MERRY 33

“You even came out to have a drink with me today.”

When I’d ask to grab a meal, he’d say he already ate; when I’d suggest a walk in the nearby park, he’d say he didn’t want to smell the grass; when I’d suggest a bookstore to cater to his tastes, he’d say he was going to buy books online from now on; when I’d ask to play basketball, he’d say football was more his thing; and when I gathered people to play football, he’d say football was better as a spectator sport. After he rejected my invitation to my place four times, our interactions had been limited to chatting in front of the building.

Today, having run into him by chance on the street, I followed him and asked if he wanted a drink. Finally, he gave his consent, and we sat down together.

It was a shame that such a disappointing result came about, making the way I’d cheered for my own persistence feel quite hollow.

“And that’s why we’ve grown further apart. I can’t trust the judgment of someone who chooses a pub like this as a date spot.”

Even I had to admit that a pub crowded with exhausted office workers busy venting their frustrations wasn’t the best choice. If I’d had the luxury of picking a place, I would have found somewhere with a calm atmosphere that served good drinks and had a smooth playlist.

However, the pressure to move quickly before Ethan changed his mind pushed me toward the nearest bar, and so we ended up sitting in a space where everyone except the cute waitress, Jessie, was wearing a suit.

“Give me a chance to make it up to you. Should we move somewhere else right now?”

“Forget it.”

I pouted and let out a pffft of a boo, then suddenly paused. By the time I tilted my head, Ethan must have realized it too—the part of his sentence that had stuck out.

It was as unexpected as a chicken patty in a hamburger. To an Italian, I suppose it would be like pineapple on a pizza. Something you simply cannot ignore.

“Were we on a date?”

“…”

“You said ‘date spot,’ man.”

“It was a slip of the tongue, clearly.”

Ethan didn’t stutter or make frantic excuses. His complexion remained steady, and he was composed, with no change in his expression. If he hadn’t almost dropped his beer glass, I might have been fooled.

“Oops.”

Having barely caught the slipping handle, he used his lips to brush away the beer overflowing onto the back of his hand. He seemed to nibble on his lower lip as well.

“See, aren’t you lucky? Your date is well-prepared.”

I teased him with a wink and handed him a handkerchief. It was obvious Ethan’s reaction would be cold. As he shot me a contemptuous smirk, I blinked the other eye at him.

“Sorry. It was my first date, so I was a bit clumsy. Let’s have our next date at a wonderful place overlooking the city nightscape.”

If he’d joined in on the light joke, the mistake could have been swept aside naturally, but the tactless Ethan instead built a wall with a serious face.

“When I finish this glass, it’s over. I’m leaving immediately, so if you’re going to tease me more, get it all out now.”

I felt wronged by his declaration that he’d wrap up this hard-won drinking session so soon. There was still a lot of beer left in Ethan’s glass, but if he were a big drinker, he could drain it in one go. Hoping he wasn’t the type to enjoy alcohol as much as he looked like he might, I grumbled.

“Are you a princess who has to go back when it hits midnight?”

“Cinderella wasn’t a princess. And it’s nowhere near midnight yet.”

“It’s a metaphor.”

Even when I sighed in dejection, he rarely cut me any slack. He burned me up inside by taking his time with the beer, but he didn’t look hateful doing it. It was like the feeling of not wanting to pick a flower recklessly, or cherishing a treasure. I was weak for his beautiful face.

His fair skin looked good under the orange sunset, of course, but also under the lights of the city at night. Colorful lights stretched across and then receded from the high bridge of his nose.

I decided not to act pathetic about today’s meeting so I could secure the next one. Instead of clinging to Ethan to stay longer, I used the given time to lead the conversation.

It would have been perfect if he’d fallen for my charms and ordered another beer, but unfortunately, that didn’t happen. With a little less than thirty minutes passed, Ethan set down his empty glass. I matched his pace.

Leaving a generous tip and a lavish smile for the kind waitress, Jessie, we left the pub. I liked that I lived next door to Ethan. Because we had the same walk home. Beside him as he walked calmly, I was restless. I’d walk on the right, then hop over to the left, or walk backward in front of him to face him. I was a bit intoxicated by the gaze that followed me around.

“Be honest. You’re having fun hanging out with me, aren’t you?”

“You’ll be disappointed if you hear the answer. Are you sure you’re okay with that?”

“No way.”

Feeling confident, I took several consecutive steps with my left foot. It was stable footwork, but because Ethan suddenly stepped closer, I ended up stumbling. Thinking I had tripped, he stopped and reached his arm forward to catch me.

It would have been fine even if I’d actually been in danger. If I had, I would have ended up straight in Ethan’s arms. Regrettably, I regained my balance on my own. His hand moved away, almost touching but not quite.

“Hah, honestly…”

“It’s hard to just watch, isn’t it? You just can’t leave a man like me alone.”

“I see you’re aware you’re acting like a mischievous child.”

This time I took several steps with my right foot. I was in high spirits.

“I’m an adult who has kept his childhood innocence.”

“You don’t look like an adult to me.”

“What should I do to look like an adult?”

“Walk forward properly and calmly, without being so flighty.”

I reluctantly acted like an adult. Walking side by side with Ethan, we went back and forth between silence and conversation. Mostly—no, absolutely—I was the one who spoke first. I’d say something silly or throw out a question.

Ethan didn’t disregard or ignore my words, though the information he gave about himself was limited, and he often turned the questions back on me, but that was fine. I liked the fact that he was focused on me.

“Do you dream often? I mean, when you sleep.”

“I’ve never really thought about it.”

“Think about it now.”

“I don’t dream often.”

“Did you dream yesterday? What did you dream about?”

“What about you?”

I’d asked that right as we arrived in front of the building, knowing he’d return the question. Standing against the backdrop of the five-story building befitting the elegance of the Upper East Side, I said:

“A dream where we’re hanging out in my room. Will you give me the luck of making that dream come true? Come over tomorrow, anytime.”

“Why are you so…”

“So desperate to invite you? Persistence is a man’s destiny.”

Actually, I’d never really been devoted to anything. My personality was easygoing because there were plenty of things given to me without effort. The persistent attitude I showed toward Ethan Reed was more foreign to me than to anyone else.

“I’ll have some coffee ready that you’ll like. It’d be better to pour it into a plain mug rather than an elegant teacup, right? I’ll set the temperature to a pleasant level and play some of that R&B you said you enjoyed when you were my age as background music. It’ll be just as wonderful as a restaurant overlooking the night view.”

When I boasted that I’d be fully prepared, Ethan let out a faint smile. Knowing he’d pull it back immediately if he realized his smile had leaked out unconsciously, I kept a poker face. Even though I was once again marvelling at his beauty.

He brushed back his elegant blonde hair that had fallen over his forehead and lazily opened his eyes. Under his eyelids, draped with thick lashes, his eyes were like a stage decorated for his pupils to shine. His face, where a trace of a smile still remained, blended perfectly with the brilliant light.

If a gaze had a physical form, would you have stroked me, pierced me, or kneaded me then? I don’t know how you touched me, but I felt tickled.

“It would be a fine date spot.”

By belatedly accepting my joke, he finally accepted the invitation. Having achieved a historic success on the fifth try, I raised both arms high and cheered.

“I did it! Yahoo!”

As if embarrassed by me, Ethan ran off with a quick pace.

“See you tomorrow!”

The voice that had shouted loudly toward him woke me up. The moment I opened my eyes, a thought suddenly occurred to me.

How did Ethan Reed know? That I was supposed to meet my mom tomorrow.