“Of course. Amazon provides.”
He picked up his fork to eat and Ji-Su followed suit. For the next few minutes, they both ate without speaking, leaving nothing but the sound of silverware clinking against China to fill the silence. This was how all of their meals went lately. If they spoke at all their conversations were polite. Stilted.
Please pass the salt. The weather has been nice. The Tigers are playing a good game.
These days, they didn’t linger at the table once they were finished eating, so when Raul set his fork down and wiped his hands on a napkin, Ji-Su expected him to excuse himself from the table. To his surprise however, Raul leaned back in his chair and looked at Ji-Su before asking him a question.
“I’m attending the ballet Thursday evening. Would you like to join me?”
Ji-Su’s surprise at the invitation didn’t stop him from accepting it. “Yes, I would.” Was he pathetic with the speed he’d said yes? Probably. But he couldn’t seem to help the way he wanted to spend time with Raul. It’s why he kept showing up for these awkward meals instead of asking for a tray in his room or waiting to eat after Raul had already gone for the night.
“Ji-Su...”
Something in the way Raul said his name made Ji-Su straighten in his chair. “Yes?” he asked with his heart thumping. Maybe Raul had changed his mind about feeding from him. It had been two weeks since that aborted feeding. Raul had to be in need of blood by now. Unfortunately, his phone chose that moment to start beeping with a reminder alarm.
Stream starting in twenty minutes,the phone announced in a pleasant, robotic voice.
Startled, Ji-Su fumbled in his pants pocket for his phone to turn the alarm off. By the time he’d done so, Raul had already risen from the table. The moment—if there had even been one—was gone.
“I won’t keep you. And I should get going myself.”
They exchanged goodbyes that were as dry and pleasant as their greeting and then Raul was gone. Alone at the table, Ji-Su slumped down in his chair. What was Raul going to say before his phone interrupted him? Was it something good? Unfortunately, there was no way for him to know.
He’d forgotten his hoodie, so he went to his room to grab it before he started his stream. As soon as he opened the door, he saw them. A garment bag and a shoe box lay on top of his bed. Ji-Su slowly went over to them. The bag was maroon with gold stitching on the seams and TB Floores printed in gold script across the front.
Ji-Su unzipped the bag. Inside lay a chocolate brown brushed velvet suit and a fine white dress shirt. The shoe box held a pair of black leather dress shoes. Was this what Raul had been about to say? That he’d bought him something to wear to the ballet? It was a sweet gesture, but what did it mean? Was the gift simply out of necessity since Raul knew he didn’t have one? Or was there a more personal reason behind the suit? He looked for anote which might give him the answer to his question, but there wasn’t one.
Deciding he needed to say thank you for the gift regardless of the meaning behind it, he pulled out his phone. Out of habit, he started to send a text message. But deciding that the beautiful suit deserved more than a few lines on a screen, he pressed the button to call Raul instead. It only rang once before Raul answered.
“Hello?”
“Raul, it’s Ji-Su. I just found the suit. It’s beautiful. Thank you very much.”
“You’re welcome. I’m sure you’ll look lovely in it.”
A blush warmed Ji-Su’s cheeks at the compliment. “Thank you.” Silence fell after that. Ji-Su squeezed the phone. He didn’t want to end the connection with Raul so he quickly thought of something to say. “Did you have someone waiting outside the breakfast room for my answer before they delivered the suit to my room?”
Raul chuckled. “Perhaps.”
“What would you have done if I didn’t say yes?”
“Worn it myself. I hate to see good tailoring go to waste.”
Ji-Su laughed at the thought of Raul trying to fit his big, muscular body into a suit tailored for his smaller frame. “I don’t think that would work out too well.”
“Then it’s a good thing you said yes.”
Ji-Su breathed a soft laugh at Raul’s teasing. He would have enjoyed more of their familiar teasing conversation, but it was time to hang up. He’d said what he wanted to say so there was no reason to keep Raul on the phone.
“I’ll let you go. Have a good night at work.”
“Call me anytime you want, Ji-Su. I’m always available for you.”
“O-okay,” he breathlessly stuttered.
“Bye, Ji-Su.”
“Bye, Raul.”
