With Andrew's striking looks and height, we attracted quite a few curious glances from passersby.
Halfway through our meal, Rick's phone chimed with a WhatsApp notification. He snatched it up, his eyes lighting up as he began typing furiously.
Two minutes later, he announced he had to leave due to "urgent business."
My gut told me the message was from his crush.
As he made his escape, I figured I should come up with an excuse to follow.
Before I could think of anything, Andrew said casually, "I'll give you a ride home later and drop something off for you."
I nearly choked on a piece of potato, my mind racing. "You're… giving me something?"
My words came out jumbled, the food in my mouth making me sound like a chipmunk caught in the act of stealing snacks.
Andrew couldn't help but laugh at my predicament.
When he smiled for real, he looked even more handsome than that day in the office—like a million bucks.
But there was something else, too.
Despite only having met him a handful of times, I felt an inexplicable pull toward him, as if he had some magnetic charm.
I swore it wasn't just because of his chiseled abs and striking features!
Definitely not!
Andrew drove me to my apartment building, and just as I opened the car door, he called out to me.
"What's up?" I turned, puzzled.
He handed me a box.
"Here's your package. Open it when you get home."
Then, lowering his voice, he added, "It'll be really useful for you."
With that tantalizing hint, I practically sprinted upstairs, finally finding the scissors I usually couldn't locate even after half an hour of searching. I tore into the package with excitement.
Inside lay a telescope.
Just then, my phone buzzed in my pocket. It was a WhatsApp message from Andrew.
[The phone camera isn't great, and holding it up can be tiring. Next time, you can use this to take a look.]
Of course, I wasn't foolish enough to actually use the telescope to spy on anyone.
After all, that kind of behavior was just plain wrong. I might have my moments of being a little too curious, but I was not that naive.
I tucked the telescope away in my storage cabinet, thinking I probably wouldn't need it anytime soon.
Andrew only had two classes a week, and for the next few days, I was blissfully free of Rick's relentless calls, which gave me a much-needed break.
After a couple of days of rest, I returned to my little dessert shop.