“Ethan?” I asked Lyuna over the phone as I walked across the street going to the coffee shop. “Who’s that again?” I added, trying to remember the guy but nothing crossed my mind. Okay, I really have a short-term memory and I remember people through their faces and not with their names.
I’ve met a lot of guys named Ethan...so who among them?
“C’mon, have you forgotten about him?” Lyuna hissed. “Ethan Blue Elizalde? The famous basketball guy from the rival school who actually asked for your number back in college?”
“I’m sorry. There are a lot of guys who ask about my number,” I told her, though I am not bragging. It’s true and I just don’t pay attention to them because I don’t have time and my heart is already owned by someone.
“Okay. Let me remind you about Ethan Blue Elizalde…”
“Wait…” I stopped her as I entered the coffee shop. “You know, I am not good with names, okay? So, let me just see his-- fuck!” I cursed upon seeing a tall guy at the counter ordering a coffee.
How could I forget this guy? Damn!
“You remember now?”
“I’ll call you later,” I told Lyuna and hurriedly went to the counter where Ethan Blue Elizalde was standing. Damn! Why is he getting hotter as he gets older? That’s quite unfair.
“Hey!” He wasn’t surprised to see me. I was the one shocked to see the guy again. If I remember correctly, I didn’t give him my number because he looks like a playboy which I was able to confirm because I saw him kissing a girl in the library. Although, we did go on some dates but it was just friendly dates and he used to send me coffee.
“Do you remember me?” He grinned.
“I remember you asking for my number and when I refused to give it to you, the next day you were making out with a girl in the library!” I emphasized those words as he laughed. But, I know, and they told me that it was the girl who kissed him back then. Nevertheless, that was a long time ago.
He brushed his hair and chuckled. “I am already done playing games and I’m already stick-to-one so you don’t have to worry about me.”
“Uh huh?” I said, not certain. “Then, what do you need?”
He gave me a cup of latte as I followed him to the vacant seat.
“I also remember you sending me coffee.” I told him as I scanned him. He looked like someone I know though I couldn’t figure it out. When I looked at him, I felt like I was seeing a bit of Gray’s features or maybe I just missed him that I could see his face even if I am in front of another man.
“I also remember you not accepting the coffee. So, are you gonna accept this now?”
I nodded with a smile. “Yeah, provided by the fact that you are already a changed man,” I teased him. “But, hey...I accepted it later on. Remember, we went on several dates.”
“Friendly dates…” He stressed the words. “You never liked me.”
I did, though. I was just afraid back then to get hurt and was so focused on someone else named Gray.
“Are you asking me to sing at your wedding?” I said, changing the topic because I don’t want to reminisce about it. I might regret it. Kidding! I am happy where I am now and I believe he is, too.
“No, I am asking you to sing at my grandfather’s birthday. He remembered you well…”
“How did he remember me?” I curiously asked. That was years ago when I talked to his grandfather. We met several times, but I couldn’t say we’re close enough for him to remember me except I sang in the bistro where they usually visit. That must be it.
Ethan bit his lower lip and shyly replied, “Well, I brought him once at your gig and then told him some things, but then, yeah! Don’t ask me, just tell me, are you okay with it?”
“You know, my talent fee is--”
“I know, right. I am willing to pay anything because he asked for you.” He said.
I was kidding about the fee, but considering he is rich, I think I might do it.
“Why would he ask for me? Wait, do you still like me?” I teased him and he blushed. I laughed.
We’re not that close but everytime we’re together I could say that we’re really comfortable with each other and we get along really well.
Ethan chuckled a bit. “I already accepted the fact that I cannot have you,” he dramatically said and acted hurt.
“Good to know. I already have a boyfriend, too.”
“Woah, really?” He said, surprised. “Nice. Good to know that someone finally captured your heart.”
“He’s the only one who captured my heart,” I answered, remembering Gray’s smile. Gosh! I missed him, but he’s busy with his work, so we decided to just meet on the weekends.
“It was really hard for me to get your number from common friends and you’re blocked from my social media account--”
“You blocked me!” I stuck my tongue. “Bear with it!”
“Yeah. So, don’t refuse me. It was my grandfather who requested for you.” He pleaded.
“If it weren’t for your grandfather…” I paused and teased him. Although, I would agree since I also met his grandfather and talked to him while I was still singing at restaurants. But, it only occurred to me later that he was Ethan’s grandfather who likes listening to our songs.
“What are the requested songs so I can prepare and where is the venue?” I sipped at my latte while Ethan handed me an invitation letter.
