Chapter 10: Her Presence

Now that i think about it, there is still one question i haven't asked yet, especially at a time where i am dating someone, someone who i am not sure also knows what it means to date someone. Though i haven't asked yet, i hope the answer to that question is no, but even if it's a yes i don't mind it being a no, it's just the special feeling it gives me when I'm her first. Maybe it's just me who knows.

Nevertheless, what does it mean to date someone? My only comparison for this is the movies I watch and the books i read, yet it is insufficient for how it actually operates in the real world, I'm sure of it.

I thought of asking my Mom considering this, since she has been married once in her life and has only loved one man, so I am sure that she knows the answer to my question. Yet there is one reason why I'm holding back from doing that. It is embarrassing.

Asking my mom about how to date someone is an embarrassing thought i have conjured up, imagine me asking my mom about something juvenile like this, ugh i can't stand it. And also there is also the more important reason. It's that I do not wish to remind her of my father.

Every time my father comes up in conversations, it turns weird. On the other hand, my mom goes on and on about how dumb my father is, how he would've just been a lost puppy without her and how he can't live without her. The sight of her face showing happiness as she talks about him warms my heart. It makes me happy every time my mom smiles.

It's not to say that she doesn't smile, she does indeed smile like any other mom who loves their child and is grateful for it. Yet the smile she has shown after father passed is different. She was missing something important from her smile, something that had been taken away from her, never to return again.

This is why i refuse to talk about this to my mom, i refuse to see her smile that seems to be missing something, i refuse to. The thought of making my mom remember something saddening, yet a happy memory, gives me mixed feelings about how to decide. I just don't know.

Going back to the topic, speaking of not knowing, i still don't know how to date someone. This dating a person on an emotion called 'Love' is something i have never experienced. Sure i have experienced the love of a friend, the love of a mother and family but not the love of someone outside of that sphere of influence.

Some people may be wondering, why am i even asking this question to myself. It's twofold. One is that i am new to what people call dating and two, the person i am dating is, uh, acting in a way i am not used to. It's not that i don't like it, in fact i do, but it just feels strange to me.

"Malikkk, are you there?"

Lorelai's voice entered my ears, i turn to look at her as she was leaning against my shoulder, while holding my arms between hers. The scent of her perfume calmed my raging thoughts. Her arms that were intertwined with one of mine made me feel the softness of her hands, as her fingertips was wrapped around mine.

It would've been an enjoyable sight, but there was one problem. It's that everyone was looking at us at our table. The various gazes mixed with coldness, confusion and horror in some people made me feel embarrassed about this situation.

That is why i am asking this question, is that is this how people who are dating act in public, and this comfortably too i might add. I feel that we were causing public indecency, though i don't know the specifics of the law.

"Yeah, I'm here." i said.

"Good." said Lorelai as she made herself comfortable on my shoulder.

It seems that the various gazes of people aren't bothering her, not even the slightest. I could tell as she was literally wrapped around my arms, so i could tell what she was feeling. I turn to Neil, who was grinning from ear to ear as he observed us.

"Uh Neil, is this okay?"

Neil looked at me for a few seconds with a smile on his and said.

"You tell me."

Damn it. The time where i needed him the most, he bails on me. I could ask him again with more seriousness but i have a feeling he would respond the same way. I turn to ace and ask the same question.

Not like him. He gave a subtle grin at the side of his face, but he ignored my question as he just stared at me before packing up his things and leaving. I hoped that Ace wasn't going to be like Neil, but i guess not. Fuck.

I try to think of other things as the stares of people and the teasing smile of Neil was getting to me. I might cause a scene if i don't control myself.

It's now Friday, the day before the acquaintance party. To give a little introduction about the party, it's held on school grounds and the attire is set on an informal tone. You can wear whatever you want as long as it's not inappropriate and reveals too much skin.

Its purpose, I'm told, is so that the new students who are either transferred to her or the now 7th grade students, can introduce themself in front of the upper levels and with each other, so that they may build comradeship amongst each other. Though in my opinion it usually ends with someone dating someone from another level or at the same grade level. Messy stuff.

I have already attended several parties like this one the school has hosted. At first everything was calm, every student was in their own room having a party of their own, the food at full display with the music loud in the background playing. At first everything was fine, but it is the calm before the storm.

