Sentimental night (Part 2)

“… And that's how I avoided a fire in the supermarket.”

“Woooooow.”

Andrea began to clap slowly after finishing listening to Leonel's story; he never ceases to amaze me at his incredible social ability.

“Is there anything else you want to order?”

The waitress came and asked us nicely.

“We don't want anything else, thank you.”

We were having a good time together. Despite the small inconveniences at the beginning, I think I can now say that this meeting was a complete success; although I don't know what I would have done without Leonel's help, without a doubt he was the one who saved the night.

“Before we go, I want to know what Andrea thinks about Robin.”

I almost spit out the soda I was drinking. I can't praise this idiot because he always ends up screwing everything up.

“Leo, stop joking please~”

I smiled nervously as I answered him.

“But it's not a joke, I want to know what Andrea thinks about you…”

“What does she think about what?”

“About your performance as a tutor, obviously, what were you thinking?”

You piece of jerk; we both know that's not what you meant.

“Ah well, then we thought the same. I just wanted to clarify so there would be no misunderstanding~”

We both smiled, but with our glances we were exchanging the worst bad words we knew.

Unexpectedly, Andrea began to speak.

“I-I think he's a good tutor. He is very smart and always worries about me.”

I was shocked, this was undoubtedly the new longest sentence I had ever heard from her.

“Amazing! I didn't know you were such a good teacher, Robin.”

The truth is that I was also unaware that she thought that about me; I felt very happy, but I was trying not to make a stupid face.

“I just try to push myself.”

Very embarrassed I said that while taking another sip of my drink.

“And tell me Andrea, what do you like most about Robin?”

This time it was Andrea who spat out her milkshake a bit. I will definitely have to take revenge on this fool later.

“What do you like the most about me as a tutor, is what Leonel refers to, Andrea”

She was a little blushed, but she still answered my friend's silly question.

“I-I like that he is very kind and always has patience with me.”

“Awwwwww, so cute! Robin, you are lovely!”

I had never wanted to punch him in the face so much.

“Thank you Andrea, you are also an excellent student.”

I raised my glass of soda and kept my eyes focused into it to try to hide my embarrassment.

Thank God Leonel's uncomfortable questions ended, and also our evening began to come to an end.

“Well, then I'll ask for the check.”

Andrea wanted to help pay the check, but in the end I managed to convince her not to do it, because this would be her gift for having passed the exams. In the end I ended up paying everything myself; Leonel wanted the same treatment.

“It's been a beautiful night guys, it was a great pleasure to meet you Andrea.”

We gather outside McBurger Jr. to say goodbye. The question passed through my mind if I should accompany Andrea to her house; although it was not too late, it would be ungentlemanly to let her go alone.

“Andrea, do you live very far from here?”

“No, I get to my house in 15 minutes walking.”

It was almost the same time it takes us to get to our houses, so I still had doubts whether to ask her or not.

“Robin, you are not going to let her go alone, are you?”

In this case, his malicious intervention favored me.

“Of course not, unless you don't want me to accompany you, Andrea.”

She was silent for a few seconds, and in a subdued voice she responded.

“I don't want to be a bother...”

“Then it's decided! Robin will take you home.”

Leonel hastily said goodbye to us and trotted away from the place.

“Okay, shall we go?”

Andrea and I walk slowly. I wasn't as nervous as before, I was relieved that things turned out well in our meeting.

“You had fun?”

I asked her because I noticed that she looked a bit uneasy.

“Yes, I had a lot of fun. Leonel is very funny.”

Unbelievable, this girl was talking a lot today! Leonel is really a magician.

“I told you that you would like him. He's my best friend for a reason.”

“Yes.”

“Although he can be a bit of an idiot at times”

Andrea let out a precious smile, which motivated me to continue talking.

“I met him in the park near our houses when we were children. I brought my soccer ball, but I had no one to play with, until he showed up.”

“Do you like soccer?”

It's true! I haven't told Andrea anything about me. That made me think about how little we know about each other.

“I really liked soccer, but, well… a lot of things happened.”

I put my hand to my head and made a silly face. I didn't want to make her uncomfortable with a sad story, let alone tell her that I have anxiety attacks when I remember my past. I don't want her to think I'm crazy or something.

“Better tell me, why do you like archery?”

“It's very relaxing, plus I'm very good at it.”

“I have no doubt about that, they don't call you a genius for nothing.”

We let out a small laugh at the same time. I had something stuck in my chest that I couldn't let out: I wanted to tell her that her smile was the most beautiful in this world; so I just tried to hint at it.

“I really like the way we are talking right now.”

“Me too.”

THEN WHY DID YOU NOT DO IT BEFORE? I wanted to scream that at her.

“Does that mean you like me a little more now?"

“What do you mean?”

“Well, I just thought that maybe at first you didn't like me or something like that.”

She shifted her gaze to the ground; maybe I bothered her with the last thing I said.

“Sorry, I didn't mean to be rude. It's just that I'm glad that tonight I was able to get closer to you.”

Get closer to you? What the hell was I thinking when I said that?! With good reason she separated a little from me as we advanced. I had messed it up big time.

We walked again in silence for a few more blocks until we reached her house. I rarely come to this area, but Andrea seemed to live in a nice two-story house.

“Your house looks very nice.”

I said that with a nervous tone. I didn't want this night to end badly, so I decided to start another small conversation that would make her forget my previous comment.

“You didn't used to live around here, did you?”

“No, we recently moved because of my dad's job.”

“Great, what do your parents do?”

“My father is a manager of a company, and my mom works from home as a programmer; she is the one who spends the most time with me and my older brother.”

“Cool, I'm also an older brother, maybe in the future I'll get along with him.”

Strangely that comment made her blush.

“Yes, maybe…”

It was wonderful to be able to see her express so many emotions.

“I am very happy to have become your tutor, let's keep working together.”

“Sure, please let's keep getting along.”

I reached out my fist so that she will bumped it.

“Well so I leave. See you later.”

“Yes…”

I didn't get tired of hearing her speak so naturally, I wanted to make the most of this, because maybe later she'll answer me again in monosyllables. But it was already late, and I didn't want to worry my mom.

“Robin!”

A not so loud but very firm voice reached my ears just as I had turned to leave.

“I-I… I've never disliked you. It's just that I don't really know how to communicate with people, and when I try I get nervous and end up messing everything up. That's why… I better just avoid them. That's how I am… I'm very sorry.”

Andrea mustered all the courage possible to say those words to me; her hands and legs did not stop shaking, and her eyes watered a little. I had to reciprocate her bravery.

“I have nothing to forgive you, Andrea. You are wonderful, just the way you are.”

I didn't care if that last sentence sounded too romantic, it was something I wanted to tell her from the bottom of my heart.

Our eyes met and time seemed to have stopped for a few moments. I knew that the next move was going to completely change our relationship.

“T-thank you… GOODBYE!”

Andrea violently closed the door of his house, which generated a very loud noise that caused the neighbors' dogs to suddenly start barking.

“B-bye.”

After saying goodbye to the closed door, now I really started my way back home. I couldn't stop thinking about everything that had happened.

Thoughtful, I looked at the sky for a few seconds. The moon shone beautifully with all its splendor while a few stars shyly peeked out.

“What a beautiful night.”