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Some days, ago Mark left for his sudden trip to Africa, and I need to admit I enjoyed spending time with Andreina without him. I was happy, I was not drinking, and I realised I liked my engagement. It had only been five days, but I missed my man, and I missed waking up by his side. I wish I could say the same about Tom! He was no longer in my mind, and he was no longer in my heart.
I walked Bern’s streets by Andreina while we enjoyed the good weather. It was nice to hang around my friend. It kept me from making mistakes, and it kept me from thinking about my own life.
“Ohh I loved that book!” said Andreina pointing at the window of a library.
“Which book do you mean?” I asked her.
“Emma by Jane Austen” she replied. Of course! my friend loved Jane Austen. You know, I had not even asked her too much about her job. I knew she was taking a week off, and she was here with me, and that was all that mattered. In terms of my job I did work in the morning and then I was free.
We kept walking, and I saw a big poster presenting some book fair in April “Instead of an exhibition, we hope to enable a space of knowledge sharing for artists, bookmakers, readers and listeners.
Everybody is welcome to bring their books, texts, poems, fanzines, experiments. We hope for a wide range of different book-related works. Prices will rely upon the artists and books can be purchased directly from them. We will be having writers from all over the world, including the award, winning Thomas Houben and more…
I froze, did I read that right? I read again and yes… He is coming to read his book in a week today for a whole month. Maybe I had enough time to murder him then! Andreina looked at me.
“Uh…that’s bad news isn’t it?” She asked. I nodded.
“I will be as far away as possible from that stupid book fair!” I laughed…playing nervously with my engagement ring. I played too hard and it flew out of my finger. Fuck! Veronica and I reacted immediately and we kneel down to grab it. Then. I saw the ring near some dude’s shoe.
“Keine Bewegung!” I yell… “ne bouge pas!” The dude stood still as I picked the ring. It went back in my finger and I stood up. For fucks sake, ARE YOU FUCKING KIDDING ME…yeah, you can imagine who the fuck was in front of me.
I ignored him. I looked straight in his eyes and ignored him. I looked at Andreina, equally impressed as me. I was not going to be fucked over again by stupid Tom. I was not going to fall onto his tricks again and end up fucking up my engagement with Mark. Fuck you, Tom.
We started walking again, and my phone rang. Tell me it’s not him! How the hell would he get my number!?
I looked at the screen and it’s Drake, ah fuck, someone I should also try to ignore. I was dumb though, so I picked up.
“Annie…what are you up to today?” he asked. Well…I had a lot of free time I was planning to spend with my friend… “would you like to come to my bar?” he asked. It was 2pm. I also didn’t drink anymore remember? “It’s in the city centre by Kapitel…I reckon you and Mark have been there before..” he mentioned Mark. Maybe he was just naturally flirtatious!
“Sure…I’ll introduce you to my friend who’s in town visiting,” I told him. Andreina looked at me, and I grabbed her arm. “I need to introduce you to somebody.”
The streets of Bern were quiet, and the cold was starting to dissipate as spring gained strength. Birds and animals were romancing around us and it was just cute to see some flowers start coming out of their buds.
“This is such a cute town…” said Andreina, suddenly. “I would love to see the cherry blossom trees…”
“There are some nearby,” I told her.
I was trying my best not to turn around and see my regained enemy.
Around twenty minutes later we were in the city centre, and I saw the bar…during the day was a café and during the night a bar. It had families sat at the front drinking coffee and eating cake. I wondered how Drake did it…maybe he would press a button, and the entire building would transform like a transformer, and it would showcase a fancy-ass bar at night.
We came in together, and we saw Drake serving some mulled wine to the customers by the bar.
“Annie!”Drake said with a big smile on his face. He then smiled at Andreina. “You must be Annie’s friend!” “Thanks for coming by…” he said.
“Looks busy…” Andreina said. The bar was halfway full, but there were some tables available still.
“Let's stay here..”I said. Drake smiled big and gave us some mulled wine.
