DINNERTIME
The most dreaded dinner ever.
I stalled for a long time before stepping out of my room. A maid was waiting outside to escort me to the dinning just so I wouldn't get lost. I had to put in effort and look nice. Wearing a brown slip dress and did some makeup because Freddy was coming over. If he wasn't, I would have gone with my ultra-casual dressing mode. Mom and Richard were already at the table. Richard is wearing a formal suit. Seated at the head of the table with mom besides him clad in an ostentatious evening dress. How good it would have been to look simple and casual while they overdid theirs. I drew out a seat close to mom and sat down. "You look amazing Simona." My stepfather complimented me as soon as I was seated. Somebody tell him the look effort is not because I was happy to be in this house. I put on a tight-lipped smile. At that moment, Freddy came in, trailing behind the butler. He smiles upon seeing me. I smile back. He had put in extra effort to look good too. His hair was sleekly styled backwards with some strands falling over his forehead, giving him an effortless sophisticated vibe. He is wearing a white suit that I think is cheesy because we are just having dinner. He is making me feel like a girl who is bringing her fiance to come see her parents for the first time. Freddy sits down besides me. He looks at Richard with recognition in his eyes. "Freddy." Richard calls and I noted the calm surprise in his tone. "You know him?" Mom asks. "Yeah. I know his dad well." He answers. "He is a good friend of mine." He looks back at Freddy and asks him how is his dad doing to which Freddy replies great.
"So you are my daughter's boyfriend." He then asks. "Yes."
"I believe I don't have to tell you to treat her right son."
"No. N-Not at all sir. She is one of a kind and I think myself lucky to have her." Freddy shifts glances between me and my parents.
Mom and Richard smiles, obviously pleased with Freddy's response. Those words warmed my heart. But I did not smile.
"Well then. I believe we should dig in before the food gets cold since the others are running late." No sooner had Richard said that, several trolleys were wheeled into the dining hall. My mouth instantly waters from the delicious smell of tantalizing aromas. I might be unconsciously drooling right now. I can't help it. I don't think anyone who is a foodie like me can. Food for me is more than a necessity to survive and be able to humanly function, it is like magic. The tastes, the feeling and then the satisfaction. It's like a love language for me. And lucky me, I have a small petite frame and a body that does not easily gain weight. I don't have to engage myself in glorified starvation just to look slender unlike Solange and Kayla. The maids began placing the dishes on the table. The once empty table was now full carrying all sorts of delicacies. Many of which I had not seen much less tasted in my life. This was a food banquet—a literal feast; from fried rice which is my favorite to grilled chicken, pork cutlets, clam chowder, big shrimps and lobsters. The shrimps looks the tastiest to me. Before I could reach my hands out and dish some shrimps for myself. Freddy stopped me, placing a plate of unshelled shrimps in front of me. "Bon appetit." He says. "Thanks." I mutter. I stare at the full plate, surprised and fuzzy from the warm and thoughtful gesture. My mouth curves up in a small smile. I glance subtly at him. He is busy with his own shrimps. I study his focused expression and the way his hands moves. Freddy is way thoughtful and observant than any human should be. That, and his warmness are what I like the most about him. I will always remember him by those qualities. I am literally counting down to when this relationship of ours will be over. I am nineteen, and at this age, I want to experiment and have fun. I am not looking for lifelong commitment yet—if I'II ever. He probably does feel and think the same. The question on my head now is when we'll move up and take the next step. We've only held hands, and me kissing him on the cheek one time. I had thought that he would take the hint and kiss me back on the lips. He didn't. For days I was left thinking that he maybe does not find me desirable enough. I confided in Erica and she said that it meant that he is taking it slow and did not want to rush me because he really likes me. That interpretation of hers might be true but I did not quite agree with it. I had given him hints. He should have taken them. Since he came into my life, I have been thinking less and less about a certain guy. I can't possibly have Elion, but I can get to be with his friend that kinda resembles him. That relates, no?
"How did you two meet and start dating?" Richard's inquisitive tone adds to the clangs of cutleries against dishes and faint chewing sounds. Cutting the table silence. "Yes. I'd like to hear about it too. Simona has been pretty tight on that info."