We chose this life

Chapter 6 - Wine and chat

Michael and I were casually talking about random things. We covered almost everything regarding our tastes in jazz music, philosophy, history of art and personal interests. I found it very captivating how he spoke of his trips to different countries and how he liked discovering new cultures.

"Any chance you visited my country?" I teased him a bit.

"Unfortunately no, but I did visit Croatia."

"Oh, can we just agree on how beautiful their coast is?" I put my elbow on the table and leaned on it while playing with my glass of wine in my left hand.

"Absolutely. There is nothing more beautiful and alluring than Croatian coast." Michael immediately agreed with me.

"So tell me, what is it with Marc and Nathan?" I finally decided it was time he told me these gossips I have been waiting for the entire evening.

"They are both single now." Michael broke the news to me.

"What?!" I was appalled by the words coming out of his mouth.

"Oh yes... I'll first start with Marc. His girlfriend was supposedly tired of their long-lasting relationship, and so Marc caught her cheating him with some guy. In his apartment."

"My God! That is just horrible. How is he doing now?" I thought about what Marc could feel at that moment, and I desperately wanted to call him and ask him to go out so we could talk.

"Just like anybody who has been cheated on by his loved one... Heart-broken and with a lot of unanswered questions, I suppose." Michael replied and finally managed to stab with a toothpick the last olive from the bowl we shared.

"I can absolutely relate." I found myself saying automatically.

Michael looked at me a bit surprised, and at the same time, intrigued by my phrase. I've decided to ignore his look and continue being interested in what happened to my two, very good, friends I've met when times were not so easy on me. He didn't insist and seemed to brush off my reaction. He focused his attention to the last sip of the red wine he had and decided it was time he refilled his glass.

"This wine is exquisite! I must have another glass. Shall I get you something else?" he offered.

"No, thank you, I am fine." I smiled and brought my look back to my plate. I still had some mezze and a bit of rosé in my glass. While Michael was away, I took my time to listen to the music playing at that moment. It was The Girl from Ipanema by Antonio Carlos Jobim with the vocals from Astrud Gilberto and João Gilberto, Stan Getz on the saxophone and lyrics written by Vinicius de Moraes. I wandered off to my childhood memories and remembered the wonderful time I spent with my brother while listening to the Brazilian Bossa Nova music and playing all summer long the PlayStation 1. I was brought back from my daydreaming by Michael, who was back at the table. Suddenly, while I looked at him, pulling his chair to sit down, something made me try and check if I can still flirt. Even though I didn't want to have anything with Michael, and thought strictly about my job meeting that would determine my future, I felt as if I absolutely had to try flirting with him. Once he sat on the chair and looked at me intending to continue his story about Marc, I straighten my back and with both of my hands pulled the 3/4 sleeve jacket I still had on me.

"Oh, I suddenly feel so hot... Don't you?" I checked his reaction discretely while being more interested in how I will put the jacket nonchalantly over the chair back. I was extremely pleased with Michael's reaction as I caught his jaw slightly drop and his eyes getting wider with absorbing every inch of my naked shoulders until they finally fell on my silver pendant I wore around my neck.

"Indeed... it's a bit hot here." Michael said, his Adam's apple moved up and down while he struggled to swallow. His eyes didn't leave me.

"So, what happened to Nathan?" I broke the silence and demanded we continue with the second gossip.

"Nathan... Ah yes, he is also single now. His girlfriend left him supposedly to concentrate on her studies, but some of our friends have already seen her going out with another guy three weeks after she and Nathan broke up."

"You think she also cheated on him?"

"No, I don't think so. I think she did fell for this new guy, but I don't think she did the same thing Marc's girlfriend did. I knew all of them extremely well, and I was shocked to learn what Marc's girlfriend did. I must say that I disapprove of that. Now, in the case of Nathan's girlfriend, well... She told me on several occasions that she grew tired of their relationship and that he was smothering her. She didn't know how to get out of that relationship as she didn't necessarily want to hurt him."

"I see. And how is Nathan now? Did you get in touch with him?" I asked Michael suddenly.

"No, I haven't heard from him. I learned they broke up through Marc. As far as I could understand, Nathan didn't really get out of his apartment for a month now. They were invited to this dinner with old PhD students who finished their researches. And I am not sure they will go..."

"I got the invitation too. Even though I didn't finish my research, I was invited. Nathan did forward me the email with the invitation while I was away. I intended to go." I snapped suddenly.

"Will you go?" Michael asked.

"It's in a month, and I am not yet sure if I will be here or not. Everything depends on the meeting I have next week." I said as I realized that I might have to leave in such a short time. "If I don't get the job for which I applied, I will have to figure out what to do with my life, and that might as well involve moving to another country. Very quickly. I can't afford to pay the apartment where I am right now. So, long story short, I am not sure if I will be able to attend the dinner and see Nathan and Marc." I explained calmly. The truth is, I was calm. I knew that I didn't have anything to be attached to, so deciding to move on somewhere else was easy for me.

"I really hope you will get that job." Michael looked me straight in the eyes. "And I don't see why you wouldn't. You seem like a hard worker and very enthusiastic about this position for which you applied." He said while turning a bit nervously his glass of wine.

"We'll see. God, I feel like I drank a bit much." I felt my cheeks get warmer and warmer, and I knew it was time to go back home. 

"Let's call it a night, shall we?" Michael seemed tired and a bit drunk as well. 

We decided to finish our mezze and Michael excused himself to go to the toilet. I sat at our table, contemplating if I should walk back home or take a cab. A few minutes later, Michael came and offered to pull my chair so that I can stand up. He took my jacket in his hands and waited patiently for me to stick my arms in the sleeves so he can pull in until my neck. As he did, I felt his fingers almost imperceptibly touch my bareback. I caught his look in the mirror in front of us, and I could see he was staring at my back once the jacket covered me. I slowly turned myself towards him, and it made him snap out of his thoughts.

"Let's go. I'll walk you to your place." Michael said. It was not a suggestion, it was a decision, already made in his head.

"Do we pay at the reception?" I asked as I remembered we didn't pay for our mezze.

"It has already been taken care of." He said with a smile on his face.

"Thank you." I smiled back and walked past him.

There was still no night—it as typical for the northern hemisphere. The sunset would only take place around 11 p.m. Michael, and I walked and discussed a few more interested we shared. I learned we both dreamed of going one day to Japan, both wanted to visit South America, and both have been exposed by our parents to the film Sound of music when we children. We even ended up singing some of the songs, while walking to my place. Once we got to the door of the building where I rented the apartment, we stood for another ten minutes finishing the talk.

"It was really nice going out with you." I smiled and faced Michael.

"Likewise," he replied. 

Suddenly, we found ourselves starring at each other's gazes, not really knowing how to end this... date. I somehow liked Michael. Yet, I still felt I wasn't interested in being with him. Well, at least not until I knew if I will have the slightest opportunity to stay in the UK. And somehow, I was hoping he would take advantage of this situation and kiss me. It didn't happen. We both stood there silently, and I decided it was time to go.

"Well, thank you for the evening. Good night." I said while pulling him towards me to kiss him on his cheek.

"Good night." He replied and gave me a kiss which I heard in my right ear. And with that, I turned on my left heel and went up to my apartment.