I lay down on the grass, which was very short and soft, where I slept sounder than ever I remember to have done in my life, and, as I reckoned, around fifteen minutes; for when I awaked, it was just a normal daylight. I look upwards; the sun began to grow hot, and the light offended my eyes. I heard a noise beside me, as I turned my head, there's a girl talking.

"Hey, you listen to me?", she interrogated.

Once in a while, we watch the moon and stars together until late at night, enjoying stars that shine, twinkling on the milky way, stretched in never-ending line. She talked non-stop telling me the whole school hot gossips and news I did not follow. I watch the sky as she speaks, I did not remember all she talk about, but I'm just listening. She will rose from the pool and wrapped herself in towel, "Hey, I think it's late".

"Rose isn't home today, so, you okay sleeping there alone?", I questioned.

She shrugged, saying, "Nah, your place is fine. Aunt wouldn't mind, right?"

She was always alone, a home to go but never feels like one. She was cheerful and strong at the same time. No one would have ever known what she had experienced, no one would have ever guessed how much she carried. That's her.

***

The elevator stops by the 8th floor. Arriving at the pristine office that is always impeccably clean, without a single paper out of place. The chairs are black with cushion and wheels, desk that arrange spaciously in the minimalist design floors. The employees are working hard with colorful coffee tumblers on their tables and computers switched on as they are typing vigorously on the keyboard. Some are working on their tablets, with hair tied up and thick glasses hanging on their nose-bones. As a project director, I am at the second top of their organization chart. Everyone will excuse if I walk pass. Not because I am feared of, but it is because I rarely smile or hang out with them. They thought my anti-social behavior is a strict method I am using to tame them. Which is good because they never disobey me. I pushed the glass door where Jonathan, the project assistant watching Anime and a bit surprised when he sees me arriving earlier than usual. He switched his screen to an excel working mode although I just caught him red handed, pretends he did nothing suspicious. Our company never strictly forbidding them from watching or chilling in the office once their works done, but it becomes a habit when they see their superiors coming.

Talking about how it goes, I don't remember I asked her mobile phone number or any of her contacts. Tiene barged out the hotel room once she found out we slept and since then, I have never seen her anymore.

He looked up at my glumness, "Boss, you seem broke, being dumped?", he guessed.

Does it written on my face?!

I start switching on the computer without answering Jo. I put my belongings on my desk and start working on the new project.

ping
Unknown: Hey, r u not gonna be responsible of what u did that night? The Friday night? If I must remind u. (devil face)

Jo stretched his neck to peep on my phone, he gave me the suspicious grin when I turned my head at him.

"Boss?"

Oh for fuck sake. I have no choice if he saw it.

The time on my phone shows 15.05. I took the bus so I don't need to search for a parking space. Thus, Tiene said she lives and works near the station. The bus lurched to a stop. People were moving fast toward to exit, some still waiting at the bus stand, and some found it comfortable to just walk without an umbrella or a hat. A large number of people stood in a long queue outside the booking window as I walked past them. I stopped when I saw the white building with "Lily's" on the first entrance. I looked into my phone again as I unplug one of the earphones from my ear, in case she was close by and calling from afar.

Tiene: Lily's. Stop by II Bus Station. U'll see it.

I wait patiently for the traffic to stop, allowing me to walk over the zebra cross, and start to feel nauseous with the crowds. Each person moves as if unseeing hands dragging them this way and that, pulling their eyes to one thing and then another. I had never been claustrophobic before, but in that almighty swell of humanity, I feel my head spinning, and panic rose in my chest. When they move I have to keep up I risked being trampled on my underfoot. People are gaunt and serious, there was nothing for it but to move with the crowd. I could smell the sunlight too, on people I mean, sometimes there is an unholy agglomeration of perfumes, body odor, and over-applied cologne. I am surprised that Tiene is able to live and roams around the center of the city, the liveliest place. Although I hate crowds, I come here a lot for meetings and dates with my crush, never with public transportations. How could I never get the chance to see or to meet her in some coincidence? Well, we met anyway, let's drop it.

I finally arrived at the Lily's, I push the entrance as the cheerful waiters and waitress greeted me simultaneously. Lily is a minimalist-designed coffee shop, I greatly found this place comfortable even though I have to pass through the crazy crowds. I tilted my glasses and walks towards the thin back of the familiar friend I used to hang out with, Tiene. Although she has changed, I, somehow recognize her in every way. When she turned her body and tilted her head, my heart started to beats faster. After all the hectic cramped crowds, I'm still so excited to see her.

"Hey," her brow lifted. Tiene always has this strong personality glued to her. But if we compare to twelve years ago before we parted ways, I could feel different aura from her.

