"Go out on a date with me"
My eyes stopped skimming over my work papers as I looked up and saw Josiah standing over my desk. We're both too early like always and just us being alone in a shared space really made me stiffen. I blinked again just to make sure that I wasn't mistaken.
"Josh"
I called out his nickname that he gave me permission to call him by.
"Please Qian, just a date"
But a date is never just a date. If it's not like that with Josiah then all you gotta do is say no to him. Right. No more games. I did promise Pierce that I'll stop playing around and actually think this one thoroughly.
I let out a sigh before nodding, earning a smile from him.
"Then I'll see you at the mall later, after work hours"
He said hurriedly before going upstairs like he was being chased by. I grimaced when I doubted my response. Maybe I should've thought everything through. Was I too hasty? But then again what would I have done? I want to get over everything.
This kind of feeling is not love and yet Josiah keeps on pulling me towards him. And it's just so hard to push him away.
As soon as work ended I commuted to the mall where Josh and I decided to have our first date. Since he was out on a site near the mall we had just decided to meet up in here.
"Hey"
I turned around and saw Josiah standing right behind me, still in his work uniform.
"Hey"
I greeted sheepishly and he urged me to walk, and that's just what we did, walk.
"Have you been here before?"
He asked and I shook my head.
"Nope. First time."
I answered timidly and looked around. Since it was my first time here it was hard not to keep my eyes on him. They wander to the different stores where I want to go shopping. I grimaced. I should've brought more money so I can buy anything I want.
"Let's go eat first then, there's a burger joint here that I liked going to"
I nodded at him and followed close by as he walked first, occasionally turning around to wait for me. I realized the burger joint isn't far and crowded just enough for us to have a proper conversation if ever.
Josiah was the one who ordered our food and while we waited, he took out his phone.
"Qian, do you play this game?"
He asked while showing me his phone screen. In front of it was a player vs player mobile game. I did play that game as a distraction during college days but I haven't played it again ever since I started working.
"A little bit"
"Really? I'm good at this, watch"
He smiled proudly as he started playing and all I could do was stare at him. Is he buying some time? I thought for sure that we would have talked about our circumstances over dinner but I guess he had other things to do.
I watched as he played and I couldn't help but smile when I realized how deeply immersed he was and enjoying his game.
Yeah maybe buying a little time is fine and all afterall.
"Qian look I won"
He exclaimed as he showed me his phone and all I could do was chuckle. He looked like a kid happily and proudly showing his achievements.
"Good timing, food's here"
I told him as I nodded towards the direction where the waiter was bringing in our food.
"Perfect, I promise you, you'll love this"
He claims as he prepares the disposable plastic gloves that are apparently used so your hands don't get messy as you eat the burger. Which was oddly large. I did notice that Josiah always had a big appetite and I guess this wasn't an exemption.
"Okay dive in"
I chuckled lightly, he really is like a kid. But nevertheless I try the food that he highly recommends and finds myself nodding when I tasted the flavor of it.
"It's delicious isn't it?"
I looked at him to see him staring at me with a wide grin on his face. All I could do was nod as I stuffed my face with more of it. The cheese, I do love cheese, but this one just takes the top of the list instantly.
"After this, we could walk by the seaside and eat some dessert. You like sweets don't you?"
I stared at him for a short while before laughing.
"What?"
I shook my head as I stifled my laugh.
"For all the talk of you not having an interest in me, you sure do know what kind of food I like"
That earned another grin from him before he closed the distance between our faces, two inches apart.
"You must've forgotten. I told you I love you. So that includes being interested in everything you like and do"
I should turn him down, say something to continue this talk with our current situation but I am drowning.
That's what I felt when I looked into his eyes. I am drowning and I am scared of it. I feel breathless like air was being sucked out of me. It's his eyes that made me feel like that.
In his eyes that made me forget about everything. Just him and me. It was in the way that his eyes gleamed with delight and happiness that had me drowning in them.
They're pretty. He's pretty and his face is my weakness. He knew it and somehow without even me realizing it, I had fallen.
And he knows it.
He smiled triumphantly like how he had smiled earlier when he proudly showed me how he won his game. His eyes crinkle as he smiles widely because he knows.
He knew that I had fallen and I was within his grasp already.