Risk It All

RIA 02

Although Ian was hesitant to wave back to Mitzie, he did so out of respect and not to be rude to her. He doesn’t have the right to be rude to her, after all. If she’s the one that makes Bill happy, he will accept it no matter what and respect her. He will support them in any way possible he could if it is for Bill’s good.

Ian did not notice that he was already staring blankly for too long at the table Bill and Mitzie were occupying and that Bill and Mitzie were not looking at him anymore. They continued their conversation. Well, it was only Bill who was talking while Mitzie listened to him as she took small bites of her steak.

He was so invested staring at Bill and Mitzie that he did not notice the waiter standing at one side of the table, waiting for his order. The waiter faked a cough, trying to get his attention.

As if he got back into his senses, he glanced to his side. There, he saw another waiter holding a pad of blank paper attached to a cardboard. On his other hand was a pen pointing on the form. The waiter showed him a light, approachable smile, which made him smile in return for no reason.

“May I take your order, sir?” the waiter asked after a second.

Blinking his eyes, Ian stared at the waiter. The waiter was still smiling at him.

“Sir?” the waiter called again.

Ian finally realized why the waiter was looking at him. He called him to take his order. “Ahh. . . Y-Yes, I’ll order now,” he replied, stumbling on his first words. He pointed to the food on the menu using his right hand while mentioning the dish’s name he wants to order. Other than the food, he also ordered a glass of pineapple juice as his drink.

The waiter read Ian’s order written on a small piece of paper, confirming if he wrote everything Ian ordered. “Is this all your order, sir?”

“Yes,” Ian replied shortly.

“Noted. I will be back after ten minutes to serve your order, sir. Thank you,” the waiter said. But Ian could not hear the last words the waiter had said after calling him sir. It sounded so low that it did not reach Ian’s hearing.

The waiter turned his back to Ian. But Ian noticed something strange about the waiter. He seemed different from the other waiters serving the customers. Ian could not point out what it is yet he can feel it. And before the back of the waiter completely faced him, the smile on the waiter’s lips grew wide in a genuine way like he was feeling happy at the moment.

Slightly shaking his head, Ian brushed off the thought, suddenly bothering him. He must be imagining things. It’s nothing. I’m just hungry.

Ian sighed, relaxing himself as he lowered his head. He fixed his eyes on the table, thinking if Bill also thinks the same way --- if Bill was also thinking to get serious in one relationship and settle for good, not playing with another person’s emotions.

As if a magnet was forcing him to turn his head back to Bill’s direction, he promptly gazed at the table two tables away from him. He was shocked when Bill and Mitzie were approaching him, walking straight toward his table.

Mitzie was genuinely smiling at him like an innocent girl. Now, seeing that smile on her, Ian really just hoped that Bill is serious with her. It seemed like he would be the one to feel sorry if his best friend broke her heart after a few more days from today, he thought.

Bill, who was walking next to Mitzie, was still talking to her like they were the only people inside the restaurant. He did not care if other people would hear him say sweet words. Sweet words that made Ian cringe upon hearing them when they were just a few steps away from him.

Ian was just moving his head, following the movements of Bill and Mitzie, until the two reached his spot. Bill and Mitzie stopped in front of him. Also, Bill glanced at him with a smile. The same smile he usually sees whenever Bill is telling him about the girls he dated.

Expecting that Bill would formally introduce him to Mitzie, Ian prepared himself to feel hurt in his heart. This will be the first time Bill will introduce a girl to him in person. Bill never did this before. Or was it because he coincidentally met him? Whatever the reason is, he just has to prepare for something.

“Ahh, Ian, can we sit with you for a while?” Bill started with his jolly personality.

Having no other option but to let them sit with him, Ian nodded in agreement. His food was still not served anyway. Might as well have a talk with them, especially Mitzie. He wanted to know more about her, understand her deeper, why Bill chose her to date. Even though he knew that physical beauty is one reason that makes Bill date her, he still wanted to know her; especially her personality and attitude so he would know how to interact with her if she really is the right one for his best friend.

Ian saw how caring Bill was to Mitzie. Bill even pulled the chair for her to sit on. Ian could not help but feel jealous of her. How he wished to be cared for by Bill like that in public, but he also thought that there is no point for him to think of it ever happening. They will remain as an online pretend couple. He doesn’t even know why they gained many followers and viewers online when in fact Bill is dating one girl to another out in public. Or maybe, just maybe, it was only him that knows and sees it as public because he knew everything, especially their situation. And that Bill was doing it behind everyone else, secretly, except for him.

Settling with the reason he just thought of, Ian waited for Bill to introduce him to Mitzie, which happened just a few seconds after Mitzie sat on the chair Bill offered to her.

