Chapter 36

When the loneliness and the pain exceed, it is the company of a friend that can erase the turmoil!!!

 I turned around to see a tall husked figure, smelling the sexiest cologne looking at me. He was still heavily breathing, seems he had a short sprint or something so he is huffing.

But I was more than glad to see him. I ran to him and I don't know why I hugged him. He took a while to register because only after some time did he wrapped his arms around my small figure that was very skinny compared to his broad sculpted one.

"Whoa and I thought only I missed you" he cheerfully mentioned.

"High hopes! Who told I missed you?" I answered back. That hug had helped me settle my crappy emotions and I did feel normal now. This was something strange about Dexter, how much he pisses me off with proclamations of his love towards me I still feel like being myself in his company. He is comfortable to talk to.

"No I was simply boosting my ego." He changed his expressions from glad to flat. "Is everything fine?"

"I was feeling a bit too lonely and I least expected someone on my side and when you arrived, I felt Existence." I answered but I knew this was something irrational and equally cliché'

"Why don't you stop engineering and start writing. You sound so lost. Come we'll sip a coffee somewhere." Dexter offered.

"I don't have a vehicle. You can come to our cafeteria." I suggested.

"I do have one. I can ride you if you don't mind." He asked raising an eyebrow.

"What if I tell you, your company sucks" I was joking because I knew I was the only person he knew here and how much so ever the short stay, he'll be spending time with me whether I agree or not.

"I never knew you have started hugging people whose company you don't like." He mocked.

I chuckled "Caught me."

"Yeah. So let's go." He offered.

"You gonna make me walk." I asked. I was feeling so light now.

"Babes you made me follow you and my ride is in the college premises." He said.

"Right then you want me walk with my bruised elbow. ....and knees too." I pouted.

I wanted to sit till he gets his car over here and we could go and I can miss college. I love to bunk sometimes, most of the times. Bunking is so addictive.

I felt like I was flying in the air. God does love make you insane that you feel like you are floating.

"Oh no, let me down Dexxie. You stupid moron.' I yanked at him but he carried me to the college.

Well love does not make you literarily fly. I was imagining things. A good friend does make you Ariel.

"I like your dictionary in which Thank you synonyms moron." He said brushing his finger on my nose.

"Sorry. Thanks but I could have waited there." I said guiltily.

"Hey I enjoyed it. Don't be sorry." He remarked.

"Perverted much" I wriggled my tongue at him.

"Have you got some new invisible car." I said when I did not see any of the cabs in the carpark. "Now you have also disappeared."

"Here take this." A guy in the helmet handed me another helmet and motioned me to jump on his phatom.

It was only after that I realized that he had rented a bike this time. It was just awesome. How much I fascinated riding on the bikes came alive in me.

I hopped on to the bike "Dexxie you are extra terrestrially good." I shouted. I knew it would take an extra loud tone to reach his ears with his helmet on.

I clutched on to his crisp Hilfiger shirt as the bike sped into the air erasing all the dullness and sadness away with the gush of the wind.

He halted at a coffee shop which wasn't crowded. Apart from us there were only two more tables occupied, one with young couples and the other one looked as if were two middle aged men discussing some business deal of not much an importance.

The  cosy place with dim light helped me calm my mind for a whileand the chilling temperature seemed to be perfect for a bubbling hot cup of coffee.

"Two cappuccino hot and strong with chocolate chip cookies" Dexter quickly placed the order as he was getting disturbed with unnecessary too much staring of the waiter to hit on me.

"Tell now." He ordered.

"How do I tell if you have already placed the order." I said innocently.

"Umm sorry for that but I think I know you that well to remember your choice of the moment. I am sure you would have ordered the same." He stated a little uncomfortably.

"You do score for that. I had exactly the same in my mind." I said very pleased.

"Do you doubt my love?" he sarcastically commented making me uneasy.

I was shifting uncomfortably on my seat.

"I did not mean to upset you." He said apologetically.

"I am okay". I smiled faintly.

The waiter was right in time to serve the order and getting death glare from Dexter so he kept his eyes off me. The mood was however lightened by now.

"NO more switching topics now. Tell me why you were lost walking in the woods?" he deepened his gaze into my eyes for the answer as if digging into my soul.

I shifted my head to avoid his hazels. "Now who is sounding like an obsessed poet? I was not in the woods. It was a concrete road and only outside my college."

"This won't change my question." He said firmly.

"See it is a chick flick thing. I don't want you to mock at me after that." I said warningly.

