The Courier's First Date

If I have a dream to reach then, it would be to have my designs placed in the famous agencies. I saved my money from being a waitress just to build my dream boutique. I was a fashion design graduate from a prestigious school. My parents wants me to be independent and I did my best to their favor.

It was 7 o’clock in the morning. It was a good sunny day and a good thing to start a productive way.

I was keeping myself busy from my paper works when a love song started singing from the stereo. “Can you stop that thing? It’s making my ears cringed, please.” I heard a sigh out of the corner.

“Candice, let me tell you something. Valentine’s Day is around the corner and you’re facing the fact that - yet again – you’ll be spending it alone. You’re not the one to brood, though, and as every year you’re ready to spend your day in a boutique on a hunt for a new pair of pretty heels. After all who needs Valentine when you can have Valentino?” My friend, Jessie told me while cleaning the desk of our boutique.

“So what? I don’t have time for dating. The guy that I want is still in California. How will I be happy about Valentine’s every year then?” I asked her.

“It’s not about the event, Candice but as you took at your growing collection of heels, you come to realize that this time; around you might want something different. And that maybe – just maybe – you’re finally ready to fall in love.” She added. This time those words stuck in my mind.

“I don’t care. All I want is him. No matter what words you want to hit me. Thank you very much.” I snorted.

“Well, I don’t want bad things coming to you. I just want you to be happy.” She said and hugged me as I put back the papers in my desk.

I am happy even though I have a poor love life but one thing is for sure, I have a crush with someone. He’s my schoolmate when I was from my high school days. We met on the school bus since he was my bus mate and we tag along until we graduate. He was my first friend.

We didn’t see each other after that and I heard that he will be moving in to California. Well, I don’t know what he was doing right now since we didn’t communicate and I don’t know what are his social media accounts as well as his contacts.

His name is Tyler but we call him, “Ty” for short. His blue eyes give me chill and ache in my heart. Those jaw lines that I want to bite until it reds; those lips that I want to cherish. God, I want to die.

He’s the most gorgeous human-techno geek in the entire world. Yes, he is. Well, he is an IT graduate focusing on video games programming. He’s a nerd for computers. Only want thing I want for this year:

I’m still waiting for him to come back.

“I’ll meet with the clients today, Jess. Please do your job in here and make sure the door is close after your working hours ended.” I told my secretary before I went outside the boutique.

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It was February 14, a month for excited couples and for poor loveless people—like me. I don’t think about having lovers right now. I am waiting for the right man to get in front of me. My morning was bombarded with lots of paper cupids and red balloons coming from my neighborhood outside my house and of course, here in my boutique.

After meeting with my clients and words of wisdom from Jessie, time flies by and it’s five o’clock in the evening. I was heading home when…

“Candice? Is that you?”

I heard a familiar voice coming behind me. When I turned to see who it was, my heart skips a beat. It was Tyler. Oh my goodies! When did he came back?

“TY?! Oh my God!” I was surprised by his sudden appearance as well as speechless. What will I say? “Uhm, when did you came back? I finally said.

“Last week. Wow, you grew into a beautiful woman, Can.” He said which made me blush. I told you this is not what I am expecting to see in this kind of situation. I’m not ready to face him. “Oh, thanks. You too.” I smiled shyly.

“I’m beautiful?” His face was amused.

“Uh, no! What I mean is, you’re good-looking.” I grimaced. Damn you Candice! Stand for yourself! Behave. This is not what you are doing when you met your long time ultimate crush. You’re not in the fiction world full of fictional characters! “Well, what are you doing here?” I asked him confused.

“Just stopping through the neighborhood. Nah, I lied. I work in here.” He smirked and pulled his bag over his shoulders.

“Oh really?” I said, focusing on a few pebbles on the sidewalk.

“Yep! I was accepted yesterday. Due to the lack of employees on the IT department of the company, they told me to start my duty next in the morning. I need to improve my skills on my video game programming, specifically focusing on C++ and engine frameworks.” He smiled showing his pearly white teeth.

“Oh, you’re still doing that,” I looked up. “Ty, I don’t get it. Why do you do that?”

“Why do I do what?” he asked.

“Video games are fun to play every once in a while, but like,” I tried to find the right words. “We’re adults now and… well…”

“Candice…” Ty sighed.

