Question: how many dates have you been on all your life?

Answer: I'm of age now and I've been on a total number of zero dates! :)

Chapter 50 - The Diner (A moment in time)

Oliver

"Wow, Molly. I never thought I would ever see you again," he marvelled, making to stand up from the egg chair but I motioned for him to sit still, walking up to him instead.

"Olly," I corrected him, gently placing my nylon bags on the floor and sitting on the egg chair beside the one he sat on.

"Oh, I'm sorry. It was Oliver. I knew something was off," he chuckled slightly, eyeing me with happiness shimmering in those mesmerisingly beautiful eyes of his.

"Yeah," I muttered, quite speechless. I really just wanted to ask him why he was here but I didn't want to come off hostile. By the way, the dorm wasn't mine.

"At first I didn't recognise you because of the hair, but I'd recognise that beautiful body anywhere," he flattered me with his billion dollar smile. Tarek was actually all shades of beautiful. "Nice hair, by the way."

"Thanks and thanks," I said with a mild blush, appreciating his kind words.

"So, you stay here? Is this your dorm or you're here to see someone?" He asked, attempting to create small conversation.

"I live here. Fourth storey," I revealed, motioning with my head.

"Oh? Okay," he snickered with a hand over his mouth. "This dorm is quite the high-end residence. Says a lot about you."

"Oh, no. Don't even talk like the rest, please," I waved it off with a quick laugh. I was tired of hearing that already. "Are you here to see someone or something? Do you know someone in this dorm?" I rephrased my question to seem less nosy.

"Oh, not really. I met this guy, Sam, on Grindr and we decided to meet up today, but he's out so I'm waiting here. He already told the security guards to let me in--" he continued talking but I couldn't help the question in my head.

"Wait, Grindr? Isn't that a gay dating app?" I blurted, my eyes flying open.

"Yeah. Wow, you really don't know too much about all of this, do you?" He tilted his head to the side.

"Not really, but I've heard of Grindr a couple times from one of my best friends. He's in an admirably happy relationship, though, so he's not on the app," I quickly answered to get that topic off the table, continuing. "So, you said you're here to see Sam and you met him on that app?" I asked the question I was very much interested in.

"Yeah. Why do you seem so surprised? Is he subtly hitting on you or something?" He raised an eyebrow at me.

"He's proudly and openly hitting on me and so many of my friends here in Lighthouse," I crowed with laughter in my voice.

"Oh," he giggled softly. I'd almost forgotten how musical his laughter was. Everything about him was just so gentle and unique. It's a shame he'd pulled that move on me at the party, I couldn't trust him anymore. "You shouldn't be surprised then."

"No, I should!" I argued, laughing almost too loudly now. "We all saw him as this bi-curious, maybe closeted, creep. I had absolutely no idea that he was actually a, you know..." I refused to say the word or judge him any further.

It was his life, anyway. Labelling people under one sexuality without any proof was a habit I was trying to get rid of. Same with unknowingly judging people at times.

"A gay boy? A horny freak?" Tarek helped me out, laughing.

"Your words, not mine," I shrugged, raising my hands up in the air. "If you know he's, like, all of this, why are you still here to see him?"

"Oh. I'm not really one of those who want to be in a happy, all cheesy relationship like the one your friend is in. At least, not now. I just want to have fun, really. I assume you're one of those hopeless romantics?" He asked.

"Yeah, I am. I'm actually in something quite serious now. Technically, you could say I've a boyfriend," I answered quite plainly, refusing to judge him for making such decisions for himself.

"Oh, I see. I'm happy for you," he beamed, nodding at me.

"Yeah," I muttered.

We stayed silent for a while until he spoke up again.

"You know, Olly, I'm really sorry for what I did at the party. I've never felt so much regret for anything in my life until now. To be completely honest with you, I was horny, you were-- and still are-- so hot. There were so many drugs at the party and they were cheap. I only decided to use something like that to set the mood for us. Ugh, and I was so stupid," he groaned, gently hitting his temples with the base of his palm. "After seeing everything that happened to you, I still went and did that. I hope I didn't ruin the party for you?"

I watched him apologise and I could tell that every word was spoken with sincerity and remorse. Just like he said, he truly seemed regretful for his actions.

