When We Have Each Other

Natalie and David headed down the road to West Sand Hotel for supper. The evening weather felt so soothing and the drive gave a better view of the city and for a moment she could feel light-headed so she leaned towards the window. She really could do with this kind of relaxation. David had already booked table number 7; a table for two and as soon as Natalie sat, her stomach, like rain knowing it should pour if clouds appear, started rumbling.

"You're that hungry?" David said in between laughs and she hated his guts.

"Of course am hungry. I rarely eat in such a classy place so I guess my stomach is just sensing the change of scenery."

"Can we order already. I'm starving," she said in between yawns while she struggled to pout her cheeks and slightly rubbed her stomach.

David ordered one-pan paella with rice and chicken while Natalie ordered blue crab meatballs and spaghetti with maialino mare. She dug into the dish cheerfully gobbling every spoon. It's like she had been starving for days.

"What?" she asked as she lifted her head to notice that David had not touched his food. She was surprised that he was staring at her the whole time. Natalie had completely forgotten that she was not in the house but in a public place. She suddenly felt shy.

"I'm just happy looking at you. It's so adorable when you're carefree and happy. It becomes a wonderful sight," Natalie just smiled and looked down at her food afraid to look at him. They had been friends for so long but it suddenly felt so awkward. So distinct.

"Come on, you should eat," They finished up with crab cakes as a dessert and she could say she hadn't had such a nice meal for a while and finally had the chance to hang out with her best friend.

Sebastian walked into the hotel and paced his eyes around the place. He didn't know what seat her mother had reserved for them so he decided to call her.

"Mum, I'm here," he said hoping she would save her from the embarrassment he was feeling just by standing at the door.

"Head over to table 6," Mrs Cooper had an excitement in his voice and Sebastian could feel it but did not bother to ask. He thought that maybe his mother was too happy to dine with her and did not think much about it. He walked over to table 6 and he could see a lady on the same table.

Her back was facing her and looking at her statue, she didn't look like her mother at all and that's when it dawned to him that he was trapped yet he did not so much want to believe. He contemplated between going over to sit and going back to the office, or maybe home but he considered the latter dangerous.

He decided to turn back and go to the office. At least he would have time to work on the presentation they had tomorrow. He could not overlook anything at the moment and any slight mistake would be sending him on his knees. She was about to leave when the lady stopped her.

"Mr. Cooper, you're going to just leave without greeting me?" The lady stood up to walk to him. Sebastian stood not in shock. Disbelief was written all over him and he was feeling blank. Happy. Nostalgic. He turned back and his elation could not be hidden. He embraced her in a hug that took ong enough for people in the restaurant to notice.

"Hey Britney, how've you been? When did you come back? You're all grown." Sebastian blurted out as he disengaged from the hug while they headed to sit down.

"Chill Basti, you'll know all that. Let's order first," Britney said just as excited as he was.

David watched the scene and he was not surprised. Bothered, yes.

He however could not think of all that at the time because he had more important things, people. He had Natalie. He watched her as she finished her dish and at that time he could not let anything else prevent him from enjoying the night. Natalie was oblivious of his feelings as he was busy digging into his food.

"Nat, you know you can come to work at my company any time. You're always welcome," David started the conversation that was always swept under the bridge but hoped that this time there would be better results. Maybe the waves will sweep it to the shore.

"We're not about to discuss this topic again, David. You know me more than that. I want to get a position with my own qualifications. I want the satisfaction that I don't need to step on anyone so I can get a job or get it using backdoors. I'd love to earn whatever I'll be having. That has been my rule since long ago, remember. I know you're trying to look out for me but allow me to do this by myself. For myself. Please!"

She knew he just wanted to help and he would feel bad but she would not feel comfortable working at his company and people happen to know they're friends. She felt that they would be respecting her not because she earned it but because she happened to be the friend of their boss.

"Okay, okay. I respect your choice. But remember I'll always be here when you need me. Just a phone call away,"" He stretched his hand across the table and held slightly onto hers while rubbing them. It gave her the assurance she needed and she trusted his words.

"Thanks David. It really means a lot to me when you support my decisions," David had been with her throughout her worst moments. While Natalie and Sandy were in the streets, he had always walked by their sleeping place in the morning just to greet them.

As kids, they felt closer than ever and he motivated Natalie to be the best version of herself. He helped Natalie in her hustles in the streets and sometimes brought food for them. He once brought his dad but they declined his offer to go stay at their place. Natalie never felt the need to shelter in someone's company. Someone she didn't know. A stranger. A man.

She felt endangered and freed the street for fear of being taken away and for some reason felt that they would be enslaved in their company. Meeting David again after ten years made their bond even stronger and David believed it was destiny that made them cross paths again. She looked at him and felt lucky to have him in her life.

Sebastian was lost in his long time childhood friend while David was lost in his light, his hope, his star. They both had evenings like this when they didn't care about each other and in such evenings, they both prayed for it to not end.

Lost in world's of fantasies, a man was watching them. At the far corner of the restaurant, a man was calm and enjoying the tranquility of the night watched them closely. He scoffed. He had no emotions but a cup of tea on his table which he kept filling in every 10 minutes and by that rate, the waiter could not help but worry yet he dared not say a thing. How could he?