Bestfriend With Benefits

Today I'm gonna have some fun with Caroline. I asked Tiere to join us but she won't, she wants me to go with her alone, plus she's busy. I haven't talked to her since Sunday cause she was extremely busy with her designing jobs. I kinda miss her actually.

I wait patiently in front of the cinema, at some time I gaze on my phone, waiting for Caroline's text popping up.

"Ryan!"

I turned my head to a familiar beautiful dulcet voice. Caroline waved her hand and walking towards me. I waved back timidly giving her an awkward smile, my jaw stiffened and my heart flutters every time I see her.

"Sorry to make you wait" she said. "Where's Tiere?" she stretched her neck trying to find Tiere.

"She is not coming" I said immediately, "busy with her works" I shrugged my shoulders. Caroline didn't hide her smirk, she is kinda happy cause Tiere isn't here, or I just imagining thing?

I froze all of sudden, ended up I and Caroline staring at each other for few seconds, then she lifted her chin pointed to the cinema. "Oh yah. Let's go?" I asked. She nods and smile again. Her smile is everything I always wanted to see, the smile that melts my soul.

We walk through the cinema's gate. "the movie is almost start" I said.

"Well, let's go" she grabbed my hand and I was kinda startled at the same time. It's strange cause she acts like we are really dating even though this is just a normal movie night we used to have.

We sat down according to the ticket's seat numbers.

"How long have you been with

Tiere?" she whispered during the movie.

I tilted my head, whisper back "Since last week"

"No, I mean before dating. As I know you both lost contact, right?"

I mumbled, my eyes gazing at the screen "about 3 months ago when I was busy with my thesis at a café, she came over with her friends and we met". When the movie turns out boring, I tilted my head and saw her sniffing a tease smile. "She has friends?"

"Yes, why?" I don't know Caroline can be so sarcastic.

"Nope, not gonna judge" she said with a shrug on her shoulder, "I thought you and your friends are the only friends she has" she added, eyes gazing at the screen. I didn't reply her, I gaze back to the screen and the boring scene turned into kissing scene on the bed. I gulped and took a glimpse at Caroline. Her cheeks turn red and so do I, cause I can feel my face warming itself. The kissing scene usually normal for us, but somehow it turns out awkward.

"Ryan" she called softly.

I turned my head slowly to her, and she kissed me once on the cheek which startling me. I can't move my body, my eyes locked on her face, froze in the spot. I can feel my heart pounding in my chest. The beating gets louder and louder, surely if there is something there, it can hear this cacophonous thrumming rhythm. My heart is intolerable, my breathes get deeper and deeper by the second. I swing around... at the same time I think, should I kiss her back? But I am just a coward, I can't do that to her right now. Then she clears her throat and trying to look back at the screen. God, what is this? What is happening to me? For the rest of my life, for these 22 years, this is the most terrifying life experience I've ever had. 2 girls kissed me in the same year, am I dreaming? Did I just lucid dream? Can I wake up? No, this is real. Everything is real.

We finished the movie,

"Bye Caroline" I wave and turn around, at the same time she grabbed my arm to stop me. I twist my head,

"Yes?"

Caroline eyes shone with excitement, she seems like having a good mood. "I think we should go grab some ice cream or something?" she lifted an eyebrow. This is pretty unusual. I nod my head and smile "Let's go". I used to struggle a lot to buy more time with her, today I have to struggle no more. She just bought more time for us.

I drive her to the nearest ice cream café, she usually drives her own. Does she purposely leave her car in her house? But I don't want to ask her, I don't want to ask too much question.

"So.. how's your date with Tiere?" she asked as she sat down on the fluffy pinky chair. The café is

painted in mostly pink and white, I can smell strawberry ice cream fragrance.

I give her a smile, "Well.. we are doing..great" my god, my tongue turns out stiff again.

She quirked her eyebrow "Do you love her that much?"

I sniffed a smile and say

"Why would I date her if I don't?"

She gave a chuckle in response to my answer "Okay.. I was just wondering how could you two end up dating"

The ice cream served on our table. Caroline dragged her bubblegum ice cream towards her and start stirring the oreo –crumbs with the ice cream.

"Well.... We simply made friends and decided to date. That's all" I said, trying to remain calm. I have to get use to this situation cause she seemed curious about I and Tiere's relationship. Why would she care a lot? I wonder why she let me wait for so long if she really does love me.

"Al..rightt..?" she quirked her eyebrow.

"How do you fall in love with her?" another question, damn this is more like an interview than a date. I shrugged my shoulder, "She is kind"

"Am I not kind?" she asked. Somehow my heart beats faster again, how could she just ask this kind of question without any hesitation.

"You..you are.." I stuttered, hardly move my tongue again.

"there's a lot of girls out there so why Tiere?" another question that turned me speechless, why did she ask me that kind of question?

She took a deep breath "forget it.." she said and put a spoonful of ice cream inside her mouth. At first I thought she is going to brain freeze but yea.. she does. She gulped a glass of water and acted like nothing happens, afraid I'd tease her.

"I'm sorry.. I was just shocked" she said as she finished the glass of water.

I give her a smile, nearly speechless. "So.. gonna drive you home today?" I asked, changing the topic.

"Yep" she answered as she looked down at her ice cream.

Tiere said girls usually hard to control their emotions, especially what's inside their heart. Girls are kinda sensitive.

I drive her home to her mansion, Caroline is from a very rich family but her parents are kind of strict that's why Caroline works all day and night. No wonder she is very independent and smart. Her parents must be so proud of her.

