ALTERNATIVE

"You kept me waiting for too long." Juvenal nags as Shamim sits opposite her.

"You should have waited for my call young lady."

"Why should I still wait for your call when we have decided to meet by 11am?" Juvenal asks already annoyed.

"Why are you sounding serious?" Shamim asks scratching the back of his head.

"You came too late, and courtesy demands you apologize for coming late!"

"I am sorry." He whispers not sounding too sorry. "You know my dad invited you for a family dinner, right?"

"Yes, he mentioned it earlier that day."

"It's tomorrow night."

"Really?" Juvenal asks excitedly.

"Yes." Shamim nods.

"Then I guess you should be getting my dress for me!"

"I would, as soon as we leave this place." He exhales deeply and continues. "But my father made it compulsory that everyone coming to the family dinner must have a date."

"Really? So——-you want me to be your date?" She asks raising her brows.

"Yes." He nods.

"Alright." Juvenal accepts with smiles, it's not like I have another person to go with anyways, What about your sister? Does she have a date?"

"My sister has a fiancé." Shamim says sternly.

"A fiancé? Not a boyfriend?"

"Yes." Shamim nods with a bit of pride. "He has been friends with he for ten good years."

"Wow!" She exclaims calmly.

Shamim bends his head a bit. "Should I tell you something more Interesting?"

"What is that?"

"Do you know that red car I always bring to work sometimes?" Juvenal nods. "He bought it for her as a birthday gift, with his one year savings because she admires it once in his presence." Shamim whispers as if it were some sort of secret.

"You don't mean it!"

"Take it is leave it, it's nothing but the fact." Shamim says and raises his head.

"Her fiancé is such an amazing soul!" Juvenal says and sighs. "I guess you are like that to your girlfriend also."

It took a lot a courage and strength for Shamim to say a word, he stares at her for a while and whispers. "We broke up."

Juvenal gently turns her head from the flowers she was looking at faces Shamim. "What did you just say?"

"We broke up." He repeats.

"Tch." She laughs gently. "No wonder you were being extra nice and kind to me all this while, it was because you got dumped by your girlfriend, isn't it?"

"I wasn't dumped, I was used."

"Don't play the victim or play the pity cards. You plan on moving to me now? Like I am an alternative? I won't allow that, if you can't prioritize me, leave me alone."

"Alright." Shamim nods. "Don't worry, I don't plan on asking you out either, I don't want you to feel used."

"What?"

"Yes." He nods again. "I wouldn't want anybody to be or feel used, cause I already know how painful it is for someone to be used."

"Shamim." Juvenal calls already regretting her words.

He hits the table gently and asks, "shall we head to the store and get you a dress now?"

"Yes." She nods.