"Evelyn!" Wu Chen called her again amidst the crowd. But, he was totally ignored. In fact, Evelyn picked up her pace as she passed one person to another.
"Damn it!" He cursed, pushing a person to the side. The stranger scolded him, yet he didn't stop or even apologized. He kept going.
Evelyn glanced back once or twice while she was running, checking if he was still after her. She clicked her tongue when she saw him running towards her.
'Why is he still running? Can't he get a clue that I don't want to talk or see him?!" Evelyn screamed in her head.
He was starting to creep her out. It was just a kiss. What was his deal? We were not even acquaintance. Pure strangers. What did he expect? Coming to the club, having fun, got drunk, then made out with someone and that was it. No string attached. She was now clearly sending him a signal 'Not Interested' but it didn't seem to get through his head.
Suddenly, her phone rang. Evelyn rummaged her bag while she slipped between people. She cursed under her breath when she couldn't grab her phone. It stopped ringing but in exchange, it kept vibrating. It had to be her friends. Evelyn looked around for a place that she could perhaps lose him.
Wu Chen noticed Evelyn movement as she turned her head here and there. Then, she suddenly sprinted towards a certain direction. Wu Chen clenched his teeth.
This woman. He was getting impatient.
He upped his speed and dashed pass the crowd. But, Evelyn had slipped away. He lost track of her in the middle of the crowd. Though, he didn't give up as he looked around for her trace while catching his breath.
Then, it was just a fleeting shadow but he caught her. She vanished into a clothing store. So, he followed her there.
He didn't even think twice before entering the store. And he immediately stood out like a sore thumb. Everyone was looking at him in shock. Their eyes widened and weirdly eyed him.
It was a lingerie store.
His eyes darkened and his expression became ugly. 'This woman. Is she deliberate?'
Meanwhile, Evelyn was hiding inside one of the fitting room. She was holding her heaving chest as she tried to catch her breath. Fuck, her throat burnt. It was so dry from all that running. She was sweating too. It felt really uncomfortable, but she had more pressing issue, her friends.
Evelyn unlocked her phone and saw their text messages and missed calls piling up. She let out a long-exasperated sigh before texting them back.
[Hey, sorry, my stomach was aching so bad. So, I left you guys for the toilet]
[Jia Xin: Okay, where are you now?]
Evelyn looked up and thought for a while.
[I don't think I'm going to join you guys again. I'm feeling a bit sick now. I'm very very sorry. Tell Biyu, I'm sorry]
[Jia Xin: Yeah, it's okay she said. Go rest at the hotel, okay? Be careful on your way. Gws, Eve. Love you]
Evelyn smiled. [Thank you. Love you too]
She put away her phone. Now, it was time to exit this room. She slowly opened the door and peeked outside. Her emerald eyes traced the store but didn't spot any male. Evelyn smiled smugly and walked out of the fitting room.
It was either she lost him in the crowds or he didn't dare to come in. She snickered as she made her way to the exit.
When the fresh air hit her face, Evelyn closed her eyes and inhaled deeply. The wind was refreshing.
"Are you done?"
Evelyn's head snapped to the left so fast she thought she heard a crack.
Wu Chen was there, reclining on the wall with his hands folded in front of his chest. Even just standing there lazily, the air around him seemed to hold a sense of dominance like a powerful king.
All the more reason Evelyn didn't want anything to do with him.
So, when he was about to grab her, with her sleek move, she sidestepped him and bolted towards the street once again. Wu Chen gritted his teeth, cursing out loud, he persistently chased her.
They ran and ran until suddenly, Evelyn felt her stomach churning.
She felt sick.
She stopped her steps and instead turned around and walked towards Wu Chen. Her breath rushing and her cheeks were bright red. Her throat was in pain too. Her head was slightly pounding.
Wu Chen stopped running as well as he approached her. She was still panting while holding her stomach with one hand.
"I'm not running anymore. I can't," she said with exhausted breath.
Wu Chen wasn't affected that much as the result of his workout routine.
"What do you want?" Evelyn asked, glancing at him, before studying the ground again.
Wu Chen didn't beat around the bush and went straight to his point. "To ask you on a date." His voice was firm.
Evelyn was dumbfounded. "Wha-?"
"To ask you on a date," he repeated.
"Yeah, I know. I heard."
"So?"
"Don't you notice the signal I have been sending you?" Evelyn asked, spreading her hands above her head.
Wu Chen raised an eyebrow, amused. "What signal?"
"A signal that says 'Not Interested'?"
"That's not what the signal said last night." He smirked.
Evelyn cheeks burnt in embarrassement. Oh, how she wished to wipe off that ugly smirk with a slap across his face. That smugness and arrogance eminated from him, she felt annoyed suddenly.
"That was booze talking to you," she retorted.
"Then, should we get a drink?"
Evelyn was so exhausted and hot too. Thus, at the word 'drink', her brain immediately responded, "Yes."
However, when she saw that winning look on his face and self-satisfaction, her head almost instantly cleared up.
"I mean no thank you," she rephrased herself in panic, waving her hands.
Seeing her panicking with her cheeks still red and a little bit puffy, he thought she looked incredibly cute. He smiled gently at her. Evelyn gazed at that smile and was a little bit dazed.
It was such a lovely smile.
"I really think you need a drink. In fact, both of us need one."
Evelyn looked away as she fanned herself. It was really hot. A glass of cold drink would be nice.
"Yeah, I agree."
"Come." He stretched out his hand to her.
She gazed down at his big hand and his long fingers. It was totally different from her small delicate hands. Honestly, she was tempted to take a hold of it, to try and feel what it was like holding a man's hand. But, in the end, she was still prideful and walked away from it instead.
However, just as she walked beside him, her vision clouded over and her body swayed. Wu Chen was alerted and with his quick reflex, he caught her into his arms. The small and soft little one was back in his embrace.
He couldn't lie, he missed this.
Evelyn slumped against his chest. She felt lightheaded and her vision a bit hazy. Her hands ran towards his chest and up to his shoulders. She gripped onto him and tried to steady herself with Wu Chen's arms around her waist helping her.
Although she found her ground, Evelyn still weakly buried her face on his chest. She felt nauseous.
"You okay?" Wu Chen asked worriedly.
Evelyn almost laughed when she noticed the worry in his voice. A stranger was worried about her.
She snickered.
"Yeah...I guess," she weakly responded. Her voice soft, yet still sweet as ever.
Wu Chen unconsciously brought his hand to her hair and before he knew it, he was already stroking her lovingly.
Evelyn froze at his gentle gesture and looked up at him.
Their eyes met.
And like a mixture of chemicals, their gaze melted and fused into one.
The world faded out and it was then, sparks flying, hearts fluttering, a sensory explosion of feelings that had yet to be known by them. But one thing they were certain of, blush it was...
...like the cherry blossom in March.