"Don't worry, the party was already ruined before you came along," I assured him with a short, genuine smile. "If anything, you just helped me and put me out of my misery because I passed out minutes later," I informed him, laughing.

"Oh my God, you too?!" He exclaimed, leaning forward and clapping his hands. "I puked all over myself and passed out minutes later, as well!"

"Bloody hell!" I grimaced, still laughing.

"I know!" He agreed with me and we both burst into full hearty laughter.

"I was so stupid. I'm so not doing that ever again," he relaxed back into the chair.

"No, you really shouldn't," I supported. "I should go to my room now. Would you like to wait in my room or do you prefer this place?" I offered, getting up and picking up my bags.

"Can I really come to your room?" He sputtered, shocked by my offer.

"Of course, you can. Since you've given me a sober apology, everything is fine between us now," I assured him.

"Oh, thank God. Thank you!" He jubilated, springing up from the chair. "Let me help you with some of that," he held out his hands and took two plastic bags away from me.

"Thanks," I muttered, leading the way as he followed. "So, this thing with Sam, huh?" I ventured, a certain pitch in my tone.

"Oh, we're just meeting for the first time. Nothing is going to happen. Trust me, we won't hook up just yet," he explained hastily.

"Mhmm?" I hummed, nodding doubtfully and peering at him.

"I'm serious!" He griped.

Tarek and I exchanged contacts before he left for Sam's room. And before he left my dorm, he came back to my room and I saw him off till he got into a shuttle bus back to the school dorms. We were officially friends now.

He'd also told me that he was considering off-campus housing for the next semester, and Lighthouse was now the first on his list. I couldn't hide the fact that I was strongly hoping he would come to Lighthouse because if he did, then he would surely be a part of our little clique.

* * *

Every department in Denberg was finally done with their exams. The whole academic part of the semester had come to a satisfying end. Mason and I had gone back to texting as frequently, calling occasionally, but never meeting in person.

He said he still wasn't ready to see my face, he didn't trust his heart just yet. I'd tried to ask him about the condition of his family and where they were in the divorce but he blatantly stopped me from going there. Frankly, I felt sad and hurt that he did.

On a normal day, Mason would feel very free and happy to share his problems with me. But now, it was as if he was actively trying to mince the intimate nature of our conversations.

Khalid and I were going on that much awaited 'outing' today. Out of pure respect for Mason, I had forced Khalid to tell me where he was planning to take us to. When I found out it was the Ledbury Basque lounge and eatery-- where Mason and I had had our first reunion and makeup reunion lunch-- I refused, and then told him to find somewhere else.

Since I couldn't give Mason my heart, I could give him that much, at least. That, plus the unavoidable truth that the restaurant bore so many memories of him, I didn't want to tamper with them. I wanted to leave them exactly as they were. Our second lunch at that restaurant was the best time I'd had with Mason so far. Aside from the night at his place, of course.

"Since you refused to go to Ledbury Basque-- the only decent place around-- I found somewhere else. It's a small diner just two streets away. Not as sophisticated, but we can chat while eating cookies and chocolate milk," Khalid said on our way down in the elevator just before it slid open for us to step out.

Assuming we would be heading to the garage to get his car, I instantly headed in that direction, but he simply kept going straight out.

"Aren't we--?" I muttered, pointing in the direction of the garage.

"Oh, it's not far at all. I want us to walk, we're not taking the car. The weather is just perfect for a stroll, the mood is just right for one, as well. That's why I set it for this afternoon and not in the morning as you'd originally suggested. I hope that's fine by you?" He explained, still requesting for my opinion on his decision. He was such a gentle man, I was loving every ounce of it.

"Oh, sure. It's fine. The best conversations are had during a stroll, anyway," I agreed, supporting his thoughtful idea.

Truly, it wasn't that far. We didn't even talk about a lot before we got to the place and settled in. Now waiting for our orders to be served. I ordered chocolate chip cookies with chocolate milkshake, while he ordered cupcake sized strawberry cheesecakes with ordinary chocolate milk.

"Thanks," we both thanked the middle-aged redhead who brought our orders for us with a hundred watt smile which had not left her face, not even for one second, ever since we arrived at the diner.

"I can't believe you chose just chocolate milk," I rebuked with a fake scowl on my face.

