Chapter 106 - 106: Dinner Date

It was already 4:00 pm when Selena and Elle finished their shopping. They decided to take a break and have snacks inside the restaurant.

They were eating their snacks when someone approached them. Both Elle and Selena were astonished when they saw the person standing beside their table.

"What are you doing here Brother?" It was Selena who spoke up to James.

James was grinning at the two girls in front of him.

"I thought I saw you a while ago so I followed you here just to confirm if it was really you." He answered Selena but his eyes were focused on Elle.

Elle just stayed silent and averted her gaze to the milkshake that she was drinking.

"Ah okay. Come join us!" Selena invited James while giving him a suspicious look.

James nodded at her before he sat down to the chair beside Elle.

"Hello, my savior! How are you?" James said to her as he greeted her.

"Hello, Mr. Arison. I am fine. Thank you." She just said casually.

Selena was trying to hold her laughter when she saw her brother frown upon hearing the emotionless reply of Elle.

"You are too formal. You can just call me James."

"Did you go shopping for both of you? Why you didn't invite me? I could have treated you both." James added as he saw the paper bags.

Elle just rolled her eyes. She didn't like James' arrogance.

"Why should we invite you? This is what we called Girl's Bonding!" Selena answered him.

"Hmm, let's go watch a movie. It's too early!" James suggested. The two girls just looked at him with disbelief.

"Oops. I won't take no for an answer!" James said as he saw the hesitation of the two girls.

"Elle, what do you think? Are you okay with his suggestion?" Selena asked her while looking apologetic.

Elle looked at her watch. She messaged Erick a while ago that she would treat him a dinner tonight and would meet him in the restaurant at around 6:30 pm.

The movie hours would be finished in two hours. She still had time so in the end, she just went along with the Arison siblings.

As they were walking towards the movie theater James snatched the paper bags that she was holding.

"Let me carry it for you," James said to her while smiling.

Elle frown at him. 'Hmm, trying to be a gentleman huh.' Elle thought to herself as she raised her brow while looking at James.

Selena saw it so she reacted. "How about mine, brother?" She raised her paper bags and pouted at James.

James just gave her a warning look and he didn't plan on carrying it for her. Compare to Elle, Selena had bought a lot of things. 

Seeing the situation, Elle decided to get the paper bags from Selena. "Let's go," Elle said to them.

James looked at her with disbelief so in the end James was forced to hold the paper bags that the two girls were holding a while ago. He looked like the assistant of the two ladies.

James was the one who bought movie tickets for them. With a motive in mind, he chose a horror movie.

"Hey, why horror movie!" Selena complained to her brother.

"It is the only available, the other two are already sold out. Besides, it looks exciting." James explained, however, Selena just gave him a doubtful look.

Elle didn't mind about the kind of movie they would be watching. Elle just wanted to have pastime as she waits for Erick to leave for work.

They soon entered the movie theater. James made sure to sit down in between the two women.

Expectation versus reality, James thought that watching this horror movie would make Elle depend on him since he believed that girls can be easily scared.

During the entire duration of the movie, it was Selena who was shouting and clutching his arms while Elle was simply eating popcorn and sitting there so relax.

The entire movie ended and none of his expectations happened.

"Elle I didn't know, you are really brave," James commented.

"Yeah, you didn't even shout. The movie was so scary!" Selena said feeling so amused.

"The movie was scary but I think there is something scarier than that. Besides it is not true, they were just fiction." Elle just simply replied.

But unknown to them, Elle's mind was occupied by something during the duration of the movie. They thought she was focused while watching but the truth was Elle was thinking about Erick.

After avoiding him for 3 days, tonight they would meet and have the chance to talk again face to face after that awkward moment. She was also planning how she would give him the gift that she bought.

She didn't want to admit but she felt nervous.

"Selena and James, thank you for today. I enjoy it. By the way, I have to leave now since I have an important appointment tonight." Elle said to them.

"Thanks also Elle for giving me your time. I hope we can do this again." Selena smiled at her. Elle just nodded.

"Where are you going? Let me drop you there." James suggested to her.