“It’s on the house…” he said. I looked at the drink. I don’t drink anymore…
“Maybe hot chocolate?” I asked cheekily. Drake blushed and took the drink away.
“Ignore that…yes!” he yelled. Andreina looked at me funny as Drake entered inside the bar’s kitchen.
“Are youuu kidding me Annie!” she said loudly in Spanish. “You are not trying to set me up with this dude, are you??” I actually had not thought about that…that is an excellent idea!
“His name is Drake…he’s from the United States…”
“Annie…” I heard my name behind me and it was fucking Tom by the door. “Can we talk?” He said. We were NOT talking that’s for sure. Andreina looked at me and mouth “did he follow us?” I shrugged my shoulders. We ignored him for five minutes until Tom walked towards us and grabbed my arm. “Come on…” I slapped his hand away from my arm.
“No,” I said.
“Go away, Tom!” Andreina yelled at him. At that moment Drake came back with my hot chocolate.
“I made it super quick…” he said. He noticed the tense moment. “Girls…would you like a tour of the kitchen?” he said trying to avoid a problem. Andreina and I nod standing up.
“Let me buy you a drink, Annie…”Tom said slowly, yet menacing. Andreina stood in front of me.
“Go the fuck away Tom…”
Drake looked at me, then looked at Tom. Then looked at Andreina.
“Is he bothering you?” Drake asked while he hurried out of the bar and grabbed me. “Sir, please leave…you’re making these women uncomfortable.” he grabbed me close to him and I could smell him. His hands felt warm and…okay I was too focused on Tom at that moment to re-consider how sexy Drake was.
Tom stepped back and smiled.
“When you’re ready to talk to me call me…I know Mark is away in Nigeria…” he took a business card out of his wallet and placed it carefully in the bar. He then looked at Drake. “She is going to spit you right out…” and he left.
I felt my entire bodybuilding with rage and also wonder. Had Felicity told him I was alone and that is why he joined that book festival? was he here to torment me?
Drake released me and we looked at each other eyes for a second.
“You’re a very interesting person…” he said, he then looked at Andreina. “You seem to be the fierce one, wow…enjoy your drinks…” Drake added as we returned to our site. He walked to pick up empty coffee mugs from the tables.
Andreina and I enjoyed Drake’s company for a few hours until we decided it was time to return to my flat. I hated the idea of being alone without her once she eventually went back home. I missed living in London like crazy, and I missed hanging out with my usual peeps.
We walked towards the flat and Peter was there, he looked sad, and I knew he was there for my friend. Sorry, Drake…
“Andreina!” Peter said while starting to cry, my friend ran towards him, and they started making out. I knew this was how they would go back to each other. I felt happy for her, honestly. She knew what she wanted, and she was a much better person than me. I also felt extremely lonely…I wondered about Mark and how he was enjoying his time in the middle of nowhere. He talked to me exactly 2 days ago when he was in Nigeria, then he told me he wouldn’t be back in Nigeria until the weekend. He told me to expect a letter from him.
“I love you sooo much Andreina…I am so sorry…please come home…please!” said Peter while holding her tiny face with his fingers.
“You’re such a waaanker!” she yelled crying “I thought we were over! I love you my love, te amoooo” they made out again. I opened the door to the flat, squeezing in between them.
“Alright…you can both come inside…I am freezing my ass.” and yes, they didn’t say thanks to me. They just disappeared into my guest’s room. Soon, I could hear her moan. What a comeback!
I sat in the living room, and I turned the TV and watched some Sponge Bob. Then, I took a picture of the TV and texted the picture to Emily, who replied with a gif of happy Sponge Bob.
Then, you can imagine what happened. Andreina packed her stuff the next day, and she went back to England with Peter. He convinced her to allow him to go on the tour by presenting her plane tickets to five key locations. Meanwhile, I wondered about my fiancé, who appeared to be gone forever. I decided not to worry and hope for the best as I prepared to meet with my birthday pal, Drake.
