CHAPTER 25: FRIDAY NIGHT
THE GIRL WHO CAN’T DATE
By Eleventh
CHAPTER 25: FRIDAY NIGHT
“It feels good to have someone who understands you even without explaining anything.” – Ira P.
2017 JOURNAL
Friday. Grayson Academy's favorite day of the week. Friday means early dismissal, time to hang out with friends, family dinners, dine out with colleagues, karaoke nights, and some bucket of drinks. And at Grayson University, September 15 is payday.
“Hey, hermit! Got any plans today?” Julian, a "four-eyed" hottie, 6-feet tall, very hairy guy, walked beside Ira who just got out from her last period for the day.
“Hmmm… I usually have dinner dates with my family every Friday.” She answered.
“No wonder you’re always MIA,” Julian replied, fixing his eyeglasses.
“Where do you guys go every Friday?”
“Mmm, we do a lot of different things to unwind. Sometimes we eat Samgyupsal at Silver Rain, or eat unlimited chicken wings at Clarks, or eat some ala-carte at Barbecue Park. Tonight, we’re going to Terrazo for karaoke.”
“Sounds fun,” Ira uttered, pretending to be interested.
“So, you coming?”
Ira quickly shook her head. “Uhm, I don’t sing.”
“You can just watch us while having a bottle of beer.”
Ira shook her head again. “I don’t drink either.”
Julian stopped walking to weave a sigh as he stared at Ira with a disappointed face.
“You really are a hermit.” He said while clicking his tongue.
Making a face, she answered him. “Whatever!”
“But if you change your mind… just beep me. ‘kay?” Julian ruffled Ira’s hair and went ahead of her giggling.
While watching him walk away, Maggie suddenly appeared next to her and looked at her with a bewildered face.
“I didn’t know you were friends with Julian Vargas.”
With pouted lips and a furrowed face, Ira replied, “Well, the last time I remember we are. But we don’t hang out though.”
“Seriously???” Maggie’s eyes widened.
“Yeah! Julian and I were hired at Grayson University in the same year. And we always have the same break time for the past years so we always run into each other in the faculty room. We also share food all the time because we are both foodies. He’s the one who always finishes the loaf of bread I bring every morning. And I’m also free to get some of his candies and chocolates inside his drawer.”
Maggie’s jaw dropped. She never expected that Ira had a relationship like that with Julian.
“Why have you never told me about this?”
“Huh?” Ira stared at Maggie with a puzzled look. “Do I have to? I mean what’s the big deal?”
“My gaaaawd, Ira! Don’t you have any idea that Julian is a hottie that most of the women here in Grayson University are crushing on?”
Ira put on a disgusted face. “Hottie? Eeew! Julian is nothing but a big nerd, you know! Can’t you see he’s wearing eyeglasses?”
“You are stereotyping, Ira!” Maggie exclaimed with rolling eyes. “Just because he wears eyeglasses doesn’t make him a nerd, okay? First of all, he’s not socially awkward. He’s a party animal. He is not boring at all. He always brings life to the party. Aaaand he's smart too, but not the weird kind of smart. Aaaand, I don’t think he’s the type that plays computer games. I think he's the kind of guy who's into books and that's veeery sexy to me.”
Hearing Maggie’s hard-to-believe description of Julian made Ira winced.
“Are we talking about the same person here? Because the Julian I know is a gamer. He would even hang out with Sir Jay in the Computer lab just to play DOTA. And he’s not as cool as you think he is. He is the kind of guy who would eat some chips after picking his nose with his gigantic pinky finger. He’s a slob. He doesn’t even notice the rice grain hanging on his mustache. Whenever he watches a movie on his laptop, his jaw is always open, and sometimes, he drools. And he always scratches his head and when he does, his dandruff would fly everywhere. And…”
“ENOOOUGH!” Maggie screamed. “Why are you telling me these disgusting things? You are making a bad image of him.”
“I’m not.” Ira shrugged her shoulders. “I’m just telling you what I know about him. But you can choose to believe it or not. ”
Ira walked away leaving Maggie in shock. Maggie has always thought of Julian as some kind of a dreamy gentleman that sweeps off every girl’s feet, but Ira’s description pictured him like he was a total loser.
When they reached the faculty room, the first thing that Maggie checked was Julian’s table which was across Ira’s. Her eyes seemed to pop out when she peeked at his area seeing how his table was soiled with leftover chips. His trash bin was overflowing with used tissues, crumpled paper, candy wrappers, empty chip bags, and on top of it are chicken bones and leftover rice. His shelves were covered with dust and his things were just all over the place.
Then she went on to check Julian who was busy packing his things. He noticed Maggie so he beamed a smile at her, showing his yellow teeth. Maggie pressed an awkward smile trying to hide her disgust and walked away to her table feeling nauseous. Ira, watching Maggie’s reaction, smiled at her teasingly.
