Chapter VI

It's Saturday and Reighly was already outside my apartment waiting for me to escort her for our journey to find a dress for both of us. Though, I'm not feeling great about attending it, I don't have reasonable excuse for Reighly to back out. After she knows I'm not feeling good about this she never gave me a break to think about it first. Now, I'm stocked between my predicaments.

I locked the door and straight towards the staircase. I saw Reighly's car on the other side of the street and immediately approach it and open the passenger seat.

"Ready?", she asked.

"No, not really", I sarcastically answered. She rolled her eyes and smirked at me.

She started the engine and we drove at our first boutique at downtown Carso. I was shocked after I get out from the car. The place is spacious and full of elegant dresses and sexy evening gowns. I touched one of the dresses and the textiles are magnificent. I never expect that I would felt that kind of fabric. It is cool in your skin and it is not itchy to wear, but the problem is it is too sexy for me to wear.

"Is this for real? The textiles they use is beyond my expectation but, I don't like the style. It is too revealing", I said to myself. I flip the tag. There it stated the price. I dropped the tag and hang the dress back to its rack. The dress is so expensive and neither my savings account could reach that kind of digits.

What place am I right now?

I saw Reighly approaching so I smile at her.

"Did you already find the dress that your heart desire?", she asked.

"No, but I think my heart's desire is at the next store", I answered.

"Why?", she worriedly asked.

"Reighly, the dresses here are way expensive for me to afford. What place is this anyway?", I confusedly asked looking for a name of the store. I didn't read the name outside. I was drowning by my own astonishment while entering the place.

"This is Marc Jacobs Kar", she answered.

My eyes widen after hearing it from her. Everything may be cinematic but, Reighly's answer echoed inside my brain .

"Rei, I never thought you could afford this place", I shockingly said.

"Don't worry I have my way", she enticingly said.

"No", I disagree.

"What?"

"I don't want any trouble right now Rei. So, can we please go to the next store", I firmly said. My eyes to her.

"But that's not what I suppose to do", she begged.

"Enough, okay?", I finally said.

"But Kar-".

She wanted to talk but, I'm already walking towards the exit door.

I didn't forget to say my gratitude to the guard and finally walked out. I stand at the entrance, waiting for Reighly to follow me outside. Unfortunately, Reighly was now talking to a guy inside. It made me felt irritated and impatient.

"Caroll?", I heard somebody said.

I turned my head to the direction of the person and I saw Dylan standing 6 feet away from me. I gave him an insincere smile.

As I remember last time, the encounter didn't turn out great, "What's up?", I said.

"What are you doing here?", he asked.

Reighly emerged from my side. Dylan smiled immediately and introduce himself to her.

"Dylan", he said, offering for a shake.

Reighly was amused and so she introduced herself in her way, "Reighly, Caroll's best friend", she sweetly said and shaked his hands with full delight. Beaming her compelling green eyes to him. Dylan chuckled and get back to me.

Reighly switch on me and gave me the look of I want the whole story. So, I explain the missing piece to her dilemma.

"He's the one I bumped at the amusement park when I'm on my way to your car, and, the 'annoying' customer at the theatre", I whisper saying the annoying word.

Reighly concurrently nodded and said, "So what are you doing in Carso?", to Dylan.

"Oh! I was on my way to buy a lunch. The store is just two blocks away so I decided to walk and I never expected that I am going to bump Caroll in the way", he answered. "What are you doing by the way?"

Reighly answered the question, "Shopping", she said.

I rolled my eyes but I make sure that they didn't caught it so I tiltled my head to the left. Facing the Techno store at the other side of the street.

"I see. So, maybe next time?", he said

"Next time", Reighly answered smiling at him.

Dylan looked at me, waiting for my approval. I gave him my smile and he left.

Reighly slapped me at my right shoulder. The effect occurs right away so I pronounce my less likely word in the vocabulary.

"What's wrong with you?", she said.

"What?! What's wrong about it?", I asked.

"You are being so rude in front of Dylan".

"You are just imagining", I said and started walking forward.

"Don't ignore me Caroll. I know you are".

"So, what if I'm rude?"

"That's not kind attitude for a man as he is"

"He deserves it", I composedly said.

"No, he doesn't", she defended. "Caroll, look". She prevents me from walking and we are both staring at each other in the middle of a busy street. Man, women, in variations of sizes, along with their children and nephews, nieces, passed as.

"Why not seeing this opportunity to date this man?", she suggested.

An immediate feeling of disgusting flows from my inside and translated to my face, "Bleghh!". I act as if I'm vomiting.

"You're overacting", Reighly said.

"Clearly I am because that's my answer", I said.

I let go of Reighly's hold and started waking forward again.

"Seriously, why not?", she asked, trying to catch me in my pace. "What if the possibility is higher of you both to each other?"

"I don't think so", I answered.

Reighly gestured and pointed to the left so I followed.

"Between the seconds of your life you haven't really thought of being in a relationship? Having someone in your life?".

"I do, but not on that man, jeez", I shrugged.

"You know Caroll, a date is just a date, you have nothing to lose you know".

I stopped and face her again.

"Okay, here's a deal, I will give you a chance, one chance, to bring me a man, except to that...", pointing at the direction of Dylan, "...to date with. It is up to you but, after that you'll going to nag me about this kind of matter?", I finished.