"I can't believe you chose chocolate chip cookies over these cupcakes," he promptly countered.

"Hmm, touché." I gave him that win.

We both laughed at it for a while, before getting to eating what was in front of us.

"You know, the other day," he began, sipping from his cup, "I was looking for my pink hoodie and then it occurred to me that you still have it."

"Oh my God, do I?!" I gasped, placing a hand over my mouth.

"Yeah, you do!" He asserted, giggling at the shock in my eyes.

"Blimey! I'm so sorry. I took a bunch of clothes to the dry cleaner's and when I got them back, I just placed them in my wardrobe. I didn't care to sort them out," I went ahead to explain but he stopped me.

"No, no, it's fine. Don't apologise. Matter of fact, you can keep it, on the condition that you wear it to Christmas dinner," he smirked.

"Okay then. You've a deal," I agreed.

"I'm not kidding. You must take pictures and send them to me," he added with a little more seriousness.

"I'm not kidding, either. I'll send you pictures with me and my family... and probably Jess and Yadiri because we might all have Christmas dinner as one big family. Hopefully in Miss Michelle's mansion," I mumbled the last part, giggling.

"How big is this mansion you're always talking about?" Khalid wondered.

"Kingsman mansion big," I answered with a flat tone and a straight face.

"Oh my God, that- that is big. Really big," he agreed.

"Exactly my point," I laughed.

Staring around the diner, there were probably less than fifteen tables all around and only six were occupied, including ours. It was quiet, homey, and just perfect for creating perfect memories. My eyes then landed on the redhead who stood at the other side of the counter. She was looking directly at us and smiling, just like she had been since we arrived. I quickly looked away.

"Don't look, but the waiter has been staring at us since we got here," I whispered to him under my breath, but before I could finish he turned right in the direction I told him not to. "I told you not to look!" I whispered harshly, gently hitting the table.

He smiled and waved at the redhead who surprisingly waved back before shyly looking away. "What? I'm only human. You shouldn't have told me not to look," he said, defending himself. "I wonder why she's smiling at us, though."

"Just like Mako would say; I think our gay is showing," I giggled, sipping from my milkshake.

"Mako is just too wonderful," Khalid confessed after chuckling at what I said.

"He really is."

"So, he's been in a relationship with Damian for three years now?" He asked, still awed by this realisation.

"He has," I confirmed, smiling sheepishly for no reason. I guess I was just too happy for him.

"You know, I've been thinking," Khalid began, leaning back on his chair. "We've been almost like an item these past few weeks, but then I realised that we hadn't made anything official and that scares me. So, here it goes... Would you like to be my boyfriend? And I would be yours, obviously," he let out a quick, shaky laugh, his entire face twitching with nerves.

The sheepish grin that was already plastered on my face grew even wider. Not because of his statement, but because of the way he'd asked it, sounding all tense and unsure.

"And here I was thinking we were boyfriends all this while, had no idea I was wrong. That means you could've cheated on me and there's nothing I would've been able to do about it," I joked, beaming at him.

"No, God no! I mean, we'd, like, said it a few times but not to ourselves, you know, I just-"

"I was just joking, Khalid. It's fine, don't become a bag of nerves because of what I said," I laughed.

"You've the tendency to turn me into that everytime you breathe," he flirted, a smirk tugging at his lips.

"Oh, thank you," I muttered, bending down to my plate to hide my blush.

"So? What's your answer?"

"Answer to what?" I looked up, catching his eyes which instantly grew wide.

"Oh my God, don't tell me you've forgotten what I just asked you, like, literally seconds ago," he exclaimed, shock in his eyes.

"Oh, no. I couldn't even. I was just thinking of something else and I thought you were talking about something else," I lied.

I wasn't thinking about anything, matter of fact, my mind was as empty as it could ever be. I was just trying not to turn into an overripe, juicy tomato.

"Thank goodness. So you're going to give me an answer now or later? The one and only girl I've dated, who was also a Christian, made me wait for like a week before giving me an answer. You're the first boy I'm ever going to be with, I don't know if--"

"Yes, Khalid. I'll be your boyfriend. Let's be boyfriends," I interrupted him in the middle of his rambling.

It was entertaining but also painful to watch at the same time, so I helped him out whilst suppressing my laughter.

