Slurping the sweet and sour soup in front of her, Zunnie Bai seemed unaware that she was being watched. Alex's face shone brightly with satisfaction as he stared at her eating. He pulled out his phone and snapped a picture then said…
"We could do this again seeing you were really hungry."
"Psh...Don't push your luck, Mr. Zi. Next time you barge in, I'm calling the security."
"I'm just being neighborly. I was surprised when I noticed you were my neighbor. Although I don't mind inviting you to eat dinner again. But, I won't, since I don't want to push my luck." Alex smirked.
"Forcefully entering someone's house you barely know is not being neighborly…" Zunnie retorted.
"Then next time, invite me in, so I don't forcefully barge in."
"Ha-ha…Next time? Your future looks really bright." Zunnie's reply was spiked with sarcasm.
Alex smiled as he watched her frown and continued to eat the dishes he brought.
----------
Zunnie's head remained bent, afraid to meet his gaze. She was certain that Alex may be up to something, or was he just being a good neighbor?
"The food is delicious. Thank you for dinner." She placed her hand on her lap and looked up to see Alex staring at her.
"Mhm…" He nodded and continued to eat.
Deep down she liked the companionship, but she wouldn't dare say so. It had been a while since she had eaten with someone other than her colleagues, friends or family. Now eating with this good-looking, yet cold and bossy Alexander Zi warmed her heart.
As she stared at him, she could hear her heart beating a sweet slow rhythm. Her cheeks flushed listening to the sound.
Just as Alex was about to look up from the bowl, she quickly averted her eyes. The rhythm in her chest sped up and she became nervous. Her eyes scanned the room looking for some sort of distraction.
This feeling was entirely new to Zunnie. She had never dated anyone, nor had she ever liked anyone. After she lost her mom, she made it her life goal to exceed in any and everything. She wanted to be the good girl her dying mom asked her to be. Even when her friends were mating and falling in love, Zunnie focused on her goals.
As she unsuccessfully tried to avoid his eyes, hoping her eratic heart beat would calm down, Zunnie thought back to the past. There was one time when Sanua introduced a boy from their high school who had a crush on her; Zunnie had coldly rejected him saying…
"Huh…you like me? Love is just an illusion you feel seeing me be and act different, seeing me be a good girl. You've never spoken to me, don't know anything about me, yet you're bold enough to say that you like me…try again."
The boy was crushed hearing her words. However, when she finished her rejection with try again, Zunnie had no idea he would feel motivated and vow in his heart to try again.
Sanua, on the other hand, thought Zunnie had been too harsh with her rejection. She made jokes about her innocence and purity and prayed that one-day she, Zunnie, would change her views on love. Every time someone confessed to her, Sanua would tell her she really hoped that one day she would fall in love and not be the so-called good girl she desperately wanted to be.
On one occasion Sanua told her that she was afraid to love someone who may one day leave as her mom did. She had been so angry that she had ignored Sanua for two whole days. Even though Sanua and everyone else wanted her to be a typical high school girl who thought of other things apart from being a good girl, Zunnie remained stubborn.
'If she saw my current state as sit here having dinner with a complete stranger, she would throw a grand ball and call it; Zunnie Bai can be naughty!'
But right now, feeling him staring at her nervously scanning the room, she slowly brought her eyes to mee his. He was smiling.
'Is he amused at my behavior? Why the heck is he looking at my thus way and smiling?
----------
Seeing her lose her composed self, he was amused and decided to tease her.
"So, are we having dessert? I cooked, so you should offer dessert."
"Umm…I haven't done grocery shopping, so I don't have anything for dessert." Zunnie replied.
She had no idea he was teasing her and was oblivious to the hidden meaning in his request.
"Ha-ha so cute and pure." Alex softly whispered, a devilish glint in his eye.
"Hmm?" Zunnie had not heard what he said.
"Ohh, nothing…wanna watch a movie?"
"I have to be up early, so not a good idea. Dinner was delicious. Thank you, Mr. Zi." She wanted to kick him out as soon as possible, seeing he had no intentions of living after they finished eating.
'A movie? What is this? Is this his house? Is he crazy? Barge in and make your bloody self at home? Humph!' Zunnie was screaming inside.
He only wanted to amuse himself. He couldn't help chuckling hearing her reply.
Alex got up and walked over to where Zunnie stood and whispered, "Wash and return my bowls."
He was so close, that he could hear Zunnie's heart pounding. He leaned closer so she was able to inhale his body wash. alex smiled when she hurried shut her eyes.
'Ha-ha; she's too cute.' He thought as he pulled away and left her condo.