Caffeine and Alcohol

6 - Dexter

Dexter

So, something good does happen after 2 AM.

I know I just came from a returning heartbreak because of Wallace, my stupid ex. But can you blame me? How can you just resist it when an angel appeared in front of you in the being of Riley? You just can't.

Here we are, outside of Café Louvre, waiting for his friend to lock up the place. The darkness of the night enveloping him but he somehow still shines.

"I told you not to wait for me," his friend said.

"It's the least I could do," Riley said, looking at his friend. His friend looked at me and gave me a big smile. I mean a big smile!

"I'm Kelly, by the way," his friend introduced herself. She held out her hand and I accepted it.

"Dexter," I introduced myself. I looked at Riley and saw him rolling his eyes. His friend slapped his shoulder and both of them giggled.

"I need to get going, I need my beauty sleep. Nice meeting you Dexter," she said and walked away from us.

"Sorry, she can be too much sometimes," Dexter said, looking directly at me. Somehow, his stares are what make me all shy. We just met yesterday, and he already have this effect on me.

"It's okay, she just introduced herself," I said, and he smiled at that.

"I know. So, where to?" he asked, looking at me with intensity.

"Your call, you're the one who invited me," I commented, and he nodded. It's still a surprise to me how this person can be so straightforward, inviting a total stranger to a late-night adventure.

"Let's just walk and sit down at a nearby convenient store?" he suggested. I nodded at what he said. What a sweet night, just walking with someone you think you like and talking about something.

"Let's go, you lead the way," I said, and so he did. He walked and I followed. He walked with his hands behind his back as if all his defenses are down.

Would you let your guard down when walking with a stranger? With someone you just met? I mean, I have no ill intentions but it still kind of interesting. He's interesting.

"So, why do you want to go with me tonight? I'm a stranger to you," I said, walking beside him. He hummed and he made a face as if thinking of an answer.

"Well, how else would you get to know someone if you don't try?" he answered. I looked at him and he was smiling and looking in front of him.

"You have a point," I said, as we slowed down our pace. We let the night be for tonight.

"Plus, I trust you," he commented. I looked at him and he was looking back at me with a sincere smile on his face.

"Why? I'm still a stranger," I said, taking a pause on our walk. His back was facing me this time so I can't look at his face.

"I just do, plus you have this friendly aura on you, that's why I don't have a hard time trusting you," he answered, and it's a good thing his back was facing me because I can feel my cheeks heat up.

"You shouldn't just trust anybody that quickly," I said, and he turned, looking at me straight in the eyes.

"Why, do you have any ill intentions?" he asked. I smiled at him this time.

"None, I have no ill intentions but spend time with you," I answered. He looked surprised at my answer and nodded.

"That's good to know," he said, returning to our walk. I walked beside him and looked at him. Being this close, all I can say is that he is damn attractive.

As the street lamps shine down on his face, I can see his features even better. His eyes as dark as the night tonight and his lips are so red that you can't help but look at them. His nose is even beautiful. He really is an angel.

"It would really be nice if you don't stare at me like that," he said, stifling laughter. I felt my cheeks heat up. Good thing it's dark and he's not looking.

"I'm just looking at your features," I defended myself.

"You have the whole night to do that," he commented. He stopped walking and I too did. "We're here."

"Let's go in?" I asked, and he shook his head.

"Let's sit outside," he said, pointing at the table in front of the 24-hour convenient store. I nodded and let him guide me to the seats.

"What do you want?" he asked as he fished out his wallet from his pocket.

"Just water," I said, handing him the money for the bottled water.

"I'll be back," he said as he walked inside the store. I watch him grab food and drinks from shelves and pay for it. He's doing something so simple, yet I can't remove my gaze from him.

I rest my back and looked at the sky. It's already 3 AM so the stars in the sky is visible already. Are the stars and the moon watching us tonight? Can they hear the sighs of my heart as well?

"Hey," Riley said, taking a seat in front of me.

"Hey," I repeated. He handed me the water and I looked at what he bought. Instant noodles and soymilk.

He let the instant noodles cool as it is still hot. He is so focused on the noodles that I can't help but stare at him.

"You're really taking your time to stare at me, huh?" he said, as he looked at me. I looked away even if I was caught.

"Am not."

"Already caught you, you know," I said, I returned my look at him and saw that he returned his stare at his noodles.

"You're really focused on that, huh?" I commented, taking a sip of water. He smiled while still looking at his noodles.

"I just like how the smoke from the noodles goes up to the air," he said as he looked at me.

I saw the way he looked at me and just know that his stare was sincere. The same look he gave to me the first time we met at the café. The moment he did, I just know he was someone I can easily trust.

"Why do you keep looking at me like that?" he asked. He started eating his instant noodles while still looking at me.

"I just like your face," I answered.

"So straightforward," he replied, smiling at me. I smiled back and watch him eat.

I let time pass as we get to know more about each other. It's the little things that matter, anyway. The night was filled with laughter and smiles. Two hearts from two strangers, beating as if they've known each other for a long time.

That was the feeling with Riley, the sense of familiarity. He seems so familiar and he lets me breathe and take a break from my problems even though we just met. What a person he is. You can't help but want to get to know him. And I'm thankful that the world let me.