He is Enchanted

Where Do You Plan to Go on This Weekend?

Roman starts his days with his mind on something else, only that he didn't make the same mistake as yesterday, like accidentally writing someone else's name, forgetting to attend a meeting, or almost spilling his drink. Roman has learned how to deal with it.

Roman finished all of his work, and he felt satisfied. Roman was pleased with the small achievement he made today.

But something that bothers Roman still haunts him even though Roman shut down his laptop and is ready to leave his office.

What will Ethan do after finding out the actual address of Guen's cafe?

Roman seemed to underestimate him, even though Roman had spontaneously mentioned some random address that could trick him.

Roman should have told some location further than the one he mentioned. Maybe it will cause more trouble for Ethan to find the actual address, and it will also give Roman more time to enjoy his peaceful time at the cafe. 

After assessing all the possibilities that Roman could think of, he decided to go to the Early Rise Coffee Bar as usual and ordered a glass of iced black coffee. He sees some of the paintings on the first floor. Then finally go to the second floor. 

Roman sat with his back to the stairs. He discerned that Ethan could come as he pleased, and Roman did not want to look straight at him when he had just shown up from the stairs. His heart would beat uncontrollably, and he will keep gazing at the stair. 

After all, he intended to read his book while waiting for Guen.

So, to sit with his back to the stairs is a good option.

But, there is one more thing still concerning his sanity; an empty chair in front of him.

This table is indicated for two visitors. That's why Roman prefers to sit in here because he will sit with Guen.

Roman stood up and left the book he was reading on the table. He tugged the chair to the corner of the room with the other extra chairs, and luckily the cafe was not crowded, so only one person gave Roman a weird glance while he tugged a chair and put it with the other extra chairs. 

Let Guen bring the chair back when she comes. The crucial thing is not to let Ethan sit in front of him.

Roman smiled with satisfaction as he stared at the space in front of him, then he went back to reading his book, wishing that Guen would come before Ethan. 

But after depleting about thirty minutes of reading his book. When Roman was about to move on to the next chapter, neither Guen nor Ethan came. 

Roman wishes that he could enjoy his book in peace, as usual.

But unfortunately, only a few minutes later. Someone passed through the space in front of Roman. He heard a sound of a chair being hauled before someone sat down in front of him. Roman smiled. 

Even though he wishes no one would come, he can't hold his feeling when he's around. 

"Good evening Mr. Pearson, It's such a coincidence to meet you here."

Ethan put his drink on the table, then rested his elbows on the table, and with his palm, he supported his chin.

In the reflection of his eyes and his mind, it was only him, as if anything else was pointless. And it felt like he didn't want this moment to end, even though it had only just started.

Roman can't help himself, his smile rising unhurriedly like the sun on Sunday morning. Seeing Roman's smile, Ethan giggled.

"Hey, old man!"

Ethan kicked his feet lightly, but for Roman, it felt like a wave bashing off the beach. 

Roman then put his book on the table next to his iced black coffee. "Just say what you want, then you welcome to leave." 

Ethan smiled as he shook his legs. "I have nothing to say. I happened to be passing by and noticed your car, so I decided to stop by, just to say hello."

Did Ethan think Roman would believe such a ridiculous lie? Could it be that Ethan is getting his revenge after Roman underestimated him yesterday?

"If you don't have anything to say, I'll go back to reading my book," Roman said as he took his book. But Roman stops his hand as Ethan kicks his leg. It's hurt, but it made him giggle while stroking his leg slowly, expecting the ache would go away.

"I want to chat with you. You should know it!" scolded Ethan.

Then Roman took his book and put it in the bag with his laptop, then quickly put the bag away before Ethan complained about it.

"What do you want to talk about then?"

Roman looked directly at Ethan. Now, there's nothing on reflection on his eyes or all over his head except him. 

Ethan crosses his legs, then shakes his legs anxiously, his breath is heavy, and even his forehead is wrinkled. His lips were about to purse.

Roman laughed at him, driving Ethan to grump. 

After Ethan pouted at Roman, Roman leaned forward a little.

"It's alright if you don't have anything to say because I don't need a reason to keep staring at you." 

Ethan immediately coughed. He was choking by the air he was breathing. His eyes were also winking very fast.

"So we're gonna stare at each other like a dopey donkey?" he protested.

Roman nodded without feeling that something was wrong with staring at each other. "I could do it all day long."

Ethan was silent before finally diverting his gaze to the left side. But even so, he was still someone reflected in her eyes and on his mind.

Finally, Ethan leaned his body to the left. He used his left hand as a pillow for his head. Roman had to step back and lower his head to look at his eyes with this new position. 

"Liar! How can anyone stare at something all day long? Have you ever gone hiking and seen the scenery? Even that kind of sight would be bland if you looked at it all day long." 

Roman imitates what Ethan did; lying on the table with his arm as a pillow, only he does it on the other side. This way, his eyes were on the same height as Ethan's eye without the need to look down or take a step back.

"Want me to prove it?"

Ethan nodded his head, then chuckled.

A minute, two minutes, even three minutes had passed, with neither of them talking. Roman was staring at Ethan with a smile, though his gaze was still as annoying as expected.

"Mr. Pearson."

