Date?
The competition intensified, and Ingrid felt the pressure mounting. One evening, after a particularly exhausting day at the library, Ingrid confided in Frido.“I don’t think I can compete with all of you guys. Mapi wouldn’t choose me over any of you guys..”
Frido, supportive as ever, shrugged.“Maybe you should just tell her how you feel.”
“But what if she prefers someone else?” Ingrid replied, her voice barely above a whisper.
“ Then you tried, that's all you can do,” Frido said.
Across town, Mapi was talking with Alexia. “ I like her, but I don’t know if she likes me back.” Mapi huffed as she dropped down on the couch in defeat.
“ Well then just ask her out” Alexis suggested.
“But what is sh…” Before she could finish, Alexia cut her off. “ Look, I have never seen you do this before, so just go for it. If she doesn’t like you, then you can at least move on.”
Mapi just rolled her eyes. She knew Alexia was right but she was too scared to face the truth.
The following week, Mapi finally mustered the courage to ask Ingrid out.
“Hey princess,” Mapi said as she walked into the library.
“ Hey Mapi” Ingrid replied shyly, looking up from her book.
.“What are you doing this Friday?” she asked, her voice steady despite the anxiety bubbling inside her.
Ingrid’s heart was pounding too .“Um, I don’t know. I might be free,” she replied, trying to maintain her composure not knowing where this was going.
“Great! I’d love to take you out for dinner.” Mapi’s smile lit up her face, and Ingrid felt a rush of happiness.
“ You want to take me out ?” Ingrid asked, wanting to make sure she heard her right.
“ Yes if you agree,” Maoi said back nervously.
“ Of course I will but where are we going?” she asked.
“It's a surprise I will text you a time and pick you up all you have to do is be ready,” Mapi said leaning down and kissing Ingrid's cheek before walking out smiling.
Friday came, and Mapi picked Ingrid up on her motorcycle “ Wow” is all Mapi could get out when she saw Ingrid. She had her hair down in jeans with a matching jean jacket.
“ Wow, like bad or good,” Ingrid asked, a little scared.
“ Wow was the only thing that came to mind when I saw you,” Mapi said walking up to Ingrid and grabbing her hands “ You look so beautiful”
Smiling Ingrid said, You don't look too bad yourself.”
“Thanks, princess, are you ready to go ?” she asked.
“Yes”
Mapi helped Ingrid on her bike and started driving. The wind whipped through their hair as they rode to a cozy little restaurant. The chemistry between them was palpable, and Mapi felt like she was floating.
When they arrived Mapi helped Ingrid get off herself. As they walked in Mapi looked down, grabbed her hand, and looked up to make sure it was ok. Ingrid just smiled back and she took that as a yes. Mapi dropped her hand to open the door.
“ Thank you, I guess chivalry isn't dead,” Ingrid said, getting a laugh out of Mapi.
“For you never,” She said turning towards the host stand “ I have a reservation under Maria”
“ Yes, Maria, the party of two, you requested the back room, is that correct?” The host asked
“ Yes that's correct”
“Ok, right this way,” the host said, leading them towards a back room. When they entered it Ingrid saw it was decorated with candles and flowers “ Your waiter will be with you soon”
Mapi walks over pulling the chair out for Ingrid “ Wow you're pulling out all the stops” she said giggling.
“ I want to make a good impression,” She replied, walking over to her seat, sitting down, and reading the menu.
After they ordered, Ingrid asked “ So why motorcycles ?”
“ Why books? “ Mapi joked back.
“Ok, you got me there but really how did you get involved with motorcycles.” She asked again.
“Well my dad had one and took me for rides when I was a kid and when he passed he left me his so I guess I rode to feel connected to him,” Mapi answered, taking a sip of water to clear her throat as she got a little choked up.
“Wow I didn’t expect that,” Ingrid said surprised.
“ What did you think?” she asked, laughing a little at Ingrid's reaction.
“To be honest I thought you started riding because you thought it would make you look cool.” that made Mapi burst out laughing as Ingrid joined in.
“Well, that's a perk” Mapi joked as she leaned on the table “ So why did you want to work at a library?”
“ I guess because I like books and I like helping people find the perfect book to get them to start reading. I think reading books is a special thing. It can transfer people into another world and make them forget about the stress of life.” Ingrid answered with a shrug.
“That's beautiful Ingrid,” She said smiling, making Ingrid blush.
As the night continued they shared stories and laughter, and Mapi found herself opening up to Ingrid in ways she never had before.“I love the freedom of riding,” she confessed.“It’s like therapy for me.”
Ingrid smiled, her heart racing.“I can see that. You look so alive on your bike.”
Mapi leaned closer, their knees touching beneath the table.“You know, I’ve been coming to the library just to see you,” she admitted, her voice softening.
Ingrid’s eyes widened in surprise.“Really? I thought you were just…you know, being friendly .”
