In Search of Yin
Simeon was waiting outside Lalalandia for Eden. It was 8.15pm and he'd been hanging around for the past half hour. Simeon had the date arranged, but he'd tried to make it look casual and unplanned. He'd called in a favour from a few friends.
Simeon started pacing up and down, and began to doubt himself. "Did she say 8 or 9? Is it tonight or tomorrow?" "Arrrrgh! Whatcha gonna do now Simeon?" He started getting mad at himself. Simeon tugged on the yin yang pendant Eden had given him, twirled it around a few times and distractedly ran his fingers through his hair. He suddenly felt a few cold drops on his face. He looked up and realised that it was raining. It started falling as cold, heavy drops, but fortunately not that fast. Simeon looked at his watch. It was now 8.20pm and he wondered how much longer to wait for Eden.
Eden was running very late. A meeting with an important new client had overrun and her boss would not let her leave as the client had taken quite a shine to Eden. Luckily she had a spare change of clothes at work. They weren't what she would want to wear on a date, but they'd do. It was nearly 8pm when she set off to meet Simeon and Eden was hoping he would wait for her. "He's great in bed, but not looking for anything serious. It's perfect - just what I want in a relationship."
It was 8.25pm when Eden reached Lalalandia. As she was walking towards Lalalandia, she spotted a very wet looking Simeon. Her breath catches, "He's gorgeous. The rain sure does things for him." She dashed up to him and said breezily "Hi. Want to share my umbrella?"
Simeon smiled with relief when he saw Eden and kissed her cheek. "No point, I'm already wet."
Eden started to apologise "I'm sorry. I got tied up at work. A meeting overran."
"I really want to get out of these wet things. Shall we get a pizza and some wine and head back to my place?"
"Okay. I love Italian food."
They headed for the nearest pizza place, which happens to be Gino's. Unbeknown to Eden, Gino and his family were good friends of Simeon's. They walked into the shop and Simeon shouted "Hey Gino!" A guy popped his head around the kitchen door, recognised Simeon and came out.
"Hey Simeon!" He greeted him with a hug. "So Simeon, why are you here in my humble establishment with such a beautiful lady?"
"We have come to take home one of your finest creations Gino, and may I intro�"
"Oh No! You should have the best for such a beautiful lady. Come through to the restaurant."
Simeon sighed. "Gino, meet Eden. Eden, meet Gino, a good friend of mine.
Gino took hold of Eden's hand and kissed it. "The pleasure is all mine." Gino ushered them through to the kitchen and said to Simeon, "I'll get you a towel."
"Thanks."
Gino switched the lights and music on. To Eden's amazement they were alone. She asked Gino why the restaurant was closed. "Well we had a private function booked for tonight, but that was cancelled and the renovators start work next week, so there wasn't much point opening up for one evening. But I make an exception for my friends. Now then, I will do you a special selection of my creations, but is there anything in particular you would like?"
"Calamari? I love squid."
Simeon looked on in horror and thought, "Squid. Urrgh!"
Gino beamed at this request. "I knew I liked you. One of my specialities is squid in my trademark sauce. Right, I'll not fetch you starters if that's alright with you." They both nodded. "Just lots of different dishes for you to try. You don't mind being guinea pigs do you?" Gino said with a chuckle as he left.
Frankie then appeared with a towel for Simeon and the wine list. He then sat down. "Hey Simeon, the old man loves you tonight. He thinks it's Christmas. You know you're gonna have to tell him what you think of his new creations."
"Shouldn't be a problem Frankie. Right Eden?"
"No problem."
"Right. What would you like to drink Eden?"
"The house white is fine for me."
Frankie laughed. "OK, and red for you Simeon?"
"Yep, the usual thanks."
"OK, be with you shortly." He disappeared to get the wine.
Simeon started to dry his hair and Frankie's younger brother appeared. "Here you go. 'Garlic bread, with a twist'. Dad wants a full report."
"Thanks Chris." He then scooted off back to the kitchen. Frankie returned with the wine. Eden tried the white and then he filled both their glasses up with the different wines and left. "Alone at last," sighed Simeon. He took hold of Eden's hand and started caressing it.
"Finally. I'm amazed at all this."
"They are really good friends. I've known the whole family for ages." They started to eat the garlic bread and Frankie and Chris started bringing all the dishes through.
With a final flourish Gino himself fetched the calamari out. "For a beautiful lady, my finest creation. Enjoy." Gino left before Eden has a chance to thank him.
Eden tried the calamari. "Oh! That is heavenly. Here. Try some .�" She held out a forkful to Simeon.
"Urggh! I'm not eating squid."
"Try it, please. It's wonderful."
"Well just a bit�. For you."
Eden fed Simeon the forkful. "Hmmm. It's OK, but you finish it."
They started talking about their hobbies, music and clubbing, but Eden was deliberately vague about her work and kept getting Simeon to talk about himself. They find out that other than wine, music and clubbing, they don't have that much in common. Simeon kept staring at Eden. She kept catching him watching her and he tried to laugh it off, but it was starting to worry her, he was starting to get serious, it was all too much for her. They ate as much as they could, and were stuffed. Gino came to find out what they thought of his new dishes. "Stupendous as always Gino." gushed Simeon.
Eden told him "My compliments to the chef. Everything was wonderful. You are a very talented man."
Gino laughed "Thank you my dear, you are most welcome." He then said to Simeon "I hope you will fetch this delightful creature here again sometime."
Simeon smiled. "You can bet on it. Anytime Eden is willing."
"Anyway I'll leave you two to misbehave. Wonderful to have met you Eden." Gino then headed back to the kitchen.
"I tell you what. Let's have dessert at my place," said Simeon with a big grin on his face.
"Dessert? But I'm really� Oh! Lets," replied Eden. "Time to get out of here I think."
"I'll meet you outside, grab a cab if it's still raining will you?" He went to thank Gino for the evening. Simeon reappeared just as Eden got a cab. They headed back to Simeon's place for dessert, but started making out in the cab. They became so engrossed in each other the cab driver had to shout at them to let them know they had arrived outside Simeon's apartment building.
Unknown to them, Anamika saw them going into the building. She commented to Zina that she must have finally got to see Eden.
"Oh yeah," replied Zina. "Geek mentioned her a couple of days ago. It's seems she's gotten to Simeon real bad."
"You mean someone finally caught the Pied Piper. I'm amazed," said Anamika.
"Yeah me too. Her attributes don't seem any different to any of his other bimbos from what I've heard."
"You know he's got rid of the other bimbos - I couldn't believe it!"
"What!" exclaimed Zina. "She sure must be something special. I wonder if we'll ever get to meet her?"
"Who knows. It sure would be interesting though."
Continued in Part 4.