“Still crushing on him?” she whispered with a snigger.
“Shut up!” Maggie chided in a whisper and went on keeping her things in her bag.
“But Julian is very kind, you know. He’s generous too. And a gentleman!”
“I don’t care!”
Ira went on chuckling at her disappointed friend. Suddenly, her phone rang.
“Excuse me for a second. My brother’s calling.”
Ira stepped out to answer the call just in time Skye reached his table carrying a box of baseball bats. He dropped the box on the floor, slumped on his chair with a sigh, and grabbed his neck pillow from the table to rest his head.
“Looks like you had a long day,” Maggie remarked.
“I did. Argh! I think I need some beer tonight!” Skye muttered with his eyes closed.
“Are you going to join the other teachers later at Terrazo?”
Skye was silent for a minute, thinking.
“Are you guys going?”
“Depends on Ira. If she’s not gonna go, I won’t go either.”
“Tsk!” Skye sneered.
“Did you just sneer?”
“Yes. Just because you’re acting as if you’ve never been with the group without Ira.”
Maggie sneered back. “Well, that’s because…”
Then Ira came back after the call and declared with a sigh, “Sigh! Family dinner is canceled tonight. Ares and Seah are taking overtime at the hospital. Orion has a group project to finish. Usher got invited to our neighbor’s kiddie party and Pop’s going with him. Since everyone was busy, Eros decided to hang out with his friends.”
“And you? What’s your plan?”
“Well… maybe, I’ll just sit in my room with a box of pizza and watch Game of Thrones?”
Maggie closed her eyes in frustration. She had the chance to hang out on a Friday night apart from her family and yet she wanted to cave inside her room and watch her favorite series… alone! Putting her hands on her waist, she stood in front of Ira and grumbled.
“Don’t you have better ideas aside from living like a hermit inside your room? Come on, Ira! For once, get a life!”
Ira stared at Maggie who was slightly worked up at her.
“I have a life. Pizza and Game of Thrones is life.”
“Argh! What I mean is life outside your house like you know, hang out with your colleagues, drink some beer, sing at the karaoke… stuff like that!”
“Sorry, Mags! I’m really determined not to go later because I’m sure everyone who’s gonna be there is a stranger to me. Well, except for Julian.”
“I’m gonna be there and Skye too. That makes us three.”
Skye, still resting on his chair, butted in. “Don’t force her. She’s not comfortable with too many people. For sure, she won’t enjoy the night!”
Skye’s remark caught Ira’s attention. She didn’t expect him to understand her anxiety with strangers, and for once, she felt comforted that she need not explain herself.
“I have an idea!” Maggie’s face glowed as she pulled her chair close to Ira. “How about we hang out together? Let’s go to the mall. Watch a movie. Play at the arcade. Eat dinner. That sounds fun!”
“Maggie, I’m okay! You don’t have to worry about me. I’m fine being alone. You can go with the teachers if you want to.”
Maggie sighed. “I know you can manage to be alone! It’s just that I’d rather hang out with you tonight.”
Ira peered her eyes at Maggie and stared at her suspiciously. She folded her arms and said, “Mmmm… I don’t think you really wanna spend time with me, Mags. You just don’t wanna go home early because your parents are out of the country and you don’t want to spend the Friday night alone at home. And you don’t wanna hang out with the other teachers either because...”
Ira leaned forward and whispered, “… because of Julian!”
“Alright! Alright! Fine! Yes, you’re right! So, can you just please hang out with me tonight?” Maggie’s blasted face then switched into a pleading one, pouting her lips and folding her hands to beg. “Please, don’t go home early!”
“Tee-hee! Fine! But let’s have dinner first.”
“Yes, of course! But wait…” Remembering Skye, Maggie checked on her colleague who was still resting on his chair. “Hey, Twerp! Wanna come with us?”
Skye lifted his head and answered, “Can I?”
“You don’t mind, right?” she turned to Ira for confirmation.
After giving it a thought, Ira nodded her head and said, “It’s okay. I don’t mind!”
“GREAT!!! Now get your butts off your seat, grab your bags, and let’s go! I don’t wanna waste our time!”
Maggie did grab her purse and lead the way out while the two scuffled, following her fast paces. Leaving the grounds of Grayson University, the two ladies hailed a cab going to the mall whereas Skye followed with his motorcycle. At Skye’s suggestion, they stopped at Shield Diner, a small but well-known burger restaurant just right outside the mall.
“Mmm… this place is new to me. Do they have good food here?” Maggie asked, staring at Captain America’s shield made of hardboard which was placed next to the signboard.
“This place looks interesting. I can tell the owner is a fan of the Avengers.” Ira remarked.
“Wait until you see the inside.”
