The Dinner

"I wanna see Rose." I mumbled in my bed. It had only been one day of our break, and I was already bored. How can you find excitement after all that? I stared out the window, and it was still dark outside.

"Then why not go to meet her?" Rita suggested.

"Yeah, I think so- wait, why are you here?"

"I couldn't sleep. Then I heard you mumbling."

"Why don't you just go to sleep?"

"I just said I can't. and don't change the topic, I can help you."

"Help me do what?"

"Get to your girlfriend." her smug look didn't mean good. "We met her family yesterday, I mean on the sport's day. I got her number, it is the house phone of course, but it works alright." she casually sat on my desk as she talked.

"And what do I do with the family's number?"

"call her. duh?"

"Why?"

"Why shouldn't someone talk to their girlfriend?"

"She's not my girlfriend."

"She's not?" Suddenly, her expression changed into something sinister-looking. "Then, would you like to make her one?"

If I answer that question in any manner, she will get leverage, and I don't want that. I got up and pulled out my tracksuit.

"Stop ignoring my question."

"I am going out for a walk, tell mom and dad." I left through the window.

After that, I walked around waiting for daybreak. I trained till it got bright enough for me to return. After a late breakfast and nothing to do, I slept till afternoon. When I got up, I heard mom talking to someone on the phone. She put down the phone and went to the living room.

"Who were you talking to?" I asked her, "You looked a little more jumpy than usual."

"It was an old friend. She invited us for dinner. we leave at six."

"where will we be eating? what should I wear?"

"Don't wear anything too fancy. we'll be eating at her house after all."

I took a bath and got ready. By the time I got dressed up, dad was already downstairs.

"How will we get there?" I asked him.

"We will take a cab. or should I buy a car?" he said sarcastically.

"I think you should." Mom walked out, she was dressed a little fancy for a simple dinner. In fact, dad was also dressed too formally. I started having doubts about my clothes, so I changed my hoodie for a shirt and got into the cab.

It took about an hour for us to get to the place, and a few more minutes to get to the door.

"Ray, you stay here for some time. we'll call you, don't enter till then." Mom ordered.

"See you Ray." Rita rushed in.

"Why does she get to go in?"

"Stay here for a while, will you?" Dad shut the door behind him.

I sat on the porch while others were talking inside. I could make out sounds, but the words were not clear.

"Ray?" someone called out. It was dark, but I could make out who that figure was. she came closer, and her face lit up. It was Rose. "What are you doing here?"

"I can ask you the same question." I got up.

"it… is my home." she replied in a confused tone.

I busted open the door and rushed to the place where everyone seemed to have gathered.

"Then Ray goes-" mom stopped as soon as she saw me. "I told you to wait outside."

"I think I have waited long enough." I stepped aside to let them see I met Rose already. "What is the meaning of this?"

Everyone was silent. Adults looking at each other for answers, while Rita tried not to make eye contact with me.

"Did you do something Rita?"

"what? no, I-I didn't tell them anything." She came up with excuses.

"What's going on?" Rose asked me, "why is your family here?"

"ask them, if I knew I wouldn't be out the entire time."

"alright." Dad got up, " sit down, make space for them." We sat down and listened to their explanation.

"Your mothers are friends from their school days. And we got invited for dinner." Dad explained.

"We were on the same team as your dad during medical school." mom added, "then she got married, and we were left on our own."

"so, after she got married and left, you two fell for each other?"

"oh no." Rose's mother interrupted my parent's answers. "they already had feelings for each other, they didn't realize till the third wheel was gone."

"how can you have feelings for each other and not realize it?" I asked.

"you, out of all people." Rita barged in, "have no right to ask that."

"why?"

"see?" she turned to mom, "told you. he is as dense as the sun."

"Excuse me." Rose said softly, "What is this about?"

"My daughter is also the same." Rose's mother said.

I think I get what they all mean. I mean who wouldn't? and Rita's expression told me as much.

"Are you implying that I and Rose have feelings for each other?" I asked just to be sure.

