Everything that happened in that underground parking lot replayed in her mind as she continued to drive, causing her to once again flush with embarrassment.
She couldn't believe herself. She actually did something so outrageous like that? It was simply unbelievable. Now that she pondered about it, she couldn't fathom where she got her bravery from to approach him, let alone offer herself to a stranger as mysterious and dangerous as him. Was she really that desperate?
But despite the embarrassment, deep in her heart, she truly didn't regret it, and the fact that that man rejected her unexpectedly motivated her. She thought that he really was the man she had been looking for. A heartless man who didn't fall for anyone. She didn't know why, but she believed him when he said he didn't do love and never would. Maybe it was because she could see the truth in his eyes. She didn't know why but as she imagined him right at that moment, she just felt that the man had an icy heart that would never, ever melt. Was it possible for her to fall in love with such a man, she wondered? Would it be possible for her to love a man who was cold, so cold that he might even scare her poor heart away?
She didn't know, but, at this point, she thought that there was really no reason for her to even tell herself to be careful anymore. Hesitating was no longer an option. If she wanted her desire to be fulfilled, action was imperative— she had to do it now because she just felt like this was her last chance.
When she arrived home, her family was waiting for her in the living room, watching their favorite TV show.
They then had another pleasant and peaceful dinner before Abigail finally went to her room.
After taking a shower, she lay in her bed. She was thinking about him again. Strangely, she couldn't stop. Was it because he rejected her? Probably not. Maybe, it was because of his ever so striking appearance?
Lifting the note that the pleasant man in the black leather jacket gave her, she stared at it for a long while until her eyes finally drifted closed.
The next time she opened her eyes, the sun was already streaming through her windows.
She rose and did her usual routine; arranged her bed, helped her grandmother prepare their breakfast, and after eating together, she got ready for work and kissed her family goodbye before she drove back to the city.
After Abigail graduated from college, she volunteered to work at the Morning Sun orphanage. She had been a part-time volunteer since high school. Her job was mainly assisting the teachers during class time. She was assigned to read books the kids on the weekdays, except Fridays, and she loved what she was doing.
She had grown to care very much about the children, and she was truly happy extending any help for as long as she was able.
It was Monday, so the kids that hadn't seen her for three days were excited to see her. They embraced her one by one in the hallway as soon as they saw her.
"Miss Abi! We missed you." the youngest in the bunch, Betty, kissed her on her cheek.
"I missed you too, darling. Now, let's get inside. Your teacher is coming."
Abigail spent the entire day aiding Mrs. Smith, the children's teacher.
Once the session concluded, Abigail made her way to a nearby coffee shop situated close to the orphanage.
She had sent Kelly, her friend, a message last night asking to talk to her about something, so they planned to meet at this shop—their favorite meeting place since college.
"How are you? You were pretty drunk last night." Abigail was looking at Kelly with a raised brow.
"Do I look that bad?"
"Yep."
"Don't lie, Abi. I made sure that my eye bags were perfectly covered!" she huffed, and Abigail could only chuckle.
Kelly, during college, was definitely envied by many. She was pretty, super rich and had lots of suitors. But she was alone at school. Only boys who wanted to hit on her approached her, and the ladies avoided her like the plague. When Abigail began talking to her and they eventually became close, the students started calling her Kelly's dog. But Abigail didn't really care. She knew that Kelly was a good person, and she was her friend no matter what anyone said.
Back then, Kelly was the one who was enraged every time people mocked Abigail.
"So? What's the agenda? I'm really curious, you know? You calling me out like this is soooo rare." Kelly sipped on her drink as she looked at her friend with narrowed eyes.
Letting out a deep sigh, Abigail pressed her lips tightly together before she looked at her friend.
"I have found a man." Abigail said, and Kelly choked. "Careful, Kelly!"
Kelly spluttered out a few coughs before replying, "What did you say? Y-you? You found a man? You?!" Kelly looked like she just heard something so damn unbelievable.
"Calm down. Don't be too loud."
"Oh my god, Abi, how can I be calm right now?! You... my ever so innocent Abi finally found a man you like?!"
"Well, I think... he's the man I've been looking for, and... he's the one I want."
"Wow, this is unbelievable. Who is he? Who is this man that caught my dearest Abi's eyes? Huh?" Kelly brimmed with excitement.
"Actually, I forgot to ask his name. All I know is that his surname is Qinn." Abigail's response made Kelly's grin fade, but she was quick to bounce back to being excited and asked her about how and where she saw him.
Abigail told her that she saw the man in the underground parking lot of Kelly's apartment building last night. But of course, she didn't say anything about the drama she witnessed and the outrageous thing she did.
"That man is… he is really, really handsome. I wonder if he's some kind of celebrity. But I don't think he's one, or I would know about him."
"Wow, now I'm dying with curiosity. This is the first time you praised a man's looks this much, you know?"
Abigail blushed. "Really...?"
"Hello… you really haven't cared about men before, Abi! You don't even look at them! Okay, so?" Kelly's brow lifted. "What are you gonna do about this super handsome Mr. Qinn?" She was so damn intrigued, and she looked like she was very much more animated than Abigail about this.
Looking down, Abigail stared at her hand that was wrapped around the lemonade bottle. She looked like she was considering something vital in her head while her friend was impatiently waiting for her answer.
"I…" Abigail started as she looked up to her friend, looking serious. "I want him to be my boyfriend."
For a while, Kelly gaped at her. It seemed like she was shocked. But the moment she recovered, a huge, bright smile curved up on her face. "Okay! That's my girl! You're finally listening to my advice. My innocent bun finally learned to become daring!"
Kelly looked genuinely happy and for some reason, proud, like a happy mother who had just witnessed her child finally learning to walk on her own for the first time.
"Kelly, I want to impress him, so I want to ask you to—"
"Darling… say no more. Leave it to me. I promise to dress you up and turn you into the most stunning lady on Earth!"
After their talk, Abigail told Kelly that she would contact her once she decided to meet him. Kelly offered to help her get him, but Abigail simply told her that she had to learn how to do it herself, which, of course, made her friend beam happily again.
"Okay, just call me if you need help, okay? And about your outfit, don't even worry about it. I will make sure that handsome man will fall in love with you at first sight," was all Kelly promised before the two of them parted.
Abigail couldn't tell her friend that she was not trying to make him fall for her at all. She also didn't tell her that the man she wanted was heartless and cold. She didn't tell her that he didn't find her attractive. And most of all, she didn't tell her that the man was definitely a red flag because Abigail knew that if Kelly found out what kind of man she chose, she would surely go against it.
Kelly had always been protective of her, so she could already foresee her reaction if she found out about the strange and mysterious man she had chosen.
...
It was already dark by the time Abigail reached home. As usual, her family had waited for her for them to eat dinner together.
Upon retreating to her room, Abigail retrieved the piece of paper from her drawer. She held the number in her gaze, then swiftly tapped the digits onto her phone's screen.
In her contacts, Abigail saved the number as "Mr. Black Leather Jacket."
She wanted to send him a message, but she didn't know what to even ask. Should she shamelessly ask for the man's address? No, no, that would be too creepy! Then how would she meet him?
In the end, Abigail drifted to sleep without sending Mr. Black Leather Jacket a single message.