Chapter 21

To choose between a friend and a bestfriend>>>

The one whom you love will be left out for you trust him/her enough to understand…..

 “Hey its 11 now, time to go to the library” I excused Joshan 

“No wait. I have no girlfriend today” he pouted

“So” I said lithely.

“Give me company” he gave his cute puppy dog face

“You take your ass to some other whore” I tapped on his butt 

“Pearly you are being mean” he made a cute adoring face which is really difficult to resist.

“And you are being so very considerate.” I mocked

“I fought that girlfriend of mine because of you.” he argued

“Wrong you fought that bitch because she told you not to talk to me and choose one among us” I replied accusingly.

“Doesn’t it mean one and the same thing” he pulled me to make me sit besides him.

“No it means you have poor choice with girls” I smiled pulling my locks from his hands that he was playing with.

“So you admit you are not a girl” he teased

“What f##k made you say that?” I snarled at him.

“You cannot be termed as a poor choice.” He smirked.

“That’s exactly why I am not your tamed girlfriend.” I hit him on the back of his head

His expression changed with my selection of words as he gave up, “okay go but I will see you after your duty’s over.’

“Yes sir.” I saluted him military style and left. 

After 20 minutes

 Text on Pearly’s mobile:

Dexter : surprise!!!!!

Pearly : ???????

Dexter: come 2 ur college gate

Pearly: what? No flowers in college Plz. My B’day was months ago.

Dexter: Don’t ruin the surprise. Come down immedtly

Pearly: Whatever give 5

 I rushed down after asking an excuse from Alfred who did not seem very pleased about it but I guess I’ll be back soon.

Joshan was still here talking to some blondie.

“HI bff. New target.” I winked at him and whispered in his ears before leaving “Good one but get the brain check done before you propose.”

“I will but where are you going. I thought you were busy” he asked.

Right then a red sprius swooshed at the entrance and took a sudden brake. Seconds later a very handsome guy in his gray striped button up shirt and black trousers exited from the driver’s seat. He looked even more handsome than in the skype with those hazel eyes. I was only eye f##king him when he ran towards me and lifted me from my waist holding me high

“Sweety pea pearly. It’s so wonderful to see you. I missed you so much” he said excitedly.

Blushed and embarrassed at his gesture I laughed and said “I missed you too but first let me down. This is a public place and my college. Stupid! people here know me”

“Know you so let them know that you have a handsome guy as your friend.” He said smiling.

“Somebody lied you” I said in a serious one.

“What?” he asked confused.

“Somebody lied telling you you were handsome” I giggled at my own words.

“Right standing in front of a beautiful girl makes me no handsome” he smirked, his eyes twinkling with dlight.

“You really are a flirt” I teased

“Now who lied this to you?” he asked pouting.

Wow! I never knew a guy pouting in a formal office wear can also look equally hot!!!

“Sam never lies.” I lied.

“So you guys talk about me. I am honored” he said flirtily.

“Come on stop flirting” I hit him playfully

“Hey Joshan come here.” I saw him staring angrily from a distance.

“Dexter this is Joshan, my best friend and Josh this is Dexter from Florida, remember my cousin Sam.” I got both of them introduced.

They shook their hands in a man to man way but both of them seemed to be least interested.

“Wait a sec Pearly” Dexter went to his car and bought a box of Ferrero chocolates 

 “This is for you. Sweets for a sweetest girl in the world.” Dexter said flirtingly.

“How many girls have you won with this line” I mocked.

“You are the first one but did it work?” he asked raising his eyebrows.

Man!!! This boy can be certified as a professional flirt!!!

“Will you try on another girl if I tell yes?” I played cool with him for the tension between Joshan’s furious glares and his flirting was getting really thick.

“So it worked. But if it works on you. Who on hell would want another one? Right Joshan.” Deren said.

Atleast Dexter was playing decent

Joshan simply shrugged his shoulders.

“Here are the keys>” he placed the keys of his sprius in my hands.

Holy shit!!! Wow!!! I started drooling at the lovely car.

“What do I do with it?” I asked

“Of course drive. There’s nothing else you can do with the keys of the car. So take and take me for sight seeing of your city”, he said placing the keys on my hand.

“Oh no Dexxie. I can’t. I am on duty. I can’t take a leave.”

“See I am a lawyer and I know the rules. Here’s a leave note for all the apologies of certain absence. Hand it to the concerned authority tomorrow and there would be no issues.” He pushed me to the driver’s seat of the car.

“Dexter I am not that kind of person” I resisted.

 He hushed me lifting me on his shoulders saying, “I know very well what kind of person you are and I also know you are an amazing friend who put their friends on their priority list” and he dumped me on the driving seat of his Sprius “You drive”

“No I haven’t driven such expensive cars. I don’t want to take risks. You drive.” I threw the keys at him which he caught easily.