"No need. I should go now. See you again next time." Elle bade them a farewell and she walked away not waiting for their reply.

The Arison siblings just stared at her back as she vanished from their sights.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

After 15 minutes, Elle arrived at XY restaurant.

She checked her watch. She was on time. She also checked her phone to see whether Erick had messaged her or not. No message from him.

She decided to text him.

[ Erick where are you? Are you on your way now? Text me what time you will arrive. By the way, take your time. I can wait for you. ]

Seconds after she sent her message, her phone vibrated. It was a message from Erick.

[ Turn around Miss ] Elle frowned when she saw his message and unconsciously she turned around only to see the most handsome man she had ever see, standing one meter away from her spot. He waved at her while wearing his sweetest smile.

Elle was surprised to see him. Erick walked towards her.

"Did you just arrive?" Elle asked him.

Erick shook his head.

"How long have you been there?" Elle asked him again.

"Hmm, 10 minutes I think." He lied.

When Erick received her text this afternoon, he made sure to finish everything at work so early. He was so excited about tonight. He didn't want her to wait for him. So when Elle was watching a horror movie while thinking about Erick, he already arrived at the restaurant one hour before the agreed meeting time. Of course, he would not tell her that.

"Let's go inside," Elle said.

"Sure." Erick nodded. So he guided Elle as they entered the restaurant.

The waiters inside were giving them a strange look. They were also smiling at Erick while greeting them politely. Elle didn't know but in waiters' minds, they were thinking 'Oh finally, his date had come. He waited for her for an hour!'

They were now seated inside. They choose a less crowded area.

"Hmm order what you want. It's my treat tonight." Elle said to him happily.

Erick let out a soft chuckle. "Sure, as you wish."

Then the waiter came to get their order.

"Seafood pasta and a roasted pork belly, and a bottle of champagne," Erick said and the waiter noted it.

"How about you ma'am?" He asked Elle.

"I want a sizzling shrimp, chicken corn soup, and a seafood pasta also. Please give us also two blueberry cake."

"Is that all ma'am?"

"Yeah, I am good with that. How about you?" She asked Erick.

"I am good also," Erick said.

Then the waiter left.

"Hey, are you always eating here?" Elle suddenly asked Erick out of the blue.

"Nope. Why?" Erick asked her confusedly.

"It looks like the waiter here already knew you. I noticed how they glanced at you when we entered a while ago." Elle commented.

Erick let out a soft chuckle. 'Because I've been here for an hour. That's why I look familiar with them.'

"Never mind it. They might think that I look like someone. By the way, did you go shopping?" Erick was trying to change the topic. 

"Yeah, I bought some things." She smiled awkwardly as she remembered that she also bought him a gift.

"I miss you." Erick suddenly blurted out. Elle was taken aback when she heard him.

Erick laughed when he saw her surprise expression.

"You were avoiding me for three days now! I am glad that you invited me to dinner." Erick said truthfully.

Elle looked down. "I am sorry. It's just that I am so embarrassed to face you."

Erick lifted her chin so that he could see her eyes. "You don't have to. I understand. I won't bring it up again. Please Elle just don't avoid me okay?" Elle was staring at his gentle eyes.

They were in this serious conversation when the waiter arrived to bring their food. He was hesitating to disrupt this sweet moment between them so the waiter just stopped on his spot holding the tray of foods while looking at them.

"Aw, they are so sweet."

"They look good together."

They caught the attention of other customers and waiters as they noticed that the waiter who supposed to deliver their food was just standing there watching the couple.

Minutes passed as they noticed the strange gazes from other people inside. Elle's eyes widened to see many eyes were looking at them so she kicked Erick's leg as she turned to hide her blushing face from them.

Erick averted his gaze to see the waiter standing on the side. Erick let out a chuckle. He cleared his throat.

"Ahem, sorry we didn't notice you. You can now serve the food." Erick said to the waiter apologetically.

The waiter just smiled at them as he put down the food in their table. Erick and Elle began eating their dinner without minding the numerous pair of eyes which were watching them.