Emy turn to look at Saff when she heard him speak while Saff is looking straight at the road as he was seriously driving.
"Are you always like this to your former manager?" Emy asked curiously as she turns to look straight at the road as well.
"No" Saff answered straight forwardly.
"Then why are you like this to me? You are not even wondering why I'm behaving like this, have you encountered a person suffering with anxiety attack before?" this time Emy look back at him while his eyes are still fixed at the road. "No" once again, Saff answered straight forwardly.
"Look young man, I am your manager and I am seven years older than you, I don't like to be treated as just some random easy woman you can just easily talk with sweet words, I am not that simple and weak". Emy is now serious with her tone while looking at Saff without even realizing that Saff was already parking his car as they had arrived at the restaurant.
Saff finally look back at Emy, and he answer "No, I'm not looking down at you if that is what you mean...No, I don't see you as just some random easy girl...No, I don't think you are weak...and still No for I am not just talking some sweet words, because I'm serious" and after he said that he leans forward to Emy, losing the gap between them as he stares closely now to her beautiful face, he continue to say "we are here" as he unbuckle her seat belt and lean back to his seat again to give Emy the space to breathe while still not taking his eyes off of her.
Emy's already widened eyes slowly blink twice, dumbfounded once again by Saff's words and his actions, then Saff continue to say "you're cheeks turned red manager emy" his teasing made Emy to quickly jump off the car.
Saff secretly smiled and sighed as he also got nervous with what he did and said awhile ago, but he is very confident of his sincerity towards her. Meanwhile Emy took several deep breathes to calm her racing heartbeat now, she compose herself again and tried to still act normal after their conversation at the car.
"Let's go manager emy!" Saff also stepped out of the car wearing his black bucket hat and face mask as his eyes smile at her.
"Wait! Aren't you staying inside the car? You could create a scene if someone notice you at the restaurant" Emy asked worriedly then she continue to say "stay inside I will order takeout food for us" but just before she leaves, Saff says "if I stay here then my effort on making a reservation at this fine dine restaurant will all be put into waste, don't you think?" and he blink at her then starts walking towards the entrance.
Emy followed after him and when they got inside, a waiter quickly approach them and politely ask "Welcome! May I ask if you have a reservation?"
"yes, for Ms. Greyson, a table for two", Saff answered the waiter and after confirming it, the waiter lead them to their table and told them that their food will be served shortly as it was also ordered in an advanced call.
Sitting with her arms crossed, Emy silently observes the man seated in front of her while her eyes also roams around their surroundings to look if there would be someone suspiciously following or staring at them as she needs to protect the young Idol from aggressive paparazzi and fans that may make a scene. Noticing this, Saff gently say to her "I have never done this before, having reservation and eating without my brothers (referring to the other Idol members). But you know I somehow like the feeling of excitement, feeling nervous and happy at the same time…Not by the thrill of being caught by paparazzi or fans...But because I am here with you and I hope this would prove that I sincerely respect you", his eyes looking directly into Emy's beautiful hazel ones.
They didn't wait for too long for the Foods to be served one by one on their table which are all mouthwatering dishes with elegant garnishing and presentation. There are shrimp pasta, mixed seafood platter, rib-eye steak, and a classic house salad.
He pulls his bucket hat lower so it will cover up to his nose before he take off his face mask as he gets ready to dig in. Emy being an excellent observant, notice his action and felt a bit worried and concerned as she can't see his eyes now, they won't be able to have eye contact if they were to talk about something.
'Isn't he looks pitiful eating that way' Emy thought to herself. Then, she notice Saff took some of the shrimps and put them on his plate, he is gently peeling it one by one using silver flatware.
"Smells so delicious" Saff says as he looks so excited seeing all the foods in front of him, such a foodie.
"Are you eating those shrimps? Aren't you allergic to seafood?" Emy asked, but Saff did not answer her and just smiles instead. It was a fact, she have read it on his biography that his body has allergic reaction to seafood.
"Hey young man, I still don't know where you put your medicine kit yet and I don't have your-"
Before Emy get to finish her words, Saff already put the peeled shrimps on her plate.
"I thought you love shrimps so I peeled them...I guess you love eating seafood but I don't know exactly what kind so I ordered a platter" Saff says as he smiles but Emy couldn't see his eyes as it was covered.
"Thank you..." she felt touched by his action, and then in return she took the plate of steak to place it in front of him "here, I know you are a big fan of meat", they both smile even without eye contact.
They somehow manage to eat peacefully even in the midst of people as the restaurant is quite occupied at this hour. When they are done eating and paying the bill, they immediately leave the restaurant and went back to the car.
"Since we're already outside, why don't we take this chance to go somewhere nice" Saff says excitedly.
"You have a dance rehearsal at three in the afternoon" Emy answered while browsing his schedule on the company phone.
"Alright then we will sure be back on time!" then he start the engine and drive moderately while the window on Emy's side is still open for her to feel comfortable.
Her hands are still getting sweaty as she still feel nervous riding inside that unfamiliar car with a driver she is not used to but she try her best not to let it show so she just look through the window instead to redirect her attention.
Saff notice her sudden silence so he turn on the car stereo and played a soothing music, then after thirty minutes they have arrived at their destination. They got off the car and walk towards the powdery white sand of a perfect blue sea, just an hour drive from the city. There are other people at the shore as well, but Saff chose the spot with enough distance to keep them in the low key.
"It feels relaxing" Emy says as she closed her eyes listening to the gentle sound of waves.
"I always come here whenever I have free time, to take a quick break from everything"
"Hey young man, I won't tolerate sneaking from now on" Emy says while her eyes are still close
"You can say that, but I sometimes prefer watching those ordinary people from this spot"
"Are you stalking them?!" she jokingly said
Saff smile at the word 'stalking' then he says "I just want to feel how to be ordinary like the common people here, look at how simple life is for them, just having fun with their family, playing with their pet dog, or simply staring at the sea"
Emy finally looked at Saff who now has a serious expression on his face, even though it is half covered, she can see it through his eyes. She remembered what she read this morning at his biography, he started training to become an artist when he was just ten years old. Her parents must have taken this to their heart that he should train hard as early as possible to become this popular and talented as he is now.
He equally divides his time on vocal class, dance class, and a piano class after school for seven days a week, and on top of that he still manages to have extracurricular activities like being on a varsity team of table tennis.
He got a load of hard work at his early age but look at him now…he is a billionaire, and a well-known talented Idol of his generation. Advertisement, endorsements, sponsors and producers are rushing to work with them and even pretty girls want to hook up with them because of their fame. But maybe at the end of the day, even if you seem to have it all, you still need that something or someone who can give you that driving force, that motivation so you won't feel that every day is just a routine of works.
"Don't get me wrong manager Emy...I love what I do, I really do! I can't imagine having other profession or job other than being in the entertainment industry, and our fan base is so amazing, they are the best part of being here in this industry. It's just that sometimes… I just want to feel that simple life… maybe I just missed that part… the things that common people do"
Saff lowered his head as he is now staring at the sand on his shoes and he continues to say "seeing them reminds me to keep my feet on the ground despite our popularity" and his lips curved into a smile.
"Then let's sneak here more often" Emy says while looking at Saff who also look back to meet her eyes, his sight slowly fell to Emy's pink lips and then back to her long-thick lashed hazel eyes as he speak,
"do you know how awfully pretty you are right now?"