"Hmm?"

"Have you been to Italy?"

Roman nodded his head.

"Are you seeing your ancestor? what do they say?"

Roman laughed while shaking his head. No one had ever told him that joke, Even though he had lived for forty-eight years. "It's a business trip."

Ethan slogged his foot, then brought his hand to his mouth, pinching his lip.

"Are you a dog or a cat person?"

"I like both."

"What flavor of ice cream do you like?"

"I rarely eat ice cream. I don't like anything sweet." 

"Where is your favorite place in the world?"

"My home." 

"Can I come over to your home when I am bored?"

"Sure." 

Ethan then laughed. He peeked at his left hand, which was currently above his head. His hand began to feel numb. "Do you believe in lizard people?"

"What are lizard people?"

"Oh, ignore it."

Roman nodded his head. Then tonight, he will search about the lizard people. Is it a new fashion brand? Or a new phrase? Roman rarely caught up about anything that viral on the internet recently. 

"Why do you always go to this cafe? Have you ever tried another cafe?" 

"This cafe is the only cafe as well as a mini art gallery."

"So, you like paintings, huh?"

"Not just a painting, anything with artistic value, a statue or a vase, even a strange object, even a book, I like it."

"You can paint?"

Roman nodded.

"It's cool," Ethan said, sliding his finger away from his mouth. Now his hand was in the center of the table.

He wonders if there was a captivating painting he dedicated to all of this. 

"Is there anything else you want to ask?"

Ethan laughed, nodding his head. Then he pointed at the table with his index finger, moving it around in a circular motion.

"Your favorite sport?" 

"I don't have any favorite sport. I like almost every sport."

"Have you ever ridden a horse?"

"Never."

"Can I teach you how to ride?"

"Depends on my mood."

Ethan laughed again. Now Ethan's gaze shifted to his finger, which was now moving in an irregular motion. "Aren't you bored?"

"Why do you think like that?"

"Because you keep staring at me."

Roman shook his head. "You keep asking, so I don't feel bored."

"It's cheated!"

"I am not doing anything."

Ethan was irritated. He kicked Roman's shoes again, making Roman sigh heavily while smiling at Ethan.

"You are annoying!"

Ethan suddenly raised his head while looking behind Roman, shocked. It confused Roman, and then he turned his head back. 

He saw his best friend Guen beaming at him. "So he's the one you're always talking about, huh?" she said and laughed.

Ethan widened his eyes while Roman laughed as he looked at Guen, walking towards the extra row of seats. "We never talk about him."

Ethan and Roman still hear Guen's laugh even though she's in the extra chair corner. Her laugh is followed by the sound of chairs being dragged towards them until Guen finally decides to sit next to Roman.

"Where were you?" asked Roman while glimpsing back at his black ice coffee. The ice started to melt, leaving water droplets on the glass cup. Roman swept the droplets with his finger.

"Some students will rent my cafe to exhibit their paintings; they're the student from the art department, it's for their final project."

Ethan could see Roman's eyes blazed up. The man seemed young again. "How long will they hold the exhibition?"

Guen leaned back against the chair and rested her elbow while sipping her drink. "About three days, with a preparation time around a day."

"I can't wait to see it. Have you seen their works?"

Guen shook his head. "Unfortunately not yet."

Roman then sipped his drink, turning his gaze to Ethan. "Would you like to come to see the exhibition?"

Like the lucky gold-colored cat doll usually displayed in Chinese shops, Ethan nodded his head joyfully with a smile.

Roman laughed while Guen shot her glance at the suspect, who was hiding something from her.

"Do you enjoy going to an exhibition?" 

Ethan nodded his head again, this time in a slight, repeated motion. "Of course!" he said.

"I like his effort. Let's see how long he will endure with it," said Guen while laughing. It turns out that Roman is not the only one who likes to underestimate other people, even his best friend as well.

Roman and Ethan still don't intend to look at anything else. Their gaze hasn't cracked, while Guen turns his gaze to Roman and then to Ethan.

"So."

Guen nudged Roman's shoulder, and that's what managed to get their gaze thwarted. 

"Since when?"

Roman sighed. "Since you were constructing things up on your mind."

For Guen, who has been friends with Roman since high school, the answer translates roughly: I just met him, but he caught my attention. 

Guen just giggled after coming up with it. "Then, the exhibition will be held next week on Sunday. You better set a reminder, so you don't forget."

Ethan became so enthusiastic that he almost dropped his phone. Luckily his band was incredibly trained than his brain; his hand caught his phone quicker than his brain. It makes Guen laugh at him.

While Ethan pouted, then turned his gaze to Roman for help, who just beamed. "It's alright," Roman said, more like he was gargling than talking.

Ethan finally marked a date on his calendar, then Ethan held his phone to his chest, then he looked at Roman, who was laughing at Guen. The old man chatted a lot of things with Guen, making a part of him feel uneasiness.

But Ethan smiled again.

So after the zoo, they're going to spend the weekend at the painting exhibition, right?

But there's still this weekend before it. What should Ethan do? Should he take Roman to the amusement park? Or to the bookstore? or to the art shop?

"Mr. Pearson?"

"Yes?"

"Where do you plan to go on this weekend?"