To End That Situationship

Chapter 2B: The Second Weekend

He sent a photo of the mall entrance, which I knew was connected to the parking lot. I looked up, and sure enough, I saw him standing near the entrance with his back toward us.

My aunt noticed me get uneasy all of a sudden.

“What happened?” she asked. I tried to play it cool and just shrugged.

“Matthew is here. He’s asking if I’d like to join him for dinner.” My aunt squealed like a teenager and playfully swatted my arm.

“Then go! Where is he?” I pointed toward Matthew, who was still standing at the entrance with his back to us. My aunt started the engine and began to drive. I was horrified when she pulled up only inches away from him—she almost hit him!

He turned to look at the car, and I immediately ducked, covering my face to avoid being seen. My aunt, playing the perfect Cupid, rolled down her window and called out to him with full energy.

“Hi, Matthew!” At first, Matthew looked completely confused.

“Hi. I’m sorry, but do I know you?” he asked. My aunt playfully rolled her eyes.

“Beach. Zyrielle,” she said, dropping the words like a secret code. Matthew just stared at her, still unable to decode what she meant.

My aunt couldn't wait for him to figure it out, so she turned to me.

“Girl, what name did you tell him?” I lowered my hands to answer her, but it was too late. I realized he was already crouching down, trying to see who she was talking to.

“Riri!” Matthew looked shocked. I had no choice but to greet him.

“You’ll drop my niece back home if she goes out with you tonight, right?” my aunt asked. I shook my head in frantic disapproval—I hadn’t even agreed to go! If stares could kill, my aunt would have been dead on the spot.

“Yes, ma'am.” Matthew chuckled and nodded.

My aunt unlocked the doors. She was basically giving me away! Matthew caught her signal immediately; he walked around to my side and opened the door. I looked at my aunt in total disbelief, but she just gave me a teasing grin.

“Seriously?” I hissed. She nodded without hesitation. The car behind us started honking, and I realized I had no choice but to get out. Happiness and excitement were written all over Matthew’s face.

“Enjoy, Z!” my aunt shouted, driving away and giggling. I swear to all the saints, I’m going to kill her.

For a minute, I was just standing there, couldn’t move my head to look at Matthew. How come I am with him now?

“So, are you gonna look at me eventually or you’ll just stay looking that way?” He asked. I had to pull my grip and faced him.

“Hi,” is the only words that came out of my mouth. He was already smiling at me when I faced him. I feel shy deep my bones, but I wouldn’t let him know that.

“Shall we go inside?” He asked, I agreed and we started walking inside the mall. He opened the door for me, acting all gentleman.

“You look good.” He mentioned, I was affected by what he said but I just thanked him. I was feeling good about myself when I was looking at the mirror earlier but now that he mentioned it, I feel so self-conscious.

“Do you like sushi?” Yes, it’s my favourite! My mind shouted with excitement. But I just gave him a simple “Yes,” as an answer.

He nodded and we walked for a couple of minutes before going inside a sushi bar restaurant. I did not see this restaurant earlier when I was with my aunt. He guided me to a chair, he carefully pulled the chair just enough for me to sit, he then proceeded to sit next to me.

Not long after a staff went to us. He had a conversation with the staff talking about the set that we will avail.

“They also have Japanese wagyu, do you want to try that?” I nodded, feeling a little excited about the food he is ordering. After a while, the staff dictated our order, he ordered a lot based on what the staff has mentioned.

“How are you?” He asked long after.

“Life has been good, how about you?” I asked back. It would be very rude of me if I don’t ask him back.

“I’m doing good. So, who is Zyrielle?” I thought he forgot about that. I just shrugged my shoulders.

“It’s my other personality, I’m Rie” He chuckled.

“So, Z, is another personality?” That’s when I laughed, he really knows how to joke around.

“Yes,” I responded, and we both laughed.

“It’s a good thing you hadn’t left the mall premises,” he said, leaning back. “But looking at how you were covering your face earlier, I’m guessing you weren’t planning on responding to me at all.”

“Yeah, you should thank my aunt. She literally gave me away to you.”

He smiled, nodding in agreement. “Actually, I really do need to thank her.”

After a while, the staff started bringing our orders. We began eating, engaging in easy small talk between bites. By the time we rested, completely full from our feast of sushi and wagyu, he asked if I wanted to go to a club for drinks. I glanced at the time, it was already 11:00 PM—the perfect hour for Dubai's nightlife to come alive.

Back home, I only partied occasionally, and those nights usually made me realize I shouldn’t go out without a "responsible adult" in tow. I vividly remembered the last time I hit a club, I drank so much tequila that I literally blacked out. The only thing I recalled from that night was waking up with a brutal hangover and my cousin yapping at me, furious at my irresponsibility.

“I’m not sure my aunt will let me go to a club,” I said, using her as an excuse. In reality, my aunt isn't strict at all, and I’m an adult perfectly capable of making my own decisions.

“Oh, is she strict? You can just call and ask for permission.” I hadn't thought that far ahead. I had assumed he would drop the idea the moment I mentioned her, but he was persistent. He looked at me so seriously that I felt like I had no choice but to pull out my phone. Trying to stay one step ahead, I quickly shot her a text telling her not to agree before I actually placed the call.

“Hi, Z!” she answered, her voice so full of excitement I immediately knew she’d probably tell me to go.

“Hi, Tita! I sent you a message, did you read it?” I asked.

“Yes, I read it, darling,” she responded. I sighed, feeling a brief flicker of relief. Though with my aunt, you never truly knew.

“Can I go partying tonight?” I asked, my tone practically begging her to say no.

“Of course you can!” As expected, I rolled my eyes.

“Matthy! Bring my niece back in one piece and we’re good, okay?!” I looked at Matthew. My phone wasn't even on speaker, but I knew he heard her because she was practically shouting.

“I will!” he called out.

My aunt hung up, and I was left standing there with no choice but to go with him. I mean, I could have always said no, but a part of me was genuinely curious about how Dubai's nightlife compared to back home.

Before I knew it, we were inside his car, on our way to a nearby club. The high-end venue was bursting with life and loud music. People packed the dance floor as the DJ mixed a heavy beat. As soon as we walked in, a bartender approached us and greeted him like a regular.

“Good evening, Sir Jordan! The usual?” the staff member asked.

He laughed and nodded in response. I frowned. Jordan?