Bright Pledge

I couldn’t get rid of that he may want something from me and that’s why he invited me for this party. I really couldn’t get it off my mind. Besides, if the branch is open after Christmas, then, why not?

“What kind of party is it?” I asked to get more details.

“Oh, so you’re going?”

“I haven’t decided yet.”

“Well, you have to do it now, as we’re getting to the junction.”

I sighed and gave my answer. “Fine, I’ll go.”

“Good decision.”

“So, will you answer my question now?”

“Of course, Your Ladyship. As I mentioned, no need to expect anything crazy. We rented a restaurant for that occassion. I think it’s even more of a bar or something inbetween. Anyway, there will be like max 20 people. We didn’t want to go for something bigger. We want to have a nice, pleasant meeting. That’s it.”

“Nice, pleasant meeting?” I think I misheard.

“Yes, a nice, pleasant meeting. You heard right.”

I wheezed. “I think I don’t.”

“Then you should clean your ears.”

“They’re clean.”

“Then nothing will help with your poor hearing.”

“Screw you.”

I would say that’s how our usual conversation used to look like. Actually, it looks exactly like that. One makes comment on another, then they reply with similar insult. They were never very harsh, but there were times I had to stop him from going further. He was a butthole, seems like he still is the one, but he is likeable.

„Oh...” I realized something.

„Hm?”

„I agreed to go, but-"

„Let me guess, having not the right clothes on yourself?”

„Well, if I’d have known that I’ll be going somewhere today, then obviously I’d wear something else.”

He smirked. „Of course... Like you have anything to worry about.”

„What do you mean?”

„You don’t have to worry about changing. You look okay.”

If a long-sleeved knitted dress with turtleneck in cream is okay, then I’ll take that as an approval for it. I have a habit of dressing nicely without a special need for it. I just feel more comfortable like that.

Not long after he parked in front of the restaurant. Guess that was the one he mentioned. I was about to get off, but Gil just unfastened his seat belt and wasn’t moving.

„We’re not going?” I asked as I wasn’t sure what to do.

„We’re too early. I took some extra time as I wasn’t sure of road's condition, yet we’re still early. We can go in like 10 minutes or so, as I have to be there before 5pm anyway to check everything. No point in standing outside and freezing, unless you want to.”

„Nah, I’m fine.”

Meanwhile waiting for time to pass we talked a bit about past, when we were at high school. We shared some stupid stories from that period and I’ve got to know interesting things I didn’t know about some classmates. Gilbert got to know that stuff from girls he was dating. Seems like every single one of them spoiled something to him. Not to mention, he had plenty of them. I believe that throughout those 3 years of high school he was with like a hundred, if not better.

He was known for changing girls as soon as he got bored, as well as not taking relationship with them even a bit serious, but they were clinging to him anyway. Their choice. They had their own mind. At least, I thought so.

He didn’t have to hit on them as they were coming to him by themselves, so he had to do absolutely nothing.

One thing that made me wondering for quite some time was their potential obliviousness to his attitude. He was an asshole, I said that already few times, he had an attitude, yet he was popular with girls. He was quite handsome, I can’t deny it, he still looks good, but he wasn’t the only one good-looking guy in our class, not even including whole school. Yet, they were going to him.

Except for his defects, he was open, a social butterfly, but was it this thing that was attracting opposite sex? I had my theory that they just went for his looks and his bad boy attitude, as girls, supposedly, like that kind of men.

I did say I used to like him. I did. Despite everything what I’ve said about him, he wasn’t that completely bad. He was smart, open-minded in his own way. Under the sheath that he has created, he was a likeable person. I could talk with him about different stuff like now. The only problem was to stand his nasty attitude, but I didn’t mind it.

If not for how he was treating girls he was dating, then I might be even considering him as a potential love interest. Definitely something was clicking between us, but wasn’t sure what was that. I didn’t want to go further in that as I had no idea how it will turn out. Having any stronger feelings towards him would only makes things worse. Mostly for me.

I don’t really believe in people’s change. I want to, but it’s just my idealistic dream.

He did mention he tasted his own medicine, which means some girl played with his feelings. It’s not that I wished for karma to get him, but, that was something to predict. Bad karma always comes back. Good one – not necessarily.

Now, that we see each other after 5 years, whenever I look at him, I kinda feel nostalgic. I can’t really say why.

I cut anything related to this place, except my parents, of course. Mostly to not have any second-thoughts about having an actual reason to go back. City is a shit, makes me nauseous, even now, but some people I’ve met were actually okay.

Yet, here I am. Instead of going peacefully back to my hometown, I decided to stay a bit longer.

“Guess we can go inside now.” he said.

I think I’ll need a drink or two to get a rid of this feeling.