Chapter 52 - Milkshake

The food was so delicious and I am so glad that U agreed to let him take me here.

My mood has lightened and it felt nice to have some non hostile human contact  again.

"Did you enjoy your food?" he asked, looking down at my empty plates as I wiped my hands and mouth.

I nodded my head yeah and he smile.

I felt so full that I was afraid that if I made any sudden movements I would barf all over the place but that didn't mean that I didn't have enough space for dessert. 

He signaled for the waiter and he came and took our empty plates providing us with the dessert meaning giving us time to scan the options.

Just like the main dish menu, everything on this one looked absolutely delicious.

It was a hard decision to make but I was working with time and price so I just decided on a sugar cookie and strawberry milkshake. 

I didn't hear what he ordered for I was too busy not caring.

There we were sitting in silence again as we waited on our orders to be delivered.

I avoided eye contact at all cost and would give short and sharp responses to the questions he asked until he got frustrated and snapped.

"Okay look Atalia I said I am sorry so why wont you forgive me and engage in conversation?" 

I looked at him, right  palm flat on the table and left palm on the back of my right palm, "sorry for what? What is it that you did?"

He groaned as he ran his hand over his face then through his hair as a sign of frustration but I didn't care, "I'm sorry I took her side that night and not yours and then avoided you for a month. Happy now?"

I place my right elbow on the table, palm facing up to make an elevated rest for my cheek.

"Okay" I said easily and shrugged, "you're forgiven."

"Thank y-"

"If I can tell you something and it stays right here" I cut him off.

He placed both his hands on the table nodding his head giving me the go ahead, "sure. You can tell me. You're secret is safe with me"

I looked him deep in the eye wavering if I should do it or not and ultimately decided to tell him.

I sighed as I looked around before leaning over the table whispering, "you remember that night after the fight  when Shiwoo took me home?"

He nodded his head yes eyebrows furrowed obviously lost and confused of where I am going with this.

"Well he didn't take me, he took me to his and things kind got out of control and we kind of umm...we had sex."

I lowered my head in shame twisting my arms ready for his judgement but it didn't come.

I slowly raised my head to steal a glance at his face and he gave me a sympathetic look and asked, "is that it? That's the secret?"

I was now confused on whether he was disgusted or not for he began to chuckle.

"I knew something was going on between you two Atalia. The tension was undeniable and thick."

Still confused I asked, "wait so you aren't disgusted? I had sex, unprotected with a guy and it was my first time."

He chuckled some more and my confusion grew even more, "you're an adult Atalia. Why would I judge? You said it was your first time. How was it?"

I started to blush at his question and I felt a dip and butterflies in my stomach.

"It was awesome." I said in awe with a huge ass grin on my face.

He chuckled at my response and I suddenly felt good.

"is that why you and Harin are no longer friends?" he asked the question I was trying so hard to avoid."

I was about to say something to steer the conversation in another direction but lucky for me the waiter returned with our dessert.

"Finally!" I exclaimed as I took a sip of my milkshake. It was really good and it made me genuinely forget about the question lingering in the air for a while.

"So...are you going to tell me or not?" he asked and I sighed removing the straw from my mouth.

"Its complicated Minjae. Its a lot to take in and a long story."

"I've got time" he reassured.

I hesitated a second before I finally gave in, "fine. Shiwoo and Harin are engaged."

Minjae didn't look the slightest bit amused and I am guessing that he thinks that I was joking.

"I am being serious Minjae. This is why I shouldn't have said anything."

I sat back into my chair slouching and pouting. He thinks I'm a liar and that really offended me.

"Oh wait for real? I'm sorry its just...wow? Wasn't she with Minseok? Atalia please forgive me but I am really really confused." He said scratching his head.

"I know. I don't blame you. I told you its a lot to process and yeah she was with Minjae and other guys so you would understand my confusion when I found out."

I could still see the wheels turning in his head and I knew more questions were coming but since the cat was already out of the bag I might as well answer them all.

"So how does this work like was it arranged and is it open?"

I shrugged genuinely not knowing but I still gave my two cents, " I really don't know to be honest. We fought when she found out that say at the party and she was avoiding me but I made efforts to try and hash things out but then I decided to stop completely about 2 weeks ago when she said the worst insult a Jamaican can hear mixed with a racial slur so yeah. I guess that is why the friendship  ended. Any questions?"

Minjae looked mind blown by this point and I chuckled at his facial expressions and he tried to process and digest everything that I had just said.

"Wow" was all he could say after a few minutes of silence and I just nodded my head agreeing. 

Wow indeed.

"So are you okay? How is living with her? What slur did she say and please tell me that you put her in her place?"

I chuckled at his questions for he looked like one  those gossip loving women, "yes I am fine just a rough couple of days, living with her is like living with myself for I avoid her and she does the same and finally no I didn't put her in her place but I was about to but then I came to my senses and decided that it was not worth it. I had already bruised her face and that hasn't changed her. No use in fighting if you wont be heard right?"

He nodded his head yeah signifying his agreeance and then we both fell quiet brains racing and fumbling.

The past month still fell unreal to me and some days when I woke up I would think that it was all dream but it wasn't.

This was the harsh truth and reality.

"I still cant believe she said that to you though. This situation isn't entirely your fault. Did she blame him?

I snickered, "blame him? That girl is boy crazy and coincidentally enough I was at the café in the bathroom where she and two other friends were talking bad about me and she claims that I am a monster and talked about my hair and that I was a scary and feisty black woman."

He gasped placing his hand over his mouth and although I shouldn't laugh in a situation as serious as this I did so anyway for this was too funny. I must be high on sugar.

"She really is something isn't she. I should have known for she was rich and popular. All rich and popular girls are the same. I'm just so bummed out that you had to go through that all alone though. I'm sorry for not talking to you sooner."

"Nah" I said brushing it off, "its fine really. Harin and Shiwoo can have each other for in fact they are dating right now. I haven't gotten an invite to the wedding so that's a bummer."

"They're dating!? They are shameless aren't they? I cant take this. I need a shot of Soju, no vodka." he said massaging his temples.

"I know right."

"Why don't we go out for a drink?" he suggested.

I sighed and shook my head no and he must have thought that I didn't want to spend anymore time with him.

"Why not?" he asked sad, "I know its a school night so we can just have one bottle and some bear come on."

"No you don't understand. I cant because I'm....pregnant."

It took him a second to realize what I had just said and he looked as if he had just seen a ghost, "Pregnant!?"

I nodded my head yes and he silently took his seat.

Well this was awkward.