"Oh...," she noticed me tensely watching her, "This," she lowers then lifts her head again, "I took a break from the clinic. I was allowed to grab some today so...," she bit her lower lip and shrugged, "Here I am" she popped her pink lips.

"Are-are you a vet?", my eyes large gazing her in surprise, I used to believe he could be an amazing vet. Tiene is an animal lovers and a very clear-sighted woman. I'm sure she has a great life ahead ever since we were young.

She smiles wide, nodding her head and a strands of hair covering her eyes, "Yes, I'm a vet", as she tucked her hair behind her ears, "You have to call me Dr.Tiene".

I drag the chair across her.

"Hey, we haven't been seeing each other for years, come on, do you have any great stories to tell me?", Tiene is all curious when I dropped my body on the chair.

At first, I thought she would talk about the catastrophe we did that night. I am so ready to be responsible, I hope we didn't do a thing, but impossible, we were undressed!!

I'm so stressed by the thoughts of doing that thing with my childhood friend. Of course I miss her, very much, I couldn't stop thinking about her ever since that morning. I thought that she wants a new life by erasing what's behind her, that's why I never go looking for her.

A bell tinkled as the foods and drinks served on the waiting counter, the waitress immediately rushes towards the kitchen and grab some of the dish to serve the customers. Two glasses of carrot juice were served on the table. I took a sip of mine once it arrived on my table. I pushed one glass to her place.

"Wow, we have the same taste like usual", she chuckled softly as she pulls the glass and sips the juice with the bamboo straw.

It could never be easy to forget Tiene. I feel much better with her by my side. But then, suddenly, memories of that morning played in my head. Like a thunder strucking my body, I started to feel nausea, guilty, angry at the same time. My body stiffened, couldn't even swallow my own saliva.

Tiene cocked her eyebrow, "You looked pale. Are you sick?", tensely observing me, "Or perhaps you have anything to say? Spill your guts".

I can't talk about it straightforwardly. Tiene scoffs softly, "Is it because that Friday night?", she turned into naughty grin.

My heart is pounding so hard as if it will burst out of my ribs. My brain started to spin like I'm gonna be dead by now. I'll try to explain no matter what, "T-Tiene, I-,"

"Well," she lifted her right wrist staring at her watch, "I'll be leaving," she lifted her brown handbag, "There's a stray I must safe", Tiene gave me a wink, "I'll treat you again today".

Waitt...!
I couldn't stop her like how I imagined. Although I got her numbers, doesn't mean I could clean up the mess I've made that Friday. I wish I'm brave enough to speak up. Should I text her and apologize? But that's not what gentleman do, I should never talk about this kind of thing through text messages.

"WHATT?!" Jo's voice is loud and clear. I rolled my eyes and sighed, "Please... Jo, your voice".

"She did pay for the hotel bills??? HUAHAHAHAHAHAHA!", he cracked up and hard to stop. What's on earth is he thinking about? I'm talking about that damned Friday night when I had a night stand with my very best friend. For God's sake.

"Talking to you is pointless, I should not tell you about this", I was about to leave.

"Ehh, eh, Boss... kidding... I mean, well, what a mess", he rubbed his eyebrows, thinking, "You should find a perfect timing to talk about this. If you really want to apologize. Here's my tips..."

***

Tiene's is standing at the entrance searching at my figures. She turned her body towards the mirror beside the entrance, fixing her hair.

The waiter approaches her and ask, "Do you have an appointment?", she nods, "Yes, Valerian", and the waiter leads her to a small table in a quiet restaurant. Busy hours, dinner time, most of the tables are full but calm. As she approaches me, I pull out her chair. She sits. I sit across from her. The only light is from a few well placed candles. A waiter approaches and, without saying a word, pours us wine and leaves the bottle. No menus. I had ordered for them in advance. There will be no interruptions from wait staff aside from the bringing and clearing of the courses. Tiene is a bit confused, I watch as she sips the wine slowly, afraid of making mistakes. She notices. Blushes. A shy smile slips out.

Like a voyeur looking into a secret world. I smile warmly back as if to comfort her.

She begins to enjoy my pamper, I grab my glass and sips the wine slowly, then she says, "Are you going to propose me?"

I chocked.

My eyes large, "No! I mean! Yes! No!", the fuck am I saying?!

Tiene puts her chin on her palm, watching me.

"I mean... I'm sorry!", my Godness, she's angry.

"You love my dress because I'm wearing push up bra?", she clamped her breasts with her hands. I slapped her hand by reflex, we barely notice the waiter as he places the first course between them. RIP my cool.

