Unspoken

Unspoken Friendship Pt. 1

Shannon, who was a mutual friend of both Leela and Romel, thought it would be nice for her newly single friends to meet and see where things went. A bit of a matchmaker. For days she was talking up Romel to Leela, and vice versa. Romel was more of a new friend for Shannon, but since he was older, she felt that he would be a better fit for Leela.

"...and he's tall and talkative, just like you! He is finishing up his Ph.D and you're working on your Masters degree. He has all of his teeth, no kids, own place...," Shannon continued on, but interrupted by Leela.

"Yeaaaaah okay...what's wrong with him?!"

"What!? What do you mean what's wrong with him?? Nothing is wrong with him. He just got out of a relationship. I met him at the college and immediately thought of you when I met him. So I got his information, and I think that you should call him, OR, I could just set up a small get together and if he comes then you have to talk to him."

"And if he doesn't show?"

"Then I won't try to play cupid anymore for you."

Sigh.

"Shannon...ugh. Does he have a social media account, so that I can at least look at him first?"

"Wait...sooooo is that a yes??? Yes to calling him or yes to the small get together?"

Leela poached her lips together, then sucked her teeth, "the small get together, geez Shannon, what kind of weirdo just calls up a guy 'Oh hey there umm my friend said you were a good match for me and Ah-hyuck!',"

Shannon stared at Leela, "Heffa did you just do the Goofy laugh?"

"I surely did do the Goofy laugh, because that's exactly how I would have looked calling up some random man! Anyways, small get together, when and where?"

Shannon started to check her calendar and finally came up with a day. "This coming Friday at umm 7pm"

"Ugh! Fine. And what about that social media account, like f*******:? LinkedIn?"

"You should ask him all of that yourself on Friday. Okay I'm hanging up. I have a meeting."

"Shannon, like you don't even work. You're like Tommy from Martin! Oh...oh wait you mean a meeting as in an appointment?!"

"Ding, ding, ding! Byeeeee"

Leela hung the phone up laughing and shaking her head. "I didn't even ask what his name was," popping herself upside her own forehead. "I should figure out something to wear and get my hair done...Friday is in 2 days."

*Friday*

"He's here!" Shannon seemed more excited than Leela was. Shannon shouted in the phone "HURRY UP!"

Leela made her final touches on her hair and outfit. Nice, semi-fitted, red dress, designer pantyhose, and a small yet noticeable black heel. Hair was down with loose curls, light makeup, high gloss lips and of course her glasses.

"Is this too much? I mean we are going to a grown & sexy lounge and all the girls know I love looking good going out. Hmm...yeah I look good. Sigh. I'm nervous for no reason. He will probably be just like that last one...weird and hopeless. Okay, okay, Leela, relax, breathe, no negative thoughts..."

Before she knew it, Leela was already walking up the stairs towards the lounge. "Oh my gosh! I was seriously that deep in thought?!"

"LEELA!," shouted Shannon, "hugs! You look good! Come here, come here and let me introduce you to Romel."

Before Leela slowly stood up a tall man, nicely built, button up shirt, slacks, loafers, skin complexion so smooth like butter...and then...he smiled..."Whoa" Leela said underneath her breath.

"What was that?," said Romel. He had an accent and Leela instantly smiled.

"It's nice to meet you! I'm..I uh... I'm Leela. It's very nice to meet you, Romel."

"The pleasure is definitely all mine Ms. Leela," Romel said behind his smile.

Shannon's eyes grew big, "okay well you two sit here and I will go to the bar and get some drinks with Drew."

Leela sat down in the booth as Romel sat across from her. Both of them were still smiling.

"So you and Shannon have been friends for a while?"

"Well she's like my little sister. We actually met through playing a video game and grew close, found out we lived close by as well and our friendship grew from there," Leela continued on, "she may be younger but she's definitely a mature young woman, for the most part."

They both laughed as Romel started to explain how he met Shannon, "Yea she is quite a unique person. She kind of just like made me her acquaintance and told me about you."

Romel's slight accent made Leela smile nonstop. "Te gusta mi acento, mami?"

Leela's eyes grew as she tucked in her lips to hide her smile. "Mhm I like."

"Do you know what I asked?"

"Isn't gusto "like"...as in I like something?"

"How do you know that I didn't say that I can tell that you like me?," Romel smiled hard and burst into laughter.

"Ohhh you're good!" Leela smiled and the night continued on, vibing to good music, drinking, and great conversation.

"Not sure where Shannon went, but I must thank her for introducing us. I would like to have your number and take you on a proper date," stated Romel.

"I think I saw her creep out with Drew...like an hour ago," Leela giggled and continued on, "I would really like to go on a proper date with you Romel. Here is my number." Leela took his phone and saved her number.

"I'll be calling you tonight, to make sure you made it home safely, Ms. Leela."

Leela, made her way back home. "Dang, 2:30 in the morning..." *beep, beep* message from Shannon "Didn't want to interrupt but I saw all 45 of your teeth!! 35? Anyways! I'm with Drew byeeeee don't do anything I wouldn't do LOL!"

Leela wrapped her hair up in a colorful silk scarf, and made her way to the shower. She started the shower up and heard her phone ringing. Who the...OH!! Fumbling over her heels, finally feeling those Long Island Iced Teas hitting her body. She cleared her throat and sat back down on her bed, answering the phone, "Hello?"

Romel's voice echoed in her ear, "Hey Leela! I hope I'm not disturbing you, but I did say that I would call you tonight. I want to learn more about you. Your likes, dislikes, your passions. Knowing things like this helps me to understand a person a lot better."

"Why is that?"

"I'm working on my PhD in psychiatry. Not that I'm trying to diagnose you or anything, so please don't think that way. But I would like to sit inside of your mind."

Leela's heart almost jumped out of her chest. Those words were something she had always wanted to hear. A man wanting to learn and love her mind before anything else. "I would be happy to share..."

Now understand that this isn't a love story. There will even be a lot of fast forwarding to present days, future days, then a swift jolt back to memory lane. Don't worry, you won't be lost on this journey. Only Leela and Romel got lost...well Romel found Kellie and they lived happily ever after...STOP! That doesn't mean the end to this story, so relax. There's much more to understand about this first level, which is friendship, or was it...more?

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