Caroline clicked the seatbelt off and say "Thanks Ryan"

"Oh .. Thanks for today" I replied, hesitantly.

She pulled the handle and walk towards her mansion's gate, a security came out to help her bag of files. She paused, and turned around.

"Ryan. Do you have time on Saturday? Maybe a dinner?" she bit her lower lip as she talks.

"Um... yes.. I have.." I nodded my head and smile awkwardly, my jaw stiffened again.

"alright see you on Saturday, pick me up at 6" she winked an eye. Damn my heart can't take this anymore. She is very beautiful, especially when she winked her eye.

On my way home, I was so happy cause Caroline finally asked me out again. Caroline's kiss bubbling inside my head, I keep on touching my cheek. Can't hide a smile, I even smile at everything across me, even when I saw the big shapeless rock at the side walk, I used to hate that rock because they are ugly. Geez! The girls are diving me insane recently.

My phone pinged and I pulled it out from my pocket. Tiere's name popped up.

"HOW'S YOUR DATE BABY?"

"GREAT" I replied with the same caps lock

"DAMN!" another pinged. Has she finished her works yet?

"Where are you Tiere?"

"I'm at my damn apartment"she replied really quick.

"Can I come?"

"Up to you"

"Alright. Coming!"

I stopped by Mc Donald drive thru to buy something for Tiere, her favorite junk food.

drtt drrtt

Another phone call which startled me. I grabbed my phone and put it against my ear, "Halo?"

"Halo? Ryan?"

Oh it's Caroline.

"Yes Carol?"

"Where are you?"

"I'm on my way to Tiere's apartment"

"Whoa this late? Gonna sleepover again?"

Let's do this, I grinned and clear my throat "Yes, maybe. She needs me every day" damn, you are good at this Ryan!

"Oh okay, see you soon Ryan"

"Okay"

I parked my car in the basement and grabbed the paper bag of Mc Donald before I locked the car. I walked past the lazy security with his phone and tapped the elevator panel, the door wide opens. A guy with hypebeast t –shirt coming out, he is as tall as me but buffer than me. He didn't look at me, he just walked by like I am invisible.

I tap the number 6 button and it brought me up.

The hallways are empty and deserted, somehow I heard a woman screamed "F*CK YOU" from I don't know, but I was kinda startled by that.

I stopped in front of the door with silver numbers 606 above and knock the door, "Tiere! I'm here!"

"Yes. Coming"

She clicked the door open and I was so shocked when I saw her eyes soaked wet with tears. My smile sagged and I dropped the paper bag.

"TIERE! WHAT HAPPEN?"

My heart torn into pieces when I saw her crying like this, I don't know why, every beat of it becomes an incision in my heart.

Tiere sniffs, her tears bursting down like waterfalls, she cupped her face in her hand and her shoulders trembling. I gave her a hug and a gentle tap on her back, resting my chin on her head. She sobbed into my chest unceasingly, hands clutching at my shirt.

"You can talk later, let's get inside"

I bend my knees to take the Mc Donald's paper bag and bring her inside.

I thought I have to let her cry for a while until she gets better, but she hasn't stop crying, she lays on her bed gazing at the open window without saying anything. I slid my butt to sit closer to her, tap her shoulder gently and say "Tiere, are you okay?"

She gasped for breath, pressing her fingers into her eyes, trying to hold the tears, but they come

anyway, splattering hot against her hands, can't even see her face right now.

"Let's eat, Tiere" I said.

She shook her head and yelled "NO!". She pulled her blanket up until her head.

"I can feed you if you want. I bought you your favorite junk food"

She shook her head harshly.

"Come on.. just a bite" I try to persuade her again.

No answer.

"Come on.. don't be shy.." I added, shaking her body, she looked like burrito right now, or a pale –brown cocoon?

"You look like burrito or a cocoon right now. More like a cocoon actually" I laughed with a rich, throaty chuckle. She giggled followed by some sniffs. "Don't be silly"

I pulled her blanket,

"I am your boyfriend right? Now, tell me everything you want to tell. Do everything you want to do" she doesn't look at me, she looked down with lips pouted followed by some sniffs.

I wrapped my arm around her, trying to comforts her. Then she starts crying again. She cries so loud like a baby.

"THAT BITCH WAS JUST HERE TO RETURNED ALL THE THINGS THAT LEFT IN HIS APARTMENT" she shouts as her voice trembling. I thought she has moved on, I was wrong. She doesn't look fine, she cries like she just broke up yesterday. Is that the reason why she wants to be with me all day? Cause if she's alone, her past memories will keep on haunting her. I won't let her cry like this anymore. I hug and tap her shoulders gently.

"Alright alright. I am here Tiere"

She tightened her arms and sniffing, "I hate him"

"I love you Tiere" I said, followed by my heart pounding hard, the first time I speak that language. "Love you too" she replied, and I don't know somehow my lips lifted itself, so happy when she said she loves me back.

I was about to give her an accompany tonight at least until she gets better, but..

"Tiere.. do you need me to stay the night?"

"No need Ryan.. you can come back tomorrow morning" she added.

"Are you sure? Are you gonna be okay?"

She smiles, not a happy smile "I.. am ..okay" she sounds unsteady.

"Just come back tomorrow"

I took a step backward and she closed the door, heard the door clicked. I leaned against her door, my heart shattering when I saw her crying. I feel like I want to stay with her and comforts her all night. Should I wait until she gets better and come back tomorrow morning?