THE BAD BOY OF MANHATTAN
Chapter 29. The Casual Dinner

James walked back and forth in his room. Sometimes he would stroke his beard. He seemed to be thinking about something very serious. He was wearing pretty neat clothes. White shirts combined with a long black winter coat, blue jeans and casual white shoes from famous brands. His long hair he combed neatly back.

It's not usual for James to be this nervous if he wants to take a woman out. In fact, he had to make an agenda, what he had to do later when he was with the woman. During this time, women who date him always end up in bed on the first date, because they are very aggressive and not shy and experienced. But, this time his feeling says that the woman he will meet will be difficult to deal with. The woman was innocent, timid, and still very young. Because she was a twenty-one-year-old girl named Emma.

That afternoon, James picked Emma up at her apartment in East Harlem. The girl really stunned him with her simple appearance. Simple yet sweet. Her appearance is adorable. Old fashion, but beautiful.

James takes Emma to a luxury restaurant near Central Park. And plainly, Emma who was born and raised in New York, said that she had never once set foot in a restaurant called Loeb Boathouse on the edge of the lake.

The menu that James ordered, special, for the beautiful girl dressed in a dark blue canal in front of him, sesame crushed salmon, two cocktails that are also for him, and maple waffles as dessert. Expensive, of course. James hopes Emma is impressed by their first hang out.

"Nrank ...."

"Yes?"

"You look beautiful (you look beautiful)" James said. He could not stop his admiration for Emma.

"Thanks" replied Emma nervously. Actually, he was nervous from James to pick him up. He did not know what to talk to the handsome man. His awkwardness was so overwhelming, even though he felt very happy.

"Your life's okay?" ask James.

Emma grimacing. "I'm trying to be okay."

James admired Emma. A tough young girl despite a pretty heavy ordeal. "You're great (you're great)" he said. And Emma smiled too.

"Emma .. You may be wondering why I'm taking you to dinner" James said with a serious face. "I like you" he continued without further ado.

Emma was shocked to hear James' candid remarks. His body immediately felt cold hot. He tried to swallow the salmon he was chewing with great difficulty.

"You don't have to respond now, Emma," chuckled James who saw the girl before him was misbehaving.

Emma could only grimace. He likes James, of course. Which woman was not fascinated with Hellbound's bassist. It's just, Emma felt like this was a dream. Just his delusion. Suddenly a figure as perfect as James came into his life. Twenty-one years of living in the world, Emma has never had a miracle like this.

But, suddenly Elric's words about James who already had a lover, crossed his mind. And it made him think, this miracle is certainly not perfect. Luck was never designed this easily for him.

"You okay, Emma?" james's question made Emma gasp.

"Emh .. yeah," Emma answered nervously.

"Did you hear what I said?" James confirmed. "You don't have to respond now."

"I don't know what to say." Emma really died a flea.

James wettest. "Forget it. I'm just expressing my feelings."

"I ... just a regular girl. Why do you like me? You don't even know me yet" said Emma.

"Different?"

"Yeah .. You are different. You're not like glamorous New York girls."

"I know," chuckles Emma. "I am old fashion." He remembered the words Elric always said about him. Old fashion, old fashion.

"In a good way (in a good way)," James said. "i like. I mean, that's what I like. I've never met a girl with a strong character like you, Emma."

Emma was truly flattered to be praised in such a way by James. But, he tried not to fall asleep. James has a girlfriend. It may be true that Elric said, James is a womanizer.

***

After giving thanks and saying goodbye, Emma stepped out of James' car and stood on the side of the road, waiting until the black luxury car moved away from her sight.

"Geez (astaga), Erlic!" emma screamed as she turned around to step inside her apartment building, and found Elric standing before her with both arms folded in front of her chest.

"How's the date? Success?" quip Elric.

"Only regular dinner, Elric. Not a date" said Emma as she stepped inside her apartment building.

"He's already told you his feelings? You guys are already lovers?" Elric followed Emma up the stairs.

"Why follow me?" emma asked as she opened the door to her apartment.

"You haven't answered my question" Elric said. She went inside Emma's apartment without waiting for her approval and sat in a long chair in the living room.

Emma rolled her eyes. In his mind the question arises, why does the boy care about him and James being lovers or not. "Back, Erlic!" his orders while pointing to the digital clock on the sideboard. Nine o'clock at night. "You've been wandering around East Harlem all day, haven't you?" the accusation.

"Who is wandering? I was working" protested Elric as he moved from his seat and walked towards the kitchen which was only limited by short cabinets. He opened the fridge and picked up a can of beer.

Emma hissing. He went into his room and shut the door, letting Elric do as he pleased. He just wants to clean himself in the bathroom and change his dress with a more comfortable home clothes.

Coming out of his room, he found Elric lying cross-legged on his couch, enjoying his cigarette. "Back, Elric! You'll be looking for your parents" Emma said as she walked into the kitchen. He picked up a bottle of wine to continue with the cocktail he had spent with James at the restaurant a while ago.

Emma pulled the chair in front of Elric dropping his ass there. "Elric ...." He called the young man.

"Hmmm ...."

"I told you to go home there" Emma said.

Elric got up from his lying position and sat down while looking at Emma fixedly. "Can I stay here?"

***