"I'm not like your first Christian girlfriend, and I'm not a girl either," I reminded him reassuringly.

"Oh, okay. Thank you." The smile on his face and the glitter in his brown eyes made me just want to press my lips against his, but I showed resilience. We were in a public place, after all. "I guess with guys it's more efficient and less stressful than with girls, especially girls who are so extra and overly dramatic."

"I know, right? That could be one of the reasons why I'm into guys, you know? Because I don't have energy for all those theatrics," I agreed, laughing.

"Yeah. But you know, some guys can be extra as well," he stated like he'd encountered a few himself.

"Mako told me about some of his experiences," I nodded, recalling most of the things Mako had told me.

"Thank Allah I found you and not one of those extra ones," he proclaimed, a gleam in his eyes.

"I'm grateful, too."

"You were a bit extra for a while though," he quickly blurted, taking his eyes down to his food.

"No, I wasn't! You broke my heart!" I protested with laughter in my voice.

"I know," he admitted with a sad voice. "I'm glad it didn't break into many pieces. I'm glad we're here now, together," he finished reaching across the table and taking my hand in his.

"Same here," I seconded. I didn't have much to say except to show just how deeply I felt for him.

Looking deep into each other's eyes for what seemed like a lifetime, I saw a thousand shimmering stars in his. A thousand beautiful stars just like the first time we'd been at the garden, laying on the grass, right under the abundant, generous stars of the night sky.

"I could kiss you right now," he muttered with a husky undertone, licking his lips.

"But we're--" I stopped myself from completing that sentence.

It was time I stopped caring about what other people thought about me and seeked validation from only those who mattered. Right now, in this diner, only Khalid and I mattered. No one else did.

"Do it," I ordered with utter confidence.

In a short second, we both leaned forward over the moderately wide, circular wooden table and kissed one another at the same time.

"Aww, so beautiful."

A few seconds into the kiss, someone cooed loudly and started clapping. Willingly tearing away from each other-- not because some random person was probably watching-- we turned in the direction the excitement was coming from. It was the middle-aged woman who seemed to be in her late forties, standing just metres away from our table.

She closed the remaining distance between her and our table then greeted us.

"Cheers, lads. I'm Miranda," she greeted, holding out her hand for a handshake.

"Hello, Miranda," we both greeted, but Khalid was the only one who shook her hand.

"I'm sorry if I seem too nosy, but I just couldn't sit still and quietly anymore. You know, my son just came out to me before he left for America for his university education. Obviously, I had no problems with it," she revealed with a melodic voice that matched the glow in her green eyes.

"Oh, uh, we're really happy for your son, Miranda." Khalid was the one who spoke first while I thought of something to say. Miranda seemed nice, it wouldn't be kind of me to ignore her.

"I came out to my family a day before my birthday. My dad thought I was making a joke," I related and we all laughed at it. Khalid was already aware of how much of a disaster my coming out was.

"My family knows I'm pansexual. My mother thinks it's the same thing as being bisexual, but my brother and sister both know that it isn't," Khalid revealed to the kind lady who couldn't stop laughing.

"I'm glad you both have accepting families," she commented then continued. "You know, I've seen many gay couples but there's just something unique about you two. Maybe it's because I've never seen a couple so young and so in love," she mused.

"Oh? Thank you."

"Thank you," we both flushed.

We'd exchanged warm goodbyes with Mrs. Miranda who turned out to be the owner of the diner. She'd given us more snacks for free after we'd paid for what we ate, of course. It was so kind and generous of her, we were sure to come again, but that would have to be next semester since this one was already over.

It was still a bit early when we left the diner and we weren't ready to just walk back to Lighthouse, so we took a little detour to the lake; our spot. There we made out, uninterrupted, while sitting on the deck. The sound of the running water and the knowledge of the presence of such a soothing water body-- which was almost freezing over, by the way-- really set the mood for us.

That was a day well spent. It ended up being a date, after all, our first date. I wouldn't have wanted it to go any other way.

* * *

The next day which was Sunday, we'd all slept in. I woke up in the afternoon, which wasn't even a surprise to me. It'd been so long since I'd been able to sleep in due to exams and having to study. Kevin was still around because I'd refused to let him go just yet.