“Ian, I want you to meet Nelie.” Bill gestured his hand to the girl he called Nelie as he introduced her to Ian.

Ian furrowed his brows in confusion. He thought Bill would be seeing a girl named Mitzie and not Nelie. He blinked his eyes as he was trying to understand the situation. His mouth gaped open. He was about to utter a word and ask Bill why he is not with Mitzie. But he stopped himself from doing so. The girl Nelie must have had no idea about it.

Although confused, Ian kept his tongue inside his mouth. He simply smiled at Nelie as if he wasn’t thinking of something. He just confirmed it now that Bill is still not ready to be serious about his relationships. His best friend was still playing with girls. He really thought Mitzie, whom he thought was the girl with Bill’s company right now, was the one for his best friend.

He eyed Bill as the guy sat on the chair on the other side of the table that was in front of him. Bill faced Nelie, and he gestured his hand to Ian. “And Nelie, this is my best friend, Ian. The one I have told you about.” The smile on Bill’s lips was a piece of evidence that he enjoyed wasting his time with her.

Did Bill also enjoy hanging out with me, especially filming, to feed our online fans? Ian suddenly asked himself within his mind. Because if he is asked the same question, it will be a yes and no. It is a yes because he could not deny the fact that he wanted to feel and loved the feeling of how Bill was treating him while they were  inside their online bubble. And it is also a no because he knew it was all an act to make everyone on the internet believe they are a loving couple, which makes everything Bill did to make him feel loved also all pretend.

It was only him who thought it was real. He got trapped in the trap they had set for other people. It isn’t known in their office that they were somewhat known online as a couple. They really kept it from the people who know them in person.

“Ian,” Bill called, waking Ian from his thoughts.

Ian quickly looked at Bill moving his head towards Nelie like he silently told him to acknowledge her. Slowly, Ian turned his head to Nelie. She was offering her hand to him, which made him smile awkwardly. Yet he accepted her hand and shook it.

“Nice to meet you, Ian. Bill was just talking about you an hour ago. And I did not expect to meet you this instant.” Nelie softly laughed as they shook their hands.

Ian got puzzled. Why does Bill talk about him to her? He doesn’t get why he did it. He’s dating her, but he was talking about him. And what was he telling her? Did he tell her about their video blogs?

Possible. Well, it isn’t really impossible for Bill to tell Nelie the truth for him to gain her trust.

“Nice meeting you, too, Nelie. By the way, are you two already. . .” He paused and motioned his index finger and middle finger, positioning like a sign that entails two persons together. “Dating?” he continued, ending his question. Hesitation will be hinted in his voice that he is not confident of the question he asked.

Nelie giggled like her stomach was filled with butterflies. And before she could answer Ian’s query, the waiter who took Ian’s order came back, cutting their conversation. Ian, Bill, and Nelie dropped silent as the waiter placed the plate on Ian’s side of the table.

Popping his head to look at the waiter, Ian’s eyes were asking the waiter why he served him more than what he ordered minutes ago. Though his order was also served to him, there were additions that he remembered he did not order. He just ordered a plate of green vegetable salad, a piece of steak, and a glass of pineapple juice.

The waiter simply smiled at him as he read Ian’s facial expression. “Here’s your order, sir.”

Ian frowned. “But I did not order these. . .” He wasn't able to continue his words when the waiter interfered in between his words.

The waiter leaned down closer to Ian. He covered a hand on the side of his mouth as he spoke near Ian’s ear. “Someone ordered it for you, sir. You don’t have to worry. Everything is paid already, including your order.”

Just right after the waiter said what he had to say, Ian got surprised when the waiter was pushed away from him by force. And Bill’s figure welcomed his sight when the waiter was taken away from him, away from the table as Bill pushed the waiter.

“What was that for?” were the only words that escaped from Ian’s mouth after witnessing what Bill did.

Bill did not answer him. Instead, Bill grabbed Nelie’s hand, pulling her to stand with him. “Let’s go, Nelie.” And without saying a word to Ian, Bill left Ian hanging, filled with unanswered questions.

When Bill and Nelie were out of Ian’s sight, Ian stood up and approached the waiter. “Are you okay? Please accept my apologies on behalf of my best friend. I, myself, also don’t know what had gotten to him.”

“It’s okay, sir. You have nothing to worry about, sir. I’m okay. Don’t mind me.” The waiter showed him his smile once again, assuring him that he’s telling the truth.

The waiter mumbled something, but it was inaudible to Ian, making him more confused. Yet Ian set it aside. He was more concerned about Bill. He doesn’t know why Bill suddenly acted strangely.