Mia
I was on phone with my parents when I felt his eyes on me. He sat with my friends and I knew who he was but I never imagined how handsome he looked. His chocolate wavy hair, big hazel eyes, medium straight nose, medium size lips, sculpted jaw, and tanned skin made him look like a Greek God. He looked tall, somewhere between 5'11 to 6 '0 height. His stare intimidated me and I soon began to feel nervous. I wondered what I did to get this gorgeous man's attention. Now I knew why Ariel was so obsessed with him. Ariel, my only red hair friend, with big blue eyes, small plump lips, tanned skin, and an amazing body. She had more than 1.5+ million followers on her Insta. All the guys in the college had their eyes on her but she had it on him. Ariel made plans only to see Ryan but unfortunately, he never turned up. Though she was determined and found every possible way just to meet him and today when she finally got the opportunity, she looked stunning. Everyone wanted her attention, even John, but she wanted Ryan's who unfortunately stared at me. When Ryan introduced himself to me, everyone at the table looked surprised. All of them stared at him as if he had done something which he had never done before.
Ryan
"So how long have you been here? I asked, my first question to her as I continue to look at her in the eye.
"For 4 months" she replied politely. She had such a sweet voice. I swear I could listen and look at her for the rest of my life.
"How's your college?
"Strenuous" she said and I couldn't help but smile.
"If you need help with anything please do let me know." I said with sincerity. She shifted uncomfortably in her seat and glanced at Ariel and then at me. Ariel pretended to text someone on her phone but I knew she had her ears on us. The food arrived and we all took our turns to put every dish on our plate.
"How is Chloe?" Ariel asked but I ignored her and kept myself busy with the food. I felt everyone's eyes move back and forth between me and Ariel. When I didn't answer, Ariel went back to finish her food.
"Are you from Cimana or you just shifted here ?" I asked Mia.
"I shifted here" she replied and looked at her plate with satisfaction. She had the most cutest look and I couldn't help but smile
"And are you liking it?"
"Yeah! I do," she looked at me and replied with a glee. Gosh! she looked so adorable.
"I am glad but if in case you haven't seen much I can show you around?" I said. My eyes bored into her with sincerity. I wanted her to know that i was serious, but it seemed she had a hard time believing me. After a few seconds, she just smiled at me and looked at her phone, but it wasn't enough for me so I asked her again.
"I would love to take you out, Mia?" I went straight to the point. She had to know that I never joked or pretended to do something that never mattered to me. And somehow she mattered and I wanted her to know it, I was interested in her. She looked at me with astonishment. I knew John and Keith were appalled. Ariel didn't like what I said and Emily felt awkward.
"I will let you know Ryan" Mia replied softly. I could suddenly feel the tension between Ariel and Mia.
Mia
Ariel tried to speak with him but he didn't respond to her at all. He kept his eyes and spoke only to me. He watched me with so much interest that it made me nervous and uncomfortable. I had all the attention meanwhile he gave Ariel a cold vibe. I could feel that he wasn't interested in her or at any beautiful girls around him. When he mentioned that he was available to show me around the city I thought he was bluffing but when he asked again with his intent eyes and sincere voice, I couldn't believe. Whenever we had dinner with John, he always mentioned Ryan was always busy with work and he had no free time even for himself. Ryan mostly preferred to spend his luxurious time only with his family.
Ryan
I was oblivious to everything around me except for her, how could she have such an impact on me? The more I talked to her the more I liked her. When we were done with our dinner, we decide to head home. I wanted to spend time with her, I wanted to walk her even though her hostel was just 6 mins away. I wanted to take her number but I couldn't because Mia was uncomfortable with Ariel around. So we said our goodbyes to each other from the restaurant and headed towards our car.
"Wow!, You amazed me, Ry!" John said and looked at me with genuine happiness. We sat in the car, Keith on the driver side, John on the front passenger side, and I at the back
"First you weren't interested but when Mia came you became so interested that you initiated the conversation and more so you wanted to take her out and show her around the city!!?" John sounded amused while he applauded and Keith laughed.
"So?" I replied nonchalantly.
"I have never seen you doing that ever." John said and it was true. I never initiated anything when it came to women. I had my share and I was done with it. Nothing in life excited me until I saw her.
"She seemed different and out of curiosity I spoke to her" l said while I looked outside the car window. I have never been so interested in someone until Mia.