A simple plate of fruit and cheese. Tiene calmly bringing each morsel to her lips. She marvels at the pleasure she takes from each bite. Her face amazingly expressive. Every bite as if she is tasting for the first time.

"You are improving. You brought me to the perfect place to stuff my starve", she said after she swallowed her food.

She gazes at me over the glass as she sips her wine. She knows I am watching her. She slips a grape between her lips. Smiles coyly as her teeth crush the skin, exploding the juices into her mouth. She reaches for a strawberry. He deliberately snatches it just as her fingertip touches the ripened fruit. I couldn't stand of her anymore. Wait.. Is she trying to copy the romance movie scene?

"So, are you going to talk now?", she smirked. Tiene can easily read through my expression, as always.

"I-I want to apologize of what happened that Friday night", I can't look into her eyes, I'm too constrained.

The dinner plates arrive. When the waiter leaves, Tiene leaned forward and lifted my chin, "Hey, bro. That's fine. You agreed one thing to help me".

"Help you?" I don't understand.

Her eyes shone with excitement, "But for now, I'm starving. Thanks for the big treat". She leaned backward and starts poking the foods on the plate with her fork.

We share the meals. We eat slowly but heartily. Sipping wine throughout. Savoring the unique yet complimentary flavors. We eat in silence. Feasting off each other's forks until hardly anything is left. Their meals devoured. Their bellies growing heavy. Their appetites nearly satiated.

A single dessert to share, but not with a single spoon. She feeds me a small bite. Creamy and rich. I can't help but smile with pleasure at the sweetness. She laughs quietly at his playfulness. We did this often in the past, why does my heart beat so fast now?

As we walk on the wide parking lot towards my car, I and Tiene talk about our outdoor activities when we were parted.

"Then, I caught myself off-guard and fell from the cliff," Tiene starts snorting a laugh, I keep continuing my story, "Then, my friend Jo yelled, Boss!!! Boss!!! but I didn't reply so he starts crying, Ryann!!! Ryan is dead! to the other of the hikers, they started panicking but then they saw me climbed up, they were relieved but then I saw Jo crying like a cow, when he saw me, he was surprised, he thought I was a ghost," she can't stop laughing, I thought that wasn't that funny, she tends to laugh at everything I said.

Tiene leaned on my black car with her head lowers down, her hair covers her face, she's silent,  doesn't move and looks like standing dead.

"Tiene?", I pushed her with my pointer, "A-are you okay?"

"Y-y-you are aaaaa pieceeee offf ssshhit!", she slurred, jabbing a finger into my chest. I jumped, all surprised.

"Iamsickofyourshit," Tiene said, her words tumbling from his mouth in a rush of barely distinguishable syllables. She flicked her hair back and push me very hard, so powerful, almost make a hole in my chest.

"T-Tiene?", a bit scared but puzzled at the same time, we didn't drink any alcohol, but why...

The wines refilled earlier inside the restaurant regain my conscious, well, "Tiene? Are you drunk because of wine??", wine only has about 11-13 percentage of alcohol.

"Gerroff me!", she said, "I'm ash sober ash 'm gonna git. And nuffink I - wait wait wait - nuffink you can do 'boutit." she ambled back to the car without so much as hiccup in her direction.

"W-w-waitt Tiene!!!" I have to catch her before she runaway. I clicked my car door open and push her in, I put the seatbelt for her then I begin walking around the car towards the driver seat.

"Tiene, please tell me your add-"

I haven't been alarmed yet, I don't understand why, but when I shift my attention, Tiene jumped into my laps and pulled my cheeks, her lips pressed on mine. My body stoned, I could feel her hair tickling my face. She flicked her hair, her eyes close, tongue starting to play mine. Her lips were warm and soft as we parted slightly, allowing my tongue to slip inside. It lasts for 10 seconds and I am already good at it. Our bodies pressed together heatedly against the seat, breathing heavily as our lips pressed together. I could taste our shared breath, feel the thud of our combined heartbeat as we fumbled to take off one another's clothes. I stopped her. I'm surprised, perhaps even startled but I eventually close in and joins her. My body couldn't resists her. Her lips were soft, almost silken, and pillowy against my own. I could feel the soft tickle of her breath beneath my nose, fingers carding through her hair as we breathed each other in. I throw my blazer to the backseat, refrain taking off my shirt and hers. I stop her, I must stop this before it is getting worse. I push her.
"Tiene, I-"

Tiene drops her head on my shoulder, breathing slowly with eyes closed. Should I let her stay like this until she wakes up?

I lift my palm slowly and give her soft pats on her back.