44. Jonathan
Jonathan
Lina laughed from my side in the passenger’s seat. I turned to her, lips pursed. “Yes?” I asked as I turned off my car.
She grabbed my hand and squeezed it. “You don’t need to be nervous. It’s just a double date with Mary and Eric. You’ve met them before.”
“Why not? Why can’t I be a bit nervous?” I asked. “They’re your best friends, right? I want to reassure them that I’m a good boyfriend to you and that they can trust you to my care.”
Tonight was our first double date ever. Mary was the one to suggest it and, when Lina brought it up, I eagerly agreed.
I wanted to get to know more about the people she cared about and loved so much.
From my interactions with them before, they were no different from the people I loved as well.
Rambunctious and funny—a pair of caring, warm souls.
Despite knowing they were kind and inviting people, I was more nervous for our first double date with them than meeting Lina’s parents and older sister.
Her brows crumpled together, her mouth downturned. “You know they already think that, right?” she asked. “You jumped in front of spewing shards of broken glass to protect me. You’ve already done your part in making sure they can trust you.”
I swallowed hard. “I know, but I still want to prove more to them.”
The corner of her mouth softened. She intertwined our hands together tightly. “Jonathan.”
“Hm?” I responded.
“You’ve already proven yourself enough.” Her words were short of a gentle sigh.
I brushed my thumb over one of her knuckles.
“Lina, I can do better. I know I can. I want to make sure the people you care about the most will never question how much I also love and care for you, too.” It was my turn to squeeze her hand back.
“I want them to know you’re my utmost priority.
I want to ensure them I will do anything to make sure you’re protected, taken care of, and .
. . Most of all, that you’re seen and heard. ”
Tears misted over her eyes as she tipped her head to the side—a habit of mine she had now adopted. “How exactly are you going to do that?”
I grinned, pulling our intertwined hands to my chest and placing them over where my heart thrummed. “With actions and time. With each passing day. I could talk as much as I want, but that’s just empty promises. Instead, I’ll show them I’m worthy to be loved by you.”
“We’re supposed to be here for a double date. Not for you to make me cry in the parking lot of a bar and grill,” she half laughed, half sobbed, as I brushed away her tears.
I laughed with her and pulled her into a quick kiss. “I love you, Lina Lee,” I breathed onto the corner of her lips.
“I love you too, Jonathan.”
Her fingers came up to gingerly trace over what was left of the gash on my eyebrow from over a month ago.
It had long healed up already. The only remnant left of that day was a minor, light-brown scar slashed through my eyebrow.
But there were nights when I could feel her fingertips lightly trace over it when I slept over at her place.
I would fall asleep envisioning remorse crumpling her brows together and tugging her mouth thin.
I took hold of her other hand and brought it to my chest where our intertwined hands lay.
I placed a peck on her forehead, understanding there would never be enough words I could say to stop her from feeling the way she did.
But I would still tell her there was nothing for her to regret. All was fine.
“Stop feeling guilty, Lina. It’s alright,” I said. “It’s already healed. And I’m in one piece.”
“I know, but I can’t help it.” She sighed softly, breathing across my collarbone. “I’ve learned to let go of most of my guilt and have stopped blaming it all on myself. However, I can’t deny how I played a role in it as well. I will always be sorry for your scar, Jonathan.”
I shook my head. “Just so you know, I like the gnarly scar. It makes me look intimidating.”
Lina scoffed, pulling her hands out of mine to cup my face. “You do not look intimidating, Jonathan Lo.”
“Oh, yeah? How do I look with this scar then?”
She laughed, kissing my scar. “I don’t know . . .” Her words were slow in a low rasp. “Not much different than before. If anything, you just look like a puppy.”
“A puppy?” I gaped, feigning offense. “I’m better than just any dog, Lina.”
I wrapped my arms around her waist, pulling her as close to me as possible. Her melodic chuckle filled my car as a wide smile stretched across my mouth.
“I know,” she said. “You’re the good boy who’s mine.”
I hummed happily as she pecked my lips. “That’s exactly who I am.”
I wanted to lean into her, to taste more of her mouth, when her phone pinged. She immediately pulled away to check it. “Looks like Mary and Eric are here.” She grabbed my hand like before and squeezed it. “Just so you know. They already like you a lot.”
I kissed the back of her hand. “I like them, too.”
“It’ll be fine, Jonathan. You don’t need to be nervous. It’s just Mary and Eric.”
