Esmeralda sat down in a brightly lit cafe. She was busy on her laptop to notice her surrounding. Engrossed in what she was typing she didn't know that someone was seated in front of her.
The person cleared his throat.
Esmeralda looked up at the person and raised her brow. "Ethan, what a surprise?" She said with no enthusiasm on her face.
"How are you doing?" Ethan asked with a smile. He was surprised to see her here of all places. He walked towards her table and sat down across her but it seemed that she was too busy with what she was doing to notice him. She adjusted her glasses from time to time.
"I'm good. You?" Esmeralda leaned back on her chair exuding a calm aura.
"I'm okay. I just happened to pass by and saw you so I just decided to stop and say hi." Ethan loosened his tie a little and sighed. He felt a little bit relieved.
"Okay. How is your family? And Cheetos?" Esmeralda asked remembering Ethan's family dog that almost had a forced affair with their dog, Snow.
"Everyone is fine. And Cheetos misses you." Ethan replied
" Are you sure about that? Considering what happened the last time I saw her." Esmeralda raised a brow at Ethan. She doubted his words. How could the dog miss her when she nearly killed her.
"Come on, it's all in the past now. And besides, Cheetos is already a mother of three." Ethan smiled showing his pearly white teeth.
"Really?" Esmeralda couldn't believe that seductress in the form of a dog was a mother. "Who did she hook up with?"
"Are we seriously discussing my dog's rendezvous right now?"
"Since she decided to put designs on Snow and then cheated on him with another man and gave birth to his pups, then yes. We are discussing your dog's rendezvous."
Ethan laughed at the way Esmeralda took the discussion so seriously. He was surprised and happy that she was finally speaking out and not settling for a single word as an answer.
"Cheated? Are you serious? You were the one who put an end to their union before it could even start and then almost killed Cheetos because you claimed that she was seducing Snow!." Ethan emphasized. He was ready to defend his dog even if it earned him a beef with Esmeralda. He stared at her with his dark brown orbs intently. Ever since the argument she didn't show any spec of emotion on her face. She just talked as if she was discussing about the weather.
"Trying to seduce, is the word. I know my dog, he doesn't like the female species very much. Why do you think he is always running away anytime he see her and refuses to come to your house?"
Now Ethan was quiet. It was indeed true that Snow despises coming to his house but that doesn't mean he doesn't like Cheetos. Doesn't he?
Esmeralda watched the confused look on Ethan's face. She knew she hit the nail on the head but this stubborn guy refuse to admit it.
"But what if I prove it to you that Snow likes Cheetos and doesn't despises coming to my house? What will be my gain?"
"I'll have dinner with you and maybe follow to you to watch that movie of yours." She grabbed the mug on the table and took a sip of her now cold coffee.
Ethan ears perked up at her words. He couldn't hide the excitement inside of him. He abruptly got up from his chair and said
"Do you mean what you said?"
Esmeralda sipped her coffee as if the guy in front of her didn't just jump out of his chair in excitement. "Yes."
"Sweet! " Ethan clasped his hands, closed his eyes and smiled widely. This was a life time opportunity for him and he couldn't wait to brag about it to the guys.
"But..."
His eyes snapped open and darted back to the woman sitted calmly with a coffee mug in her hand. He hurriedly sat back and leaned forward with interest ready to hear her own gain.
"If I win, you get to fulfill two of my demands. Deal?"
Ethan didn't know see anything worth frightening about her condition. He quickly nodded and said "Deal."
Esmeralda nodded her head, some strand of hair falling down her forehead making her look unreal. She adjusted her round glasses that sat on the bridge of her nose. She looked like a beautiful geek.
Ethan noticed that she was wearing her usual sweatpants and long sleeved hoodie. From the first time they met, the number of time she had worn jeans or a blouse could be counted on one hand. She wasn't like other women who dress to impress. She prefers comfortable and casual, not glittering and tight.
"I didn't know you had a brother and he works at Realm until that faithful day." Ethan decided to break the silence.
"There was no point in telling you my family history. It's better you see it for yourself." Esmeralda said as a matter of fact. She didn't see how telling someone about herself would improve her life. She bent down to resume her typing on her laptop.
Ethan sighed at her behaviour. She was always liked this but atleast there was a little bit of improvement. She preferred practical than theory.
"If that's the case, then I can't wait to uncover the secrets of miss Esmeralda D'Amelio." He stated while leaning back on his chair with folded hands.
Esmeralda peeked at him from her glasses and scoffed. She really made some friends. She checked the watch on her wrist and saw that it was already eleven, an hour away from midnight. Anastasia was going to kill her. She turned off her laptop and looked at Ethan who was watching her.
"I'll be going now. See you some other time." She then got up and grabbed her laptop before heading to the door.
Ethan ran after her.
"Let me drop you off."
"No need, someone's already here to pick me up. Goodbye Ethan."
Ethan watched her silhouette disappear and sighed. Sometimes, he wondered how they even became friends.