Our Dawn Is Hotter Than Day

A Dinner With You

Bryan's POV. 

"So, how did you find this restaurant?" Scarlet asked while looking around the area 

"Oh, my friend and I used to eat here. I find their cuisine pleasant for my appetite so I kinda think that you'll like it here" I said and pulled one of the reserve tables to offer her a sit 

"Your friend? Or you mean to say your girlfriend?" she asked looking straight into my eyes 

I was caught all of a sudden by the question but then I brushed it off and let out a chuckle. This girl can be straightforward sometimes 

"No, I don't have a girlfriend. It's just a friend. His dad is the owner of this restaurant so that kinda explains the whole situation too" I answered and give her a reassuring smile. 

When both of us are already settled in our chairs, I raised my hand o call for a waiter. I smiled when a man in his uniform came to take our orders right away. Indeed, this restaurant hasn't changed at all. It's still the same restaurant full of attentive personnel. 

"So, it's a he. I thought you have a girlfriend. I mean it kinda shocked me that you don't have a girlfriend when you are this" she stopped in her mid-sentence then drink a glass of water that was offered by the waiter earlier.

"This, what?" I said with curiosity in my eyes 

"I'm impressed with their interior design," she said, changing the topic we just had. Maybe she feels uncomfortable to say whatever it is so I just let it pass

"I kinda figured you would say that" I chuckled 

"Thank you for bringing me here," she said with full of sincerity and give me the sweetest smile a woman can have 

God, I swear my heart beats rapidly at that beautiful smile. Maybe this is the best time to let go of the past and focus on the present. Focus on this beautiful girl right in front of my eyes.

"No, thank you for helping me out. I never did imagine that someone would just come out of nowhere and then have a very important role in my life" I said, earning a blush from her. She's so cute 

"Important?" she asked, confirming what I just said 

Before I could answer her, the waiter already appeared and placed all of the cuisines that we order at our table. This is another thing I like about this restaurant, they don't let you wait for too long. 

"You ordered wine?" she asked with excitement when the waiter opened and placed the bottle of wine on our table. 

I was indeed confused about what's happening because I didn't order such wine. I don't want to lie to her and let her think that I indeed order the beverage when in fact I'm not so I have no choice but to deny what she just said. But I'm more willing to order her a wine if she wants though 

"Sorry, but I didn't order a bottle of wine because we need to be early for tomorrow. There must be a kind of misunderstanding but I can pay for it if you like to have some" 

"Oh, no worries sir. This one is in the house. Our master said you should have some wine to set the mood this evening" he said looking at the wine counter. 

I followed where the waiter's eyes are then I saw this man looking at us and smiled. I was confused at first as to why is he here but of course Bryan he would be here. Scarlet also seems to be confused as to what's happening so I just let out a chuckle. 

"Such a crazy man," I said shaking my head

''Why? Did something happen?" she asked which made me come to the real world where I have this beautiful girl right in front of me 

"Oh, it's just that. Do you see the man who is at the wine area? The one wearing a white shirt while wiping a wine glass?" I asked and she nodded 

"He's the friend that I told you about earlier. And he's the one who ordered the wine" I said and smiled looking at the man 

"How nice of him. You have such an amazing friend out there"

"I know right. He's the best pal you could ever have" I said with a tint of sadness in my voice 

"So, let's dig in," I added brushing of the sadness in my voice which I'm glad Scarlet didn't notice. 

Dawn's POV. 

"You're late," I said right after Awi entered the house 

I've been waiting for her for the whole day. She didn't even bother to reply to the messages that I've sent to her. Normally, we always clear our schedules and hang out for the whole day but I guess she's too busy that she couldn't make it. I'm just glad that she's here to eat dinner with me after all this is such a special occasion for the both of us 

"I'm sorry, heavy traffic," she said and play a kiss on my cheeks 

"Happy friendversary. I love you" she added 

"Happy friendversary and I love you too," I said and kissed her on the cheeks 

"Come, let's eat," I added offering her a seat

"Thank you, Dawn," she said right after she was settled in her seat

After making sure that I got the glasses and the bottle of wine that was in the kitchen of the house, I then prepared everything and take a seat in front of her. 

I'm happy that we remain to be friends for another year but what troubles me is that she's so serious that she seems so far from me. The sound of silence just covers the whole dining area, neither of us is talking. I felt a lot of chill in my body, it feels like something is about to happen and I don't know if it's good or bad.

"You said you will just meet someone but then you came home late. Mind telling me where did you go?" 

She was caught off guard with my sudden question. For a second I saw her hesitate but still manage to give me an answer

"I promise Nicole before that I'll accompany her with groceries. But unfortunately, we ran into some things" she answered and took a sip of wine 

I was indeed disappointed by her answer but I still manage to nod. I know that it's her life and she's free to befriend whoever it is she likes but I'm still disappointed that she didn't listen to me. I know that Nicole is not a bad influence but still, I don't know. I think there is more than what she's saying 

"Mind telling what things it is?" 