Skye, carrying his helmet, led the girls inside Shield Diner. The moment they stepped in, Ira dropped her jaw seeing how the restaurant was creatively designed with an Avengers theme. When you get in, a human-size action figure of Ironman stands next to the door to welcome the people coming in. One of its walls has a painting with a 3D effect of the Hulk breaking the wall. Another wall has suspended shelves where mini action figures of the Avengers are displayed. On top of it is Thor’s hammer stuck on the wall. And on the lamps hanging on top of every table, is a cute mini spiderman hanging on the lights. Everything in Shield Diner had a touch of the Avengers.
“Wow! This place is incredible!” Ira gasped.
Skye secretly smiled, satisfied how Ira was amazed at the place.
“I hope the food is incredible too.” Maggie, who was not a Marvel fan, apprehensively spoke while staring at the walls and floor tiles.
“It is!” Skye confidently answered.
He directed the ladies to the table on the balcony of the restaurant. It was a good spot, especially that the weather that day was considerably cold and windy.
“Whew! You can really tell by the weather that Christmas is just around the corner.” Maggie said, rubbing off her hands on her arms to warm herself.
“Is it too cold here? Do you guys prefer inside?”
“No!” Ira quickly objected. “I love it here. It’s nice!”
“I agree. This is my favorite spot here.” Skye commented.
Staring at the two with a suspicious look, Maggie grabbed a seat and remarked, “Uhm, okay? Funny how you guys always disagree and fight but surprisingly have the same interest in some other things.”
Meanwhile, Ira just placed her bag on the seat next to Maggie and excused herself. “Can you guys order for me? I need to use the washroom.”
“Ira, wait! What do you wanna eat?”
“Whatever you like!” Ira wasn’t able to check the menu anymore because she quickly rushed for the washroom, leaving her friend in a daze.
Meanwhile, Maggie took the menu from the waitress that followed them inside and carefully checked the listed meals. “Argh! What does that girl like to eat? Should I just order anything for her? She basically eats everything anyway. Hmmm… how about spaghetti?”
“NO! Anything but spaghetti!” Skye demurred Maggie’s murmurs.
Maggie raised her eyebrow. “Anything but spaghetti? Okaaaay, so… what do you suggest?”
Skye grabbed the menu that the waitress gave them a second ago and with a serious face, skimmed through the list.
“I bet she would love the double-patty burger. The large one.”
“What? Don’t you think that’s a bit too much?”
Skye shook his head with a smile. “You're her friend. You should know that she has a big appetite and that she eats like a hulk when she’s hungry.”
“How do you know she’s hungry? What if she’s full?
“She wouldn’t suggest eating first if she’s not hungry.”
“Fine! I’ll have a Chicken Pesto Pasta and a glass of Banana milkshake.” Maggie ordered.
“I’ll have two double-patty burgers and one large iced tea and one can of cold beer,” Skye added.
“I’ll repeat your order, ma’am and sir. One chicken pesto pasta, one banana milkshake, two double-patty burgers, one large iced tea and one can of beer.” Maggie and Skye confirmed. “Alright! Your order will be ready in 15 minutes.”
The waitress left and as Ira enter the door, coming back from the washroom, Skye discreetly took her bag and transferred it on an empty stool found under the table.
“So, what did you order for me?” Ira excitedly asked Maggie as she sat on her seat comfortably.
“I didn’t order for you. Skye did. He ordered a double-patty burger. I doubt you can finish…”
Ira’s face glowed. “Perfect! I am so hungry right now that I can totally finish that.”
“Really?”
Looking at Skye with an excited smile, Ira muttered, “Thanks for ordering that.”
“Are you that excited to eat? You can't even pocket your smile.”
“I guess so. Tee-hee!”
Looking at how the two talked smoothly and were smiling at each other, Maggie become even curious and suspicious. “Since when did you two become close?”
Ira and Skye looked at Maggie with a surprised look, then stared at each other for a second and quickly looked away while clearing their throats.
“Are we?” Skye asked.
“Are we even friends? I mean… I don’t know.” Ira replied.
Maggie, with an annoyed face, peered her eyes. “Do you guys realize you both look like idiots right now? Do you have to declare that you’re friends to start seeing each other as friends and not just colleagues? What are you? Kids?”
“Uhm… well. We ate lunch together once. I guess that... makes us friends.” Ira declared.
“Right!” Skye agreed.
The waitress came back with glasses of water which the two quickly grabbed to drink. Maggie sighed and muttered under her breath, “You guys really are idiots.”
Can’t bear how the two suddenly got awkward, Maggie looked away and stared at the parked cars instead. While distracting herself, she suddenly caught a glimpse of a man staring at her.
“OH MY GOODNESS! LORD!” It crept her out that she screamed, covering her face with her hands.