I Wish We'd Met Before

Alec and Luna decided to compare their notes about the preventable stuff and the stuff that's going to happen in the future. Luna was surprised by how neatly organized Alec's notes were. And hers was jumbled up handwritten.

"Can we prevent 911?" Luna asked.

"By risking ourselves being called a terrorist? I'd rather not do that, besides there's a documentary that stated it's not a terrorist act but actually insider," Alec explained. "Did you remember how the building collapsed?"

"It actually looks like it's being demolished and there's a report of the explosion on the other tower that was not hit by an airplane," she sighed. "And that's why I put it on the non-preventable list."

"I wish we'd met before," Alec sighed.

"You mean the first time?" Luna asked.

He nodded. "You're awesome, brainy and quite attractive..."

"Shush, leave that last part alone and nope, I'm a dork at the first," she sighed. "I probably think we knew each other but through mutual friends… I mean, since both of us are traders."

"You're right, I mean, I remember people in the crypto community saying RIP, a 38 year-old woman was found dead, naked at her home after a week of not being outside and her cat was screaming out of hunger and got positive of COVID in Serpong… wait… is that you?"

"I think so…"

"And they thought that you got raped and killed but there's no sign of struggle."

"Well they're searching for the non-existence rapist and murderer since I've been deprived of it for years."

"You always… surprised me,"

"Don't…" she covered his lips with her finger. "But why are you in Chicago?"

"Just traveling and can't go back since COVID is rising and decided to stay there for a while," he sighed. "Do you want to call for room service or prefer to go to Clarke Quay for dinner?"

"Up to you," she said.

"I really hate that answer," he sighed.

"Don't ask me to choose," she grinned.

"Do you need to take a shower?"

"But I don't bring any extra clothes?"

"Just wore my tees," he said as he gave her his blue tees.

"Okay," she went to the bathroom for 15 minutes and went out wearing his tees that seemed longer than pants that made her look like she's not wearing any shorts and she tucked the side of the tees into her shorts' belt hole and made it visible.

He went to take a quick shower too and forgot to bring his tees so he went out wearing just his long denim pants. She saw his body that looked fit with mouthwatering looks but didn't say anything as he grabbed his new tees that he just bought from Zara and slipped it on.

"Wanna go to Zouk later?" he asked.

"Sure," she said as she got her eyebrow kit and drew hers a bit.

"You're pretty just the way you are," he said.

"Thanks," she grinned.

They walked down to Clarke Quay and he realized that people are watching her but they would think twice to touch her because she looks like a Singaporean and there's him beside her. She didn't even notice their blatant stares. They're enjoying their simple Mediterranean dinner with hookah and a glass of wine.

"You should take precautions when you walk around alone," he warned her.

"Why?" she smiled as she swirled the glass. "I can walk around in my turtleneck and long pants and people would still stare at me."

He sighed. "Honestly, did you lose your sense of awareness somewhere?'

"I realized that I'm too fair-skinned, skinny, and flat chested to people liking so if I got bothered by them every time I got a blatant stare, I would be paranoid." she sighed, "Honestly, I used to be overweight and people stare at me. So why should I be bothered by them? And this is Singapore, people can look but can't touch at risk of getting sued. So why not let me enjoy this fine humid weather with your tees."

"I like how your mind works," he chuckled.

"Once again, I don't mean to attract your attention," she sighed and took a sip of her wine.

"I know," he smiled as he realized that she seems so carefree but her mind works interestingly differently. She knew how to put herself, rejected the unwanted attention and affection like an expert dodging them all.

As they walked and queued at Zouk, he realized that she's right. Most of these people here dressed sexier than her and overshadowed her. But he knew her personality was more attractive and wholesome. That's why he's surprised to know that her ex left her for a manipulative bimbo. At first glance, that girl he saw on Chijmes was attractive on the outside. But he realized that this girl in front of him was more attractive with her coldness and apathetic attitude. She ordered a bottle of peach bacardi breeze and he ordered a glass of martini. And they started to dance with the drink in their hand. She danced without care and he just followed her.