He waved at her.
She texted him 'What are you doing here?'.
'To pick you up'.
She texted him back 'I am not going anywhere'
She looked out of the window but he was no more there.
Aunt Leah entered her room and called her "Rose".
"Yes" she turned back to respond.
"Jaden is here to meet you" said Aunt Leah.
Rose left her room and walked into the drawing room where Jaden was waiting for her. When their eyes met Jaden offered a pleasing smile but Rose had a neutral expression on her face.
"What are you doing here?" she asked. Her aunt and uncle could sense the mean tone she was talking in.
Jaden could sense that too but he maintained his smile and said "As I said earlier, to pick you".
"Sorry but I am really tired today"
"Oh.. don't worry I won't ask you to participate in a long-distance running race." Jaden made a sarcastic comment.
"Haha ...not funny" replied Rose in a robotic voice.
Jaden stood up and said, "You know what? We are wasting time here. We will go somewhere near and I don't want no as an answer. Ple-".
"Okay okay but let me change first" she cut him because she did not want to hear him plead for such a small request.
"You look gorgeous in this sweatshirt too. No need to change". This quick compliment of his made her blush she looked down at the floor and asked her aunt in a shy voice "Can I go out with him?".
"Of course you can. No need to ask" Aunt Leah answered. Jaden left the house followed by Rose.
"Follow me" Jaden instructed Rose.
She walked behind him till his steps stopped in front of motorcycle.
"I didn't know rich men like you ride on three wheelers" Rose made a sarcastic comment.
"I want to live a simplistic life" he said and added "Many people don't know this but I am very down to earth"
Rose looked into his eyes and said "And down to earth people these days buy top model motorcycles to impress their dates".
On hearing her words Jaden lowered his head in embarrassment. 'How can I be so stupid?' he asked himself.
She chuckled and asked "When did you buy this?". He looked at the three wheeler and replied "Yesterday". "I am just teasing you. I did not mean to embarrass you. I just want to say that just be yourself and don't pretend to be someone else" said Rose.
"How do you expect me to myself when I am trying to be your ideal type?" he questioned.
Rose instantly looked away to hide her blushing face. She cleared her throat and asked "So, where are we going?".
"Any restaurant you would like to have dinner... "
"I don't have any favorite restaurant if that is what you are going to ask" she cut him. "Oh..." Jaden murmured with a disappointed face. On seeing his reaction she said "If you are comfortable visiting a small restaurant then we have one". "Two streets over and they serve Chinese cuisine" Rose added.
"Okay " he replied.
"But there is a problem".
"What?" he asked her.
"Your dress. Like I mean look at yourself. You look so formal. You even wore a tie and now look at me I am wearing a grey sweatshirt paired with black skinny jeans which most probably the daughter of the restaurant's owner is wearing too" she said.
"Don't worry about that. I will be wearing a sweatshirt too."
"You mean you are going to change h-here".
Jaden smiled seeing her stutter and said "Of course" while taking off his blazer.
"What the hell is wrong with you ?" she asked in a distressed face looking away. On seeing her reaction Jaden couldn't help but laugh. Rose turned her big green eyes towards him as he said "Don't worry I am already wearing the sweatshirt inside".
"You wore a blazer, a shirt and now you are saying you are wearing a sweatshirt inside. It must be feeling hot inside." said Rose.
"I would not mind wearing my whole winter closet to a desert if I get to talk to you." he said and took off his shirt which revealed the black sweatshirt he wore.
"Stop exaggerating. I don't avoid talking to you that much"
"You really do that. I usually sugarcoat my words to not make you feel uncomfortable but now I am really tired of this." Jaden sighed and continued "Anyways we talked about this in the morning. Hope we have a good time at the restaurant". He sat on the motorcycle and said "Hop in". Rose smiled and sat on the three wheeler. As Jaden started the motorbike Rose placed her hands on his shoulder and made herself comfortable. The ride was not a long one as their destination was not far.
"So, this is the restaurant you were talking about" said Jaden looking at the restaurant. It was well lit and looked spacious but nothing compared to the five star restaurants he usually had dinners at.
"Yes" replied Rose nodding her head. Jaden put on the hood which covered almost the whole of his face.
"What are you doing?" asked Rose.
"If people spot you with me they will easily get to know about our relationship" he answered.
"Oh..." murmured Rose.
They quickly made their way into the restaurant and the waiter pulled chairs for them. Having glanced the menu Jaden asked "What would you like to have?"
" Chicken clear soup, Cantonese veg noodles and Kung Pao chicken"
"That is it?" he asked with an astonished face.
"Yes" replied Rose trying to figure out the reason behind his astonishment.
"How can you eat so less?" he asked.
"These food don't come with high nutritional value. So, I don't need to consume it in huge amounts. I have a healthy diet don't worry" she said and smiled.
He looked towards the waiter and said "Repeat the order for me". The food arrived soon as there were not many people present there. Rose seemed focused completing her meal while Jaden couldn't help but stare and admire her beauty.
"Eat your food" instructed Rose. The dinner tasted good to Jaden but he doubted the hygiene maintained in the kitchen. Soon Jaden and Rose completed their food and Jaden asked the waiter for bill. He was shocked seeing the total amount.
"It is like six times cheaper than what I usually receive as my total amount ".
Rose smiled and said "Maybe Mr. Down-to-Earth is visiting such restaurant for the first time."
"I guess you will use this to tease me for the rest of eternity".
Rose chuckled and said "Of course I will".
Jaden took his card out and Rose's eyes widened she immediately pulled the card way from his hand.
"Your skull has an organ missing" She said in a low but irked voice.
"What?" Jaden frowned.
"Mr. Hiding-in-a-hood if you use this card do you think people won't know who you are"
"But I don't have cash".
Rose sighed and said "Fine I will pay". Rose paid the bill and the pair left the restaurant and sat on the motorbike.
Jaden having moved a bit far from the restaurant stopped the motorcycle to loosen the hood. "I am sorry. I just ruined the whole date." he apologized.
Rose said in an assuring manner "Hey, what are you sorry for? I think the date was pretty good".
"Oh.. come on I took you for the dinner and you had to pay the bill "
"I don't mind paying for the dinner, plus it is so typical how always men are expected to pay for every little thing. I was just a bit annoyed seeing how careless you were at the restaurant".
"So, according to you the date was good?"
Rose smiled and nodded her head. He started the motorcycle with a happy face and stopped it it front of her house.
"Your destination" said Jaden while parking his bike to bid her goodbye.
"I forgot to ask you ask you something" said Rose.
"Shoot it" replied Jaden.
"Aunt Leah told me that you asked her for the ID card. If that is true then, why did you lie to me about stealing it from my bag?" she asked.
Jaden smiled and replied "You expect me to miss that reaction? Like I wish you could see the expression you had on your face".
Rose narrowed her eyes and said in a robotic voice "Haha ..not funny".
Rose looked into his eyes and said "I was really open to you today, Did you notice that?".
Jaden smilingly said "I did notice that and also marked it as a progress".
Rose with a smile on her face and eyes closed hugged him. She said "I am looking forward to this relationship."