BAIDER (ENGLISH VERSION)

ANMELA’S POVThis text is property of Nô/velD/rama.Org.

They were setting up on the rooftop, the umbrella with a table in the center and chairs around it. We were now nine and some of them were inviting their friends, too.

“Anm!” Ardent walked faster towards me. “You are here.”

“Yeah. Happy?” I gave him a beautiful smile.

“Of course. Let’s go with the billiard room we can-” When his eyes met Laurent, he suddenly stopped and stared at him. “Laurent is here?”

“You see.” Laurent’s boastful shrug of shoulder showed. He gently wrapped his right hand on my waist and smoothly moved me into his.

Ardent bit his lips in a hard way. I knew that he was annoyed with Laurent, but pretty much prohibited himself from creating a scene. I felt pity on him. Ardent is one of my closest friends. I need to give him time, too. Balancing boyfriend and best friends time.

“We can still go!” I looked at Laurent with plea, wanting him to give me permission. “Please?”

Laurent wrinkled his eyebrows before sighing and then he nodded. “Fine.”

“Thank you! You want to go or I wil-”

“I’ll go.” He grabbed my hand and intertwined it. I gave them both a wide smile. I positioned myself in the middle of Ardent and Laurent. I was holding Laurent’s hand and wrapping Ardent’s arm.

I saw the waves in Laurent’s eyebrow, but it changed into a light emotion when I looked at him with a ‘please let me do this’ in my eyes. He was a patient boyfriend.

“Do you know how to play billiards?” Ardent asked Laurent when we came into the room.

“No.” He shook his head. That made me smile. He was honest so he would not be embarrassed when they played.

Ardent patiently taught him to hit the white ball or cue ball. While doing that, there was no boastful attitude or sarcasm in Ardent’s expression. Laurent was just listening to him. I was so happy watching them like good friends, giving comments to each other.

Ardent grabbed the cue stick and taught Laurent the proper position of hand, bending of body and feet.

“Look at the cue ball and stick to it and when you know the strategy to make the balls fall in the hole, hit it!” Ardent struck the white ball and it was fantastic that many of the balls rolled into the hole. Only three balls left.

“Yehey!” I clapped in excitement. Ardent nodded at me while having a wide smile.

I thought that Laurent got annoyed so he got the cue stick, looked at all the balls. He rearranged the balls using his fore fingers into a diamond shape.

My heart skipped a beat for a second when he was studying the position and the angle of the balls. The silence filled the room. Ardent was just staring at him, tilting his head and trying to know what was Laurent’s mind running.

After a few seconds, Laurent started to hit the balls without even blinking. The balls to balls sounds could be heard.

Then me and Ardent literally jaw dropped when all of the balls crawled to the hole and only the white ball left.

“You are a fast learner.” Ardent praised him with no sarcasm in it. He was truly happy.

I jumped with a wide smile on my lips and hugged his back. “You are the best, Mr. Baider!”

When he moved his body straight, he wrapped his hands on my waist while having a grin on his lips.

I tiptoed and kissed his cheek. “You nailed it! See you know how to play billiards!”

He did not answer, but he had a small smile on his lips.

“I’m finding the tree for you! They are wasted there and you three are not yet drinking!” We looked at the entrance of the room.

Alem grabbed my hand and Ardent’s hand while Laurent was following us. “Come on!”

We all walked again to the rooftop. Some of them were laughing. The others were colliding their bottles and glass. Some of them were dancing like they had in the bar. Everyone was enjoying their company.

We sat in front of the table. Anmela gave us a bottle of liquor and a glass. “Enjoy, Guys!” She shouted at all of them.

“Are they all your friends?” I answered Alem.

“No. Not at all. Some of them are my exes.” She chuckled and sat beside me.

“I thought no one can mistakenly love you.” Ardent teased Alem while he was stretching his arm to get a bottle of alcohol.

“If you don’t want your night ruined. Don’t tease me!” Alem kicked him under the table that made us laugh, excluding Laurent.

“Ouch! Your kick is like a bite of an ant.” Another tease came from Ardent.

In one second, Alem went up, walked towards Ardent and yanked his hair. “You are annoying!”

“Ouch! My scalp!” Ardent was wincing as he held the hand of Alem.

“The more you hate the more you love!”

“I predict they will marry each other!”

“Love is in the air!’

“Ardent! Yahoo!”

The loud shouts covered the rooftop. Everyone was smiling and teasing them, watching them as if they were seeing the teen love story that gave a thrilling sensation to their hearts.

“I’m not gonna marry an architecture student!” Alem sat back again to her chair beside.

“I’m not gonna fall in love with your noisy mouth!” Ardent chuckled as the teasing expression was still written in his face.

“Really? Say that again and I will record.” I grabbed my phone and put it in the middle. They were game in playing the things so they spoke when I played the button.

“I will not fall in love with Ardent Laborte.”

“I will not fall in love with Alemia Montero.”

We were all chuckled. Actually, I believe in ‘love moves in unexpected ways.’ One day they would see each other with the spark of love in their eyes and I am the one who will be happy if that time comes.

My sight changed from Alem to Ardent, they were staring at each other as if they hated every inch of one’s features and attitude.