“No, Ingrid,” Mapi said, her gaze intense.“I like you. A lot.”
Ingrid felt her cheeks flush.“I like you too,” she whispered, the truth finally spilling out.
With that, Mapi leaned across the table looking Ingrid in the eyes and asking for permission to get it as Ingrid also leaned in. Their lips met in a passionate kiss. When they finally pulled away for air smiling. “So you never actually wanted my opinion on books?” Ingrid jokes.
“ Of course, I did, it was just a win-win situation.” She shrugged, getting a playful shove.
The rest of the night went by perfectly and they joined each other's company. When they finally made it back to Ingrid's house both women didn’t want the night to end yet. “ Hey before you go, do you want to go for a walk?” Ingrid asked, There's an ice cream shop not far down the road.”
“ Sure” Mapi agreed, grabbing Ingrid's hand as they walked down the street to the small ice cream shop.
“ So what's your favorite ice cream flavor ?” Ingrid randomly asked.
“I don’t know I guess vanilla”
“Wow that's so basic, “ Ingrid said making fun of her.
“ Sorry, I like ok what's your favorite.” Mapi said, bumping their shoulders together as they walked, “Let me guess your favorite coffee?”
“So what if it is” she responded making Mapi burst out laughing
“And I'm basic”
“Whatever” As they arrived at the shop Mapi held the door for her “Welcome to Charlie Browns what can I get for you?”
“ Can we get a vanilla cone and a coffee one, please?” Mapi ordered as Ingrid held her hand smiling.
“ That will be $13.24,” The man told them. Ingrid started to reach for her wallet when Mapi stopped her from paying for both.
“Hey you paid for dinner I should pay for dessert” Ingrid complained.
“Nope, I invited you so I am paying,” Mapi said, picking a table to sit at while they ate their ice cream.
“Fine but for our next date I'm planning and paying for it.” She argued
“ Our next date we haven't even finished this one” Mapi joked but Ingrid didn’t catch her tone.
“Well I just assumed since the date was going well that we would or I thought that the date was going good,” Ingrid responded, spiraling thinking she misread the night.
“Ingrid” Mapi said, grabbing her hand to stop her. “ Of course,e I want a second date. I was just joking.” Laughing, she leaned in, pecking her lips, making Ingrid pout.
“That wasn't as funny as I thought..” She was cut off by a group of people walking in.
“Ingrid is that you” Ana asked, making her look over seeing Ana, Vicky, and Aitana walk in.
“Hey guys, what are you doing here?” she asked, scared seeing their faces change as they saw who was sitting across from her.
“We should ask you what you're doing here,” Vicky asked, pointing to Mapi and then her.
Mapi could tell how uncomfortable Ingrid was so she responded “ Me and Ingrid were hanging out. What about you guys?”
“We were just hanging out too,” Aitana said “ Why don’t we just join you, let's just get our ice cream first.” Walking away before they could respond.
When they were out of earshot Mapi tried to Ingrid “What's wrong you seem stressed”
“It's nothing I just didn’t expect to see here.” She lied.
Mapi could tell she was lying so she moved around the table sitting next to Ingrid and putting her hand on her lap.
The gesture helped calm Ingrid as she looked at Mapi smiling. She was just scared that now that the girls were here Mapi was going to change her mind and want one of them.
When the girls got back they noticed that Mapi moved seats so they decided to all three sit on the other side of the table.
“ So what have you been doing while hanging out ?” Ana pried
“ We went out for dinner then decided to go for a walk and get ice cream.” Mapi shrugged.
“ Oh well we did the same too” Ana responded as they all sat in awkward silence.
Before Mapi broke the silicene “Ingrid I have to be up early to head to the shop. Are you finished with your ice cream?”
“Yes,” She said nodding understanding where Mapi was going with this.
“ Sorry guys, I would have loved to hang out but I have to get up early,” Mapi said helping Ingrid put her jacket on and saying goodbye to the girls as they walked out leaving them very confused and angry.
“What was that about Ingrid are you scared of them are you something”, Mapi asked confused about why she started acting differently.
“ No, I just wanted it to be us tonight” Which was not a total lie.
“ Ok you can tell me when you're ready, “ Mapi said, seeing through her lie.
When they finally got back to Ingrid's place Mapi turned grabbing Ingrid's face and pulling her in for a hot kiss.
“ I had an amazing night so don’t let them ruin it beautiful” Mapi breathed out still holding her face.
“I know it's just hard sometimes,” She said leaning back in leading to a make-out session as Mapi pushed Ingrid against her door. They finally pulled away when they ran out of air.
“ I will see you tomorrow, “ Mapi said pecking her lips again walking away looking back to check if Ingrid had gone inside.
When Ingrid went inside she watched Mapi pull away. She knew she was screwed she fell for Mapi so hard and that scared her.