The restaurant was near the place where we had food with Mark before he left, and it was nature-themed. The wallpapers were green with a white leaves design, and the tables were made of upcycled wood.
I said hi to Drake, and I sat in the chair in front of him. Drake ordered our food. He looked at a glass of water and drunk all of it, looking quite nervous. There was a bit of water dripping from his chin, and I took a napkin and dried it.
“Thanks...” Drake said. “Thanks for coming”.
“No problem, I have a lot of free time…my friends are too busy with their baby, and my online work seems to get shorter and shorter every day”
“Sure…”Drake said. He looked at his phone for a sec, then the top of his lip trembled. “Tell me about you. Who is Annie Picadersi?” he asked, almost stuttering, and I went on and told him the story of my life. After the story, he seemed to calm down, and we learnt the significant bits about each other.
Drake was a teacher originally, then one of his closest uncles left him the bar when he died. He had been many years teaching English in Central America. One day, he decided to move to Bern and changed his life.
In the background, we could hear John Mayer. Was this a date? Maybe our chemistry was all in my brain. He was currently single, but I was not.
The food arrived, and I couldn’t stop looking at him because he was just so darn attractive. We could be friends, I convinced myself. We could!
“You know…you seem to be the type who would be up to my Spring shenanigans…” said Drake, suddenly. “I took the port out of my mouth, wondering.
“What do you mean?” I asked.
“During Spring…I dress up like a rabbit, and I place chocolate eggs around the city! Would you join me?” what a thing to ask! I laugh my ass off picturing the image in my head.
“It’s easy to be a rabbit! Do you want to see?” want to see what? Drake stood up and started jumping like a rabbit. Everybody around was curious about what was happening.
“Drake stop it!” I said while laughing…I also wanted to die…everyone was looking at us. He took my hand.
“Why don’t you try it!” Okay…I did it. I jumped by him, and it was fucking fun! He then dropped like fifty euros on the table, then grabbed my hand, and we ran away. People were wondering in their seats what the hell had just happened.
We ran and ran until we were tired. Did I know where we were? Nope. I took his hand and walked him to a park. We stayed in silence. We sat in the grass looking at the blue skies.
“Jesus…I had not run like that for ages…” said Drake. He then laid in the grass, holding his head with his arms. I did the same.
“I don’t know when was the last time I had fun…” I admitted.
“When you have a little sister that’s what happens…do you miss your brothers?” Drake asked.
“Yeah…I miss my family all the time. It is just me now.”
“Do you want any children?” He asked again. Were we this close already? I was thinking Why?, do you want to be their father… but I didn’t say much.
“I never thought about it…I value too much my youth and my body…” I said, and Drake pinched my side.
“Not an inch of grease aye…my Italian grandmother would fill you with her spaghettis alright!” He was kinda Italian? Fuck… he looked at me again. “Do you have any tickles then?” I denied, but Drake smiled big. “I don’t believe you…” and he tried and failed to tickle me.
I tried next, and I realised our bodies were getting closer and close together. Fuck. Was I feeling butterflies? I don’t know, but we tickled fight for a bit until he was on top of me, looking straight into my eyes. My nose hit his nose, and…his cellphone alarm rang.
“Shit…” He said, and he stood up “I am meant to be at the cinema now…” I felt offended. Had he double-booked!?
“I will head back home then..”I said quietly.
“No, you’re coming with me.” Drake grabbed my hand and led the way. I had around four years without going to the cinema and watching the same films online over and over again.
We walked the streets of Bern and Drake saved my life from being trampled by a bike. To be honest this was more special than any date I had had with Mark. Maybe because it was shiny and new? I looked at the back of Drake’s neck and I wondered how his skin would taste.
At the cinema entrance, there is a huge line of people. I notice them wearing Star Wars outfits, and I was surprised that they were showing the original trilogy again. Drake told me it was because it was the anniversary of something. We didn’t stay in line. We walked towards the back entrance, and Drake had a key. I wondered if he had planned all of these because he knew I was going to say yes.
