Chapter - 4

Nick's p.o.v;

I went to the Ranch Restaurant with my coworkers for the corporate dinner. The second greatest steakhouse in town, with the best steaks I've ever had in California. The atmosphere in the ranch restaurant was always calm anytime I visited, but it isn't today. It is due to her. I haven't seen her in a week. I couldn't get her out of my head since the image of her being sad, crying, and fleeing lingered in my memory.

"What are you staring at?" Chuck, our team leader and my closest friend from work, inquired.

I gave a stare at him.

He continued, "And... Why aren't you drinking? We've already arrived for the second round, and you have yet to take a sip."

"Who's going to take you back if everyone's drunk?"

Chuck burst out laughing, "Cool, Bud! Why are you staring at me like I did something bad to you?"

"I didn't stare at you."

"There. You're at it again. What's the matter with you, bud?"

"Nothing. I'm perfectly fine."

"Concentrate, gentlemen. We're having fun here. Remember?" Carol interrupted Chuck's conversation with me.

I looked at what we're doing. We're playing a game, right? Is it possible, as Chuck suggested, that I am becoming more disoriented?

To keep myself from thinking about her, I asked my coworkers, "What are we playing here?"

We played truth or dare. Everyone took turns telling the truth about themselves, and some did their dare. It was, nevertheless, entertaining.

"It appears we're running out of booze," observed Buck, one of our first-line managers.

"I'll go and get it," I said as I stood up from where I had been seated.

"Don't forget to get me a Coke," Carol reminded me.

I nodded and headed to the counter. While I was getting beverages from the counter. Someone tapped me on the shoulder from behind. I turned to look at who it was.

It is Elena.

"Hi!" she exclaimed as she waved at me.

"How are you, Elena?"

"Wow! You still recall my name. Nice."

"How can I forget my one-night stand girl who began telling me a story and then hurried away before finishing it?"

"So... How's it going then?" she questioned, a worried smile on her face.

"Good. What about you?"

While glancing around, she inquired, "That's also good. And did you come alone or with…"

Before she finished, I said, "I came with my coworkers. It's a business dinner. A new employee's welcome party."

"Where are they?"

"That's the table ", I pointed to a table full of inebriated patrons.

"I'm delighted we got together again. Oh, I forgot. Please wait for me", She muttered this and rushed away.

Where did she flee to? Will she return or not?

She returned, panting heavily.

"Slow down, girl," I said, offering her water to drink.

She paused suspiciously.

"It's only water," I explained.

"I forgot to ask for your number last time," she said as she took it and handed me a phone as I tried to offer her a tissue.

"What is inside?" She asked.

"That's my phone number."

We both burst out laughing.

"I'll send you a message," she added as she took the tissue from me.

I agreed by nodding.

"So, how about you? Who did you come to..."

"I came with my high school friends, We've been waiting a long time to meet."

I agreed by nodding.

The uneasy stillness was restored.

"How about continuing your high school love?" she said, breaking the silence.

I cracked a smile and asked, "How about your friends?"

She exhaled a sigh and said, "Yeah. I had forgotten about them. I can't leave them today, especially because I agreed to meet them after such a long time, so I suppose we'll have to postpone that for a while."

"It's alright. Have a good night with your friends."

She appeared upset. Is she upset that we couldn't share our stories? Cute.

"Are you free this weekend?" she inquired abruptly.

"I believe so. Why?"

"How about we meet for lunch this weekend?"

"Sure. That sounds promising." She smiled and hurriedly nodded.

"Great. When you smile like that, you look great."

"Thank you," she said with a nod.

"Good night," she said as she walked away.

"You, too," I added.

I laughed to myself. She rejoined her buddies, and I returned to my table with my coworkers who's drunk.

I arrived at my house after dropping my pals off. When I tried to go to bed after a shower, My phone received a notification.

I took out my phone to check. A message from an unknown number. "Elena here. This is my phone number. What time should I arrive for lunch?"

"Oh, anytime between 1 and 2 would be nice," I replied back.

"That's great. Then… good night."

"Night."

I stored her phone number as 'Elena' and went to bed.