Chapter 3

Nihara

Hi. Do you have plans for the weekend?

I looked at the text from Alex. It had been a week since the infamous date and this is the first time he had reached out to me since then.

It was 7.00 a.m. and I was in the kitchen sitting at the small table eating an egg sandwich for breakfast. My mother sat opposite to me, drinking tea and reading the newspaper. It was how all our mornings went since she and my father divorced and he moved to New Zealand.

No. Why? I wrote back.

I didn't have to wait long for the reply. Going to a match on Saturday with some friends. You should come.

I read the message twice.  I knew that if we were going to pretend that we were dating we had to be seen together. But still it made me feel uncomfortable. Meeting his friends seemed like what a real couple would do. Maybe I'm making a big deal out of this I thought. After all we had to be seen together or else how are we going to convince people we were dating?

Sure. Why not? I replied.

Great I will send you the details.

"Why don't you invite Alex for dinner? I want to meet him," My mother's voice distracted me. I was surprised it took her a week to ask me that. After I told her that the date went well, she was happy but surprisingly didn't hound me with too many questions. Unfortunately it seems my reprieve had come to an end.

"We're taking it slow, Amma," I said and stood. "I should go. I don't want to get caught to traffic."

She pressed her lips together. "I know what you're doing," she said. "I'll let it go for today but I want to meet him soon."

"I know." I said kissing her cheek. "But I really do need to go."

Surprisingly, I didn't get caught to any major traffic blocks. When I parked in front of my shop in Moratuwa, I realized I was a few minutes early.

When I looked at the one story building I felt a surge of pride. My parents thought I was crazy to invest the money they had saved for college on a bookshop. Looking at it now, I knew it was worth it. Within a year I was able to earn every penny I invested.

As I entered, the smell of coffee greeted me. The coffee machine I bought along with the comfy sofas was a big hit. We had customers who just wanted a comfortable place to sit and read. Since they could read any book in the store as long as they didn't damage them and put it back where they found it, we were a popular destination for book lovers. Most of the customers ended up buying their favorite books anyway so there was a steady profit.

I smiled at Mia, she had been a loyal employee and friend for two years now. I didn't know what I would do without her.

"Do you want coffee? I already made one for myself," She said gesturing at her coffee on the long table next to the register.

"Sure, Thanks. Let me just put my bag in the office and come," I said.

The office was a tiny room at the back of the shop. The table and chair took the bulk of the room and to the left of it there was a door leading to an attached bathroom. I kept my bag on the table which had old receipts and files strewn all over it. "I really should organize everything," I thought before leaving.

"No customers yet?" I asked Mia sitting on the stool behind the register.

"Not yet," She said handing me my coffee. She sat on the stool closer to the coffee machine and turned to me. "Did you watch Real housewives of Bedford yesterday?"

I shook my head. "I left Kandana at eight O'clock yesterday. By the time I went home I only wanted to sleep," I said. "What happened? Anything good?"

"Did it ever. Chrissi had an affair with Rory's husband. Now she's pregnant. Rory found out and they had a huge cat fight." Mia pumped her fists. "It was awesome."

"Now I'm sad I missed it," I said. I didn't like the show as much as Mia did but when crazy drama happens I hated to miss it.

"So, how's the new guy in your life? No upcoming dates?" She asked, giving me a mischievous smile.

"We're going for a cricket match on Saturday with a few of his friends." I was suddenly glad I didn't have to lie to her. I should have told her the truth, about the deal but I was embarrassed for my lapse in judgement. Mia would definitely fall down the stool laughing.

The door opened and I looked up and smiled brightly expecting our first customer for the day. But seeing who it was the smile I had sporting my face dimmed.

"Nihara. Hi." Dylan, my ex-boyfriend stood in front of me.

"She doesn't have anything to say to you," Mia said in a hostile voice.

He glared at her. "Mind your own business," he said, then he turned to me. "Can I speak to you? I promise I will be quick."

"I think we're done talking." I calmly sipped my luke warm coffee.

"You heard her, now you can leave. In case you didn't know this is a place of business," Mia said in a harsh voice.

Dylan ignored her. His brown eyes, which I used to get lost in, was trained on me. "I know you don't owe me anything but please just hear me out," he said in a soft voice. Then he looked at Mia from the corner of his eyes. "Can we talk somewhere private?"

I knew I shouldn't have, but even though we had broken up months ago I still had some lingering feelings for him. I wished I hated him.

I sighed. "Let's go to my office. But I will only give you five minutes," I said firmly.

Mia looked like she wanted to object but I shook my head at her.

"Now talk," I said stepping in to the office. The tiny space meant we had to stand closer than I liked. I stepped closer to the door in case I wanted to make a quick getaway.

Dylan was not conventionally handsome. He was only a few inches taller than my 6'4 feet, but he had charm in spades. He could make you feel like the most important person, and I fell for it. Hard.

"You look beautiful," he said in a soft voice. He raised a hand as if to touch my face and I leaned back.

"If you touch me, we are done talking," I said crossing my arms.

He took a step back, nodding. "Sorry," he said. Then his brown eyes looked at me pleadingly. "I want you to give me another chance, I know I made mistakes. But I have learned my lesson, I promise."

I almost laughed. After everything he put me through he wanted to get back together. There was no other words to say but that we had a toxic relationship. He was the broken bad boy whom I thought I could change, if only I loved him enough. I was a naive fool. "No way. We're over," I said in a steady voice.

"Please Nihara, just give me another chance. I've been going for counseling. I really miss you. Don't you miss me, too?" He asked taking a step forward.

"I can't. I've moved on. I met someone else and I'm happy now," I said taking a step back to the hallway.

He's face turned dark. "You're dating someone else? Who?" he asked, harshly.

"It's none of your business. We're not getting back together. You should leave, now." I turned back.

He held my arm stopping me from taking another step.

"If you don't let me go, I'm going to scream," I said, looking at him in the eye. Through out the year we dated he never got physical. I hoped it was still true.

He let go at once. "I'll leave for now, but I'm going to fight for you and you'll come back to me."

After he left I stayed in the office for a few minutes collecting myself. I shouldn't have spoken to him but as my father always says what's done is done, you can only move forward.

By the time I went to the front of the store Mia was talking to a customer but she looked up and raised her eyebrows as if asking, what happened?

I made a sign for later.

It seems my life had gotten more complicated.