Chapter 4

It has been three hours, three hours, since I had opened up my browser to search for apartments which proved to be futile. I needed a break. Closing my laptop and grabbing my stuff which were scattered around the study table, I neatly placed them in my tote bag before nodding to the librarian a goodbye, which wasn’t really necessary as I was going to be back in the next hour.

The closest convenience store was about 30 minutes away well that is if you were planning to walk like me. For 1 am on a Friday, the city sure was bustling with life. I remembered the first time I got here, I wondered whether people here ever slept or even owned a bed as the streets were always filled with people, just going about their business regardless of the time. Coming from a small town where everyone, well majority of the population got to their beds by 9 pm, this came as a culture shock to me.

I loved walking. I anticipated it as I usually use that moment to distress and also be left alone with my thoughts. Unlike the jostling city streets, the convenience store was totally mute, as it was almost empty with an exception of an old lady who was at the cashier checking out and the cashier himself.

I made a beeline straight to where the snacks were and chose what I knew would be the cheapest but most filling food, ramen! Since it was on a Friday night, the school wasn’t offering any meals. Opting to go and eat at the library, I made my way towards the cashier who was lazily scrolling through his phone, his stature saying that he would rather be somewhere else than there, probably his bed with the way he was yawning.

Quickly paying for my stuff, I began my thirty minutes journey back towards the library but apparently the universe had other plans for me, as my rather long journey was cut short by a tall staggering hard wall...in the middle of the streets?

‘Do you perhaps need help with your eyes or your brain? Because your mind wasn’t even here!’ My body froze. That dominant husky authoritative voice, I knew it from somewhere! Could it be? No!

My eyes found his silvery grey ones, which glued me at the spot. I could neither move nor do anything but just stare at him awaiting his command. It was as if he had grown ten times hotter compared to the last time, I saw him at the club. Was that even possible or was I just being delusional. I was getting scared for my heart, as it was beaten so fast I was sure I was going pass out, not forgetting that I couldn’t even stare at his eyes that I love so much  for more than two minutes as I was so nervous and self-conscious of myself, standing before him in my sweats and crocs while he was dressed to the nine’s in his dark suit like he was heading towards a high class meeting? A man was doing this to me? A man that I just met once, over a month ago! I seriously needed to get laid.

‘Cat got your tongue?’ He taunted, taking a step closer to me, my breathe hitching as he stopped an inch before my small stature of a body. My breathe hitching at his chest, his at the top of my head, as my 5 4” height fell short of his 6”2 one. Seeing that I wasn’t going to give him an answer, he grabbed my tote bag and pulled out my ramen that I was going to eat. Talk of being rude. ‘This is what you were going to eat.’ he stated sternly, pausing to see whether I would answer. Getting answered by my silence, he hesitated before continuing. 

‘ You haven’t been sleeping at home, why?’ he stated, in a deadpan voice, triggering my heart to pound harder than the beat drops in Blackpink’s music. And this wasn’t because his husky voice was doing wonders to my forbidden area, but the creepy air that creeped up my skin when he said that. ‘How did he know that I wasn’t sleeping at my place? How did he even have any clue as to where I lived? My mind was running towards all places to figure out an answer to all of these questions but before I could react to his question, I felt my hands and belongings been grabbed and before I could blink my eyes, I was locked up in the backseat of his SUV, with him beside  me barking orders to what appeared to be his chauffer, in a language that I thought would be Italian. I don’t speak Italian nor have any understanding of it. In a Jiffy, the vehicle was carefully manoeuvring the streets of London. My brain was in full Panick mode now, trying to get my body to react as it should at the situation. I was seated meekly beside a Greek god of a man whom might have as well stepped out of a high fashion magazine, but that was besides the point. I should do something, I thought to myself. Scream, run away? But where? We were now in the middle streets of London with so many cars around, it would be suicide to even try getting out of the car and running away. Surprisingly, unlike my mind my body was totally comfortable with our situation, in fact it was hoping for the opposite. Instead of running away, I wanted to be snuggled up across his big buff body and give in to the long sleepless days I had been having at the library. As for the really hot guy besides me, he was just staring at me, like the creep he is, a very VERY HOT creep I would love to...’

No, we would not go there! Shaking my head at the thought, I turned to stare at him directly which was a failed attempt as I end up looking down at my crocs which were right now the most interesting things I have ever seen. His intense stare was doing wonders to my body, wonders that I did not want to think or talk about.

Wh-where, are you taking me. “ My voice came out shakingly and rather meek as opposed to what I wanted, and after what felt like hours but rather ten seconds, he answered. “To eat!” and that was it, before I saw him getting out of the car and rushing to my side to open my door. I was both confused and flustered by his kind gesture. I mean why would a stranger feel the need to do this, especially when we had only met once, which was an accident!

But if you thought I was flustered back then.... you should have seen me now! Which once again, I thanked the gods so much for my darker skin tone because if I was fairer, I would have been beetroot red furthering my embarrassment. Here I was, in my crocs, sweats and worn-out t shirt, seated at a fancy restaurant which seemed to be designated for the rich and upper class judging by the tuxedo clad butler looking waiter and the heavily clad Chanel head to toe outfits the old white ladies seated right next to us were wearing. I felt so out of place! If crawling under a rock was part of the menu, I would have gladly taken it. But as for my unwelcomed acquaintance, he did not see me as out of place. In fact, he was actually busy barking orders to the waiters to bring in what I thought was every dish that was on the menu.

I just sat there watching him haul orders as if he owned the place. Who knows, I might have said something which ended up costing me money. So it was better that I kept quiet while I figured out a way to escape his presence.

My eyes were wide agape as I stared at the sight before me. The humongous table made to fit  a whole crowd and that was once empty about five minutes ago, was now filled with all sorts of dishes that London had to offer. I was even scared that some of it would end up at the floor if we happened to be clumsy. Who was going to finish all of this! He was just staring at me with those silvery gray eyes of his.

“Eat !” he ordered. Confident that I was going to obey his command, he picked up his fork and proceeded with his steak totally not bothered by the flabbergasted black girl seated across him not forgetting the nosy white Karens seated across the room wanting to know why a shabbily dressed nobody was seated at the same table with a walking sex god! Well, at least that’s what I thought they were saying in my head.

I was about to deny his enticing offer but was quickly distracted by my grumping stomach, causing me to snap my mouth shut and abide to his request. The dazzling smirk that graced his face did not go unnoticed as I picked up my spoon and proceeded to spoon the mashed potatoes and salmon that have been long calling my name ever since they were placed there.

**********

It seemed that I might have mis-estimated my hunger, as what I thought was a lot of food turned out to be samplers in huge plates as there was none but a few leftovers left. The knowing smirk he seemed to be throwing at me also screamed I told you so! ‘ How chidlish’ I thought, but also, cute, very cute. A small voice at the back of my head retorted. 

I fiddled with my hands not knowing what to do next. Now that we were done eating meaning there was nothing else I could choose to do to ignore the walking piece of art seated beside me, an awkward silence graced us. After what felt like forever, I decided to swallow my pride and say thank for the meal even though I didn’t ask him to do that. It was the correct thing to do as a mature adult right? And it was not like I wouldn’t pay him back right?

Ganering what was left of my courage, I muttered and small thanks, and before I could chicken out, I asked him the burning question that was itching my throat ever since I got here.

 ‘ Why are you doing this?’. Despite the turmoil inside my heart, my voice came out more confident and I liked that very much. He sat there silently which made me wonder whether he heard my question. Ignoring his rather distasteful muteness, I continued. 

“And how did you know where I lived?”