"Remember Cheska? Nicole's ex-best friend?" she asked while cutting the slice of meat on her plate 

"Uh-huh," I responded briefly

"Yes, She was kinda in a dangerous situation earlier and Nicole tried to save her," she said and eat the slice of meat  

"Can you be more specific please?" I asked while also focusing my attention on my food 

"A man tried to harass her and then threatened her with a knife," she said and slowly chew the food inside her mouth 

Did I just hear it right!? Knife!? f**k did she even know how dangerous a knife can be when used as a tool for crimes 

"What!? Awi, that's too dangerous" I said 

"I know. That's why I told Nicole that we should just call the cops but she's so hard-headed and I just can't let her go alone so we ended up talking to a man with a knife. Funny right!?" she said it all while laughing 

I can't help but blink my eye not believing what I'm seeing. Did she just laugh knowing that she was in danger? What would have happened if it wasn't handled very well. 

"You're laughing? Are you serious right now!? Awi, you could have been put into so much danger. Do you even know what you are talking about? Do you like to be in so much trouble again and again" 

"Why are you so upset? I am here in front of you having still a complete body and eating a fine dinner," she said with a confused look 

"I know. You are here right in front of me because it was handled well. But what if that's not the case back there? What if he tried to kill the three of you instead? I told you already to stay away from Nicole and her friends. Look what happened!? I understand that you like Nicole so much but you just can't put your life in danger just because your friend out there decided to put hers," I said composing myself 

"Eaverly, you don't have to overreact, and besides this is my life. I can do whatever the hell I want to do with it. And please stop sounding like my mom. You know that's what I hate the most," she said, looking far away from me and drink a glass of wine

Fuck! This is supposed to be a happy memory. Why did it turn out to be a night of arguments. I feel like my heart is shattered to pieces. I didn't mean to snap at her. This damn emotion of mine. 

"Fine, I'm sorry. I didn't mean it. I was just carried away by my emotions" I explained and held her hand. 

We're supposed to now makeup but my peripheral eyes saw a message coming from the name Julian popped up in her phone, she picks it up and gave a reply. I know I shouldn't care because it's not my life but I also want to know because she's my friend.

"Who's Julian?" I asked and cut another slice of meat 

"My boyfriend," she said without a tint of hesitation in her voice 

"Now you're dating and I didn't even know," I murmured, looking everywhere but her 

"What is it?"

"Nothing. So, when can I meet him?" 

"You don't have to meet him," she said directly which made me give her an unbelievable look 

"Did any of your other friends already met him?" I asked as I took another sip of wine

"Nicole already meet him," she said looking away from me 

I can't believe what I'm hearing right now. Am I not important as I thought I am to her? Why do I feel like she's intentionally excluding me from her life? I can't help but feel disappointed. In all my life, I shared with her almost everything but she can't even let me meet her boyfriend. Why, is she afraid that I'll tell her to stay away from him? 

"Wow. It's Nicole again, it's always about Nicole isn't it," I said giving her an unbelievable look. I can't help but say those words to her. I'm hurt and we all know what words come out from a person when they're hurt 

"Dawn, what the hell is your problem!? You're trying to make this friendversary of us turn into some kind of big argument!" she said in a pissed off tone 

"Well, I don't know? What do you think is my problem Awi?" I sarcastically said, looking straight into her eyes

"You're not my parents, Eaverly. You don't need to know everything that is happening in my life," she said composing herself

"And so what? I don't have to know what's happening in your life but Nicole should always know? What is she your mother now Awi?"

"What the hell is your problem with Nicole!? You're the one who was so happy that I have a friend like Nicole and now you're so upset about Nicole finding it out first that I have a boyfriend," she said with a tint of irritation in her voice  

"Yes, I am so damn happy! I am so damn happy that you don't have to freak or flinch whenever a lesbian or a bisexual woman tries to talk at you because you are now a friend of one. But why do I feel like ever since Nicole came into your life, she's the only one you could ever think of. Nicole here, Nicole there, it's always just been, Nicole! We no longer hang out like the way we used to because you are always being glued to Nicole!" 

"I don't know okay. I also don't know what's happening in me. It's just that I always felt happier when I'm around her," she said with a high tone

"Wait, Dawn, don't you dare tell me you're f*****g jealous right now!?" she added 

"I don't know. Am I?" I said shrugging my shoulders and raise one of my eyebrows 

"You've got to be kidding me, Dawn Eaverly," she said and stand up from her seat 

"Where the hell do you think you're going?" I said looking at her furiously 

"You should stop being so immature, Eaverly," she said and take her purse that is lying on the sofa 

"Oh, now I'm immature. There are only two things that I hated in a friendship, Awi. One, I hate seeing that my friend is hurting someone's feelings and two, is my friend making me out of place" 

"And what? Are you saying that I just did those two things that you've mentioned?" 

"I don't know, did you?" I asked, looking straight into her eyes

"You're unbelievable, Dawn Eaverly Raught," she said and went closer to me 

"I never did make you out of place"

"Really? Why don't you try to look back sometimes and maybe you'll find something," I said, trying my very best not to drop a single tear 

 "But it doesn't even matter, right? You're much happier with your new-found friend"

"I'll see you tomorrow at school," she said and made her leave 

"Yeah, as if you would ever see me again" I whisper and began to clean up the dishes.  

