family were doctors until after we decided to be exclusive!”

We all fell silent at that. It would have looked stupid if a stranger looked in on us. We were literally brainstorming over a guy the way we normally would do a difficult diagnostic case. Rule this in, rule this out. The best diagnosis must explain everything the patient has…

“Wait,” Olive said after a while. “You said something about bumping into Dr. Anderson. And the residency offer.” She literally looked like she just discovered fire.

“Oh come on, that was clearly a joke. That could not have been tacked negatively on me! At any rate, that should have made me look better!”

“No, no. I get where Olive’s coming from,” Carmen butted in. “But we can’t ever know for sure by just sitting here. You need to talk to Luke.”

“I can’t,” I answered petulantly, forking a piece of pasta pointlessly.

“Why not?” Anne suddenly asked, coherently this time.

“’Cause I told you, we’re not talking.” I knew I sounded like a kid. And it wasn’t a half hour later when they managed to put some sense into me and convinced me to reach out to Luke. I had decided I’d call him later for coffee. I was planning on studying out after class anyway.

I spent the last class getting anxious about having some serious talk with Luke. I was pretty sure by dismissal that I would be back at square one on that topic by the time I got home. I have never been a fan of serious talks because I have a tendency to not think and get carried away by my emotions that word vomit usually happens. And to know that one was lingering right around the corner was enough to weigh on my heart heavily.

I was delaying on calling Luke. I had decided I’d call him once I got out of the building. So naturally, I was postponing having to leave the building after class had ended. But Anne and Olive saw right through me and dragged me to the elevator.

Turns out I didn’t have to call. I saw Luke leaning on a column at the lobby once the elevator doors opened. He was still wearing his uniform and it was already past six. I had forgotten I already handed him my schedule. Our eyes immediately caught each other’s and my heart began pounding. Here goes…

Anne and Olive said goodbye the minute Luke walked up to me. I have to admit I considered following them out of the building for a second. But that wouldn’t get me some progress, would it?

“Hey,” I greeted him awkwardly. He leaned in for a kiss on the cheek and I let him. It was… restrained.

“I’m just gonna say it, okay?” he started assertively with his hands stuffed in his pockets. “I don’t know if you still wanna see me or talk to me, but I’ve given you your space and it was hard to do that but I did, and I think I deserve at least a moment for you to let us discuss what happened.” He was panting by the end of his sentence. He clearly thought this through. And I have postponed thinking about anything. Something’s definitely wrong with the stereotypes we’re playing, I thought mindlessly.

Meeting Doctors

Tonight was the night Luke had set for me to meet his brother Seth and his girlfriend Casey. Anne and Carmen were shocked to hear it. Luke and I have only been official one week and they kept warning me at just how fast things seemed to be going between us. I didn’t think it was a big deal anymore though. Things were running smoothly, I just didn’t think meeting Luke’s brother would make any negative impact.

Seth had confirmed the dinner on a Saturday evening. Three days after Luke called. He had said his brother’s schedule was a challenge to overthrow and three days was a good interval. Anyways, it was going to be at this upscale restaurant that was simply impossible to get a table from if it were only me and my measly budget and strings. It was a different case with Luke’s brother who knew the owner, though.

I browsed the internet about the restaurant’s menu, just so I wouldn’t get so out of my league when it came time to order. (I think that was probably the control freak in me.) And I almost died when I saw the price list. Suffice it to say that I just can’t wait to be a doctor myself if it meant I could eat without worrying about how to pay for it.

I had decided to wear a dark green cocktail dress for the occasion and matched it with strappy silver heels. I wanted to make a good impression and I was ready to go when Luke called me to say he was waiting downstairs. He was leaning against a black sedan when I got out of the building.

“I’ve never seen you drive a car before,” I said to him after I greeted him with a kiss on the lips. He looked extra nice in a crisp white shirt, black pants, and skinny black tie.

“The bike’s faster and less restraining.” He opened the passenger door for me and gestured for me to go in and I did. He handed me a long-stemmed red rose and kissed my cheek before he closed the door before I could even say thanks.

