Chapter 22: Me Time

It had rained all morning. Ash and I went to 711 to get some ice cream. Because it was raining, I decided to get some ice cream.

Ash raised her eyebrow. "That's odd. Why would you want to eat ice cream even though it's raining? It would only make you colder.”

"I'm not sure why. I just like eating ice cream," I admitted, "I have a sweet tooth. I enjoy eating ice cream regardless of whether it is hot or cold outside. However, when the weather is cold, my desire for ice cream increases.”

"That's insane," Ash exclaimed.

I cracked a smile.

"Anyway, sweetie, do you have anything peculiar that you enjoy but others do not?" "I asked Ash.

"Well, I enjoy doing this," Ash explained. She ate some French fries dipped in a chocolate sundae.

“Eww! That's revolting! " I screamed.

"Well, you asked," Ash responded. She shook her head.

"I know it doesn't work for some people—"

"Sweetie," I interrupted, "that doesn't work for a lot of people!"

"You're right," she said, "but have you tried it?"

"You're not going to make me try that, Sweetie," I protested, chuckling.

"Come on, sweetie, it ain't that bad," she continued.

"Oh, come on," I exclaimed.

She dipped a French fry into my caramel sundae and handed it to me.

"Say aah," she teased me. I ate the caramel-flavored French fry.

"It's delicious, isn't it?" She asked.

“No!" I screamed. "It tastes strange!”

She burst out laughing. "That's fine. We don't have to share interests just because we're a couple."

"Yeah, you're right," I said, nodding.

She used a tissue paper to wipe my lips.

She gave me a kiss on the lips. "You're delicious," she said.

I kissed her lips and the top of her head. "You taste delicious, too," I told her.

"Oh, sweetie," she apologized, "I have to get ready for work. My shift is this afternoon."

"Aw," I said. "I don't want you to leave," I grumbled.

"But I have no choice," she said. She was dressed in her uniform. She applied light makeup. She looked stunning as usual.

"I have to leave right now," she said.

"Take care, sweetie," I told her.

"I will, sweetie," she replied.

She went to the café after leaving the house.

I was the only one in Ash's house. I had no idea what to do here. What could I do to pass the time?

I read Unbearable Lightness of Being by Milan Kundera. It was an enjoyable and intriguing read. I read it for four hours. While reading this book, I drank two mugs of iced coffee. It had been such a long time. But Ash hadn't arrived yet.

"Oh, my goodness, what am I going to do here?” I grumbled. Ash's work hours were extremely long. I didn't have class today. As a result, I had no choice but to wait. I'd be bored in my own house if I stayed there. It was as if no one and nothing could make me happy except Ash.

I felt like a pet waiting for her owner. I know, I know. That analogy sounded ridiculous. This, however, was not far from the truth.

I switched on the 42-inch flatscreen TV. Ash had a cable. The film The Sixth Man was playing. I recall seeing this movie as a child. It was a funny film. I couldn't stop laughing when I watched it as a child. I'm curious if it's still as amusing as I remember it.

The plot was straightforward. It's about two brothers who play basketball together. One of them is an excellent basketball player, while the other is only average. One day, the great player dies, and his brother and the rest of the team mourn. Since the death of the team's best player, the team has lost a lot of games. The ghost of the deceased brother appears one day and speaks to the living brother. They begin to laugh and play with one another. The living brother's teammates believe he has gone insane because he is the only one who sees and notices his brother.

They soon realize, however, that he has been telling the truth the entire time. When a basketball game begins, the team is doing everything they can to win, but it is extremely difficult because the opposing team has been scoring more points. The deceased brother assists them in winning the game and many future games.

So far, I've told you everything I know about the film because I know you'll watch it. Regardless, I laughed several times throughout the film. It was a lighthearted, timeless film. When we were kids, my older brother, Simon, who was a huge basketball fan, and I watched it together. As we watched it, we couldn't stop laughing. We didn't have cable or a fancy television. My father had a CD copy of the film. He was the one who recommended the movie and gave us the CD.

"I never thought you'd like this movie," Simon admitted. "You're not a fan of basketball."

"You mean I don't like basketball?" Of course, I do!" I objected.

"No, you don't," Simon responded, "because you've never seen a real basketball game with me."

"Well, I watched your game in our neighborhood league," I explained in defense.

"I suppose that counts," my brother said. He was always the team's captain. He was a fantastic player. He ensured that his team won every time.

I did, however, watch a local basketball game on our small TV once. It was all because of one particularly attractive player. His name was Skyler Abbott, and he was the team Ensure's point guard. He had an Ivy League haircut, a chiseled jawline, thick but nice brows, dark, almond eyes, a pointy nose, and thin pink lips. He was tall, slim, and light-skinned. He was well-liked by the boys because he was an excellent player. Because of his good looks, he was popular with the girls. As a girl, I liked him because of his good looks and confidence.

