"What would you like?"
I bit my lip, looking at him and wondering why I said yes to his invitation. I merely know this man. He could be anyone. He could really be harmful but I know there's something more behind that smile that could charm anyone.
As I see and feel it, he's a man of purpose.
He have this certain trait that compels me in. I cannot even properly speak or properly know what to do because whenever I look at those coal black eyes that did not bother to hide an intention, I stutter and I feel this spark inside me I cannot understand.
Never once did felt like this, mainly because I was always pulled away from any man's attention. Mother wanted us to be refined ladies and not, as I say it in her own words, a hooker.
"Louise?"
I was brought back into the present when he called my name. His voice sounded husky and when he looked at me, I quickly looked away and pretended as if I was looking at the menu the whole time. Did I just get caught?
"What would you like?" I heard him asked behind me, easily towering over my figure and I nearly gasped in surprise for the sensation that felt having a warm body behind you.
How had he manage to draw out several different reactions from me already? He seems so casual, maybe it's just the way he acts.
"W-what do you recommend?" I stammered again. Just why? This could be anything but what specifically?
I was able to take a whiff of his scent for how near he is behind me and I started to feel as if there are butterflies inside my stomach.
"Everything's good. But I love their pasta. They're amazingly tasty" he suggested and I nodded.
"Okay. I'll take that" I answered. Valen hummed and walked to stand in front of me where he began to order our foods. I stood there, watching his broad back covered by the simple white tee nicely stretched over his torso, it clung to him like a skin and I looked away upon realization.
Blushing crimson red, I gulped. I shouldn't think this way. Aside from knowing his name, he's still a stranger. A stranger who asked me for a snack and I accepted.
"Hey, are you okay?"
I jumped in surprise. When did he finish ordering the food? I really need myself to be present in times like this.
"Let's take a seat. Come on" he began to walk in front of me, leading the way and stopped just by the window corner.
I was about to take a seat myself when he stopped me, "Here"
He pulled a chair and gestured for me to take a seat, "I asked you out. The least I could do is to be a gentleman"
That's another thing. No one ever pulled a chair for me before and mainly because I wasn't allowed to interact with men. Now, what am I doing?
"You're really silent. Do you know that?" he spoke upon sitting across me and looked at me, "You should speak. Tell me what you want to say"
I shook my head, "I should mind what I say. I'm not allowed to just tell anything"
"Alright. What do you want to talk about?"
"We could talk about lifestyle, health—
"Nah. Let's talk about you" he smiled interestingly and I blink at him in surprise. Me?
"I don't have something about me to tell"
Valen smirked, "Oh, but you do. Tell me, what do you do for a living?"
I toyed with my fingers on my lap. He looks handsome but somehow, a little bit predatory.
"I'm a b-blogger" I answered.
He nodded, his fingers beginning to tap on the wooden table and I was hypnotized with the way they are moving. It looked as if they were flowing like water, slow but smooth, gentle, almost as if trying to imply something and I had to resist to gulp again.
Am I really that lacking in knowledge and experience that I am getting simply hypnotized and controlled with the way Valen's fingers are tapping at the table?
"Your orders" someone suddenly spoke, breaking the thought I have in mind.
➴➴➴
"Thank you, Valen. I'll go ahead" I bid my goodbye as I got off from his car with my groceries.
"I can help you carry those to your flat" he said to which I immediately refused respectively.
I may not know why I feel this way when it comes to him but to have him get into my flat is still out of the choices.
"It's fine. I can do it. Bye"
"Bye Louise"
I waved a hand as I watched him drive away, lightly seeing the way he was glancing at the rear view mirror. I sighed. This day was more intense than a week of my mother's incessant nagging all because these are all new to me.
I have never talked to a man longer than a minute and to be with Valen who proves to be not only just a man but a man with a whole new level of appeal is absolutely peculiar. Those smiles, those arms, that presence is affecting me in a way I simply could not put into specific words.
Perhaps I may start a new category in my blog.
When I reached my flat, I settled my groceries in the dining table and changed into more comfortable clothes before putting what I have bought to the fridge. Afterwards, I settled on the living room and took my phone and logged in my blog site.
There are several comments and tips from people. The highest in number, someone named 'TheArchitect' generously gave a thousand dollars in my latest blog about the English language. TheArchitect has always been a mystery to me. He or maybe, she, is the first person to ever subscribe on my blog site and the first person to give me a tip worth of five hundred dollars. Ever since then, this person always reads my posts, never missed even just one.
It ignited a curiosity in me because when I tried to stalk 'TheArchitect', I've found out that there are no other information on the profile other than the username and a simple quote, 'Just an Architect'
I scrolled through the comments and read TheArchitect's new comment.
'This has been very informative. The touch and in-depth explanation of the English language is not just helpful but beneficial to everyone whose taken an interest in learning the English subject. I believe understanding a language is necessary especially if we treat it as what you called as the global lingua franca. Very put out.
P.S. I am patiently waiting for another update in your personal memoir. The last chapter had touched me to the roots. Keep going, Miss Louise'