BAR
” Emily, Is something wrong?” Ryder asked me when I was blankly looking at a place where I feel like I have seen Jason. He surely can’t be here. He never mentioned he would go to a bar. Even if he goes, he will choose royalty. Wouldn’t he?
” Nothing. I’m good,” I told Ryder who nodded and walked again. He didn’t lose hold of my hands. Not for a second. He knows that this place is all new to me. I should stop imagining about seeing Jason. He kissed me while having a girlfriend. He’s not honest at all.
I got back to reality and focused my eyes on the surroundings. It makes me feel uncomfortable. All those drunk people and the kissing couples. It not like I hate kissing. But I don’t like to watch others kissing each other. Many people are dancing to the beat of rock music. When we reached the counter, Ryder asked a glass of whiskey for himself. He didn’t ask me as I told no. But I changed my mind.
” One for me too,” I told him.
” What?” Ryder asked like he didn’t hear me.
” Order a glass of whiskey for me too,” I told again slowly.
” I thought you said no. When did you change your mind,” he asked me with a grin on his face. While the waiter heard our conversation and placed two glasses of whiskey in the counter.
” Now. I changed my mind now. Just a glass won’t be any worse right?” I said, taking the glass in my hands. I looked at it with a dilemma about whether to drink it or not.
” If you don’t want to drink, give it to me. It’s not a compulsion,” he said, as his hands reached towards the glass.
” I’m curious, Ryder. I want to try.” I told him firmly and took a sip. The moment it touched my taste bud, I want to keep the glass on the counter. I don’t like it. But Ryder will say ‘ I told you so,”. I decided to drink it in a gulp.
” How is it?” he asked curiously.
” Not bad.”
” Do you want more?” he asked as the waiter took the glass to pour more.
” No, no. That’s enough. That’s enough.” I blurted. Ryder laughed. I like to see him like this. I never saw him laugh at anyone but me. Am I funny? or he only laughs in front of people who he likes more? This thought makes me blush.
” You can stop laughing. I’m not making any jokes.”
” You aren’t. But your reaction makes me laugh. That way you react to everything is like a baby looking at everyone and everything in wonder.” he explained, finished drinking the whiskey.
” Is it true?”
” Oh, yeah.” before I could take more, I saw a man in his forties walked towards us near the counter. He’s standing opposite to us where the waiter is pouring drinks. He has thick brown hair and a beard.
” Hey, dad, Meet Emily,” Ryder said eagerly. Right. He got to be his father. They both have the same face cuts. This whole bar belonged to him. Ryder’s father looked at his son’s reaction and looked at me.
” Oh, Ryder, you didn’t tell me you got a girlfriend. I thought you will never be interested in having a girlfriend. Well, you did now. I didn’t see that coming.”
” Nice to meet you, Emily. Call me Edwin,” he said everything without even letting us talk. I don’t know what to say now. Nice to meet you too, Edwin or I’m not Ryder’s girlfriend.
” Dad, stop it. I’m not into girlfriend-boyfriend and you know that. Emily’s my friend.” he said and I felt sad for a minute. He said ‘he likes me’ and he’s not interested to be in a relationship. He kissed me but calling me his friend. Maybe everything takes some time. I can’t expect everything to happen in a flash of seconds. I wish he would change his view about any relationships. I can hope for that.
” Oh, sorry. I’m sorry, son. You never introduced anyone to me except Daniel and Jacob. What else am I supposed to think?” he said to Ryder. Then I thought he will be talking with us for some more minutes but he said he got works and left the counter. When Ryder and I are facing the other side, someone familiar called my name. I recognised the voice the moment I heard it.
I turned to face Jason and Crystal is standing next to him. He got to be kidding me. Is Jason here to spoil my mood?
” What are you doing here, nerd? ” Ryder asked.
” Who’s a nerd? Call him like that, I will slap you,” Crystal went mad for a simple thing. I didn’t say Ryder’s reaction to her anger.
” It doesn’t matter, Crystal. Why are you going crazy?” he tried to calm her down. It seems like she’s crazy over him. Who cares? I don’t care. I don’t care.
“Can you wait there for some minutes. I will be back soon. I want to discuss something with Emily.” He told Crystal. I can barely hear it in the crowd.
” Discuss what?” she inquired.
” Something related to my sister. Eve and Emily are friends too. Can you wait now?” he said impatiently. I can clearly see it’s a lie. There’s nothing important to talk about Eve and me.
” I want to talk with you, Milly.” Jason directly said after Crystal left. Ryder is still with me. In fact, he’s keeping his arms on my shoulder and another glass of whiskey on his hand. In front of Ryder, Jason is not going to say anything. But I can see the urge in him to talk with me. But I don’t think he can give a good explanation.
” Yeah, go on,” I said like I’m annoyed by his presence. I know he won’t say anything in front of Ryder.
” I can’t talk here, Milly. Can we go somewhere alone?”
” Say whatever you want here. I’m not leaving.” Ryder snapped. Now I can feel the tension again. They both are glaring at each other. This is not okay.
” If you have some decency, leave us alone for a minute. She doesn’t belong to you.”
” So what? she doesn’t belong to you too. Whatever you want to say, say it here or afterwards but not now.” Ryder made it clear. Ryder doesn’t like Jason since he saw me coming home with him. Jason doesn’t like Ryder as he sees him as the meaning of danger and trouble.
” I don’t even need your permission. Shut up and take your hands off her.” Jason shouted his time. I was shocked for a second. I should not let the argument go bigger.
” I will come alone, Jason. Just for ten minutes.”