Me and Inna headed together to downtown on a cab because i promised her a fun hangout, and I feel so excited about dragging Inna with me outside.
"It's going to be so fun, we'll have a great time together."
"Yeah whatever, I can't believe i agreed to go out with you to one of those nasty places that all kinds of dirty stuff goes on there."
During the whole ride, i couldn't stop smiling. I was oftenly looking back at Inna, her confused face made it more fun.
"...Honestly, this is literally feels like I'm in a date with you, i think your feelings are confused and you just need to be with your boyfriend right now."
"Hmmm, is that so?. Well i think anyone whose dating you is a lucky person, so would like to go on a date with me."
I was teasing Inna, but she seemed very angry, i felt like i have to apologize.
"Hehe, just kidding."
After some minutes, we arrived at our drop point. I couldn't wait to start our hangout.
"Come on, i know where we should start."
The weather was very like an end of February weather, lightly cloudy with the sun is still visible, it should be around 2 hours before sunset.
I was trying to make Inna comfortable and enjoy her time with me while walking, linking arms. All i was thinking was what can i do more for her.
In our hangout, i have to be normal and not like i usually hangout with my friends, so i have to act with consideration of my self-image .
...Everytime i try to lift up my spirits, i go to the flowers shop and smell some flowers, so i stopped by with Inna.
"I like flowers and roses so much, too bad they just die too quickly—look at this bunch of lilies—here, it's smell nice."
"Um...yeah, that's uh, really nice... thanks"
"Right?. it makes me feel lively, and clear my mind off leaving only beautiful ideas to my mindset."
After we stopped by the flower shop, we passed by the street me and Haime always be at, so i avoided it and continued to the open air sports game place.
"I heard this place is very famous, a lot of people go to it, I've seen influencers posting about it."
"Is this where people roller skate?."
"Yes, they are known for it, even though i think it's boring, you can't really ignore it, they have a massive floor and crazy decoration."
We decided to head inside, I'm familiar with the games they have, there are arcades, a trampoline park, and the roller skating rink.
I come here from time to time, on the first floor they had the roller skating rink, and the second floor was the arcade games.
We stayed at the floor level where the trampoline park is at, i paid my way in, through Inna's doubts and "you don't have do it"s.
I started to play around in our school uniform, jumping and trying to do backflips, and fail, almost causing myself some serious injuries, i tried to encourage Inna to jump with me into the ball arena, she was disgusted by it.
After the jump, Inna disappeared for a moment, until she finally stuck her head out.
I tried to do everything i could to make our time as fun as possible, after a while Inna got tired and decided to head out of the park to bathroom.
In the meantime, i went to fix my frizzy hair, and then i brought some sparkling water.
"You know, i never thought i would ever play at a trampoline park, i was planning on to play on the arcade, but for some reason, today i changed my mind and i had so much fun."
"Me too... I had so much fun."
Inside i was smiling and happy because i saw Inna having fun with me... A happiness that wasn't like with the others, with Inna, i feel like I'm doing the right thing, like I'm not hiding myself from anyone.
"Ruby, you are really a good person to hangout with, and i appreciate you taking me out and all, but i—"
"Really!, oh you don't know how much that means to me, actually I'm always like that, it was you that made this little journey fun for me."
"Is that so?. Well i think we are done here, i should go back now, my curfew is in."
"Huh, but i still want to hangout more, we didn't even get to the fun part yet."
"What?, you can't be serious, we just had some great time together you literally done enough for me, and i appreciate it, but now i need get back home."
"It's okay, you don't have to go yet, I'm just going to show you my favorite place i like to go to, it would be a waste if we don't go."
Oh the sparkling water* is starting to kick in, now i don't want to be left alone, I'm trying to push Inna to stay with me... I'm so childish and desparate right now.
With no second thoughts, i grabbed Inna's arm and started walking with her.
"Geez.. i want to but i can't..."
We just kept walking together around the area, even though she was opposing, Inna didn't put much resistance or any, and just continued walking with me.
I wasn't sure where to take her, i would preferred anyplace as long as she's happy with me, but i wanted to do something special, showing what she really means to me.
While we were walking, we noticed a very familiar thing related to both of us. It's the cat doll that we used as a symbol for our relationship
There was a store that had these cat dolls in different models, a hat took my interest as i walked into the store.
"This is... Actually looks cute. I can't believe it, what a coincidence."
"Me too!, appearantly this doll is becoming popular, could you imagine how much our symbolic doll is worth now?."
"Haha, that's awesome."
The hat then was placed on my head by Inna's hands, with a happy wide smiling face as she's laughing at how i look with it.
For a moment i felt the presence of a lively, honestly happy person, a genuine smile i never thought i would see on a face of girl who always been hard to reach, it made me feel like i can be happy with just simple things, gestures...
"Let's just take the hat now and go."