He courted an actress once, but she did not date him. Perhaps because the actress desired to date an actor who was as famous and wealthy as she was.

I wish I was that actress. That actress was so stunning that she could attract any man she desired.

She could also reject any man, no matter how attractive he was. Kiera Clark, the actress, was discovered in a reality show because of her beauty. She had a lot of fans who voted for her, and she won the show. She landed an acting career as soon as the season of the show ended.

She played the main character in several television shows and films. In most of her series and films, she plays the role of a beautiful, kind, and hardworking girl from a poor family. She works as an assistant. She meets a handsome and snobbish man who happens to be her boss's son.

Caleb Leonard plays the attractive man. The girl and the guy did not get along at first because the guy was arrogant and had a bad attitude. A spark occurs between the two, the kind that can electrocute you. His presence and attitude irritate her the first time she meets him. The girl is unconcerned about the guy's good looks. She still despises him. She believes that his exterior does not match his interior. He is a monster in her opinion. A devil incarnate.

He is well aware that she despises him. So he goes out of his way to irritate her. Everything he does to her irritates her. He makes her job a living hell. He is pleased to see her irritated expression. It brightens his day.

They will be placed in a situation where they will be forced to be with each other one day. The elevator will not work, and they will be trapped inside together. To pass the time, they discuss random topics such as their favorite music and movies, as well as some sob stories from their past. Finally, the girl understands the guy. The elevator is back in service, and the girl is back at work, while the guy is back in his big, beautiful house, living the best life he can.

As the series progresses, the two get to know each other better. They eventually fall in love with each other. It's your typical primetime romantic comedy/drama/action series, shown in the evening when almost everyone has time to watch it.

Personally, I did not enjoy that type of show. However, I watched it with my mother. She enjoyed watching TV shows. My mother told me that when she was younger, she used to watch soap operas because they were the only thing on TV at night. Soap operas were excessively dramatic. The series we had watched was lighter and, I must admit, well-rounded. Promise Me was the title of the series. Isn't that a cheesy title for a cheesy series? In any case, I watched it for the same reason my mother watched soap operas. It's the only thing on television.

The time was 8:00 p. m. Ash had returned home. I opened the door for her.

"How are you today, sweetie?" She asked.

"It's all right," I said. To be honest, it seemed like a long day.

"Good," she said, smiling.

I smiled and nodded. Then she asked, "What did you do while you were waiting for me?"

"I read a book and watch a couple of movies," I answered. Aside from Sixth Man, I watched Space Jam, Home Alone, Blank Check, 100 Girls, and Schindler's List, which was probably the longest film I watched. What are they in common? They're all old and on cable, after all.

"Did you enjoy them all?" Ash asked.

"Yes, mom, I did," I replied. As a joke, I said "mom." Because she's treating me like I'm her daughter.

"Mom, huh? Really?" She asked. She smiled as she realized I was just teasing her for fun.

"How about you, sweetie? How was work?" I asked.

"Well, I guess it's okay. Customers can be both good and bad. There were a lot of picky customers. A lady complained that I only used two sugars instead of three. A man complained that his order took too long to arrive. An irate woman yelled that I had messed up her order, so I immediately gave her the correct one, but she was still irate."

"Wow, you had a tough day," I said.

"Yeah," she agreed.

“But the good news is that I got a lot of tips today!" She was ecstatic.

"Oh, wow! That is certainly good news. I'm delighted for you," I said.

"Do you understand what that means, sweetie?" She asked.

“No? What exactly is it?" I was intrigued.

"We can see a movie tomorrow!" She was ecstatic.

"Oh, no, sweetie," I said, "you must save your money. It's not every day that you get so many tips."

"Yeah, but when was our last date? It's been a long time since I've taken you out on a date," she explained.

"To me, being with you is already a date," I replied.

"You're so cute and cheesy!" she exclaimed.

"Did you eat, sweetie?" I asked my girlfriend.

"Yes, I did," she replied. "Just some convenience store chicken noodles."

"That's processed food," I explained, "and it's bad for you." Do you eat it on a daily basis?”

"Unfortunately, yes," she acknowledged. "I've been putting money aside for this upcoming concert—"

"You don't have to jeopardize your health, babe," I added. "There are numerous ways to save money. You can prepare your own meals. Or I'll cook for you." I called her "babe" at times; we had a lot of nicknames for each other.

"Aw, you're so sweet," she responded. She approached and kissed my forehead.

"Anyway," I told her, "I had prepared our supper for you." I placed the plates of food on the table.

"Oh, my!" She yelled. "You made us carbonara! That is one of my personal favorites!”

"I'm glad you like it," I commented. We finished our meals.