“It’s not just Mary and Eric. They’re your best friends—”
“Let’s just go enjoy ourselves and try not to think too much, alright?” said Lina. “You’d tell me the same if we went on a double date with Julie and Andy, or Shoua and Anthony, right?”
“Yeah,” I reluctantly answered. “They also like you a lot so . . . you’d have nothing to worry about.”
Lina smiled. “Good.”
The double date was meant to be simple. Dinner and then a movie.
If we were still up for it at the end of everything, then maybe we’d stop by a creamery nearby for ice cream.
Dinner was great, although Eric and I did fight a bit to cover the bill.
After a light, friendly banter back and forth, Eric won.
I allowed him to cover for that but made sure to get the tickets for the movie tonight—only for Eric to one-up me by getting to the concession stand before me. All the while Lina and Mary giggled behind us, enjoying the show.
When they both needed a bathroom break after the rom-com we watched tonight, Eric and I were left alone. Although the hallway was bustling with people coming in and out of showing rooms, it was still quiet between the two of us. But only for a moment.
“Thank you,” said Eric gently, “for everything you’ve done for Lina. From helping her move, to looking after her to making sure she’s safe and protected.”
We looked at each other as he nodded slowly. His wife’s purse was on his shoulder and her cardigan draped across his forearm. I mirrored him with all of Lina’s belongings on my own shoulder and forearm as well. I nodded back.
“You don’t need to thank me, Eric. This is what I’m supposed to do. I’m her boyfriend. Those are things I should be doing for her,” I said.
Eric smiled softly. “We’re happy she waited to be with someone like you, Jonathan Lo.”
I couldn’t help grinning as my heart began to race. I shook my head. “I understand your sentiment. But if there’s anyone who should be happy, it should be me. She chose me. And because of that, I’ll do my best to always be there for her.”
Eric’s mouth pulled wide as a tender laugh bellowed out of him. “That’s exactly why my wife and I are happy you’re in her life. You’re a good man, Jonathan.”
“So are you, Eric. Thank you to you and your wife for looking after my girlfriend all these years,” I chuckled with him. “It makes me feel better she didn’t have to go through all of this entirely alone.”
“She’s practically a sister to us.” He nodded again. “We try our best. But with us living our own lives, we can’t always be there for her. Which is why we’re grateful for you.”
Unable to say anything back, I resorted to nodding. Before I could respond, Lina’s laugh made me realize she and her friend were standing in front of us. She came to my side and grabbed her jacket from my forearm.
“Why do you two look so serious?” she asked.
I shrugged, trying to buy myself time to answer, when Eric spoke up. “Guy talk,” he answered easily.
Mary raised a brow at her husband. “Guy talk?” she snorted. “What kind of guy talk?”
Eric shrugged, which I took as my cue to reply. “Guy talk,” I confirmed.
Lina and Mary glanced at each other as they put on their outerwear. Mary started giggling while Lina simply smiled. I offered my girlfriend my arm. She took it graciously.
“Ice cream, then?” asked Mary from Eric’s side as we both guided our women out of the theater.
“Sure,” answered Eric.
“Sounds good to me.” Lina turned to me. “How about you, Jonathan?”
“It’s fine with me,” I nodded.
As we walked out into the parking lot and split ways to go to our respective cars, Lina’s hand shifted from the crook of my elbow to my hand. She gave me a quick squeeze. I looked down at her to find her already smiling wide.
“See? I told you they like you,” she said.
I laughed. “Yeah.”
“So . . . What did you and Eric talk about?”
“That’s between the two of us, Lina.” I shook my head at her.
“You’ll tell me when we get home, right?” Her fingers slipped out of my hold and trailed up a vein on the back of my hand.
An amused chuckle rumbled out of me as we finally approached the car. I gave her a quick kiss on the cheek before opening the door to the passenger’s seat. The smile I wore earlier now tittered into a smirk.
“I’ll think about it.”
Lina scoffed playfully, already knowing I’d reveal a thing or two about my discussion with Eric. She took her seat in my car as I took her hand in mine. I placed a kiss over her knuckles.
“Ready for some ice cream?” I asked.
She laughed, narrowing her eyes at me. “It’s just ice cream, Jonathan.”
I shrugged. “Just making sure you’re ready for anything with me, Darling.”
“With you, I’m always ready.”
We both shared the same grin—bright, warm, and simply happy.
“Good,” I chuckled.
I closed the passenger door and bolted to the driver’s side.
Lina was in a fit of laughter by the time I opened the door.
I started the car so we’d be on our way to the creamery in a timely manner.
The whole time I intertwined our hands together, as I would for this next stop and the next. Then, the one after that.