"And what was the attitude with Ariel?" John inquired. I knew he would ask about it.
"I was talking to Mia" I replied placidly
"Yea. But Ariel wanted to talk to you as well" John said. He never really understood why I behaved harshly with Ariel but Keith knew. John's love for Ariel was pure, eternal and to respect that I never wanted to give high hopes or even give a slight idea to Ariel that I might be interested in her. Ariel's interest in me always put me in a fixed position with John, even though he never said anything about it. For John, Ariel was very important but for me John mattered and his happiness meant the most to me.
"I don't care" I replied calmly
"You planning to see her from now on?" John was curious and eyed me like it was important for him to know the answer.
"I don't know. My work is important so..."
"Yeah yeah" he cut me off and looked ahead.
Mia
After our goodbyes, we made it to our room, did our night routine and made it to bed, in complete silence.
"So, Ryan took a lot of interest in you?" Ariel spoke to me and gave a 'you don't deserve him' look while she climbed on the lower side of the bunk bed. There were total three beds in the room, Emily slept on the top of the bunk bed, Ariel parallel to me and I slept on the single bed.
"I was new to him," I replied uncomfortably while I sat on my bed and faced Ariel. I didn't want any hindrance in our relationship. I liked Ariel, she and Emily were the only family I had in Cimana.
"He didn't know Emily" she scoffed. I did feel bad about how uneventful this night turned out for her. She worked very hard to look good for him. She tried everything in her power to talk to him but he didn't even acknowledge her. She was heartbroken and upset and I understood her cold behavior towards me.
"I don't think I will be meeting him again" I said and lied on my bed to avoid Ariel's eyes.
"Uh-huh!" Emily made the sound. I looked at Emily and then at Ariel, who continued to give me death stare.
"He looked interested in Mia," Emily said and it suddenly made me want to run away from this conversation. That's not what Ariel wanted to hear right now. "I think you should stop focusing on Ryan" she sounded concerned.
"I will make him fall for me one day" Ariel replied confidently, while tears flowed down from her left eye. Emily got up and came down to look at Ariel's dejected face. She sat next to her and looked at Ariel like she genuinely cared "Honey, you don't make people fall in love. If it has to happen he will fall for you with or without your efforts. Why are you wasting your time on someone who doesn't even give you a second glance?" Ariel looked stunned and more heartbroken.
"Ariel! I care for you but I think you know it too that Ryan is not at all interested in you." Emily said calmly and confidently. "You need to stop wasting your precious time on him". Emily gave her a side hug and stroked her head. "If Ryan is meant to be with you he will fall for you someday with or without your efforts. You can't force love, if you do that then one day for sure he will leave you" she completed and by now Ariel looked completely shattered. She looked as if someone had sucked out all the happiness from her life "I love him" Ariel whispered and began to weep and my heart broke for her. She loved him dearly,
"Ariel one-sided love is very difficult but you need to get over him for yourself, for your peace and your happiness. Don't ruin the possibility of potential people in your life. Maybe there is a better person than Ryan" Emily responded while she continued to stroke Ariel's hair with the side hug.
"What potential people?" Ariel looked surprised like she didn't know that there were thousands of guys after her. "There are so many guys interested in you" Emily replied astonished at Ariel.
"Yea. Fine. Whatever." Ariel shrugged her off but Emily continued to side hug her. Emily looked at me and smiled a little,
"Mia, I have a feeling that he is going to meet you and a lot," she said confidently
"Are you crazy?" I said with the same fervor. I didn't want to talk about him especially with Ariel around."Excuse me, but did you see the way he looked at you." She gave me a shocked look as if I misinterpreted something very important.
"Mia, I have nothing against you. It's just, I am disappointed at my situation as to why you and not me" Ariel responded while she wiped her tears.
"Love, like, lust are all feelings and they happen with heart and not with the brain, girls. So never think you backstabbed your friend." Emily said to me with a smile and somehow it made me feel at ease. "and Ariel I hope you move on from him, I didn't like the way he shunned you." She warned Ariel.
"Fine! now lets sleep, I am tired." Ariel removed herself from Emily's clutches and lied down on the bed with her back towards me.
"Goodnight" I and Emily both responded. Well, this night for me was one of the most awkward and awful night. Emily climbed on her bed and I slept with my back towards the bunk bed.