The Boyfriend

She worked together with other staff to decorate Ardor for Christmas. Even though it wasn’t a popular festivity in Bhorma. Most people go back to their hometown to celebrate, those who stayed are people like Julie who don’t celebrate the holiday with her family.

“You don’t go back for Christmas?” Andy asked.

“No … just a phone call would do,” she didn’t want to explain.

“When do you go home, then?”

She shrugged, “Maybe after graduation … before I officially start working, what about you?”

Andy poured some milk into the fresh cup he just made, “My family lives here, we see each other everyday, I actually need an excuse to get away from them.”

They laughed. He handed her the cup, it smelled better in Christmas.

“Thank you so much … oooh I love it,” she inhaled the aroma before taking a sip.Content from NôvelDr(a)ma.Org.

“I noticed you always come here by taxi … you know, I can pick you up on my way here,” he offered.

“Really?” she tilted her head, the offer sounded good.

“Yeah, I pass Nathan’s house everyday, I can stop by and pick you up … since we come in at the same time,” he confirmed.

“I didn’t know you passed his house everyday, but … I don’t want to trouble you or anything.”

He waved one hand, “No trouble … really, it’ll save you some taxi money.” It took him almost a month to ask her that.

“Okay … that’s great … thank you so much,” she gave him a hug.

“No problem.”

**********

“Andy? … my Andy?” Nathan’s first response when she told him later that day.

She laughed, “Your Andy? Andy the Barista is YOUR Andy?”

“Well … yeah, why didn’t you tell me you needed a ride in the morning, I could take you, I told you that, right?”

“I don’t need a ride, actually, but he offered and I thought it’s convenient, and I can save some taxi money,” she sipped her coffee.

Nathan paused for a moment, “Okay … I guess you need new friends here anyways, I didn’t realize you’ve been here almost a month now, and you haven’t really hanging out with anyone but me … it must be torture for you.”

They laughed. “No … I love hanging out with you, a month? Really? It doesn’t feel like it … it would be nice to be friends with the others and not just ‘The Boss’, you know? I don’t want to create a gap, especially because I’m staying at your place and everything.”

They never really thought about it when they started. As time went by, Julie felt other employees were a bit distant towards her because she was close with The Boss. Although Nathan never put himself on a pedestal, everyone knew he owned the place and the future chain of business to follow. If she was going to work there for the long run, she needed to find a new living arrangement. It would help to get to know the locals.

She told Nathan that it would be a good idea to put Andy in a Barista course to develop his skills. She advised me to add a new section in the restaurant for coffee and eatery. Nathan folded his arms in front of him, she never ceased to amaze him, “That’s a great idea, I don’t know why I haven’t thought about that … I will definitely consider it, but don’t say anything yet,” he was excited.

The next morning, Andy picked her up in his motorbike. She never rode on one before. She put on the helmet and held on really tight to Andy’s waist, it made him blush. Nathan came out from the villa without his shirt on to see them go. He never woke up that early, but he did that morning.

Everyone at Ardor had been guessing around Nathan and Julie’s relationship. They didn’t do it out of nosiness, it was something too palpable to ignore. They spend a lot of time in the office together. Other times, they can be seen enjoying their coffee at the balcony, but most of all, they go home together to Nathan’s villa.

When she came with Andy that morning, it dismissed their suspicions. Especially because Andy had been talking about Julie with his colleagues all the time. Julie agreeing to be picked up that morning was convincing him to make his move.

“Do you have any plans for New Year’s Eve?” he asked.

“Not really … do you?” she leaned closer to him on the bar.

“Are you working on New Year’s Eve?”

“I was thinking of taking the night off … I think Nathan wouldn’t mind, he did offer me to take some time off … I kinda want to experience New Year’s Eve … Bhorma style,” she said.

“There’s a rock n’ roll bar near the Hard Rock beach, the band performances there are the best on the island … I know you like the 80’s and 90’s rock music …”

Before he could finish his sentences, she was already agreeing to go. “That’s where I want to go then, are we going together?”

He stumbled on an answer, he was supposed to be asking her out on a date. “Yeah … we can go together.”

“Great! I’ll let Nathan know I’m taking the night off,” she didn’t wait for an answer.

**********

“The Rockabillies? I was going to take you there this weekend … it’s a great rock n’ roll bar, you’ll love it there,” Nathan said.

“I was thinking to go there on New Year’s eve … is it okay if I take the night off? I’ll work until 9 or 10 and head out there afterwards.”

Nathan paused for a moment, it was Ardor’s first New Year’s Eve. “New Year’s at the Rockabillies sounds excellent … we’ll go at 10.”

She was stunned speechless.

“It’s fine, I’ll train Lauren and Dale and everyone else to handle the rest of the night without us … they’ll be alright, we’ve got the menus ready, and the tables are already booked,” he continued.

“Are you sure?” she started to feel bad that he had to leave Ardor on a very important night.

“Yeah, I’m sure … it’s New Year’s Eve in Bhorma, we should go out and celebrate,” he convinced her.

“I mean … I can go with Andy if you have to stay, it’s okay.”

“You, me and Andy, great! The more the merrier,” he said.

“That’s great, I’ll make it up to you … I’ll work double shifts next week,” she said and left his office with a smile.

He fell back on his chair, his heart was beating faster. For a moment he stared at the wall. half believing in what he had just done. Ardor was the most important thing in his life at the time, but spending the New Year’s Eve at The Rockabillies suddenly became equally important.