Elyana
"You barely touched your food." Craig noticed. His eyes watched her with concern. "Do you want to order something else? Don't you like the food?"
Looking down at her food, she realized she had barely made a dent in her steak as she twirled the fork around her plate. The vegetables looked as if a rake had gone through them, scattering them all over the round surface. Meanwhile, the sauce smeared the white porcelain with its thick, brown, creamy texture.
"No!" She quickly stopped him before he called for a server, slightly feeling guilty for wasting good food. "I'm just not hungry."
That was not a lie.
Her mind was just too agitated to think about food at this time.
"Is there a problem? You seemed to be a little distracted. Maybe I can help." He asked, putting down his knife and fork, and then resting his elbows on the edge of the table.
"Not really." She didn't think it was a problem. Not yet anyway. But it was definitely occupying her mind. "But you don't need to trouble yourself." Smiling, hoping that would appease him.
"Anyway, were you saying something?" She asked, thinking she might have missed something.
"What about dessert?" He asked. "They served the best tiramisu... or maybe you might want to try their nitrogen frozen sorbet..."
Again, she declined his offer. Although she agreed that the tiramisu in this place was one of the best she had tasted, and she was intrigued with this new sorbet delight, she was just not in the mood for anything sweet.
Under different circumstances, she believed she might have enjoyed Craig's company. She might even agree to a second date. After all, she had found him sweet, charming, and entertaining.
"I hope you don't mind, but I think I'll call it a night." She regrettably said as she dropped her napkin on the table and grabbed her bag.
Tonight, all she wanted was to go home, thinking about the black card that was safely tucked in her handbag.
"Maybe I can interest you with a nightcap?" Craig tried again, looking hopeful. "I know this place..."
"I'm sorry, but maybe next time." As soon as the words left her lips, she regretted them.
Stringing him along when she knew that there was no future for them was not her style. She thought it would be better if she made a clean break now before she gave him false hope.
"Can I at least drive you home?" He offered, his voice raised a few decibels higher. Seemingly, sounding desperate to convince her. Then, he raised his hand, signaling for the server to settle the bill.
In her peripheral view, she noticed a few people nearby turned toward them, probably distracted by her date's sudden outburst. But they also quickly looked away, finding nothing interesting in their interaction.
"I appreciate the offer, but there's no need. I can manage on my own." She didn't want to bother him.
More than that, she wanted to avoid the awkward part where he had to drop her at her doorstep and expect a goodbye kiss or something more.
Eeewww!
Not that she found him icky. On the contrary, he appeared to be perfect. It was just the idea of kissing someone else.
No!
Not that she was thinking of someone in particular.
But if she had been forced to admit it, she could not deny that she could think of only one man whom she longed to kiss again.
Of course, she would never disclose that out loud.
Besides, the man was history. She had no intention of seeing him ever again.
Her mystery one-night stand was better off forgotten.
"Really, thank you for the delicious dinner." She stood up, not waiting for him to pull her chair for her. Once again, she vehemently refused his offer.
But it seemed fate had other plans as she noticed him in the corner of her eye as she strode toward the exit.
The man, whom she had just sworn never to see again, stood several meters away from her.
No!
That could not be him.
But the way her heart fluttered upon seeing him seemed to contradict her otherwise.
"Oh my..." She whispered breathily, the air almost caught in her throat as she glanced his way and confirmed what she feared.
Bumping into him again.
Quickly, she moved to a thick post, hoping to hide herself from his view. Not that he would recognize her. Still, she didn't want him to see her, not wanting to take that risk.
Peeping through the corner, she stared at the man by the entrance.
Yes!
It was him.
Those familiar black, sleek hair, broad shoulders, strong square jaw, and well-defined cheekbones. There was no mistake.
But what was he doing here?
Duh!
It was a restaurant.
Of course, he came here to dine, probably with that bombshell on his arm, noticing the gorgeous blond beside him.
"Get your ass out of here." She mumbled to herself, reminding herself to stop ogling at the gorgeous man at the entrance of the famous establishment.
Luckily, she was quite familiar with the place. She knew that the kitchen would lead her out to the back door.
With her bag held high to cover her face, she maneuvered her way around the tables, avoiding the entrance where she had last seen him standing.
Just a few more steps, she told herself as she avoided bumping into the woman who suddenly stood up from her chair.
But—
"Aah!" She didn't see that one coming.
Bang! Clang! Crash!
Metal hit the floor. Glass shattered on the tiles. Then, someone fell to the ground.
Or at least she almost landed on her ass if somebody didn't catch her.
Luckily, somebody did.
"Hey, why don't you look where you're going?"
Familiar line.
Familiar voice.
Familiar set of arms.
No! It couldn't be.
"I'm sorry. I'm sorry. I'm sorry." She apologized profusely to the waiter, the woman at the nearby table, and the man who saved her. But she refused to look at him, afraid that her intuition might be right.
It was him. Again.
What was wrong with her?
"I'm sorry again." She said one last time before she dashed to the door that should lead her to the back exit.
Damn! That was close.
She could hardly breathe at the thought that she was almost caught.
Holding onto her chest, she gasped for a much-needed breath of air once she was behind the swinging door of the buzzing cook area.
Eventually, she made her way to the door and stepped into the semi-dark alley that would lead her to her escape.
But just when she thought she finally had her clean getaway.
"Stop!"
The voice made her halt on her steps. Her body froze. Her breath hitched again. Her heart beat faster.
No!
Not him again.