That was his thing. He’d do something so utterly sweet out of the blue and he’d act as if it was totally normal that he does these things. As if it was no big deal when it actually was.

“You ready?” he asked once he got inside the car.

“Yes.”

“Don’t ditch me when you see him, okay?” he said, looking at me seriously while also trying to stifle a laugh. He had been saying how much better Seth was than him. And that Seth’d probably be more my type than himself because Seth was a doctor and he was not. He’d always say it like it was a joke. But somehow I felt he was not so confident when it was his brother involved.

I giggled. “I won’t,” I promised with a huge smile on my face. I had long decided I would wait until he felt comfortable enough with me to open up about how he felt about his brother.

It turns out Seth was an anesthesiologist who already had a flourishing practice at age thirty. He has practically inherited the patients of the surgeons that their mother worked with four years into his fellowship when their mother decided to retire and go on an extended cruise with their father at the Caribbean just a couple months ago. I’d never have known Luke’s mom was a doctor too if I hadn’t asked about Seth! And Luke only said he never knew how to stir it into the conversation.

Luke’s father (was not Darth Vader, sorry), on the other hand, was a businessman who had a flexible time so the brothers never had to grow up alone. It was a well-thought plan, in my opinion, a doctor marrying another from a different field that was less demanding of time than her own. And it explained the reason why Luke went to a completely different direction than his mom and Seth. It wasn’t like the whole family was a bunch of doctors. It wasn’t a stuck-up thing where he was expected to follow everybody else’s footsteps just ‘cause (which actually tend to happen A LOT in families made up of doctors). It was to each his own.

“Hang on a second. I distinctly remember you saying you weren’t rich at all,” I had told him the moment I realized just how wealthy he must have been if he had an anesthesiologist and a businessman for parents. I was flashing back on all the signs: the Ducati, the big tips, the clothes, the apartment.

“I’m not, though. My family’s wealthy, not me,” he answered so nonchalantly before he kissed me into submission. And what a typical answer from a typical Richie Rich. Dang it, I was stupid, wasn’t I?

We got stuck in traffic two blocks away from the restaurant and we were already running late when Luke received a call from his brother.

“We just ran into a bit of traffic. We’re almost there,” said Luke. Seth said something on the other line. “No. Don’t be ridiculous. I just didn’t know the road’s gonna be like this. I brought the car.” A pause, and then Luke hung up.

“You okay?” I asked reaching out for Luke’s hand, noticing he was a bit agitated after the call.

“Seth just has this thing about being punctual, and we’re ten minutes late. Don’t worry about it.” I could feel just how affected he was by Seth’s call that I wondered whether there was more to it than he was letting on.

We arrived at the restaurant five minutes after the call and found Seth and Casey waiting for us at the bar.

“You guys, this is Samantha, my girlfriend,” Luke introduced me with an arm draped around my shoulders. “Samantha, this is Seth, my brother, and this is Casey, his fiancée.”

Casey was very sweet, warm, and smoking hot. She was wearing a sleek black asymmetrical cutout dress with her hair high up in a bun – a look only models could have pulled off. She hugged me so tightly after Luke’s introduction and she seemed so genuinely pleased to meet me.

I couldn’t say the same about Seth, though. He was civil about me, as far as civility is concerned, but he merely shook my hand so coldly. Not that I was expecting to be treated like family instantly, but it was anticlimactic, if you ask me. Luke had portrayed his brother as this warm, kind, and loving older brother that this cold and aloof person in front of me seemed to be an entirely different person from who I was debriefed to meet.

The moment our hands touched, my jaw almost dropped to the floor. I could see past his shoulder. Wearing a sterling suit and leaning into the other side of the bar with a glass of scotch was Dr. Karl Anderson and his wonderful grey eyes. He was talking to a couple other guys who I assumed were around his age as well. My heart stopped out of sheer admiration. Dr. Anderson looked absolutely perfect.