“Thanks. You finally agreed. But I give you steering wheel of my life confidently so drive.”

I chuckled to his amazing skill of flattering girls and started driving.

“Where do you begin with?” I asked seeing there was no point in fighting this lawyer and again he’d been really sweet when I was in Florida.

“Where would you like to take your boyfriend on a first date?” he asked flirtily.

“Dexter” I gave him warning looks. “You are not my boy friend so stop flirting and tell me where to go”

“You scared me Pearly” and he broke into fits of laughter. “Your looks.. they were funny”

“Okay let me decide where to take you. Its 2 in the noon and you haven’t had your lunch. Right” I asked.

“Absolutely” he apprehended.

“So I take you to an exclusive Thai cuisine diner for lunch.” I stated, more than that declared.

“So very thoughtful.” He complimented.

“I am” I smirked now.

“But I won’t spare you before 9 in the evening so inform your parents before hand” he demanded possessively

“Thanks for the concern. I will text them when we park for the diner.” I said sarcastically.

At the diner we took a lonely table at one of the corner and a pretty teen waitress was attending us. She was completely drooling over Dexter trying to seduce him. Seeing us from our body language she realized that we weren’t together in a relationship so she handed over her phone no in the paper napkin murmuring in his ears which I happened to overhear, “She looks so boring. I know how to lick a handsome’

“Sure sexy see you tonight in the next motel. Wear something black and sexy.” Dexter flirted giving her a sexy grin.

“God Dexter you had your flight at 9 tonight, you’ll cancel for her.” I whisper yelled at him.

‘You hurt me Pearly. Do you think I am that cheap? Sitting with the most beautiful and cheerful person on earth you believe I can think of dating with a whore like that.” He said putting me into a bliss.

“That cheerful person seems to be a little too boring to others. She isn’t beautiful either.” I said playfully.

“Beauty lies in the eyes of the beholder. You got to look her through my eyes.” He said.

“God! No wonder Sam says you are a flirty soul.” I remarked

“Did she?” he asked hurt.I blushed shyly did not dare to answer him. His answerbacks were too good and equally flirtatious but he did earn some good points from me. He even paid for the food though I insisted to pay as I was the host.

“But I am your kidnapper you see.” he said in a mock scaring tone.

“Yeah but the kidnapper is evilly dashing.” I whispered cupping my hand on his ears.

“I take it as a compliment” he blushed with an added smirk.

“Where next?” I asked his choice of place he’d like to visit.

“Which is the most happening place here for youngsters?” he asked.

“The J D club.” I suggested Do you like dancing?”

“I know you do.” He said with a confident smile on his face.

“Sam told you?” I asked. He knew a lot about me.

“No your face book status.” He said as he rested on the back of the chair.

“You must be a stalker.” I accused.

“Only on you” he replied.

“Whatever. You drive now I am tired.”

“Just guide me the route then.” He said easily.

He was really comfortable to be with other than his flirty comments or compliments which were equally flattering.

“You do have a navigator in your car.” I suggested

“Yeah. Quick noticing babes.” He said happy about my observational skills.

''''''

I got a continuous series of texts from Joshan concerning my whereabouts and he simply finished to call him or text him from the last destination so he can pick me as my car was still parked in the college when he left. He’s so protective sometimes.

 He was to the point in his messages, no casual talks, no friendly notes, I realized he is disappointed with me. That disturbed me a bit but I thought today was Dexter’s day and I was the host so I better take care of him. Joshan can easily melt with my cooing word or two.

I was not very well dressed but my shorts and loose fit tee were fine for the dance floor. Dexter was as it is too hot to handle. Though plenty of girls offered to dance with him, few were beautiful too but he denied saying that he had me as his date, earning a few more good books point from me.

We hit the dance floor after a couple of extreme mild drinks as we had to drive and enjoyed the music. He danced quite well which was a surprise to me as he was hesitating a bit initially but later we were one with the music.

Dexter went to get drinks for us as we were sweating badly because of the crowded dance floor. This place was favorite of the teens and was always full. Then a smart but completely wasted drunk started hitting on me. First he offered to dance with me but I politely refused. But he wasn’t satisfied and forced me to dance with him. He was even demanding my phone number again and again. He was stinking of alcohol so much that I almost fell nauseated and was uncomfortable too trying to avoid his touch that made me feel creepy. I was missing Joshan. Whenever he took me, he would scrutinize the crowd and take every possible care to keep me safe. Just then I heard a loud bang. “Dddduddddmh”

“Oooaaaauch you asshole” I came out of my reverie to see that drunken lying flatly on the ground and Dexter was hitting him to get life out of him.

He was stopped by the bartender and we moved out of the club immediately. Dexter’s nostrils were blurring out of anger.

“Calm down Dexxie, he was drunk. I am good.”

“How could that b##t##d” Dexter growled.

I coughed and he understood.

