Remember Ishida-san? Yeah, he was one of those guys my colleagues and I met during our goukon (group date).  I never thought of him again after that date but I guess he was indeed into me.  He called me up after a week and asked me for dinner.  I politely declined because I don't feel anything special for him, plus my colleagues - Maeda-sensei and Hiromi-sensei, were so attracted to him that I don't want to get involved... However, he didn't stop calling me.  Again, he asked me for dinner a few days after. I told him I was tasked to patrol the entertainment area of the city and make sure none of our kids go to Pachinko parlors but he persisted.  He said he wouldn't take much of my time.  An hour-dinner with him would suffice.  I ran out of alibis so I agreed.

Ishida-san took me to one of the Japanese restaurants in Porta. It's in the basement of JR Kyoto station. It's always crowded there and usually people have to wait for at least twenty minutes to be seated but that night, we were lucky.  We didn't spend time waiting because we were immediately ushered inside by a friendly staff. She seemed to know Ishida-san well because they chit-chatted while she was getting our orders.

"I always come here after work so I kinda know them already," he explained.  "The staff are very friendly here. It's like coming home to a family."

I glanced at the girl who was taking our orders and I knew instantly that she has more than friendship in mind for Ishida-san. I could sensed that she was sizing me up, too.  That's understandable given that I am Ishida-san's date.  I just shrugged it off since I am not interested in him anyway.

When our food came, I heaved a sigh of relief. At least, now I'll have an excuse to be silent. I have been blabbering nonstop to cover for my discomfort. I have a feeling he would ask me about personal things such as whether I have a boyfriend or not, what do I like in a guy - stuff like that, and I didn't want to talk about it. I guess, that's how you feel when someone you're not interested with asks you about them.

I have been thinking, I was so unlucky that night. For one, I was asked to patrol the city again and watch out for our stubborn students. This usually lasts till the wee hours of the morning. For another, here I am, having dinner with a guy I don't even like.   

As I was sulking inside, there he was, just a few feet away from us, drinking from his wineglass. He looked at me and scowled. Automatically, I raised one of my eyebrows. What was that scowl for? Was it because I was with a guy? But he was with a girl, too. His pimpled-girlfriend!

I couldn't take it anymore. I hate looking at him while he was with his girlfriend. It just makes me feel sad that I couldn't have him.

"Are you done?" Ishida-san asked.

I nodded and pushed my plate away from me.

"Do you want some dessert or coffee?" he asked again.

"No," was my curt reply.  I just want to go.

When we were about to leave, I heard my phone's email alert tone. When I checked it, I saw Hayato's message which says;

"I never thought you love short guys." 

I glanced at Ishida-san who was just as tall as I was - with me wearing a two-inch heels which makes me five feet and six inches tall.  Indeed, he was not tall at all as compared to Hayato who was always towering over me even with my five-inch stilleto. But that doesn't give him the right to insult Ishida-san.

I glanced at Hayato and scowled.

He raised his wineglass in my direction and winked.

A/N:  Paramdam naman kayo. Mayvote naman kayo or comment. Any feedback will be appreciated.