Chapter 7 #3
We had dinner while listening to a group singing ballads in English. The atmosphere was pleasant and the food delicious. Close to midnight, I received a message from Hermes:
“How’s it going? Where are you? Are you planning to stay much longer?”
My response:
“We’re having a great time at The Desire Pub. I don’t know yet how long I’ll stay. I’ll let you know. Kiss”
New message from Hermes:
“Did you have to choose a place with that name?”
I smiled reading his message because I could imagine his face when he read the name of the pub.
While I was responding, my phone died as the battery ran out.
That’s when I remembered that after Hermes’ call, my battery had been in the red, but I forgot to charge it.
I wasn’t worried; when we decided to leave, I could solve it by sending him a message from Serafina’s phone.
Seri had gotten up to go to the bathroom and was now returning.
“I was texting with Hermes, but my battery died. I’ll need to use yours to let him know when we leave.”
“No problem. Should we order more drinks?”
“I’m not going to drink much because I have to drive,” I stated.
“I’m going to order a Cosmopolitan. What should I get you?”
“Get me the same and I’ll just have a little.”
Since the waiter was taking a while to come to our table, Seri went to the bar to get the drinks. I was surprised to see her return accompanied by two guys.
“Delfi, let me introduce you to some colleagues from work. This is Pedro and James,” she said, pointing to them.
They were two guys who looked about our age, tall, handsome, and very modern in their style of dress and haircuts. I got up from the comfortable couch where I was sitting to greet them, and both approached and gave me a kiss on the cheek.
“I’m Delfina, nice to meet you.”
“Delighted,” said Pedro.
“The pleasure is mine,” responded James.
“Guys, would you like to join us?” Serafina asked, and I gave her a serious look.
My idea was to spend time with my friend and not with two strangers, but she seemed happy to have run into them and it was obvious she wasn’t going to let them leave.
Both nodded and sat down across from us.
Serafina started chattering about the place, saying how much she loved it and asking if they knew it.
Then they began talking about something that had happened that afternoon at their workplace, and I remained silent because it wasn’t a topic I could participate in.
The guys were friendly and chatted along with my friend.
At one point, Serafina suggested going dancing.
It bothered me a bit that she hadn’t consulted me because dancing wasn’t my plan.
I was clear that now I was in a relationship with Hermes and I wasn’t going to do something that I wouldn’t like done to me.
Finding out that he had danced with another woman wouldn’t sit well with me at all.
Serafina grabbed this Pedro guy by the hand, who was clearly the one she was more comfortable with, and dragged him to the dance floor.
“Would you like to dance?” James asked.
“Actually, no, but thank you for the invitation,” I replied.
“The music is good. Don’t you want to dance just a couple of songs?” he insisted.
“I really don't. I didn't come with the idea of dancing, in fact, I think as soon as Serafina comes back I'm going to leave.”
“So early?”
“It's not that early for someone who has to get up early.”
“What do you do for work?”
“I'm an economist.”
“Do you mind if I stay and chat with you?”
“Of course not,” I replied, although the truth was that I didn't feel very comfortable.
“Have you known Serafina for long?”
“You could say all my life. We've been friends since we were children,” I answered.
“And do you often go out together?”
“Not as much as we'd like, but when we can, we try to see each other, catch up, and spend time together. Today is one of those days.”
“May I insist that you dance with me?”
“No, you may not,” boomed “his” voice, silencing even the music.
We both turned to find Hermes standing next to me, looking at James with his characteristic seriousness and “unfriendly” face.
“Excuse me?” James asked, looking at him with surprise.
“I don't have to excuse you. My woman made it clear she doesn't want to dance.”
His woman? That sounded very possessive. I stood up from the couch and positioned myself next to him, looking at him without hiding my surprise. James was watching us, trying to understand the situation.
“I'll leave you then. Nice meeting you, Delfina,” he said. I nodded and he got up and left.
“Why did you speak to him like that? He was just inviting me to dance.”
“And finding out all about your life, besides devouring you with his eyes,” he stated, while looking at me without abandoning his seriousness.
“Hermes, what are you doing here?” I asked, giving up, as from his comment it was obvious he had heard the entire conversation and had been watching us. “We agreed that I would let you know when I was leaving.”