An usherette walked up to us to inform us that the table was being prepared. At that exact moment, Dr. Anderson looked over his shoulder towards the door. He seemed to be waiting for someone else to arrive. And then, his eyes fell on my little group. First on Seth, then on Casey, and finally on me. The recognition that clearly showed in his expression made me float in the air. He remembers me still!

I furtively watched him excuse himself from his friends and walk right up to our side of the bar. He was looking at our direction and I did not know exactly what I should do. Panic was the right word for it, I think.

Dr. Anderson greeted Seth, Luke, and Casey and it clearly showed they all knew each other well. “And how did you manage to get your hands on Ms. Miller?” he asked Seth humorously while shaking my hand in greeting. “No stealing from my department!”

Seth only responded with a forced laugh.

“Oh, there’s our table. I’ll see you around,” Dr. Anderson waved us goodbye once he saw his friends leaving the bar. “Ms. Miller, I’ll put in a good word for you in Surgery if you don’t take up this man on any Anesthesiology offers.”

I was sure my eyes were wide as saucers because Dr. Anderson merely looked at me amusedly before taking off. I think I was able to mutter an “I’d be honored” before he had gone. And Seth had returned to his previous stony expression before Dr. Anderson came by to have a chat.

My mind was immediately in a buzz. I did not know whether I could take Dr. Anderson’s word for this bright future in Surgery at such an informal meeting. But then again, much of everything in taking up posts at the hospital happened this way, as far as I’ve heard. It’s all word of mouth until they give you a paper to sign and everything becomes official.

If Dr. Anderson were being serious, him putting in a good word for me in his department would be a huge deal. His word would as good as seal the deal on a surgical residency for me in the future! No competing with other applicants. No unwarranted asskisseries to senior residents during internship just for a decent endorsement. Just a residency spot waiting for me, served on a silver platter with ice cream on top. But that’s just me counting my chickens before the eggs are hatched.

The usherette led us to our table moments later, and I found out Seth already had the chef prepare a menu for our dinner. It seemed a bit too controlling, in my opinion. But I decided to just zip my non-paying mouth and go with the flow.

“Luke tells us you’re already in third year, Samantha. How are you getting on?” Casey said over dinner. She seemed so very enthusiastic about almost everything that I wondered how she could tolerate Seth’s attitude on a frequent basis, really. He just seemed so… standoffish.

The rest of the dinner conversation was mostly shouldered by Casey on Seth’s end, who had generally been just quiet and watchful that it was almost too rude even for me. And I have an unbelievable threshold, you guys. I did not understand what I could have done wrong to even deserve such impoliteness.

Luke, on the other hand, was trying to act as if everything was normal. And honestly, it was starting to get on my nerves. I was really only putting on a nice attitude because I did not want to be rude to Casey who was trying so hard to salvage the situation. But it was simply too challenging to not be fazed by this man’s attitude.

Before dessert was served, Casey asked me to go to the lady’s room with her. I went just because I could not stand Seth anymore and any break from his rude behavior was too welcome.

“I met Seth in medical school, you know,” Casey shared once we were both in front of the mirror powdering our noses (oh, so ladylike of me).

“Oh. Luke never said you were a doctor, too.”

“Yeah, he doesn’t always know when to say stuff like that,” she agreed. “I’m guessing Luke told you last minute about Seth and his mom being doctors?”

“Yeah,” I mumbled in response.

“He’s a bit uncomfortable about it. I think he thinks people treat him differently once they know.”

“But why does he think that?”

“Oh, it’s just Luke being Luke. Trust me, I’ve known him long enough,” she said as she let her hair down glamorously. And by God, her hair was luxurious. I’d never be able to pull off a hair down from a bun in a jiffy and in one day. “And right now, that’s just Seth being Seth. I do apologize about his behavior. I really want to smack him with that attitude of his. But he is very protective about Luke, I hope you understand.” She put her hands on my shoulders and turned me to face her. “Don’t let this phase intimidate you, please. I really like you for my little brother-in-law-to-be. And I know Seth’s gonna like you, too, if he gets over his tantrum tonight.”

