Out of House

Beau Riley

--

I stared at my reflection in the mirror with a disgusted expression. I had to say that my sense of fashion may not be comparable to that of normal people.

My closet only consists of hoodies and jeans and nothing else. Now, wearing a white dress shirt and black slacks, it felt so weird. Especially since the pants highlighted more of my slim waist and slender legs. And so, in an attempt to cover my unmanly curves, I grabbed a long black coat that reached my knees.

It's fine to wear this. It's been a cold weekend, anyway.

I had to thank my mom for keeping these slacks and dress shirt that I got after having been invited to a wedding before. Suits aren't my thing, but they saved me today.

Seriously, it would probably be humiliating for Sage to stroll around if I was wearing an unfashionable hoodie. Based on Sage's usual style of tucking in dress shirts and wearing slacks, I tried to keep up with him by doing the same thing.

I inhaled first before picking up my phone and wallet. "This will do," I murmured to myself as a consolation for how much the outfit felt so weird to me.

My mother was out for business, so I simply sent her a message that I'd be out of the house. She did not have any qualms about it and only told me to take care.

I went out of the house and waited by the gate. Sage told me that he'd just pick me up at our house, so I sent him my address since I don't really mind him knowing where I live.

Although I am indeed his secret admirer, it was not really a perverted kind of adoration. I just liked him. Not that I lusted for him. So as we progressed in our friendly relationship, I wasn't that uncomfortable anymore. It's more like the feeling of getting to know your idol better.

The thought of dating him, though, never crossed my mind.

I'm fine as it is. This is the best that I could possibly wish for. Nothing else matters.

I snapped out of my thoughts when I heard a beep. Turning my head, I was relieved to see Sage getting out of his car.

He walked toward me with a charming grin on his face. "Hey."

"Hey," I responded to his greeting with a nod and a small smile. I subconsciously fixed my long, black coat to cover my body before walking towards him to meet him halfway.

"Have you been waiting for so long?" he asked as he hung his arm on my shoulder, just like he usually does with his friends. He pulled me towards his car, opening the passenger seat's door before gesturing for me to enter.

I went inside while shaking my head. "You're just in time."

"Great. I was worried I'd be running late today." He flashed a satisfied smile at me before turning around the car to enter the driver's seat. Sage coolly turned on the car as he drove away from my house. "When's your curfew?"

I looked out the window first before I shifted my gaze back at him. "Until ten o'clock."

"Okay, Cinderella." He playfully winked at me before looking back at the windshield. "By the way, you look good."

I unintentionally snickered at his remark. "I only look good today?"

I regretted that, though. That was so out-of-character of me! I pursed my lips while carefully taking a peek at his face through the front mirror.

Seeing that he was grinning like an idiot, I finally relaxed. Right, Sage has always been like this. He's so playful and friendly that you could never not like him. Thankfully, he's like this. It wouldn't be hard for me to read him and be with him.

"I mean, you look good every day; it's just that you're EXTRA good-looking today," he replied with a wide grin on his handsome face. "Or maybe you're just having a hard time accepting my compliment, so you're picking on this, hmm?"

I helplessly shook my head with a small smile on my probably-pale face. "You bet."

The drive went smoothly and without a hint of awkwardness. Sage was very good at picking up topics that would interest the both of us, and if things went silent again, he wouldn't push it just to make things lively between us.

I wanted to sigh in envy. He's such a people-smart guy. If only my social intelligence was the same as his, I would have a lot of friends by now.

We stopped the car in front of an amusement park's parking lot. My mouth probably dropped open since I heard him chuckle beside me.

"Let's have fun and play games with each other, yeah?" he said, his green eyes curving into crescents as he stared at me with anticipation.

I looked back at him with a wide smile. "Just make sure you win over me, though."

He laughed at that before we finally got out of the car. Sage then guided me towards the booth where we were supposed to pay for the entrance fee.

He volunteered to line up for the both of us; however, I insisted on just coming with him. He had no choice but to agree. We then waited patiently before we finally proceeded beyond the barricade.

I looked around the park with clenched fists and bitten lips; my eyes were probably sparkling by now. Although it wasn't my first time visiting an amusement park, this was probably the first time that I got to spend it with someone other than my mother. Plus, it has been so long since I stepped foot in such a place.

"How was it? Are you feeling the vibe already?" Sage inquired with his hands in the pockets of his sleek, black slacks, his head tilted as he carefully watched my expression.

I subconsciously fixed my thick-framed eyeglasses before I slowly nodded at him. "It feels very exciting to me."

"And to me as well. How about we go to that roller coaster?" He pointed out the ride, which was currently on the move, resulting in the coaster's passengers shouting their lungs out.

It looked exhilarating.

I grabbed my long coat to cover my small frame properly before I turned my head back to him. "Okay, let's try that."

He then excitedly grabbed my slender wrist and headed towards another booth, which catered to those who would ride the roller coaster. "Tickets for two, please," he said once it was our turn.

The staff there gave us tickets, which Sage giddily flapped in front of my face. He seemed so happy about getting tickets.

"Wait, wait, wait. Hold the other one. I'm going to snap a photo." He handed me the other ticket as he took out his phone from his pocket.

I simply thought it was just a photo of our hands holding the tickets, but I was shocked to see him turn his phone up with the front camera in view. I watched myself on the phone screen as he smiled while raising his ticket.

"Smile, Byu!"

Click.