Chapter 7
2162 Words
Genius looked at me in disbelief when he saw Ryan walking towards us. I told him about Ryan joining us for dinner and he didn’t say anything. But now that we’re about to drive to the restaurant, I can feel like he’s against the idea.
“Hello, Carrie!” Ryan beamed at me when he reached Genius and I. He gave my best friend a curt smile. “Nice to meet you, Genius.”
Genius has his eyes narrowed at him. He didn’t greet him back. He just nodded at him before turning to me. “Get in,” he told me as he motioned to open the door to the passenger seat of his car.
“Oh! I was kind of hoping that she’ll ride with me,” Ryan chimed.
Genius gave him a sharp look.
Ryan chuckled and rubbed the back of his head. “I mean, I’m kind of courting her. So, I think that she should ride with me.” He began explaining. “We’ll just meet each other there.”
Genius was looking at Ryan like he was offended at his words. I bit my lip and let out an awkward laugh before turning to Ryan. “It’s okay, Ryan. I can ride with Genius—”
“Sure,” Genius interjected. “Just ride with him and we’ll just meet each other there.”
I blinked at him, shocked that he agreed with Ryan. Genius smiled at me. “I’ll just wait for you there, then,” he said before heading over to the driver’s side. He rolled the window down and gave Ryan a warning look. “You need to be there before me or else…” he roared his engine to life and drove away.
I bit my lip as I looked at Ryan with ashamed eyes. I didn’t expect Genius to give out a warning like that. But then it’s already quite surprising that he allowed me to go to the restaurant with Ryan. It’s a progress, I think.
“I’m sorry about that,” I told him apologetically.
Ryan shook his head and smiled widely. “It’s okay. I’m good,” he replied. “I’ll just go get my car. We need to speed up and arrive there because he does.”
I nodded and watched him run to the parking lot to get his car. He pressed his key fob and a white SUV lit up. He entered the driver’s side and drove towards me. He opened the door of the passenger’s seat from the inside and grinned at me. “Get in,” he replied.
I nodded and did as I was told. His car is messy. I can see bottles of water on the floor and some papers on the dashboard. I can even see wrappers of chips.
He chuckled weakly. “I’m sorry. I am a messy person,” he replied. “I should have let you ride with him.” He laughed awkwardly.
I bit my lip and shook my head. “It’s okay,” I told him as an assurance. But in reality, I don’t like messy people. Genius is really neat. I have never seen his car this messy. Tracy has a messier car considering she’s a woman. But this car is way, way messier than Tracy’s! I cannot believe someone could be this messy!
“Really?” Ryan chuckled. “Your face says otherwise,” he commented.
Flustered, I chuckled and looked away. “Sorry,” I told him. “I’m just…not used to this.” I don’t know what I would call his car. It’s white and neat on the outside but messy on the inside.
He started driving us to the restaurant. I was actually praying that Genius had to drop by some place but I doubt it. Genius never drops by somewhere unless it’s a drive-thru or a library.
“How long have you two known each other?” Ryan asked me when he stopped before the red light.
“Who?”
“You and Genius,” he replied. “Have you known each other for years?”
I nodded. “I’ve known him since senior high school,” I replied.
“And you’ve been close since then?”
I nodded. “He’s been my best friend since then.” I smiled at the thought. I couldn’t even imagine how I lasted senior high and the college without Genius. He’s really one of the people in my life that I am most thankful for.
“Hmm…” he nodded. “He’s a good friend, I see,” he started. “But isn’t he a bit controlling on who you will be dating?” he asked.
I narrowed my eyes at him. “What do you mean?” I asked him back, confused because I feel like I don’t like where this is going.
To insult Genius, the person who’s been my best friend for years, is like insulting me as a person. Never had I ever felt like Genius is controlling. He’s a bit protective, yes, but he never controlled my decisions. He makes me learn from my mistakes and then give me the cruelest and frankest advice right after. And that’s what I like about him.
Ryan shrugged as we advanced. “I feel like he has a say on who you will date,” he uttered. “I also feel like I need to impress him…which I don’t understand. I’m going to date you, not him.”
His words triggered something in me. I suddenly want to ask him to pull over because I want to get out of his car already. It’s trashy anyway!
I took a deep breath and calmed myself down. I took my phone out to text Genius. I need an excuse for this dinner to not push through. Damn it! I should have insisted to ride with him!
“Well, I think…in my opinion, someone who wants to date me must mesh well with the people important to me,” I replied while typing a message to Genius.
Me:
I’ll make an excuse. I don’t want to date him anymore.
I didn’t expect him to reply to me but he already did reply to me in seconds. I wonder if he’s already there because he already replied.
Genius:
Why? Tell him you have an emergency. I’ll take it from there.
Ryan was quiet for a few moments before I heard him chuckling lightly. “Your best friend looks like he would kill anyone who tries to make a move on you.”
“Are you scared of him?” I asked. I looked at him with a smirk and a raised brow. “Genius is a nice person. He’s just like that because he’s already seen me break down because of a man.”
Ryan bit his lower lip, seemingly ashamed of what he just said, and focused on the road.
I am still annoyed at him while we’re driving to the restaurant. He was quiet for a few moments before he started to liven up the atmosphere between us. I still replied to him but what he did was already enough for a major turn-off.