Once the students have been cooked up the sugary drinks and bloated by the delicate food, they are now ready to wreak havoc. It is the act of consuming energy necessary to expend it when the actual party starts, and by then it was mayhem.

Once the party starts, the sound of the party music booming in the background, neon lights filling the school ground everywhere and the wave of students cramping the grounds. It's almost picturesque just to think about it.

But now this year, this year is different, this year i have a date that i can go with. On past parties i attended i saw multiple people who had dates of their own and though i didn't really care for it at that time, and i still don't care, but i feel that this time i am going to spend with Lorelai might be special.

"Malikkkkkk stop daydreaming, let's go home already."

"Ah, alright then."

With that, me and Lorelai stood up and went out of the room, and in tow were Neil and Ace. When we were just about to get out of the room, there was a person standing in our way, and of course, it was Bradley. I sometimes feel like I'm in a teenage romance movie.

Bradley didn't say anything as he just blocked our way, staring at us with those indifferent eyes. He didn't even look at me as he just stared at Lorelai, hugging my right arm. His mouth may not be saying anything yet his gaze was enough to tell us what was wrong.

As i still have some things to do at home, i ignored Bradley and kept walking, and as we were about to collide, Bradley moved out of the way. Surprised i turn to look at him and what he did was only smiling to me. I felt a chill down my spine when i saw his spine. Something was telling me he was up to no good.

I ignore it once again as i didn't care. Whatever he does won't matter as i will get rid of it no matter what he does. And with that, our small encounter with Bradley was done and so we went our separate ways, with Ace going god knows where and Neil going somewhere i already know.

We said our goodbyes as what they left were me and Lorelai. We just stared at each other's eyes. We smiled and went our way towards the bus to go home.

After the usual bus ride home, i arrived at my house with Mom in the Kitchen, she seems to be making something delicious as the scent of the food wafted through the air and so i went to say hi to my mom before going to my room.

Putting my back in my chair, i crash down into my bed on my back, before closing my eyes, rethinking my day.

It wasn't that eventful. School, as always, went on and class went by as usual. Some students listening to the teacher while some didn't because why not? Some of the students slept through the whole class, and the teachers didn't seem to care.

Maybe the only thing that was different in my day was the presence of Lorelai. Even though my days were never the same when she was in school, this time was different. This time, our relationship got an upgrade and so our way of interacting has changed by leaps and bounds to say the least.

I have mixed feelings toward it. On one hand, I'm not used to it, i was used to just hanging out with ace and Neil, going to school while we hang out after. And i also am not used to being this close to a girl, it's a new experience to say the least.

But on the other hand, i have a girlfriend. A girlfriend who is pretty much perfect in every way, save for the fact that she can swear like a sailor at times, and the more we talk, the more i feel alien to what i thought what she was like, it's not in a negative way, no, Its just weird to me that is, though i do love her weirdness.

And with me starting to date lorelai, even though it's been only a week, i can already see change coming along. With me dating Lorelai, we started hanging out almost every minute of the day, actually not almost. It is every minute of the day. With the addition of Lorelai came Ava.

Now I'm not sure if Ava and ace were already dating, but by my guess, it's not long till they do. She started hanging out with us at the same time Lorelai did. She was also a bright spot in our otherwise mixed group, heck even i don't know what to call it. Oh, and there was Neil.

I snapped out of my thoughts as there were still things i need to prepare, like what i was wearing tomorrow. I still have no idea what to wear. I'm not exactly the fashion expert here. But i do know of someone who is.

I get up and go downstairs. I walk to the kitchen and saw that the food was already cooked. Its heavenly scent penetrated my nose as it made me almost drool. Wait, no, in fact, I'm actually drooling right now.

Wiping off my drool before mom notices, i help her set up the table, getting the pates and forks, and of course getting the food ready. After we prepare the food, we sit down opposite of each other, and say a little prayer before eating.

After that i munched down on the food as much as possible. This day was tiring to say the least, there was much to do as the party was tomorrow, so preparing the classroom as well as settling what food we were bringing as a class was needed deciding.

I heard a chuckle coming from my mom, but i ignore it as i cannot ignore the delicious food in front of me, focus Malik.