“Thank you.” I smiled at Casey’s kind words and was inwardly thanking I did not end up making drama at the table. I was this close to calling Seth’s ugly behavior out. That was how rude he was being. And I did not exactly care that Seth was eight years my senior then.

We went back to our table with me a little bit saner than when I left. I felt Luke squeeze my hand beneath the table once I was seated and I turned my head towards him. He was looking at me with concern and I only gazed back at him with pursed lips. In an instant, I was slightly annoyed by the fact that he never called his brother out at the way I was being treated. And it annoyed me more that the person who had enough sense to appease me had to be Casey, who was practically a stranger to me.

Dinner ended uneventfully after that. We said our goodbyes and Casey and I exchanged numbers before I quietly walked over to where Luke’s car was parked. I think I put on a good show for Casey and Seth, but now that I’ve watched their car leave the parking area, I no longer had to pretend I was happy to meet Seth at all.

A Pancakes-and-OJ Kind of Morning

I woke up to the smell of pancakes wafting in my bedroom. Luke’s side of the bed was empty and I had to smile despite the filthy hangover that was starting to come on. I had to get glucose into my system fast.

I fell asleep securely tucked in Luke’s arms last night/this morning. He had remained quiet, but he cuddled with me and I was fine. (But that was just because I was tired.) I still had no idea why he was acting weird though because I never had the guts to ask.

“Morning,” Luke greeted me when I walked out of my bedroom. He flipped a pancake to an empty plate before he walked towards me and kissed me at the top of my head.

“Morning,” I greeted him back. “Which syrup do you want?” I asked as I walked towards the fridge, trying to be casual. “I have maple, chocolate, and a bit of strawberry left from last time.”

“Whatever you’re having,” he answered.

“Maple, it is” I announced, bringing the bottle to my tiny breakfast table.

“You always pick maple,” he observed.

“I always do, don’t I?” I responded, trying to keep the conversation alive. It was tough.

Unlike all the other mornings, when talk flowed so easily between the two of us, today I ate quietly, not really knowing what to say after the little awkward conversation we just had. The air between us was simply weird.

I was trying to figure out why Luke had been quiet and acting the way he was while I chewed on a piece of pancake. I stared out the kitchen window, hoping to clear my mind and identify what was wrong in this picture but I was drawing blanks and I didn’t really want to entertain the idea of just asking Luke about it. I knew I was being stupid, but I couldn’t really work up the courage to call him out. Maybe I just had to give him some space or something.

“You’re quiet,” Luke nudged me gently after a while.

“You’re quiet,” I answered back, figuring the conversation’s about to happen anyway. “You sort of shut down on me last night.” I didn’t mean for my tone to be accusing, but it did come out that way. So much for deciding to just let him be.

“I’m sorry,” he apologized softly as he touched the corner of my lips, apparently wiping off a crumb. “I was just… thinking last night.”

“About what?” I put down my utensils and stared at his brown eyes intently. They looked so beautiful against what little sunlight crept inside my apartment, and it was distracting.

“About how much I like you,” he said so matter-of-factly.

“I don’t understand. I like you, too.”

“I like you too much, I… I don’t know what to do with you.” He answered, looking at me as though I was a puzzle he can’t solve.

“You what?” I asked stupidly. I didn’t really fully understand what he meant. Or whether I should be offended or something.

“Samantha, I don’t want to see other people.” He breathed deeply before continuing on. “I don’t want you to see other people. I don’t know what to do with you seeing other people,” he said, not taking his eyes off me.

“I’m not seeing other people right now,” I muttered almost incomprehensibly. I couldn’t even understand where all of this was coming from.

“Do you want to?” he asked.

His eyes looked unsure, and I had to smile. Now I get it. And I realized just how stupid I was for not recognizing it earlier. I blamed it on the alcohol. “No. I don’t want to see other people.”

He smiled widely at that. And then he kissed me. It was a soft, soothing, maple-y kiss. His eyes were still crinkled with a smile when he pulled back.