“You weren't answering my messages or calls, I was worried.”
I looked at him and did what I felt in that moment. I took his face in my hands and kissed him sweetly. He was surprised by my reaction.
“I'm sorry, you're right. My battery died when I was sending you a message.”
He sat down in the spot where I had been sitting minutes before and pulled me onto his lap. Then he buried his face in my neck and hugged me tightly.
“I was really very worried,” he repeated, and at that moment I noticed something I hadn't seen in him before—he seemed terrified by the thought that something might happen to me.
“I should have let you know from Serafina's phone. I didn't think you would worry so much. I'm really sorry.”
He pulled away slowly and looked into my eyes.
“I worry about everything related to your safety.”
“Why?” I asked, wanting to know more about what he felt for me.
“I don't want anything to happen to you.”
“Why?” I insisted, caressing his face delicately and gently pressing my lips to his again.
“Because you're important to me,” he answered, looking into my eyes.
And I couldn't resist anymore and lowered to his lips to claim his mouth as mine.
I kissed him with all the love and passion that invaded me in that moment.
I kissed him to make clear what I felt for him.
I kissed him to delight in those sensual lips and that playful tongue that made me delirious.
When we broke the kiss to breathe, we were both panting and looking into each other's eyes with the distinctive gleam of desire.
“Let's get out of here or I won't be responsible for my actions,” he asserted.
“I need to let Serafina know. Besides, I promised I'd take her home.”
“Can't she go by herself?”
“She can, but she's my friend and I promised to take her,” I stated, standing up to go where she was.
“I'll go with you.”
“Hermes, I'm just going to the dance floor and I'll be right back.”
“If you take too long, I'm coming after you.”
I turned and started walking. I could understand that he had been worried before, but this was too much. I spotted Seri right away; she was still dancing with Pedro.
“Seri, we're going to have to leave earlier than planned because Hermes came for me.”
“Again! That man only knows how to ruin my outings with you.”
“He was worried because he couldn't get in touch with me since my battery died.”
My friend let out a laugh and then looked at me.
“And then you say he's not in love! He's head over heels!” she exclaimed.
“Do you mind if we leave now?” I asked, without dwelling on her comment.
“Don't worry, I'll ask one of my colleagues to give me a ride. Speaking of which, where's James?”
“He left when Hermes arrived.”
“He must have scared the poor guy away. Well, don't worry and go ahead because I'm going to stay with them a bit longer. We'll talk tomorrow.”
“Alright. Have fun.”
We kissed goodbye, I said goodbye to Pedro and returned to Hermes, who was standing watching where I had been talking with Serafina.
“We can go, Serafina is staying,” I informed him.
“Your place or mine?” he asked.
“Whatever you prefer,” I replied, while picking up my clutch with my things.
“Your place is closer, let's go,” he said, and took my hand possessively and began walking toward the exit.
As we were crossing the dance floor to leave, the beautiful song Someone You Loved by Lewis Capaldi began playing. Hermes was a few steps ahead of me, holding my hand. When the song started, he stopped abruptly and turned to look at me.
“Dance with me,” he asked, pulling me so I would fall into his arms.
“Of course, Mr. Darwich,” I responded with a smile, and put my arms around his neck to embrace him and rest my head on his chest.
Hermes wrapped his arms around my waist, pulling me close to his body, and we began swaying to the rhythm of the song. His scent enveloped me.
“Delfina,” he called, tilting his head back to look at me, and when I looked into his eyes, he waited a few seconds in silence and then said, “don't give up on me.”
I imagined he said it because the lyrics of the song mentioned something like that, but I still asked him:
“Why do you say that?”
“Because even though you might not believe it, I can recognize my flaws and I know I'm a difficult person.
I know I offer little compared to everything you offer me, I know I have a complicated personality and there are days when even I can't stand myself, but I don't want to lose you, I can't let you go.”
An enormous emotion ran through my entire body hearing him say that.
I looked at him and couldn't prevent my eyes from welling up because of what it meant, because of that romantic moment we were experiencing, because I could hold him and kiss him without any impediment because, at that moment, Hermes was mine.
I took his face in my hands and looked into his eyes.