When we arrived at the restaurant, I already saw Genius leaning on his car with his eyes on the phone. I pretended to answer a call while Ryan parked the car.
“Hello, Aunt?” I tried to sound urgent. “What? You’re in the hospital?!”
Ryan stopped the car and looked at me. “Hey, is everything okay?” he asked me softly.
I shook my head and unclasped my seatbelt. I opened the door and immediately ran to Genius who has his eyes narrowed at me. “It’s my aunt. She’s in the hospital. I need to see what happened to her.” I deliberately said it in a loud voice so Ryan would hear.
Genius nodded and opened the passenger’s side of the door. “Get in,” he replied.
Ryan came running to us. “Hey, what’s happening? Are you leaving?” he asked me. He sounded so confused.
Genius gave him a look. “I’m sorry, man. She has an emergency. We have to go,” he uttered before shutting the door.
Behind the tinted window, I can see that Ryan standing there, still confused.
“She’ll just see you tomorrow,” Genius uttered before closing the door and driving away.
I sighed hard when we’re already far from the restaurant. I feel bad for what I did but I don’t know how I could break it to Ryan. Maybe I have the whole night to think it through. Tomorrow, I’ll be ending it. I feel like Genius is right. I don’t want to waste time on the wrong people.
At least, I got to know Ryan enough to be turned off.
“Are you okay?” Genius asked me. “What happened in the car? Did he try to make a move on you?”
I sighed and shook my head. “He didn’t,” I replied. I want to tell him that Ryan tried to kiss me at lunch a while ago but I don’t want to make him angry right now. After all, I already have decided to cut it off.
“Then why the sudden change in your decision?” he asked coolly while he maneuvered the steering wheel.
I sighed and looked down. Clean. The floor is clean. No bottles. No chip or candy wrappers. No papers. Clean. Unlike Ryan’s car which looked like a garbage area. “His car is so dirty,” I complained. “I hated it!”
Genius laughed at me before shaking his head. “That’s the reason why you don’t want to date him anymore? Because his car is dirty?” he gave me a quick glance.
I shrugged. “Well, it’s one reason.”
“What’s the other reason?” he asked.
I don’t want to tell him the real reason. I feel like he’s going to laugh at me when he knew about it. I already feel embarrassed, just by thinking about it.
I shrugged and looked out the window. “He’s arrogant.” I didn’t really lie. I really felt like Ryan was arrogant when he said he doesn’t feel the need to impress Genius. Preposterous!
Genius sighed. “I don’t want to say it but I told you so,” he said as if trying to mock me for my decision to date Ryan. I glared at him but he smiled. “At least, this time, it didn’t take too long before you realized that I am right.”
I bit my lip and nodded. “Fine, fine, fine. You’re right about this one,” I told him as I rolled my eyes just so he would stop rubbing it to my face.
Genius chuckled. “Enough about that bastard,” he said and I sighed in relief. “Where do you want to eat?” he asked. “I’m starving.”
I chuckled. “Mexican take-outs? And then let’s eat by Lincoln Park?”
He smiled and nodded before taking us to the nearest Mexican restaurant drive-thru.
***
The moonlight reflecting over the pond is mesmerizing. We’re standing at the bridge over the South Pond in Lincoln Park with our tacos and drinks.
I heard Genius sighing dreamily as he looked at the moon and stars over us. “When we enter law school, everything will be different,” he uttered. “I doubt if we’re going to have nights like this.”
I smiled at the thought of finally studying law. It’s my childhood dream to become a lawyer and I have always wanted to be one. I promised my mother I would be the best lawyer alive and I am on my way to realize that dream.
“You think we could be lawyers?” I asked him.
“Of course,” he replied. “Unless we give up along the way.”
I rolled my eyes. “I won’t give up on it,” I told him. “Would you?”
He shrugged. “I already have set my eyes on that goal…” he replied. “But things might happen along the way.”
“I don’t think there will ever be something that would hinder you to that goal,” I told him with full assurance. I looked at him and smiled. “You’re one of the most diligent men I have ever known. I’m sure you’ll be a lawyer. I’m already claiming it for you.”
He chuckled and shook his head. “You’re just saying that,” he said. “But then again, I want us to become lawyers together.” His voice was soft and serious as his eyes were fixated on the night sky above us. “I know we will.”
I nodded. “We will,” I told him. “But I still think that you need to find a girl to love. It’s fun to study when you’re inspired.” I teased him.
I really want to see Genius with a girl. I have never seen him date ever since we started being friends. He always says he doesn’t like wasting his time. But then again, how will he know he’s found the one when he doesn’t even try dating some girls?
“I am inspired right now,” he said.
I raised my brow before scoffing. “What makes you inspired? You’re not even dating someone—”
“You,” he interjected. I stopped, suddenly flustered at what he just said, and looked at him. He’s staring at me intently. “Can’t I be inspired by you?”
I swallowed hard and laughed awkwardly. “I meant a girlfriend, stupid!” I told him before looking away. I am just glad that it’s night time. He wouldn’t see my blushing face.
I heard him chuckle weakly. “Dense. So dense,” he mumbled before silence enveloped us.
- Writer
