Lee was giddy at work all day, causing James to give him a dirty look. Especially when they were in a team meeting, discussing their newest court case, and Lee only had daydream grin on his face all the time.
In the afternoon, his brother sent him a message via Whatsapp. Lee quickly glanced at it while he was absentmindedly typing away on his computer, preparing a draft for their newest case. He opened the app and typed his reply.
Later that night as promised, he called Jet and put him on loudspeaker.
"I heard you met a girl," Jet said, without even saying hello. It wasn't even two seconds before he actually picked up the call.
Lee groaned, "Let me guess. James?"
"Bingo!"
Lee swore Jet must be smirking on the other side.
"James. You traitor."
Jet and James also knew each other; and with Lee, they had gone out a few times before. Jet lived closer to the hospital he worked at though, and that was a few suburbs away, so they only got together whenever the three of them collectively had spare time.
"Pic or it didn't happen~~!" Jet further prompted in a teasing singing tone.
"How can a doctor have so much time, by the way?"
"Aren't you busy with ER ,or cadavers, or whatever, or something?" Lee asked.
"For my little bro, I always have time." Jet said condescendingly, "Now, pic please. Don't try to wriggle your way out of this."
Lee rolled his eyes inwardly and opened his Whatsapp, then attached Mia's picture that he had saved into his phone's gallery. In fact, he was going to use it as his screensaver, but he thought it might be too creepy. Even for him.
"Hotttt!" Jet parroted his own typing, on the loudspeaker.
"Ok, Lee," he continued, "Tomorrow night you must bring her along."
"What? No!" Lee widened his eyes.
"I don't care what excuse you'll use. You can even drag James as your wing-man if you are too much of a pussy to ask her." Jet laughed, "Her prospective brother-in-law wants to see her."
"Jeebus, Jet," Lee sighed, "You are a creep, you know."
"Hey, we are brothers. You are a creep too, Mr. Facebook Stalker."
"James , I'll kill you one day, I swear...," Lee cursed inside his mind.
"That's decided, then. Meet me at Kusa Restaurant 7 p.m. sharp," Jet said before adding, "If you don't bring her, you'll pay for your own meal."
Then he hung up.
"But, isn't it supposed to be your treat for my birthday?" Lee was at a loss, talking to the now dark screen on his phone.
Lee opened his Facebook messenger app and paused a bit. The latest messaging between him and Mia was still that lonely message from Monday night. She hadn't messaged him at all after they added each other on Facebook this morning. It hadn't been a long time really, he wondered if it's too soon for him to send another message. He typed.
Lee: "Hey. You there?"
Few seconds of nothing, then he perked up when he saw the '...' bubble sign, signalling she was typing her reply.
Mia: "Yeah. What's up, Lee?"
He was so relieved. The reply was pretty quick, too. A good start, right?
Lee: "Uh. I wonder if you are free tomorrow night?"
Mia: "..."
Lee was suddenly flustered, he haphazardly typed,
Lee: "I'm going out with my brother." he added, "Oh! and James!"
Mia: "Hmm... not really interested tbh."
Lee was dejected,
Lee: "It's my birthday... ."
Mia: "Really? When??"
Lee: "The past Monday."
Mia: "Happy Birthday, Lee!"
She even added a gif animation picture of a cat throwing confetti.
"Best birthday ever!" Lee grinned.
Lee: "So... still no good?" He might as well push it further.
Mia: "In that case, OK, I may go... . But.... any girls?"
Lee had a feeling that Mia might not come after all if there were only guys. For good reason on her accord.
He thought of James, and quickly replied,
Lee: "Yeah, there will be. James' sister will come."
Mia: "Ok, cool. Which place?"
There was a lightbulb on Lee's head,
Lee: "What's your phone number? I'll message you directly or text you the resto's name & address via WA. Will be easier to contact you on the day in case internet sucks."
And that's how he finally got Mia's phone number. Lee pumped his fist in victory pose after Mia texted her number.