He stood from his seat and walked towards the fridge, taking out a box of orange juice. I was secretly celebrating how my kitchen was freshly stocked with decent food and how perfect everything was with Luke in it. I watched him fill two glasses before walking a couple steps right back.

He sat in front of me again and sipped on his drink, looking at me intently. I felt like I was chewing on the pancake quite loudly now that no one else was eating with me, and I felt quite conscious.

“So. I can call you my girlfriend now, right?” he said once the sound of my chewing had momentarily stopped.

“I guess.”

“And you can call me your boyfriend now, too. Congratulations,” he said, faking arrogance that worked well with his messy morning hair.

I only smiled at him, tilting my head a little at the ridiculous way his cockiness sounded. A second later, he had already pecked on my lips so quickly.

“Let’s not shut down on each other again, hmm?” he said after a while, pausing just before he drank from his glass.

“Let’s not.” I agreed, fully understanding he was referring to himself. “And let’s not get jealous over Jack. Who was flirting with the bartender last night, by the way.”

He pursed his lips guiltily. “I wasn’t.” He was actually trying to hide a smile while he busied himself looking down on the floor.

“Yeah. You weren’t,” I teased. He was just so adorable.

Turns out he thought something was up because he found me and Jack alone at the bar while our friends were out on the floor. And that my awkward introduction between them was received as shady.

“Well, I’m sorry I didn’t know how I was supposed to introduce you!” I said, blushing at how ineffective my introduction skills were. In my defense, they have never been the best.

“Now you do.” He smiled.

We finished our breakfast and cleaned up together. And then we spent the rest of the morning lounging lazily in the couch, flipping on random TV channels. The couch was still small for the two of us, but we didn’t mind. I was only so relieved I didn’t have any case papers I needed to write.

We later decided we’d go out for lunch after we went to his apartment for him to change. I’ve never been to his place, which I thought made this thing between us seem faster than it already was. He’s already my boyfriend and I’ve never been to his apartment! I was hyperventilating inside, panicking myself over nothing, knowing it was stupid all the same.

“You’re not changing your mind about us, are you?” he nudged me after he parked his bike. It was as if he had read my mind. I didn’t realize he was already beside me, waiting for me to walk up to his apartment with him. He took my hand and pulled me near just enough for me to catch a whiff of his scent. “’Cause I’m not letting you,” he whispered in my ear before kissing the top of my head.

I was speechless when we entered his apartment. It was spacious and well-furnished, as if an actual interior designer came in and fixed the place. My own apartment looked extra shabby in comparison to this, and I wondered why he never asked me to spend the night instead of the other way around. It would have been much more comfortable. For the both of us.

“I won’t be long. Feel at home,” he said before disappearing into his bedroom.

I went to the kitchen to get myself a glass of water, and saw stuck on the refrigerator door a photo of him and an older guy who looked so much like him, but with glasses. That was probably his older brother Seth. Luke always talked about things he’d done with his brother. But I had never asked Luke what Seth did for a living. By this picture, he looked so much like a corporate man. Someone people like me despised and admired for being rich at such a tender age.

“I see you’ve seen my brother,” I heard Luke’s voice from across the kitchen counter.

“He looks so much like you.”

“I want you to meet him soon,” he said, throwing the idea out there just so very casually. Oh, this man is killing me with his speed. “I’m sure you two’d get along great. He’s a doctor too, by the way.”

“Oh. You never said,” I uttered with a small voice. I looked at the picture again. The idea of Luke’s older brother being a doctor fit the profile indeed. And then I realized that was probably why Luke was always so concerned about me studying. He already knew how hard and time-consuming it was.

“I had to make you my girlfriend first. Or you’d probably just ditch me and go after him instead,” he said as he walked over to where I was standing. “Girls do find Seth hotter, I think.”

“That’s a stupid notion.” I put my arms around his neck and kissed him long and hard. “I think you’re hotter.”

“You say that now. But I’ll take it.” He smiled his cute smile and kissed me again, pressing my back flat against the cold fridge. We never got to eat out for lunch. Or dinner.

