sw143

[sw143]

2. The Ring

It is been 2 months after government imposed movement restriction order due to pandemic. No one can go out from their home without valid reason. Zack lay on his bed scrolling down his instagram. On these quarantine time, people are getting creative to fill up their time at home. Zack saw a lot of sharing by content creators on his social media. Some fills their time by trying new recipe on instagram, post a dance video on tiktok, write thread about conspiracy theories. While scrolling his instagram wall, Zack saw Callum's story post appeared. He click the thumbnail and watched the content.

"I want to give my mum this ring but the size not suit her, instead of keep it I want to let it go. Any interested buyer?" The text come with picture of two silver swarovski rings. One with large swarovski gem on the centre and small gems arranged around the ring and another same ring but without big swarovski stone on the centre.

Zack immediately sent him a message. "I'm interested". Zack wrote. "I buy with 15 dollars. Deal?".

"okay deal!" Callum replied.

That was fast. Zack did not expect such prompt reply from Callum.

"when you want to take these rings?" Callum ask.

"How about tommorow. I'm going to Image Mall to take something from my friend" Zack have an appointment with Diana. Diana's mother is a friend of Zack's mom. Lately Diana always like Zack's posts and stories on instagram. They even make few conversation through whatsapp and instagram. Zack can feel Diana interest on him but he just ignored it since he just want to make sure for a choice of love of his life.

"Okay see you tommorow then. Just give ma call when you are there. My house just 5 minutes from there." Callum replied and give Zack his contact number.

Zack lay facing his bedroom ceiling. His mind processing the thought of Callum willingness to take the deal. Zack start to think something but he immediately shut it down but the more he tried, the more he is force to think about it. Does Callum like me?

...................................

The clock on the wall shows twelve past twenty. Zack get himself ready to go out to meet Diana and Image mall.

"Im at the mall entrance" Zack texted Diana.

"Could you move to the starbucks area. There will be one lady hand in to you a paperbag. Let me know if you're done " Zack feel weird with this supposedly she is the one met him here but now the thing differen.

Zack drive his car to the starbucks and pull over and put on emergency light. He checking his phone while waiitng the lady as per told by Diana. As Zack sunk by his phone, Suddenly someone knocking the window car. One curvy lady with starbucks apron on, hand in to him a paperbag.

"Hi, this is for you from Ms. Diana" she said.

"Hi, oh thank you" soon as she back off. Zack raised the car window and drove to the side part of the mall. He take out his phone and texted Callum

"Hi Bro, I'm at the mall. Parked my car at the right side of the Mall"

Callum reply promptly "Okay will be there in 5 "

Zack looking around and enjoy the peaceful surrounding of the mall. Usually the mall will be busy at this hour but due to the movemont restriction order, less people come the mall.

Suddenly Ford Fiesta car parked in front of Zack's. One guy with shades, white t-shirt and black shorts come out from that car walk towards him. Zack bring down the windows. He was so nervous this is the first time we met this guy. Zack always struggle with first time meeting with people the first thing that comes to his mind is how people think abpout him. He always imagining negative perspective throw towards him.

Zack just waiting, He saw a young man with with small box in his hand.

"Hey, here you are. The rings". Callum said while hand in the small box.

"Hey, Thanks. By the way I'm Sorry. I tried transfer the money to you but seems the network was not really. The transaction can't went thru"

"No problem, it can be wait. No rush"

He looks like waiting for something. Does he hoping the conversation to be longer? Or does He hoping for Zack to invite him for a date? Zack also do not have idea about it. Zack suddenly end the silent moment by thank him for the rings and told him he need to drive back home. They both said their goodbyes and move on their way

[sw143]

1. Early Day

Zack sat on the bench at his father's mini garden. He can feel the peaceful of wind blowing right towards his face. The calmness and saltiness of sea breeze touching his skin. His finger marking the page of the book on his right hand as he take a short break from his reading. He glance through the page he marked. It is on page 142, and that means he got 143 pages more to finish the fiction he read. Reading is always his passion from his young age. For him, no matter where he goes. Books is a compulsury thing to bring along with him everywhere. His reverie broke as his phone beep for a notification. He grabbed the bookmark on the table infront of him and put it between the pages.

His hand dive into his pocket and take out his phone. He swipe the screen to unlock and saw instagram notification. One messegas in his inbox. Callum? Who is this guy?. He opend the text message

"Hi, how are you?" Callum texted.

Zack open the profile of the sender while ignore the text. He stared at his phone's screen. Speechless. Why this guy seems familiar. Zack just realized that Callum is friend of Mae, a girl that he used to text few months ago before he with Matt. Zack move his sight towards grass on his left side. The hissing sound of wind blowing and rattling sound of dry leaf drag by the blow. He hesitate to replied the text.

What he need from me? Is he Mae's boyfriend?

I remember Mae post his picture on instagram story before this.

Did he want to warned me or confronted me for texting his girlfrend?

Should I reply him? Should I? Or just ignore it?

Getting a random messages from strangers is not a new thing for zack. With more than ten thousand followers, he expected those random text. Some are normal text asking if they can be friend with him but some just wierdo that hitting his inbox.

"Hi! I'm good. Thanks for asking." Zack immediately lock screen of his phone to avoid any unwanted reply from Callum.

" I think I saw you before this on Tinder."

Wait. On Tinder? It's been a months i havent open it. Did someone pretend to be me?

"Oh really? Did we swipe each other?" Swipe each other means that we mutually like each other profile and ready to go for next step to know each other.

"No, we are not. I just scroll through those profiles" Callum replied.

Zack started to feel uneasy with the situation. His head starting to think a lot of possibilities. Is he Gay? It can not be. He is Mae's boyfriend.

"Actually it's been 3 months i havent open thats apps. I dont know if that's really me you saw on Tinder" Zack wrote.

It is really been a while zack did not open his dating apps since he met with Matt. But last three months he have a trust issue with Matt that makes him decide to open his TInder in hope he can forget about Matt.

" What you look for in Tinder? " Callum asked.

"Hmm just wanna make some friends. How about you? Why you on Tinder?" Zack asked him back.

"I'm looking for a light fun" Callum sent with shy emoji at the end of his text.

"What's that?"

"Ah! Nothing, just forget it." He replied back.

Light fun? What is that mean? Just tell me Bro. This make me more curious when you avoid to answer.

Zack opened his Whatsapp and about to ask Matt about the "light fun" thing.

"Hey, what you doing? I have one quick question" Zack started a conversation with Matt.

"Nothing just waiting patient's blood test. What's up?" Matt answer

"Someone just hit my DM and talk something about Light Fun thing. What is all about?"

"Who's that? He ask you for a Sex. A foreplay. Hmm how to say this? He about to do unpenetrate sex with you"

Zack Stunted for awhile. Is this real? He looking for a sex partner in Tinder?. Zack knew and fully aware that people used to look for a 'friends-with-benefit' in dating apps but he did not expect this from someone he mutually know.

"There's a guy in Instagram. I think i know him. Not like know-know but more alike i know his friend. He said he saw me on Tinder in which i have not opened since I am with you and he said he was on Tinder because he looks for 'Light Fun' buddy" zack explained to Matt.

"Just ignore him." Matt reply briefly,

Zack lock his phone's screen and stroll around the mini garden. His mind still thinking about Callum. Is he for real? I thought he was with Mae. Or maybe he just pretend to be with Mae so people would not know that he is gay. Is this why Mae always told me that she have issues with her boyfriend?. Zack walk pass thru the balcony and grab his book before enter to the house. He just ignore his mind. For him it is nothing to do with him and not important thing to think.