Cheska's POV. 

The sound of warm breeze and dancing trees is the only thing that covers the entire room. Neither of us is talking and both of us don't want to start even a single topic. I got bored with the silence and so I tried to be brave and start a conversation 

"Is the food not tasty at all?" I asked her but she seems a little bit off. It seems like she's not even here. I take a deep breath and tried again 

"Nicole Tolseva," I smiled calling her name 

"What? What is it?" she replied with a face that looks like she just came back from another dimension of this world. 

"I asked you if the food is not tasty at all," I said and give her a smile 

"No, it's great. Thank you for the meal" 

"You said it's great yet you are barely eating," I murmured 

"It's not like that. I'm just... just waiting for a message," she said and looked at her phone 

"Is it Awi you're waiting for?" I asked which made her speechless

"She's just eating a fine dinner with her friend. Maybe she enjoyed the food too much that's why she forgot to give you a reply. After all, today is their friendversary," I said trying to make her feel at ease. 

I kinda envy Awi. Just by hearing that she needed to meet her friend because it's a special occasion for them just made me look back at the past. Maybe if I didn't hurt this girl right in front of me. We would be just like them, celebrating the day we first met and became friends. 

"Cheska, I'm sorry to say this to you. Look, I want you to know that you are a very important person to me and that I do care for you. But what happened earlier doesn't change our status. You're still an ex-best friend of mine and I don't want to get this more complicated anymore so just to be frank with you, I don't want to be friends with you anymore."

I can't help but feel a sting in my heart. I got rejected before I could even try. All I ever want is to bring back what we have before but I guess I was too late for that. 

"And I was kind of wondering how many days you would stay here. I mean, this condo is always welcome for you but I just don't want to get the complicated things to get more complicated" she added and took a sip of wine 

"Is this because of your girlfriend?" I asked which made her eyes wide open 

"No, it's not and I don't have a girlfriend," she said, looking away from me 

"Stop pretending, Nicole. I know you. It's obvious that you're interested in her," I smilingly said and took a sip of wine 

"No, I'm not!" she denies in a bold tone. I then look at her straight in the eyes until she spills the tea.

"Is it that obvious?" she added which made me chuckle 

"Nicole Tolseva, I know you since a long time ago. I know whenever you're in love," I said staring at her

"And I sincerely apologize for disturbing the moment that you two had earlier. Nicole, I just really want to be friends with you again but I get it. I know that I have hurt you a lot back then and I just want you to know that I regret everything that I've done to you. You don't have to worry about me staying here because I am also ashamed of myself for making you come to save me and even agree to offer me a place to stay home. I just came back here to tell you that I'm so sorry and that I love you," I said with teary eyes  

"I know that these are just common words but still, these words are the words that I have never said to you even though I wanted to," 

"And about my stay here. It will just be until I get a fixed ticket going back to my town. Unfortunately, I think it will take a few days though, maybe like 3 or 4 days?" I added and looked away. She then surprisingly stands up from her seat and kneel looking at me as she holds my hand and tried to compose herself 

"Look, Cheska, I love you too. I used to treat you like my own sister. Being friends again is such a brilliant idea but I'm afraid I won't be able to trust you anymore after all the things that you've done to me. You didn't just ignore me but you also join them in bullying me. I want to be friends again, I want to bring back those memories of when we were so happy. Those times that we don't know anything aside from the fun and being crazy. But what's the use of all the happiness and crazy stuff if at the end of the day I can't even trust you. What's the use of all this if at the end of the day what I remember is not our happy memories but how you betrayed me. I want to be healed but I will never be healed if I keep coming back to the one who causes my pain," she said and cried in front of me 

"I know, that's why I hate myself for doing it all to you. If only I knew how to be a good friend back then. If only I could just bring back the past, I'll do everything just for you. I will be better and keep being better just so I can keep you," I said and reciprocate the tears that fall on her cheek. She wipes away my tears and said

"That's the problem, you can't bring back the past. What we have are only the present and the future, we can never return to our yesterdays no matter how hard we try."  

I felt relieved to get everything out of my chest. And I do feel happy to at least hear from her mouth that she also wants to be friends again. Unfortunately, we, people tend to only realize that we lose the moon while counting the stars. Nicole is just like precious jewelry of mine; I loved her, I treasured her and see her as a special one but right after getting attracted to someone, I forgot what she means to me anymore. And right now, at this moment, I can only tell that I just lost my real jewelry while being attracted to some fake crystals.

Nicole is right, we now only have the present and future, to begin with, and we can never go back to our yesterdays. The only thing that we can do is to just move on. Move on and whatever happened to our yesterdays will serve as our lesson so that one day, just one day, if we came to meet someone new again and we tend to love them and treasure them, we will no longer be deceived by some fake crystals 'cause we know that what we have beside us is our one true treasure. 

I might have lost a friend in this real-life of mine but her existence and our memories will always be in my heart so that someday if I look back, I can tell myself that I've met such an amazing person. I will no longer hold onto my hopes since it has already been shuttered but I will hope and pray for her to be healed and find the true happiness that she deserves.