Be My Mistake

Chapter Two

                                                                                                two

                                                                                      _______________

Two weeks passed by in a snap. I quit my job as a housekeeper and applied at a coffee shop near my apartment. I thought this was the best decision. The tip really pays the bill as we say. So far, I'm loving these changes. 

I was quite sad, though. 

I hadn't seen my neighbor's shadow in the past 5 days. The last time I saw him was when he was entering in a shiny Range Rover. I scrolled on my i********: account to stalk him again. I was right. He was a fashion model with 3 million followers. 

It wasn't me who found him. It was Juliane. 

"Girl!!! Your neighbor is so f*****g hot! Like scorching HOT! And pretty famous, too. Confirmed. He's really out of your league." 

"What's his name???" 

"Xavier Miller. He's french."

I knew to myself that I could never have that man. Not in this lifetime. Because seriously, he's too way out of my league. Too gorgeous to be paired with me. I was just a nobody. I wondered if he would even bat an eyelash if he sees me. 

Brutal answer: NO

I saw him posted a new story and tapped it in flash. He posted a picture of him wearing nothing but a golden yellow swim shorts. His pale skin gloriously being hit by the bright sun as he supported himself sitting on the sand. Those arms muscles flexing too hard, and his sexy moles demanding to be looked at. I felt my heart pounded and that 'butterflies in my stomach' tickling me. 

Damn me.

How was I supposed to stop myself from fantasizing a perfect man like that? He was my type from head to toe. There was nothing to trash. 

But then the brutal truth slapping me, he was way way way out of my league. Period. 

Another photo he posted was him at the airport captioned, "See you in a bit, France." 

I brushed off the sadness and ate my dinner. 

* * *

These days I found myself at peace watching the sunrise and sunset. Sunrise signifies another day for me to do my best and be productive; Sunset means it's time for me to take a rest and enjoy the rest of the day. 

...which brought me to a bar tonight. I wanted to loosen up a bit. I had never gone to a bar before. Being an auditor sucks—taking up my time and energy. In short, I had no social life. Never knowing I'd experience it here in the US. Felt great liberating myself shied away from prying eyes.

"One more Harvey Wallbanger please, thank you," the lady bartender smiled and prepared my drink with ease. I felt jealous. Her confidence in her craft was something I wanted for a long time. My third drink for the night was served. I drank it in five gulps like I was drinking my juice. 

A newbie would thought of it as a harmless drink because of the orange juice content. Wait 'til you bang yourself like the myth. My hand catches my head as my world began spinning. I was entering the tipsy state.  I wasn't that drunk yet.

"You alright?" I forced lifting my head and answered 'no' to the lady bartender. She gave me a glass of water and I thanked her for that. 

"First time?"

"Yeah," shutting my eyes tight then opened again.

"Hun, stop drinking alcohol like you are drinking soda next time. You'll get tipsy or drunk easily. Drink as if you're drinking your coffee," she pushed a plate of food in front of me. "It's on the house."

My tipsiness were replaced with happiness and thanked her endlessly. She gave me a wink and attended to another customer. I didn't waste any breath and dug the delicious burger, artichoke dip and crispy mojos. 

I was about to get up and leave when my nose caught a delicious whiff of a manly perfume. Not too overpowering, not too masculine. The scent was intoxicating and sexy my curiosity got the best of me, earning a slow turn-around to my left. 

Lo and behold—

I gasped and realized that I was drunk already. Because I was seeing none other than the fashion model s***h neighbor crush Xavier Miller. Ah, the other description was 'way way way out of my league' type of man. 

Staring was rude, I knew, but the opportunity was taunting me to grab the moment which I gladly did. We were one chair apart, still I could vividly see his gorgeous face. His hair was shorter now, soft dim lights made his brown hair stood out. I could imagine how soft that felt on my fingertips.

Carefully putting my elbow on the front bar, I rested my chin on my hand and subtly gazed at him.

Until now he was facing me side view just like how I first saw him at the Brooklyn Bridge. Not a single angle of him looked ugly.

His order was served and he drank it in a sexy way—damn his adam's apple. Watching him made my throat parched.     I needed another glass of Harvey Wallbanger!

I didn't know what kind of spirit possessed my body as I found myself sitting on the chair next to him. My heart's palpitating wildly—wanting to get out of its ribcage.

"Another glass of Harvey, please," a minute later I was sipping slowly my drink. I smiled at Gina, the lady bartender who gave me free food earlier.

"Hi," the tipsy me greeted Xavier, the way way way out of my league neighbor crush.

He looked at me briefly and said, "hey," then back to drinking his beer. He didn't snob me, did he?? But damn, his voice...

"I live across your street. I'm Aly."

His forehead creased.

"Xavier." his curt reply. Obviously, he was cutting the conversation short.

"Drink with me?"

I asked, raising my glass.

He declined.

Failed.

I couldn't do it anymore. To save face, I chugged one drink after another. I lost count. I was trying to be friends with him but failed miserably. So embarrassing.

I got up, my legs wobbled and my head was too dizzy making my vision doubled. Me trying to walk only ended me on the cold, hard floor.

"Are you okay?" I giggled. Alcohol really amazed me. My inhibitions were slowly leaving me. Thus, making me bold with words.

"I-i..like you," my words were slurred due to my drunken state. "...but you are way way way out of my league." 

I felt strong arms lifted me. Nice smell. I snuggled closer to the body that was carrying me. I didn't know what was happening anymore as my eyes were already closed and slowly drifting to sleep.

"Next time don't drink alone or else you'll be awake in a stranger's bed," was all I heard before I lose consciousness.

The next morning, I felt like s**t. I never knew hangover was this bad. I had a massive headache for the first time in my life. Hurts like a b***h.

I drank medicine to alleviate the pain and crawled my way to the kitchen and made a fresh ginger tea with green tea.

I stopped dead on track when something popped on my head. How did I get home???

Then I saw a vision of me talking to a man. His face was vague in my memory. I was telling him my address, my unit number, how he smelled so nice, and...and...

Fuck! Xavier took me home?! 

I held my head tight to suppress the embarrassing memories surfacing bit by bit. I'm doomed.