Inna and i continued walking. We became or she became more easy to talk to and instead of feeling like she's being dragged with me, it felt more like we are equally trying to hangout.
I still wanted to make her happy and felt the need to keep this more about her and keep showering her with fun even though i always am like that with everyone, Inna just happened to be who I'm interested in.
As we get closer to our destination, the sun has set, and the night about to begin, but nobody was worried about it and we were just talking and enjoying the sight of the sunset sky on the buildings.
...
We've finally arrived at the place, it was a regular bar that i always go to when I'm alone trying to get some short term satisfaction*.
"Ruby, you really about to walk me into a bar while we're still minors."
"Relax, this place doesn't check a lot, they be letting anybody in who looks mature. Also, I'm a regular here so we will be fine."
"Umm, i mean that sounds good but we're still—"
"Come on... I can't wait any longer."
I took Inna's hand and climbed up the stairs to reach the bar. My presence was instantly recognized.
"Ah! Ru— Is that... SCHOOL UNIFORM?!, you are not drinking in this bar wearing that, why did you come here wearing that?!."
This is Rai, the bartender i have a special relationship with, i guess because I'm a regular and always bring people here he lets me get some drinks, nice guy non the less.
"Haha, don't worry i will not be drinking tonight, i brought my friend Inna to sit in here for a little bit."
"... Oh yeah?, interesting... Well, whatever have fun i guess."
With that suspicious answer, i took Inna to the basement, excited to see her reaction to the place.
"Umm, Ruby. Remember what i said about taking me to nasty places."
As we get closer, the music gets louder, making me speak louder and louder.
"Huh, do you have objections on going to this place."
"... Nah, forget it."
Whenever i come i start to get excited and becomes ready for the fun, the ambiance and the speakers helps with that, it's where i feel like I'm in a whole different world.
Well at least at first, now i just feel like I'm just addicted and it became a routine. But today i have someone, someone who is looking for fun and i have the responsibility to deliver that.
"It's so crowdy and i can bearly see anything, i don't even know what they're doing."
"Well, what do you think they're doing?. They're dancing and enjoying themselves as if nothing else matters, don't you find it attracting."
"Come on, do you feel it, i know doing sober is hard but you can just follow me."
"No."
I didn't plan for it to go like that, she showed no interest to indulge in that kind of thing. So i decided to just sit around and watch with her.
"... I'm sorry Ruby, no matter how much you try to get me to enjoy our time, i turn you down and kill the fun."
This was a very odd situation, it's been a long time since someone commended me just for kicking back.
"... It's okay, if anything i appreciate you for coming along, even though it was like dragging you along. I had so much fun with you today."
"Hmm..."
After that response i realized that Inna was nervous because the place was very busy and the environment and the type of people there were not the kind of people you see or deal with regularly.
So i thought of a way to familiarize her more so she could stop stressing.
"You know, let's get out of here for a little bit, just follow me."
In the 7th floor there's an accessible room that leads to a balcony, a wide balcony with a nice view, with the yoga mats still on the floor.
"I used to dream about having a view like this everyday ever since i watched white album, it was until i met him, it was like a dream, i know we were not a thing but i loved pretending, i had a very strong feelings about his character, it was my first time realizing how much i love to relay on people, that's how it all started to become a multiple and it went well for sometime, until i realized I can't live like that forever.."
"And now all i remember is those moments where i thought i was loved, being called all kind of sweet names, looking at a view just like this one, but i was somewhat conscience and knew i had to tone it down, and i got to think more about my friends and myself."
"That's why I'm really grateful for you Inna, your offer was something i needed.. please don't leave me and continue to be my mentor, our meeting feels like a fate, so i don't want to ruin it and work from here to better myself. Do you promise me?."
I finally took a deep breath and felt light and relieved to say all of that, now i want to hear those words and I'm all hers.
Watching her elegantly sitting next to me on the bench made me approch her and place my head on her thigh, feeling closeness and a sense of security.
"Y-y... I'm going to to take care of you Ruby, i will turn you into someone who will be loved for who you are, i promise."
"I'm glad to hear that.."
After i took some deep breath, admiring this moment, i stood up and looked directly at Inna.
"Come on, let's continue our journey."
With that, Inna was smiling and she stood too, following me to the basement again, suprisingly the lights were turned on and the whole room is clear, and music became slower, we noticed Haime and a couple of my friends there.
I called them when Inna couldn't dance, to show her how much it is fun to just dance around, it better to do it around with some people you know.
"Why did you bring the girl here." Haime said
"Just play along, I'm on a mission here."
Haime just pulled me aside.
"Do have any idea what you just did, Inna isn't your friend, she's belongs somewhere else, now you have to deal with it after i have some fun in here.."
And with that, i knew exactly how this little journey is going to end, reality just set in, and my battle with happy things that don't last is on.