“Sorry for the short notice…” He apologized and I told him it’s okay since I still have days to prepare since it will be on weekends. “Nothing in particular though I still have to check on Grandpa, okay? I’ll let you know before the day.”
“Sure.” I replied and grabbed a bit of the cake that had just arrived at our table.
“By the way,” he added. “Do you have anything else to do today?”
I wagged my head as I continued eating.
“So, can I ask you to go shopping with me?”
I raised an eyebrow and before he could answer his phone rang.
“Okay, this is the reason why…” He answered the phone and from his words I learned that it was his grandfather.
He suddenly gave me the phone.
“What?” I muttered before taking it.
“He wants to talk to you.”
I smiled slightly as I took the phone. “Hey, Grandpa. How are you?”
“Hey, almost daughter-in-law,” He told me and I looked at Ethan who was trying to listen to our conversation telling me to put it on a loudspeaker. I just stuck my tongue out because I want to know what he’s telling Grandpa about me.
“Are you already with Ethan?”
“Yes, and thank you for inviting me to your birthday,” I said.
The talk continued for a minute until I hung up because we might be talking for about an hour if I hadn’t lied about doing something.
“Did he tell you about shopping?” Ethan confirmed. “You know, you can say no…”
“You can just lie and…”
“No. My Grandpa will know because he has a lot of people that will check if we visited the store he mentioned for your dress at the wedding,” Ethan explained.
“I guess I couldn’t say no to that, so let’s go?” I asked him.
“What else did Grandpa tell you?” He said as we walked to the parking lot.
“He called me his almost daughter-in-law. What did you tell him?”
Ethan just smiled at me. “Something great about you.”
“What else can I say? I am that great.”
We both laughed.
We went to the boutique where Grandpa told me to go and shop for my dress for his birthday party since he also wants to treat me to something nice. I told him that it’s okay, but he insisted on buying me something and I would just feel guilty if I would say no to him. After all, he requested my presence and I really appreciated that people still remember me and that they want me to do something nice for them like singing at their parties.
“I was supposed to choose my dress, okay? Why are you choosing it for me?” I rolled my eyes at Ethan as he kept on giving me dresses to try.
“Well, you need an opinion of an expert.”
“Ah, yeah. An opinion of someone who's been with a lot of sexy girls…” I hissed as I showed him the sexy dress he chose for me. “I don’t wear this. It’s so revealing.”
“I know right. You like simplicity, so don’t worry…” He grinned. “You actually don’t need to try on everything.”
“What do you mean by that?”
Just then, the staff of the boutique came bringing a paper bag. “Here’s the dress you told us to do, Sir.” She told Ethan as Ethan smiled and thanked him.
“You!” I glared at him. “You let me try on clothes when you already have for me.”
“Sorry. I enjoyed seeing you with different dresses,” He stated.
“Wait, I’ll have to fit this-”
He cut me.
“No need. I made sure that it will fit you. I got your measurements from Lyuna.”
“Oh. You don’t want me to show you if this one really fits?” I said, trying to see the dress but it was put in a cute box.
“Just surprise me with that at the birthday party.”
“Okay. Thank you,” I told him and we got out of the boutique.
“Where should I drop you? Are you already going home?”
“Ah, no. I’ll visit my boyfriend at his work.”
“Oh. Yeah. Who’s the lucky guy?”
“You’ll meet him soon,” I replied.
“You are being mysterious. You don’t post him on social media.”
“You are stalking me? You blocked me!” I accused him although I know it was his girls that did it
“Sorry. My girlfriend is a jealous one.”
“My boyfriend, too…” I smiled upon remembering Gray though I loved seeing him jealous.
“Speaking of, can you give me your number?” He asked. “C’mon, you know I need to know your number. Lyuna don’t want me to have your ---”
“Yeah. Yeah…” I cut his sentences and asked for his phone. “You can have it now provided that you will just text me if it’s important.”
He chuckled. “You know me well.”
I handed his phone back after putting in my number. He dropped me off near the site where Gray was working. He told me the location of his work, so I decided to just pay him a visit since I have a lot of time. I really missed him and I want to see him at work.
“I’ll see you at the birthday party, okay?” Ethan confirmed.
“You will. Take care!”
I waved and let his car out of my sight before going to the shop to buy coffee for Gray before going to the site. It’s a surprise visit so I didn’t inform him about this. I want him to be surprised to see me.
Not knowing I will be surprised when I see a girl wiping his sweat. Is that work-related?