I make a right as I exit our building and head to my favorite sushi spot, Osaka Sushi. I notice the briskness of the weather. It’s strange. During my projections I could feel heat. My feet felt the hot rubber floors. It technically could’ve caused a first degree, or maybe even second degree burn considering the amount of seconds I stood in that one spot. My sensation of touch in my… I’ll call it… astral form, is apparent. I ponder as I near the restaurant. I need to figure out if I can actually get hurt in that astral form. And if I do, does it effect my physical body? Am I stronger? Are there changes to my physical body? I mean, I did heal fairly quickly according to the doctors. And my elbow healed completely within an hour with no bruise to show. There are so many unknowns.

I open the door to Osaka and walk straight up to the hostess. I order three sushi rolls, edamame, and shrimp shumami. As I’m making my payment, I can feel a pair of eyes burning into my cheek. I turn to my left as I retrieve my credit card and see Corey sitting on the bench, grinning at me. My lady bits cannot handle that look. 

“Hi.” he starts.

“Hey!” I say as it is the only thing that I can manage to get out.

He slides over on the bench, leaving me room to sit and wait beside him. I take a seat next to him. I can feel the heat radiating off of his body as our arms are now nearly touching.

“Nisa, right?” I nod to confirm. “You come to this spot often?” he asks as his eyes land on mine. 

“Yeah, personally I think it is the best sushi in the bay area” I answer.

“Arguable. If you haven’t already, you should try Megu on Ave W and 24th.” Just then the hostess approaches us with a bag of food and hands it to Corey. He grabs the bag and thanks her. He continues to stay seated and looks back at me. He’s about to say something and then pauses. He seems reluctant to say something but I presume I know what he wants to say. That instantly brings heat to my cheeks. 

“You eating alone?” I somehow muster out a bit too eagerly.

He lets out a chuckle. “Just the words I was looking for… If you have nowhere to be, would you want to maybe eat together? I know this other bench that is waiting for two strangers to eat their dinner” he finishes by looking down and rubbing his free hand behind his neck. Just when I thought he couldn’t get any more attractive, he flashes that insanely chiseled arm at me.

I look at him with a smile and coyly respond, “I’d like that. As long as the seagulls know their place.” He lets out a small chuckle.

“So, you live around here Corey?” I ask. What? Just cause I know the answer doesnt mean I shouldn’t ask.

“Yeah I live in the grey building right around the corner. I moved just over 2 years ago from Kings Highway.”

“Oh shit. I live with my roommate right acorss that building. On Ocean Ave right?” I say as casually as I can.

“Huh,” he looks me in the eyes again, “Strange how I’ve never seen you around before.”

I can’t break the stare. I shrug and chuckle softly. This man does something to me. He makes me feel like a 13 year old again, the days where history class used to be the highlight of my week. The days that I got to see Mr. Floyd, my history teacher. He looked like a cross between Ben Affleck and Brad Pitt. Listening, or rather, watching him teach history so passionately just made him all the more irresistible. Coincidentally, that was right around the age that I discovered my hands can do more than doodle ‘Nisa & Mr. Lloyd’ in heart bubbles.

The hostess finally comes with my food. I grab the bag and let Corey lead us out to walk to our dining spot. We delve into discussion about our families, culture and education as we head towards the bay. We sit at a bench that is facing the docked boats. The moon casting a beautiful reflection on the still water. 

I look and point at the reflection and his gaze follows. “There is a word in Turkish that describes that exact thing. ‘The beautiful shimmering reflection of the moonlight on the water’. No other language in the world has a word that equates to its meaning” I pause and glance at him. He’s focused on the water but I can see he is patiently waiting for the word. I turn my face to look back at the water “Yakamoz.”

“Yakamoz” he repeats with nearly perfect pronunciation. My heart flutters at the poeticness of it leaving his lips, his voice deep yet silky smooth. He leans back in his seat. “Somehow fitting for the way the moon looks setting into the bay… it’s peaceful.”

“Yeah, it’s like a moment of calm in the middle of a hectic day. I guess we all need a bit of that sometimes” I respond.

His almond-shaped hazel eyes move down and lock on my lips. My knees feel weak to the point that if I were standing, I’d collapse. He starts, “You know, it’s refreshing talking to you. After a day filled with a lot of up and downs, I wasn’t expecting to feel so at ease.” His eyes lock with mine, “I can’t quite put my finger on it.”

His eyes pierce through me like an arrow through its prey. The atmosphere between us growing more charged with each passing second, a magnetic pull drawing him closer. My voice can barely make its way past my lips, “Well”, I swallow. “Sometimes the strangest circumstances lead to the most interesting ones when you least expect them.” My throat feels excessively dry. My stomach matching it by creating a dull ache, confusing my sexual desire with hunger.

Palpable tension hangs in the air. The proximity between us increased and a gentle breeze blew my hair back. His eyes make their way to my now exposed, and very sensitive, nape. He placed his hand on my bare neck, his hands rough and hot enough to burn through my skin. “Nisa” his pleading whisper a soft caress that hung in the air.

“Corey” I breathe out. The world around us disappeared as I inched closer, our faces now only a breath apart. Time seemed to slow down, suspended in the charged silence between us.

His thumb lingers along my jawline, intensifying my hunger to kiss him. His lips finally met mine. His musky yet sweet scent waking every sensation in my body. He parts my lips by skimming his warm tongue along them. That did it. I place my hands behind his head and slide my body closer to his, my breasts now pressed against his chest. Sanctioned by my touch, he lets out a low groan and moves his hand to my back, pulling me in closer. Our tongues dance, moving in sync as desperation to tear off his clothes overwhelms me. The kiss deepened, each tender touch igniting a fire that had been smoldering beneath the surface. I need to cool down. Now!

With perfect timing, a phone starts ringing. It takes a few seconds for us to separate. He places his hands on my cheeks pulling away. We’re both left breathless as he begins to look for his phone. I still haven’t descended back from the clouds but I proceed to do the same and see Billy is calling me. 

“It’s my roommate. Billy,” I give an apologetic look and he smirks. I stand up and answer the phone. “Hey Billy! What’s up?” I ask, still panting from the heat.

“Where are you? I was cleaning the apartment and realized you’ve been gone for 2 hours. I’m bored. Let’s go ouuutttt!” she yearns across the phone.

I glance back at Corey who is staring off into the sky. It’s not a good time to explain where I’ve been, I’ll tell her when I get back. I really should get back. Any more time with him and I’ll be doing much more than kissing him on this bench. “I’ll be home in 10 minutes.” Then I hang up.

“Everything alright?” he asks.

“Yeah, my roommate and I had plans tonight, it completely escaped me.”

He chuckles and stands up, glaring into my eyes as he does so. Ugh. “Alright, let’s get you home Nisa.” We start walking in the direction of our homes, bantering about the need for a car in the city. Watching the curves of his lips as he talks, I just knew. I did not want that kiss to end. It just left me eager to explore the uncharted territory of these newly surfacing feelings.