Burp*

I stuffed down as much food as possible in my mouth and noticed that mom had already finished eating and was just staring at me with a smiling expression. I'm confused as i don't know why she was doing that, i touch my face to see if there was any leftover food on my face. There was none.

"Mom, is there something on my face?"

My mom chuckled for a bit and said.

"Its nothing honey, just reminded me of something."

I looked confused but i ignore it as i remembered my other purpose coming down besides eating. I look at mom and ask.

"Mom, the party at school was tomorrow, so i kinda need help with picking out an outfit."

"Yeah, why am i not surprised?"

Her sarcastic voice entered my ears yet i didn't understand why she was being sarcastic. I ignore it and ask.

"Yeah, it's tomorrow and i still haven't thought of an outfit, but it's whatever really, worse comes to worst. ill wear a hoodie to the party like always."

"God Malik, please don't, fine ill help. Come with me."

My mom had a look of dismay at what i said and i didn't have much of a reaction. This was the same expression she had in previous years, but this year was a little different.

"Oh yeah, why are you even asking me for outfit choices? If i remember correctly, you detained do it in previous years, so why now?"

"Hmmm yeah i thought about it and i think it's because of Lorelai."

"Oh my, honey, do you like her?"

My mom said with a teasing tone, she had a look that says 'Tell me everything' and so i obliged.

"Oh yeah, and one thing led to another, so now we started dating."

I didn't think much about my response as i just became honest with her. There was nothing to hide,, really. In fact, the reason why i didn't tell mom after it was because she was too busy every time i was about to tell her about. I didn't mind as i didn't think it was that big of a deal.

Yet my mom's expression right now was conveying the opposite. She had a shocked expression on her face, as if the sky was falling asunder. Her eyes showing extreme confusion for some reason as she looked at me.

"What how?" My mom said.

"I don't know, it just kinda happened. She liked me i liked her, that's about it."

"Wha… Sweetie, i don't mean to be mean but you're denser than the fucking planet, how the hell did you get with her?"

Alright, i was pretty hurt when my mom said that, but it's for good reason, even i myself admit that my Social IQ is lower than that of a monkey, heck i think a monkey has a better time socializing than me. It never bothered me until now, to be honest.

"Mom…"

"Oh sorry honey, i didn't mean it that way, it's just that you act like your Father when i met him."

"Yes mom i know, you told me this already like a million times."

"No honey, i meant that your father is the densest fucking being in existence, i know because i once told him that i liked him to his face, yet he looked at me with a confused expression as he just said 'Uh yeah i like you too'."

My mom slapped her hand on his face as she thought about something embarrassing. Still, i was confused on that last part. How was he dense?

"Uh, what do you mean mom, didn't dad said he also liked you?"

"Yeah well i thought that way too, until he just left after i confessed and nothing else happened after that, i was confused about his reaction but i was too embarrassed to ask. Due to it, our days went by as usual with nothing changing that much. It wasn't until we became a couple. After a while did i ask him about that situation. And you know what he told me?"

"Uh no."

"He said 'Oh that, yeah i thought that you liked being my friend that all.', god i wish i could strangle him right now."

"But mom, isn't his reaction totally justifiable, to be fair you didn't say you liked him in a romantic sense."

My mom looked at me with a blank expression, as if what i said didn't process in her head, but i was wrong as she said.

"Honey, when i confessed to your father, i brought chocolate and a love letter to him. I thought it was enough to convince him i liked him romantically but nope, he just thought i was being appreciative of him."

I facepalm as even i know what it meant, i look at my mother as she wore a defeated look on her face, i sigh as i now understand where my denseness comes from.

"But it all worked out in the end. Somehow. It took a lot of work, but we eventually got married and had you, who is not as dense as your father. You better thank me for that."

A look of victory replaced my mom's defeated expression, as she had a haughty air to her vibe. But i can't argue with that logic. How the hell did my father attract my mom was what i thought.

"So uh mom, can you help me now? As you can see, it's really important."

"Dont worry honey, i won't let you down as your father did when he confessed."

And so we got into and it and, needless to say, it took a few hours of mom directing me what to wear until it satisfied her with what she saw.

By then, I was ready.

But first let's sleep, I'm tired.

Goodnight.