His roommate in his dorm room on campus had already gone back home for the winter holidays. It wasn't a surprise, most people who didn't care about nonacademic activities of the school like the end of semester concerts had all gone back home.

Well, that would've been me some months ago; asocial, scared of gatherings and parties. Even if there wasn't the possibility of a good friend of mine performing at the concert, I still would've stayed to witness it with my boyfriend and best friends, thereby ending the semester in a very fashionable manner.

In the evening, our crew gathered in the common area as usual, Mako had something to tell us.

"So, guys, guess what," Mako chirped, sending his gaze to each and every one of us who stared back at him. Most of them were clueless, I wasn't totally clueless, but I also wasn't sure of the guess. I needed to be sure first.

"What is it Mako?! Just tell us already!" Jess exhilarated, eager to hear the news.

"We won't beg you if that's what you're looking for," Alex plainly told him.

"Oh, honey. Trust me, you will. This is one news you'll all be excited to hear because--"

"He's been selected among the top five students who will perform at the end of semester concert on Saturday," before he could finish with his tease, Justin blurted out the news to everyone.

"Justin!" Mako screeched, lunging forward and attacking his roommate.

"I'm sorry, but I just had to. I was itching to," he babbled, trying to protect himself from Mako's slaps.

"I knew it!" I elated, clapping loudly and violently, my palms started to hurt but I still didn't care.

"Oh my God, that's huge! That's huge, right?" Yadiri asked, joyful as the rest of us, but unsure of the importance of such duty and the honour attached to it.

"Oh, it is. It's like giving me a chance to audition in front of Beyoncé and have her take me into her label," Mako finally gave up on murdering his roommate and explained to those who didn't really understand the value of this appointment.

"Okay, that's freaking huge!" Yadiri yelled, clasping her hands over her mouth.

"I know," he giggled.

"Congratulations, Mako," Kevin chipped in, smiling at him.

"Thanks, Kev," Mako replied. Then everyone in the common area congratulated him as well.

"You do know that even if you don't get signed by Beyoncé's label or anything, you're still going to become a sensation in Denberg University," Shirley mentioned.

"Only if my performance is extraordinary. If it's not-- if it's just something basic or terrible-- I'm going to be the bad kind of sensation," replied Mako. I could tell he was trying to be as realistic as ever, that meant he also needed a morale booster.

"But we all trust you to do a marvellous job up there," I stated.

Mako smiled at me and blew me a kiss. "Not to toot my own horn, but, I know. I just hope I don't get a serious case of stage fright while I'm up there and mess things up. So, because of that, you all will have to be there to support me," Mako told us.

"Oh, of course, we'll all be there. We'll occupy the front row seats, even. Trust me on that," Khalid assured him in his father-of-the-entire-dorm deep bass voice.

"I trust daddy Khalid to rally all his children to my concert in one piece and on time," Mako replied, giggling. "Oh, and of course, his boyfriend," he quickly added.

"Of course, we're distinguished from Oliver," Alex mentioned.

"Oh my God, that makes Oliver our mummy since Khalid is our daddy," Jess pointed out, looking directly at Alex.

"So it seems," he replied with a fake gasp.

Did Alex and Jess just talk to each other? I had no idea when that happened, but I was glad that it finally did. Me pestering Jess had finally paid off. She'd decided to give Alex another chance. He did deserve another chance.

The Alex I knew now was nothing like the Alex I knew before, and I was proud of him for making room for so much positive change to take place in his life and his heart.

We stayed up late, laughing boisterously and making jokes and imitations of people till we all got tired. Khalid had slept in Alex's room to give Chris and his girlfriend some privacy while I slept with Kevin. I had just one bed in my room and the bed roll-- or sleeping bag, as Khalid called it-- wasn't ideal for the cold night, so that was why Khalid couldn't sleep in my room with Kevin and I.

At this point in my life, I had little to no worries at all. I only felt happiness. The only regret I had was playing with Mason's genuine emotions for me, and even that was starting to look bright. Nothing else could go wrong at this point.

I slept like a baby with a stomach filled with milk from their mother's teats that night.

* * *

AN: does it make you sad that we're nearing the end? It's definitely making me sad, but I'm also excited!

Please, don't forget to vote and feel free to leave your comments!

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Till next time, Gemstones.
Stay happy, stay safe.
Love, DrillBurger.