Meera
The biting wind whipped at my cheeks as I stood in the snow. My oversized coat doing little to ward off the chill.
Six o'clock. That's when he said he would be here. I glanced at my watch, glowing numbers mocking me with their precision. My breath plumped into the white clouds. I turned my face and looked at my house, contemplating if I should still wait or go back inside the house to escape the disappointment. The warmth of my house beckoned at me, promising escape from the icy grip of the evening. But the thought of giving up gnawed at me. Five more minutes, I told myself. Five more minutes of hoping his car would appear around the corner. Every approaching car would excite me, thinking he's the one, only to be disappointed at the speed past.
The silence of the neighborhood was broken only by the occasional crunch of footsteps on the snow-covered sidewalk.
Then finally, a car.
Headlights cut through the darkness. I recognized the sleek, black silhouette. Relief flooded through me, washing away the cold and doubts. He was here, but as soon as the car came to a stop, the window rolled down. A voice called out- "Hey beautiful". It wasn't him.
My heart was shattered. The voice, smooth and practice belonged to a stranger. He leaned across the passenger seat, a charming chin plastered on his face "Need a ride ?"
I was quite uncomfortable with his eyes raking over me. My date, the one I'd been waiting for was nowhere in sight. This is what I call a romantic evening crumbled with disappointment. I hesitated, my mind racing. Should I accept the offer? I wanted to, but something held me back. A prickle of unease warned me to be cautious. "I'm waiting for someone". I replied, my voice barely a whisper. He might find it funny.
His initial charm replaced by a flicker of annoyance. "Waiting for a guy who's clearly stood you up?". He countered. He would clearly be a man of a massive ego and definitely rich. "Come on, it's freezing out here. I'll take you wherever you need to go." His persistence was unsettling.
I took a step back before he does God knows what. "I appreciated the offer, but I'm okay". I said, from a distance. He sighed dramatically, as if I were wasting his precious time.
"Suit yourself" He muttered before the car roared to life and sped off, leaving me alone once more in the swirling snow.
It was 6.30. I gave up the shenanigans and walked to my front door. Suddenly, a figure emerged from the shadows of a nearby house. He was tall, with a familiar silhouette. As he stepped into the light, I finally recognized him. It was Adrian, my date, not my boyfriend. I've had 24 years on this earth and I can boldly say, men aren't my main priority. I just wanted to give it a try.
Adrian was looking sheepish and apologetic, as he should be "I am so, so sorry." He stammered. His cheeks flushed with embarrassment. "My car broke down. I tried to call, then my phone died."
"I don't have time for you right now". I said, my voice surprisingly loud
"I'm really sorry, I'll make it up to you, I promise.". He reached out, tentatively, to take my hand.
Just as I was about to respond, a sleek, black car screeched to a halt in front of us. The stranger from before. He rolled down his window and scanned us with his eyes. "Still waiting sweetheart?". His voice, dripping with a mixture of amusement and something else.
Adrian seemed mad, stiffened, his gaze hardening as he looked at him. "I'm sorry who are you ?" He asked, his voice menacing.
I don't even know the stranger's name. His manner of approach broke my interest. "Just checking on the lovely lady, seems like your ride is a little too unreliable." He muttered towards Adrian's broken down car like it was nothing. The air crackled with unspoken tensions, a silent battle between them.
Before I could respond to him, Adrian stepped forward -"I'm sorry but she's mine"
This is one of the things I hate about Adrian, lying. We've been talking for over two months now and this is our first time meeting. We met through the popular Tinder app, which my friend, Becky forcefully created, with my name. He would always lie about everything, which is terrifying for me. I wanted to cut him off, but Becky begged me not to. She said I must have a man.
Back to the awkward scene. I quickly cleared my throat. Adrian's eyes and mine clicked. He could tell I was disgusted with what he said, then he quickly rephrased it. "I mean, she's with me."
That's not good enough, but slightly better.
The stranger scanned my reaction and laughed. He shrugged, a smile reaching his eyes. "Your loss." He said, before his card sped off again. Leaving a trail of excess in the frosty air, Adrian stood there, feeling like God knows what. I had to remind him that he was still a stranger to me. Even if we've been talking for months, because I know nothing of his intentions.
A curiosity drew me closer to that stranger. I couldn't explain it, so I shoved it down. Adrian didn't have anything to say. He started moving closer, with unbroken eye contact. But I stood in his way. He begged me to let him spend the night at my place. Although, he once told me where he lived. It's pretty far from here. That's if he didn't lie about that too. What he even pulled off this evening alone, is enough to leave him outside. But I wasn't brought up that way. "You're sleeping on the couch." He agreed to it. I brought out my keys and opened the door.
I don't want to do something that I would later regret. I don't trust him. And there are so many valuable items in my house. I'm web designer. And I work for so many companies. It's what I used to live up to this standard. I moved out of my parents' house when I was 20. So you can see that I haven't had much to enjoy alone.
I monitored Adrian's move as we got in. He seemed unbalanced. My mouth was filled with unspoken words. As soon as he found out that I was looking at him from time to time, He smiled, He thinks I'm falling in love with him. I offered him nothing to eat or drink.
I gave in a quick shower and I made sure the door was closed. I expect him to leave by morning, without even telling him. I kept wondering how I got myself into this mess. I actually pictured him to be more good-looking. Don't get me wrong, he is good-looking but he's not my type. He's also shorter in person than in those pictures he sent me. We're of the same height actually. Becky needs to compensate me for my endurance. He's just not my guy and he has proved it to me. So whatever he is thinking right now, he should erase it. I can't even be friends with him.
*******
I woke up 6:00am prompt, went to check on him in the living room. He was fast asleep, too deep that it got him snoring. What a joke. Already feeling the ick. I left the place immediately. The pillows were in between his legs making me feel more pissed as I kept thinking about it.
I spared him some time. I gave him till I was ready for work. He's was still sleeping and I'm not about to leave the house to him. I called his name twice and tapped his shoulder. He yawned as he rolled over "It's 7:06 and I need to go to work." I said bluntly. He kept yawning.
I moved over to the kitchen to make to some coffee. I watched him stand on his feet, staring at me. Well, what is he waiting for? He should pop off. I transferred my coffee into a can and stood right in front of him "Well?" I said, thinking of what he'd say next.
"Meera, I wanna to apologize for everything. I'm really sorry that I kept you waiting. I'm also sorry for what happened last night. I know that if I had showed up sooner, you wouldn't have met that guy and I promise it won't happen again." My face was looking so serious, My mind was made up. There's nothing bringing us back together again, unfortunately for him.
"It's alright, don't worry about it". I said, as I sipped my coffee. I smiled to make him feel rest assured. His eyes moved with mine as he started coming closer. Whoa.
He was a bit tensed but I wasn't . He tilted his head to the side, trying to reach my lips. "what the are you doing?". I asked, with my hands on his lips .
"Oh, I wanted….I thought…"
Was speaking in parables. "I'm late for work, you need to leave now.". I said sharply. I reminded him as soon as i pointed at my watch. Adrian still
stood there. "What are you still doing?"
"I know I fucked up but…"
"You fucked up the moment you lied to that guy last night. You've always been lying"
"What guy? Wait, Do you know him?"
Just then, my phone buzzed. He didn't get an answer to his question.