I sat on the sofa and Arjun wasn't too away from me he was sitting a little close to me than ever, to be
honest. I like the way he was sitting with me comfortably. And for some reason, I felt comfortable with
him too. I know I'd get comfortable after one long conversation with people but it was different from the
very beginning. Initial periods I wasn't sure about my feelings but later I was getting to know him better.
I smiled.
He asked me to spell the movie because he was still having no idea how to pronounce it.
I was watching the movie and he was trying to keep up with the movie and the subtitles at the same
time. It was getting colder and colder and I was trying not to shiver. But at some point, I couldn't control
myself. The candle lights were not lit because it will disturb the movie that was running on the white
screen. I started shivering; I didn't rub my hands or let out any growling sound as heroines do in
movies. I was just sitting uncomfortably until he undoes his coat and covered me with it. His coat
smelled chocolate. He put his arm around me and his face was now an inch away from me. My breath
was uneven.
"You used to watch this movie a lot?" he said.
"Yes," I said.
"May I ask why you love this movie?"
"Because of the name of this movie?" I said as he gave me that 'Real' look.
"What's that mean?"
"I don't know how to translate properly but I'll try." He looks curious. "Everywhere love. Or. Love is
everywhere. Do you know why I truly love this movie? Because if you loved someone truly even if they
don't know about that, you'll wait for them and they'll come for you." I paused to look at his blue eye
which was dazzling like a blue star in the nights. "Love is in the roses as well as in the thorns," I said I
was proud that I started trying poetry.
"Yes, but it draws blood from us, don't you think? Why you say that?"
"Don't you protect me?" I asked innocently.
"I do... but"
"Peoples are complaining about thorns because he was protecting his love from you?"
"I never thought that in this way. You're right." He seems like he understood what I was trying to say
and I felt relieved and happy for some reason. I don't know why I said that but one thing I was sure that
I related us with that. I was that rose and he was that thorn who was protecting me. I imagined my face
in a naughty look in my mind.
"Can I ask you something?" after some minutes.
"mmhmm..."
"Now that I go out with you that means you accepted my apologies?"
"Only half." He said.
"But you said if I go out with you'll accept my apology." I made him remember that.
"First of all, it's not out. It's a date for god's sake! Can't you see that dinner under the moonlight,
candles lit everywhere, Rose petals, watching your favorite movies?"
I was totally surprised after hearing what he just said. I'm a little thought about that at first but I thought
I was kidding my mind. I told myself to keep my hope down in case it wasn't a date.
"This is a date!" I exclaimed.
"Yes, it is."
"So do you love me?" I asked.
I don't know why I asked that but that question was in my mind around 24/7. I know I was going to
regret that but he didn't say or look away from the movie screen that we were watching. I couldn't say
correctly that he was watching a movie or thinking about what he has to say.
He clears his throat. "Anu, look," I turned my face to look at his blue eyes. "We have to take things
slow. I can't say that I love you... yet. But I can say I... like you. We better wait and watch how this story
ends." He grinned. And then he kissed me on my forehead. I closed my eyes as I was feeling his lips
on my forehead. "My first kiss," I whispered in my mind until I realized that wasn't my imagination that
was real.
"No this wasn't your first." He said.
I was ashamed why he said that. This is my first kiss. I'd never kissed anyone before not even in my
dreams, I shouted.
"I never kissed anyone before. I swear." I promised him with my hands on my throat.
"This wasn't the first time that we kissed. I've already kissed you before. Remember? The swimming
pool? CPR? Once after you breathed I took you to our room and you were unconscious. I put you on
our bed and when I reached for the charger on the other side of the bed from leaning beside you... I
lost my grip and fell into you. And my lips... touched... yours... by mistake."
"So you stole my first kiss when I was lying unconscious in my bed?"
"I'm so sorry. It was unexpected!" he protested.
"But still that was my first kiss." I lowered my voice. Suddenly I remembered what he said to Jo the
other day in the face time with my family back in India. "So you weren't pretending or lying about my
first kiss when we were on the video call." He nodded.
"I never thought that my first kiss would be like that."
When we got back to our house it was already half past midnight. Krishna was waiting for us in the
front yard. And I saw Arjun's face got red like he was about to burst into pieces. He was just a brother
and a friend and why was he acting like this, I thought.
ARJUN SMITH
When we got back to our house from the first date, we were welcomed by Krishna who was sitting in
the front yard reading some kind of motivational book, I guess, he saw us and welcomed us with a
huge grin on his face.
Anushiya went into the house without any other word as usual. I tucked my fingers into my pant
pockets and started walking towards Krishna who was still grinning and encouraging me to sit with him.
I thought that for a moment, sitting down on the grass with this expensive suit. Then with the snap of
the time, he grabbed my arms and shoved me next to him.
"Oo-Woah" I groaned to hide my heartbeat rising.
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