"What?" Rose jumped back a little.

"Told you." Dad said to Rita, "he isn't dense, he just didn't know."

"Yes." Rita answered my question, "you two have feelings for each other. and don't realize it."

"How did you come to this conclusion?" Rose used some heavy words.

"Let me take this one." her mother started. "This morning, you went for a walk and didn't do it. so you went back in the evening. you don't like to be at home. and you didn't deny having feelings for Ray."

"As for ray." Rita continued without a gap, "you enjoy time at school more than at home. How you two act around each other is different from how friends act. Also, I heard you mumbling this morning. Can you repeat what you said?"

"It just slipped out okay." I said out loud, "I didn't mean I missed Rose." {shit, i messed up.}

Everyone was looking at me. I said something I shouldn't have. Rita had a big smile and looked normal. I saw Rose's face turn red, and both of our parents looked a little taken aback.

"I need some fresh air." I left the room. behind me, i heard someone follow after 'me too'. I flew out and got a little far from the house. I located a tall tree and sat inside it. The wind was good, so I started pondering. {Do I really have feelings for Rose? She is a good friend and I enjoy being with her.}

If the answer to this question was 'yes', I got many more answers. Why did I miss Rose? {I wanted to see her.} Why did I look for her the other day? {I wanted her to be near me.} Why is that? {I like her, in a romantic way.} The question was should I tell her or not.

Rita did say we both feel the same way, so should I let her say it first? that doesn't feel right, i need to tell her first. {But when?}

Deciding not to think about it, I flew back to Rose's house. She was sitting on the porch, where I was before.

"Hey, Ray, listen." She wanted to talk.

"Sorry Rose, but not now. I want to have some food." I went inside, she followed behind.

others were waiting for us on the dinner table, plates were empty, as food hadn't been served yet.

"Sorry about that." mom started apologizing, "we shouldn't have-"

"not now mom." i stopped her, "can we have some food, i am starving."

"Yeah, I agree." Rose sat down as well.

Her mom served food and we ate. Everyone talked and joked around. As we finished eating, Rita asked "when is your school trip?"

"Wednesday." I swallowed whatever I was chewing, "in two days as of now." Just as I answered, an idea was born in my head.

"where are you going?"

"to some academy for advanced magic or something. It will be a three-four day trip. so we'll be back by the weekend."

"It is called, royal academy for advanced magic." Dad corrected me, "it is one of the oldest institutions in our nation. you should-"

"Doesn't that city have cheap mobile phone stores?" Mom intercepted the conversation, "you two should get yourselves one."

"Are we allowed to have one?"

"Yes." it was her dad, "students who have passed their second year of high school are allowed to own basic electronics."

"Why didn't you get me one?"

"It is very expensive to get one shipped here. and going to town to get one is even more costly. just buy one when you get there. I'll add money to your account."

We planned the trip after dinner. It was decided that money for mobile phones and trip expenses will be added to our school account.

"Bye then." Rita said as she got outside. Both of our parents looked a little down. {I think I should tell them.}

"I didn't think today was the day. I will answer after I clear a few things out." I told them after getting outside the gate. Everyone had different reactions to this statement. both fathers had a smug look, my mother was surprised. Rose's mother, however, looked a little relieved. I couldn't see Rose's face as she turned towards the living room, I just left smiling. I entered the cab, and Rita had a smug, similar to dad.

"That's a bold move." she said.

"I know."

"So... did the fresh air help?"

"It did." I leaned out of the window and shouted, "see you tomorrow."

The next day, we were given details about our trip. Monday went by as usual, no one really wanted to study on that day. Most of the students took half of Tuesday off for preparation of the trip. as we all didn't show up, our classes were dismissed.

"That should do it." I had packed all of the stuff I needed. It was the day of the trip. I was in my uniform and was ready to leave.

"Take this." Dad threw something, it was the handle of a dagger. "It will help in emergencies." he responded to my confused look.

"Thanks dad." I put the knife in my coat pocket. "I may send a letter from there, don't open it till I get back."

"Alright."