Reighly's excitement burst into a hugged. "I won't let you down", then a kiss to my cheeks that I eventually wiped off with my back hand.

It's already 8 when we finished with our trip. Reighly's already bought 5 different dresses, 2 from the same store and the rest is from the last store we went to. However, I only bought 2 from different stores just because it fits me and it has the color that I loved, emerald green and cyan. Also, after that we decided to eat first before we went home so we won't deal with it after. The food from Italiana are magnificent. Their pasta sauce was so delicious.

Reighly was on the couch, head on the arm and her left arm and leg at the top of backrest. She looked exhausted with both eyes closed, and so did mine. I immediately went to my bedroom and changed my clothes to my pajamas. Before I could go to sleep I went to Reighly.

"Rei? You should probably change your clothes before going to bed", I said.

She just shrugged and rolled. Now, she's facing on the other side with her back facing my direction. I decided that I should left her there sleeping and cover her with a blanket. Afterwards I straight towards my bedroom door, switch the lights off and lied on my bed.

Morning came and the face of Dylan is the first think that I saw after opening my eyes. I was shocked and sit up from my bed, covering my body with my blanket.

"W-What are you doing here? Rei! Rei!", I shouted.

"This is not what it looks like", he answered, trying to calm me down but its not working. Reighly come barging.

"What?", she asked. After seeing Dylan on my right side bed she eventually understood my crises. "I invited him. He said he wants to use a bathroom. The only bathroom here was in your bedroom so I let him use it", she innocently explained.

I calm myself down. Breathe in. Breath out.

"H-How? I mean when, where did you-"

"Ow! I saw him when I was on my way to your apartment from jogging so I invited him for some breakfast", she said.

"I didn't know Dylan's apartment was two blocks from here", she finished.

"I was at my morning routine when I bumped into her", he defended.

"Okay, so why did you stare at my face?", I firmly utter.

"I actually did not stare. I was actually evaluating your snore", he answered.

I felt immediate embarrassed and humiliated after that answer, "No, I didn't snore", I denied.

"Yes, you are. I actually video taped it to prove it to you", I stopped him midway.

"Please, you can go now", I embarrassedly said.

"Well, its kind of hilarious actually. I could-"

"GET OUT!", I shouted. They both squirm and close the door.

I went there lying for half an hour before deciding to get dressed and ready for my day. Dylan was still outside after I open the door.

"Won't you go home and change?", I said. He sure still in his workout clothes.

"I will, after", he confidently said on my couch.

"You sure feel, home, don't you?" I sarcastically said and smiled at him.

"Some say I have that one but I was just actually maximizing the invite", and giggling smiled.

I smirked and went to the kitchen. Reighly was there working with our breakfast meal for today.

"I can't believe that you would invite him in my apartment. What about my privacy?", I complained.

"What privacy? Besides, it's just Dylan. He's our friend now".

I shake my head for my disapproval. I brewed a coffee and afterwards I served it along with Reighly's fried rice, egg, and hotdog.

Then, with Dylan, we all ate the food in the living room.

Reighly quickly finishes hers and excuse herself for work. So, I picked up my empty plate and cup in order to put it at the dishwasher, but Dylan showed me his. His eyes were more likely what you can see at a puppy and his smiles are more to an innocent child.

What's wrong with this man?

"Get a grip", I said and leave him. He eventually stands up from the couch and follows me to the sinks.

"You seem cranky", he commented.

I open the fridge and pour some glass of water, "You think?", I answered and rolled my eyes on him. His demeanor never changes even though I throw my misconducts at him.

"Do you have problems with me?", he asked all of a sudden. "Because every time you saw me you quickly turn into an unkind person."

I was already out of the kitchen and directly towards my bedroom door. "What if I have?", I answered.

"Then what is it?"

"Insensitive"

"Really? How?", he crossed his arms, looked straight at me.

"You never consider the emotions of other people", I answered.

He looked shocked but regained after.

"When?"

"At the ticket booth"

I entered my bedroom. I saw him about to enter so I prevented him to do so. "Stop. I haven't given you my permission to enter this room", He immediately move backwards.

"I was just joking that time. You can't take that seriously", he said

"Well, sad to say sir I did take it seriously", I answered.

"Then, I'm sorry", he apologizes. "Maybe I can do something to make that up?"

"I don't think so", I said.

"Why not? Tell me what you want? Bag? Shoes? Dress? I will buy it", he offered.

I turned my head towards him. His words made the situation even worst. I walked towards the door and face him.

"I'll say it. You just made everything so much easier", I paused for a bit and make a smile. "For my forgiveness I want you out of my apartment and.... my face forever", I firmly said.

"Why not anything except that?", he opposes.

"That's my condition and if you can't, you will continuously receive my evil side", my final words before closing the door.

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I pull out a box under my bed. It's full of blue envelope. Written on it are the intimate feelings of a boy to a girl. It has its receiver's name written at the back of it. But, never the name of the sender printed at any of the corners of the paper. Evident strokes of crayons of blue, black, violet, and red were used in writing. Saying that it was from a child whom had a passion of writing his own feelings. Unfortunately, it was never received nor read, not until few days ago.

"Caroll", I said while my emotions wavered in front.

"After all this years, I never had the guts to put my name", I smirked my remaining broke humor to myself.

"Maybe, I'll tell it myself if I cannot write it".