Drake took me to the projection room. It was empty inside, and it smelled of popcorn.
“My best friend used to work here, and every Friday we would come here and watch movies…” Drake said, smiling.
“And your friend…is he coming?” I asked. Drake was suddenly serious.
“He died last summer…he got mauled by a space monkey.”
“I am so sorry!” I mean I didn’t hear the monkey park, I just heard that he died last summer.
“Annie! I was joking, I am sorry..” he started laughing. “I am sorry I don’t know why I felt I had to trick you,” he added, and I hit his arm. I felt really comfortable with him, but hey, I used to feel that way with Mark until I ruined it.
The projection room opens, and I see Drake’s friend open the door. He was small, skinny, and he looked nerdy. He came in with his dog, a Jack Russell. He was surprised to see me.
“Bonjour…” I said. “Ça va?” the man smiled.
“Jacob, this Annie, the new friend I told you about,” Drake said in English. Jacob checked me out.
“Okay…I understand” he said cheekily. Had he told him I was hot?
“Understand what?” I asked. The friends looked at each other.
“Nothing!” They said at the same time. I was going to ignore this one for now.
It was a friendly situation, I sat with the guys up there, and we watched the film together. While it was happening, I could feel Drake’s eyes on me. He was probably wondering if I was enjoying the film. Jacob brought some popcorn for us to share, and we were watching in silence.
I enjoyed the quietness of my brain. Drake is a friend, and nothing else. I was no longer a cheater. I decided that day. Drake’s reached my hand while we were eating popcorn and slowly caressed my palm with his thumb. I looked at him. We are friends…nothing else! I couldn’t but feel some butterflies in my belly as he continued. He looked at me as if saying do you want me to stop and I was already feeling wet. I don’t know why but I actually licked the salt off his finger at some point.
He laughed, I laughed, and we broke the sexual tension. He looked at my ring and started to slowly remove it.
Was Drake’s past time to make women horny? I couldn’t read him at all.
I was not having it, and I pulled my hand away. Was this an intelligent decision? I reassured myself that it was.
Drake drove me home after the film finished, and we didn’t talk on the way there. I mean, our sexual tension was still there and my strange affinity for him too, but maybe I had grown up now. It was time for me to change…
We parked in front of my place, and Drake opened my door.
“It wasn’t my intention of making you upset in the cinema. I am sorry if I crossed a line,” Drake said. I smiled.
“It is okay…” I replied. All of the sudden, I looked at Tom running from nowhere and pushing Drake. Both of us got startled.
“Get the hell away from her!” Tom yelled.
“What is wrong with you man! Are you crazy!?” Drake yelled back. I was confused! What the hell was going on?
“ You are engaged to Mark, at least have some respect!”
Was he calling me out?
“I know that!” I said angrily.
“well, then, tell him to fuck off!”
“What!? What is your game, Tom!? I really don’t understand you. Why are you here in Bern? I don’t need you here as my nanny. Go back to your girlfriend. Go back home now! I don’t even want to look at you.
“You don’t even want to look at me…”Tom repeated.
“You fucking broke me, man…I am not ready to be broken again. You don’t decide, I DECIDE. So leave. LEAVE NOW!” I said angrily, and then it was me who pushed him this time.
I tried my best to hold my tears.
“If you’re not leaving I am leaving,” I said. I held Drake’s arm, and we headed towards his car.
“Don’t go with him, Annie!” Tom yelled. “Stop playing around with him…it’s not going to end well.”
“I don’t need to explain anything to you, Tom,” I yelled back while opening the door of the car.
“I didn’t know you’d get engaged…I was planning to come for you!” he yelled.
I blanked my eyes and pulled myself inside of the car. I closed the door and showed him my middle finger.
“Drive,” I commanded Drake. Drake didn’t say anything, and we started driving away. I felt like I was stuck in a vicious cycle.
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