I Think We Know How to Party, Too

A/N: Sorry about this late one. Ze boyfriend surprised me with a Valentine getaway before I finished writing. :/

It’s been almost two weeks since I bruised Luke’s chiseled abs. (Yeah, I just had to put that out there once more.) And he has spent a total of three nights in my apartment since then.

He always made me breakfast. Which was actually starting to spoil the heck out of me. And I have yet to be late whenever he was here (since we both had to go to the same building at the same time). All was doing fine. Until the post-exam batch party last night, that is.

I’d already told Luke about the upcoming party. I had wanted to ask him to come with, but I thought he might feel out of place since he hasn’t really gotten to know a lot of people in my circle yet. He had also said earlier he’d probably go and visit his brother then, so I figured I wouldn’t invite him altogether.

Friday arrived and everyone looked like a zombie that morning. You have got to understand, guys. A week in third year medical school does take its toll. Everyone’s been taking hits since Monday. And even though partying that night seemed like a very bad idea over getting some much-needed sleep with this zombified crowd, I knew everyone was gonna bring their A-game on tonight’s party. And I was not mistaken.

When the afternoon class was over, everybody went home. I bagged a couple hours of sleep before getting ready for the party. I donned a pair of black leather leggings, a sparkly tank top, and a pair of black high-heeled ankle booties. And when I arrived at Monica’s place, the party was already in full swing.

It was almost like a college party, really. Only with a bit older people with Latin vocabularies and better mixed drinks. The loudness, the dancing, they were practically the same. These kinds of parties are where doctors-to-be let loose and forget about just how a doctor-to-be should behave.

I found Anne and Olive dancing their feet off with Jack and Chris, and I zoomed towards them in an instant. “You guys! Where are the others?” I shouted over the loud dance music. That was me now. I never know who the artist is anymore, all I ever really know is when it sounds good.

“Getting drinks!” Jack answered. “Have you seen Monica’s bartender? Tall drink!”

I laughed, trying to get a good look at where Jack’s lips were pointing. Jack was bi, more recently veering towards the gay side, I think, with the streak of guys he has been going out with. He pulled it off, you know. He had brown hair, blue eyes, a lean physique, and an academic résumé that made him hotter than he already was. He literally had looks that appealed strongly to both sides of the spectrum, me included.

Jack usually hosts these parties in his house because he lived alone with just a maid for company. His parents are already based abroad and expect him to follow once he graduates. So basically, he could do whatever he wants. His parents were in the country this weekend, though, so the party couldn’t swing at his place this time.

“Why didn’t you bring Luke with you?” Anne asked while we danced. “Tommy brought Natalie. And Carmen came with Shane.”

“He doesn’t know a lot of people here!” I said defensively. Natalie and Shane were not medical students. But they have been dating my friends even before we started medical school. Naturally, we know them already.

“He could meet everyone here!” Jack interjected with an eye roll.

I considered his response for a moment, and figured he was right. “He was planning on going to his brother’s, though.”

“Oh. Too bad,” Anne said as she downed her drink in one gulp.

A couple hours into the party, I was already feeling disinhibition: I was laughing at stupid stuff, saying stupid things… well, basically enjoying the night. Beer pongs were happening, ridiculous dancing. The stamina of “my people” is simply commendable.

Anne was already getting drunk, too, by the looks of it. She brought me aside, asked me to go to the bathroom with her, and we both literally almost fell to the floor because of her drunken, mildly ataxic gait. We laughed victoriously when we arrived at the bathroom without having to kiss any of Monica’s carpets.

I asked her to hold onto my purse when it was my turn to use the bathroom. And when I got out, she was smiling maliciously at me.

“I did something,” she said, aiming at mysteriousness, but failing at it miserably. I saw she was clutching my phone in one hand, and both of our purses in the other.

“What did you do?” I started to panic. Anne was notorious at doing petty little nuances whenever she got drunk and careless. I love the girl and all; and we all understood alcohol made people (i.e. Anne) do things. But right now, I was worried at what she might have just done.

“I answered Luke’s call,” she giggled, showing off the phone and waving it in front of my face.

