If he asked me again, I would definitely say yes
It was the second week we had to stay at campus until afternoon, or even evening. We had some practice on lab that required a lot of time to finish. I was super tired doing all the works but oddly I didn’t feel annoyed by this. Perhaps, it was because I was assigned to be in one group with him, my friend, not a close friend but turned out he has a strong affect on me that makes me keep thinking about him now and then.
There were only two works left for that day and we worked with the other groups to shorten the time. My group was supposed to heat things using oven but it took a lot of time so we played and threw some jokes. Time passed by and we got bored. He left the lab to go check the other group while I took out my phone from my pocket and scrolled through the timeline. Nothing interesting, so I decided to join him, leaving my other friend with the oven.
He was there at the entrance of the other lab leaning on the door while he put his one hand on his hip, joking around with the other group who was busy sieving things. I stood beside him as he turned his head toward me.
“You should help them,” he said jokingly.
“Why me? Why not you?” I asked him with a playful smile on my face
“Because I’m the boss.”
“The boss should do the work with his team, not just standing around like this.”
“Nope, I already paid you so you should do your work properly.”
“Oh yeah? Then you need to pay me more. I’m doing strike now.”
“Okay then give me the newest Nike shoes and I will consider it.”
“What? What kind of boss are you huh? Do you think you can blackmail your worker like this hm?” I started to poke his side hip which he dodged.
“I can do anything I want.”
“Why?”
“Because I’m the boss.”
“Oh my god stop it haha.” I broke my laugh as I tickled his side stomach mercilessly.
We both laughed until the supervisor came to check the other group’s work. He pulled me to his side to let the supervisor got in to the room and left not long after. We went back standing there in silence, watching them worked. My hand was still there on his side hip, then I put mine on top of his arm, while he still put his on his side hip. I didn’t know if I was allowed to do that or not. My heart beat so fast and I occasionally took a little glance toward our hands, worried he might felt uncomfortable with it but he didn’t shrug my hand off. My mind thought the same thing as what I thought the past few months. “Will he say it now? Will he ask for it again?”
We stayed like that for another minutes and I really couldn’t focus on anything other than our hands. I was ready to pull mine at anytime once he made the slightest move I could feel, taking it as a sign as his uncomfortableness, but he didn’t make any move at all until I pulled my hand because my heart couldn’t take it anymore.
It was the fastest heartbeat at the moment.
I couldn’t look into his face so I pretended to be busy interested in other things. Fortunately my other friend from another group came and offered to order us some drinks. It was getting dark and the oven took longer time than we expected so we needed to rest for a bit. Each of us ordered drink for ourself once we got back to the main lab. He ordered something I never tried before so I asked him if I could taste it for a little. He put the straw in his drink and gave it to me to try.
“It’s good, isn’t it?” he asked as he watched me took a sip. I felt a little bit nervous and started to think, “Now. Will he ask for it now?”
“Mhm,” I nod as I took another sip. It did fit my taste though.
“Then pay.”
My eyes widened as I heard what he said.
“What? I didn’t even drink one fourth of it,” I said as I gave it back to him and he let out a little chuckle.
“Hahaha just kidding,” he grinned at me.
My heart felt a bit disappointed because he did not ask for it this time as well and thought about giving up.
Eventually, the oven has done with its work so it was the time for us to go home. After cleaning the lab, he walked with me to the parking lot. It was only the two of us and I secretly wish he would ask for it now. We chatted throughout our way when I realized he brought a big, transparent umbrella with him. I knew it was not going to rain that evening and he rode motorbike so it was quite a weird combination for me.
“Why do you bring umbrella?” I asked.
“Ah, I left it here the other day and need to bring it back home.”
“It’s cute though. Where did you buy it?”
“It’s actually my sister’s and I don’t know where she bought it.”
We reached the parking lot and had to separate because the location of our vehicle was different.
“Then I’ll take my leave now,” he said as he waved to me.
“Okay, be careful on the road.”
“Yeah, you too.”
That night, as I drove home, I decided not to wish on him anymore and give up entirely.
