Its been now a month since Tony was in my place but we have been meeting on the weekends to hang out. I appointed myself as his tour guide and every Saturday and Sunday, I drive him to my favorite restaurants and spots. We have grown closer and my feelings for him have gone deeper every time we spend time together. Everyday I become more and more convinced he is the person I wish to grow old with. He likes to go to gym so we looked for one together and I took him to sign up for his membership. I am not fond of gyms but I like to work out at my house sometimes.

He is still popular at work and a very hard working employee. Every day he gives me a reason to fall for him even harder than the day before. It’s not just about his looks anymore but I have come to love his whole personality and everything about him. Everyone at the office likes him and even though I get jealous at times when I see how other people cozy up to him I am comforted by the fact that I am the closest to him and even took a bath together (even though he was drunk). Its on Friday evening I text him to ask if he has plans after his gym session on Saturday or he wants to go bowling with me.

“I'll have to take a rain check on that man, I am meeting up with my sister to help her out with something, why don’t you come over for a cookout on Sunday at our place? It’s been awhile since you ate my food hahaha” I read his text several times to see if I heard him wrong. Dear heavens!! He just invited me to his place!! I get so excited that I almost jump up and down in my office. After confirming that I will come, I call Kaylah to meet up the next day.

I tell myself it’s not a date but a casual invite as friends do. I decide to extend my hours that day to calm my nerves in the office. It’s Saturday and Kaylah is supposed to be here anytime. I pace the living room trying to figure what I should wear and whether to bring something with me as courtesy. It’s not my first time being invited to lunch by acquaintances or friends but this is the first time Tony has invited me himself and I’m freaking out.

I hear the doorbell and rush to open for Kaylah. “Took you long enough...i am freaking out here!! what do you think I should wear tomorrow? This blue suit that goes with my eye color or jeans, t-shirts and leather jacket?” I hold the clothes up for Kaylah to see the minute she gets inside.

“Okay, first- who are you and what have you done to Seo-Jun?, Second- nice to meet you too, third- can a woman get something to drink first here? It’s an oven outside and fourth- what the fuck is going on and where are you going? Kaylah throws her purse on the sofa and hops on to the bean bag and pet Piper who hisses at her.

I hand her sparkling water from the fridge and sits down on one sofa. “Tony just invited me to a cook out at his place with him and his sister and am soo nervous. I don’t know what to wear or whether I should buy gifts for them” I sigh loudly.

Kaylah takes Piper from the floor “who knew the day would come when your owner would lose his mind over a person huh? I think I have seen everything there is to see on this world.” she talks to Piper who just looks at her then at me and jump down and goes away. “Kay, am being serious here, help me out and I’ll owe you one” I groan.

“Fine fine lover boy, let’s see…Whoa! dude its a casual lunch! Put that suit down, you are not going to ask for his hand in marriage….yet” she shakes her head. It makes sense I suppose, it would look weird if I showed up in a suit at his place on a Sunday afternoon. “For the gift, I’d suggest buying a bottle of wine and maybe some chocolate for his sister as for the outfit put on something simple but one that screams you are hot and single” She stands and heads to my walk in closet. After some time, she picks jeans a medium vest and a leather jacket. The combination looks quite good.

“Grab your purse, lets go hunting for the best bottle and chocolate in the city” I say grabbing my car keys and wallet and heading out. I don’t give her time to protest and she runs after me. “you owe me big time you dork” she tells me as we drive out.

We come back later in the evening with boxes of wine and the most expensive Swiss chocolate I could get. Since I couldn’t decide which wine they would like best, I bought several of them despite protests from Kaylah. “They do say love makes people stupid. After watching you today man, am I glad am single as fuck. So glad I don’t have to run around deciding which chocolate to get someone.” I ignore her and place the gifts carefully in the kitchen and pack them nicely.

Later on we order food and hang out until evening. I try to calm my nerves down and destruct myself later at night but I can’t help getting excited at the thought of being in his house. I go to sleep a happy man cuddling my annoyed cats in my arms.

“oi, see you from 1 pm. Don’t bring anything, just you and your empty stomach hehe hehe. Oh yeah the address is…” I read the text from Tony and get butterflies again. Since its still too early, I decide to go for a run to calm my nerves. Kaylah will come shortly to look after my cats since am not sure what time I’ll go back. She volunteered herself urging me to spend more time with him. I feel calmer after running. I go back to the house and start preparing even though its 10 am and it will take me about 1 hr drive to his place.

I hear the door bell and I let Kaylah in. “Aren’t you a bundle of nerves, I should take a picture as blackmail in the future, might come in handy.” She takes a few pictures of me getting ready and trying different hairstyles on the mirror. At 11 in the morning am all set and ready to go. Kaylah tries to calm me down but gives up along the way.

I’ll be there 1 hour earlier I think to myself but I defend myself that he did not specifically say the time just the hour range.

I take my gifts, get in the car and drive off.