Oh gosh, I messed up! Is this like in the stories that I read that a boy gets turn-off because of the stupidity of a girl?

Well, that girl is me, obviously.

“This is something I genuinely like doing. And I could say the same thing about what you’re doing. Why spend time designing? This is 21st century, people don’t wear fashion clothes every day.” He raised his eyebrow. I was also thinking about that. I don’t know. It feels that designing is my passion. A part of my life.

“Yeah, but… this is different. Young people do like fashion clothes through social sites anyways.” I looked back at the ground. He was joking, but that really hurt. My goal is to show people the part where fashion clothes can also describe their personalities. Video games are just, well, games.

“Well, forget about that. Where are you going? Are you busy?” Ty asked, breaking me out of my train of thought.

“Actually I was heading to my house and take a rest. Why? I asked him back.

“You can do it later. There is a new café downtown. They told me they serve great coffee and desserts. I’m meeting a friend up there too. It’d really be great if you’ll come.” I looked at him with wide eyes. He scratched the back of his head.

“Uhm…” I was speechless. It’s like being with him felt awkward and seemed like a bad idea.

“So?” Tyler raised his eyebrow. I sighed and nodded.

“Wait for a minute. My house is just block meters away. I need to go grab my keys and a jacket since it will be cold later at night.” I said as we continue walking in silent until we reach our destination. I went inside my house and grabbed my jacket and keys from my room. Mom wasn’t home, so I texted her saying I’d be back home later.

“Let’s go.” I said. Ty smirked as I came out. Damn him.

The café was called Blank Café. Who the hell came up with that?

“Here we are, let’s go and find a seat.” He said as we entered the café and found a vacant table. As we took a seat, a server came and asked our order. We told her the things we’d like, and she went back to our counter. After a minute, she came back with our coffee.

I was typing on my phone when suddenly a hand was on my thigh. I looked up the person who owns it and saw a smirk from that

person.

“What the hell are you doing?” I glared at him.

“I’m getting your attention. You’re way too focused on your phone like there’s no one else here.” He said, and I thought for a moment. Goodies! Why am I acting so dumb?!

“Oh, sorry. I was bit stressed out from a hectic day. Anyways, where’s this friend you were waiting for?” I asked him. I thought the person who is going to meet him would’ve been here by now, but maybe we came early.

“Well, she canceled.” Ty said, sitting down his phone on the table

“Oh.” I said, somewhat relieved.

“Yeah, I guess it can be good.” Ty said, starting to play with the silverware on the table.

“I never said it was a good thing.” I mumbled, staring down into my coffee.

“Well I’m just saying that because I was thinking about something for a while and I wanted to get your thoughts on it.”

I frowned at his response and tried to figure out what he could’ve been talking about. “Okay, what is it?”

“Well the truth is, Candice-“

“Ty, hold on a sec.” I held up a hand. I felt like I knew what was coming. “You’re… going to ask me out, aren’t you?”

His face flushed, and he looked away in embarrassment. I almost felt sorry for the guy.

“Ty, I know what you’re thinking. You’re a great guy, and I’m not just saying that as some generic cop out. You really are one of the few people who I can actually talk to since we are in high school. I’m just not sure if that type of relationship would work for us.” I tried to think through what I wanted to say. What if I was totally wrong and he wanted to talk about some game he was working on.

“Wow, you know me better than I thought.” He chuckled. Crap, I was right. “Why do you think it wouldn’t work?” he added.

I tried to figure out my thoughts. “I just… I’m afraid you would see me different, or that I’d see you differently. Now, we’re just friends, so we don’t mind if we do something wrong, but if we’re together all the time…” I trailed off, not knowing what to say.

Ty sat there for a sec before speaking. “Well how about this, we can just try on a first date and see how it goes from there?”

I thought about it for an entire minute. A date with Tyler? Oh my god! This is not what I am expecting! Well, I also dream about this kind of situation and I wasn’t really sure, but I figured it wouldn’t hurt. “Fine, when do you want to go?” I asked.

“Surprise,” Ty said with a smirk on his face. “We’re on it right now!”

“Damn it Ty.” I couldn’t help but laugh.

This was a date huh? Guess life wouldn’t be as boring as I thought it would.

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