“Take me to some place which is peaceful and we two can talk, know each other more.” He requested.

I did not utter a word and took him to a nearby lake garden.

“This is so beautiful” he said as we enjoyed sun setting behind the trees.

‘Yeah it is. So are you contended?”  asked looking at a relaxed Dexter

“Yes with you as my company” he pulled me closer to him

“Flirtatious so.” I teased again.

“Not really” he said with looks of hurt on his perfect face.

“Okay then why are you here. I mean in Texas.” I tried to be casual.

“I am working with a very big firm of lawyers who are working on a case of some multimillionaire who is into some mess. He has his branch over here in Texas too so I came here to collect some important evidences and documents. Convinced?” he finished explaining his visit.

“Yup. And you are earning enough?” I hitmyself mentally for asking a stupid question.

Don’t ask a man his income rule!!!

“How could you be so confident about my good income?” he asked.

Too late Pearly. Damage done.

“A little bit guess work with your rental car I mean Sprius. It’s so cool and you offered to pay and things here and there. No offences. Oops sorry.”

“Never mind. This will give you an idea.” as he gifted me a set of diamond earrings in a velvet box.

“I cannot take this.” I returned them back to him.

“You have to. I brought it especially thinking about you.” He pushed the box to me forcing me to keep. “Now lets talk about something other than arguing about this silly gift thing.”

“Right tell about yourself first.” I implied.

‘Well I am Dexter. Working in a firm, my parents are in Texas but I live alone.I am happy as a bachelor but not planning to continue. Love traveling and music and yes a girl too.”

“That’s new to hear. Who is she?” I asked

“You know her. But she is not aware about it.” he said

“That says you haven’t proposed her yet but who is she if I know her.” I asked insisting.

I started mentally calculating about my friends in Florida SaM, Liz, Tina and…”

“Hey sweetie its 8:0. I have to reach airport by 9” he said looking at his Rado wrist watch.

“Oh God we are late. We need to rush” and we hurried towards the car. “Your luggage?”

“In the back. I don’t have much. Travel less kinda.”

“Impressive” I complimented honestly.

“Pearly can I tell you something” he said and I kept my eyes on the road as it would take another couple of minutes to activate and feed address to gps.

“Be comfortable Dexxie.”

“I enjoyed my day with you.” He said truthfully. I could feel the truth of his words.

“Thank you so much. That proves my hospitality.” I saluted him playfully

“Thanks. I too had good time.” Dexter said and there was unknown silence which felt nice.

We reached the airport just in time for the flight. The cab picker was there. Dexter wanted me to keep the cab for the night and the chauffer could pick it next morning but I never agreed.

‘Joshan is coming to pick me. I have already informed him”

“Why you had the car?” he asked shocked.

“Its okay you rush. You are running late. Have a nice flight.” I greeted him.

“Bye” he hesitated for a while and then gave a slight peck on my cheeks, “Will miss you.”

I did not know how to react so I simply smiled with a wave.

Joshan came to pick me.

“Hi” I greeted him

No reply.

“Waited for long?” I asked.

No reply.

“Sorry to trouble you” I apologized.

No reply but a very very angry stare……

h the ' hind the restaurant we will sit there for a mean while.” He offered.

I followed him to the car. He was driving me as my parents would ride me back home.

We went to the restaurant almost an hour early and Joshan took me to this open air swimming pool which was the hotel’s property with a bar. However it was closed with no people around as pool timings were done’

We did not sit on the chairs instead we lied on the lush green grass ground tired of the day’s labor staring the stars in the sky.

“How did you get me Joshan? I mean…” I asked as I helped him the access of my traces of long blonde hair so that it doesn’t hurt while he plucks to play with them.

“This orphanage” he confirmed as he continued playing with locks of my hair, he loved to do it.

“Yes. I am sure Stacie and Cairo did not help you.” I asked curious.

“Neither did your mom” he added

“Then?” I asked anxiety was eating me.

“I got to know your account is in this cooperative bank. I had my cousin working in it. I got the last records checked that every year a cheque is issued on your birthday to this orphanage and I collected two and two to get a viable information.” He revealed getting me amazed at his intellect.

“You are going to make an amazing businessman” I appreciated him honestly.

“thanks”

He stayed silent for some time and I could feel there is something in his mind. I turned to him sideways and e too instantly turned to me.

“Pearly you missed your grandma today?” he asked.

“Yes”

“That was the reason of your outpour?” he asked.

God he was digging into my soul.

“She would take me to this Orphanage on my birthday in the morning and we would have a grand party in the evenings till my 14th birthday when she fell sudden sick in the evening and expired next morning”, tears were building up in my eyes but Joshan squeezed my ands in a I am here gesture.

“Here’s your gift.” He gave me a silver box with a red ribbon attached to it.

I took it lovingly. But his company for the whole day was a gift enough!!! Everything else faded in comparison to that.