“And?”

“He’s coming over!”

“Why?!”

“Oh, don’t worry! I just invited him to come over if he wanted to.”

“Oh my God, Anne! Why would you do that? He’s probably at his brother’s!”

“He said he wanted to!” she assured me.

I had to run back inside the bathroom and look at myself in the mirror. Ok, I still had my makeup on fine. And I still looked a bit on the fresh side.

“You look fine!” Anne called on me from the hall. “Hot, actually,” she said as she held the door open, looking me a once over from head to toe.

“He’s probably at his brother’s, Anne,” I scolded her.

“He said he could come.” She smiled and then took my hand and pulled me back to where the bar was. We both needed fresh drinks. I needed one for my sudden bout of nerves.

We found Jack at the bar. He had successfully taken the bartender’s attention. Turns out Stan was a friend of Monica’s and he was gay, and they were flirting to and fro, it was crazy.

Anne left to dance with the others after getting herself a drink. Me, on the other hand… my feet were already hurting and my head was kinda buzzing that I decided to just “thirdwheel” with Jack and Stan. They didn’t seem to mind. I was busy laughing with Jack at the hilarious joke Stan dropped before leaving us for a while to make some drinks when someone tapped my shoulder from behind. “Hi!” I greeted when I turned to see Luke.

“Anne invited me,” Luke answered, as though he needed to explain. He was looking at Jack and me alternately.

It took me a while before figuring out introductions were apt. I didn’t really know how to introduce Luke now that we weren’t so much strangers to each other as before, so I decided to keep it simple. “Jack, this is Luke. You remember him?”

“I remember. Hi!” Jack greeted with a wide smile and raised eyebrows, saving me from my awkward introduction.

Luke, on the other hand, just gave him a small smile. Apparently, simple introductions were NOT what was expected by both parties.

“Let me just slip away and let you two, uhm, interact,” Jack said.

I laughed nervously as I watched Jack “slip away” towards where my other friends were gathered.

“I didn’t want to impose, I’m sorry,” Luke said.

“You weren’t. You don’t have to be sorry.” I told him before giving him a peck on the cheek.

“It seemed you and Jack were having a good time,” he answered bluntly.

I was about to tell him about Stan’s joke when Anne and the others came over and I had to introduce everyone. “Hey guys, this is my friend, Luke. Luke, this is everyone,” I said before naming the guys in my limited social circle.

My friends were immediately loud, and I forgot about what Luke had just said for a while. Luke was a good sport with the non-stop teasing that erupted, taking on Lee and Tommy’s jests and keeping up with the relatively strange company. He was impressively at ease and was earning so many points for being in sync with my friends. He was being less accommodating with Jack, though, which I thought was weird.

When the clock struck two, the crowd started to thin out. The couples Carmen and Shane, and Tommy and Natalie were the first to leave, followed by Lee and Anne who were sharing a cab since they lived close to each other. I decided I was tired when Luke asked if I wanted to go home, too, and we said goodbye to Jack, Olive, and Chris at the bar.

Jack winked at me before we left, looked behind his shoulders towards Stan the bartender, and raised his eyebrows repeatedly. I laughed. That was his way of telling me he’s gonna get lucky tonight.

When we got outside, Luke gave me a helmet and helped me on his motorcycle. He was quiet during the short ride. My apartment was only a block away from Monica’s. He helped me off again when we arrived in front of my building.

I was waiting for him to go and park the bike properly so we could both go up to my apartment, but it seemed he was only waiting for me to go inside. “It’s too late already and you’ve had a drink. Don’t you want to sleep over?” I asked, prepared not to take no for an answer.

“Do you want me to?” he asked. He was still wearing his helmet and was still astride the black bike. He looked like one wrong move and he’d be off into the road.

“Yes,” I answered, wrinkling my forehead in confusion. I wondered why he was even asking. I had told him of my discomfort when he rode all alone late at night.

“Okay,” he replied. He remained silent until we got inside my unit. He was acting weird and I didn’t exactly know what was going on.