"You can trust me with that." He affirmed.

"I start with... Essme, my first friend in the college and only female friend. We came very close to each other and she hooked up with Deren, one of my very good and very old friends. They made such cute couple. Made for each other types. They broke up couple of months ago.Today Essme comes to me crying and sobbing and that she wants to go back to Deren. She is my friend. I feel so sorry for her but I am worried about Deren too. I want to comfort him talk to him but what do I talk and how? I was confused and wondering. That's when you came.” I sighed as I finished my cliché narration.

"When did this all happen? Today?" Dexter asked.

"Yes. Why?" I further questioned him.

"Because looking at your eyes it seems as if you are suffering since days." Dexter stated confused.

"You can read me like a book." I whispered not audible enough for him to hear. "This all relationships, broken hearts are so.... I mean I can never understand them." I shrugged my shoulders as I savored the hot sip of the coffee, my mind back to Essme and Deren.

"Pearly remember when we were in Montessori's we were all friends and we would all talk and treat every body equally. Then when we went to high school we looked for best friends, then for girlfriends. We started categorizing friendship. But one thing that we all forget is it all starts with a friendship." He said as I watched with wide eyes and open mouth. He put in a cookie in that.

"I never knew you were that thoughtful. I am impressed." I patted on his hands that were holding mine and I was enjoying it. Did I say I was enjoying his touch? He was healing my heart break.

"So can I offer you same friendship?" he said offering me a rose that he might have hidden somewhere I did not notice.

"Dexter thanks but I know what you want. Things are so complicated with me." I said my voice restless now.

"Why do you have such trust issues Pearly? You know you can share it with me." He said pressing my hands and scavenging my eyes. "Speak it. You'll feel better. Why don't you ever enter into a relationship?"

"Dexter you are not going to spare me today?" I asked huffing, trying to be smooth and to miniscule the tension boiling up within me.

"Not Today. You are looking so hurt and I think if you speak up I can help you heal." He said in a most friendly caring tone.

I repeated the same story of my primary school when I fell for my neighbor Gimmy, how I had best days of my life and how he ditched me letting me close all the doors and I couldn't trust anybody after that day for my heart. I felt a tear slip down my eyes and Dexter was there with a napkin in his hand.

Next I could think of Joshan, in spite of all the odds I let myself fall for him. Joshan, my love and I missed him!!!

By now Dexter had shifted besides me and was hugging me as more tears fell from my eyes. I composed myself soon as Dexter started some other topic to make me feel at ease.

"Pearly I have a not so good news for you." He said in a soft tone.

"What is it?" I asked calmly as if nothing worst could happen.

"I think you missed whole of your college and it's time to resume your duties at the library." He stated.

I checked my watch in horror. "God times flies when I am with you."

"My pleasure." He smirked.

"Need to go. But.." I voluntarily hugged him again. He was so comfortable with his sturdy frame "I don't want to go."

"I'll come with you." He offered.

"Ofcourse you will. I do not have a vehicle." I kneaded him on his stomach with my elbow.

"Oucch.. That hurt. I am coming to the library with you." He disclosed.

"What rubbish! Don't do it for me. I am fine. I know you are not reader's type." I said in complete denial.

"I am not doing it for you. I like to be in your premises. I am doing it for myself." He said making me blush shyly.

"Dexter if you insist I'll miss my library today. Alfred will give me tough time but I'll manage." I suggested.

"I am here for couple of days so how many days are you going to miss? Moreover I have to study some books on law. I hope you have a collection of them at your place." He asked.

"We do have a series. Hope they suffice your preferences. You can give it a try but for now RUSH!!! Alfred will kill me." I pulled him outdoors giving him very little time to settle the bill.

Dexter did not get his desired book but settled for something close to relevant and started reading in the library.

I did my work but most of the times I found myself staring at him as he did his work intently. I actually was gawking at him. But then I standardized myself back to my work.

 I had to reach home early as my parents were also coming back early. But what do I tell Dexter. He's come here for a holiday and would like to have my company. I'll make up to him tomorrow.

I was wondering to text my parents about Dexter's arrival and that I'll be late but then I couldn't. They were my parents and my dad wanted to spend some time with me. That's what the note was for.

Wait did I want to spend time with Dexter? Am I enjoying his company? Yeah he does make me forget my worries. He seems to be a nice guy. He makes me happy too. But ......

 Am I now falling for Dexter? Were my feelings for Joshan mere cliché?