"Are you a student here?" The man asked. His voice was deep and raspy. He had an air of dominance around him and Faride wasn't pleased she was sited next to him. Nice smell or not, he looked dangerous. Who knew what men like him did? Or thought? She would have kept mute but her two friends were busy discussing on Damons' and Stefans' looks. #TeamDamon #TeamStefan. Choose one.
"Yes," came her curt reply.
"Is it good?"
Was he talking about her delicious waffle now? She looked at him for the first time, rather hesitantly. He has piercing brown eyes. High cheekbones, long nose and an impeccable smooth skin. Wow. His hair was curly brown perfect and she wondered if he worked in a saloon. Because Lord! This man was drop dead gorgeous. She ogled at his face for a second or was it a minute more? Dammit Faride! He looked strangely familiar but she couldn't figure where she had seen him. On TV? Nah. Maybe he was just resembling an actor then.
"I mean, the school. Do you like it here?" He clarified, cocking an eyebrow.
She shook her head. Oh my God. What was she doing? Looking at a man in the face. What if he got the wrong impression? Ya Allah. "Ohh. Yes. I love it here." Why the heck was he asking by the way?
He nodded and was silent for a beat before he asked again, "you been here long?"
Ugh. How much she hated small talk. "No. Um, still in year one."
She stayed silent for a while pretending to be engrossed in her friends' conversation, but her mind was going in circles. This was her chance to speak. No one had ever tried to ask her or get to know her all her life. Well, except her three friends. Ask him something. Right? Was that weird?
What does she even care if she spoke to him? Well, whatever. She could still ask him anything. That's what normal people do. But she wasn't normal. Never had been. She could feel herself hyperventilating and her stammering coming up. Focus. Calm down, she urged herself. Taking a deep breath inside, she glanced towards him. He was typing furiously on his phone. He looked somewhat scary. Dammit. Whatever. "Are you also schooling here?" she asked in a timid voice. A beat passed. Maybe he hadn't even heard her.
The man turned his head a bit, his eyes narrowing at her. His lips turned upwards slightly. Was he smirking? He looked somewhat surprised to hear her speak. "No. Of course not. I'm too old for this, don't you think?"
She was taken aback. "Old? But no. Education is always important no matter how old you are. It never gets old." She was surprised to hear her own self speak. She wasn't sure what had gotten into her, but there was this intense feeling she had to talk to this man. Besides, she would never see his again. Hence, take the opportunity.
"Oh yeah? So you think I can enrol in your class and just sit and listen to lectures?"
She shrugged. "Of course. Why not? You'll gain more knowledge and a certificate at the end of the day." Another student flopped next to him so he adjusted closer to Faride and now, their shoulders were touching. They didn't even seem to notice. He was looking at her in the eyes, unblinking. And she was fidgeting with her hands underneath her bag. Thank God he couldn't see. Her waffle remained half eaten in its wrapper. "I have all the knowledge I need." He said, somewhat fiercely. Oh no. Had she touched a sore spot? She felt angry at herself. She didn't even know this guy. Why would she say such to him? Ugh.
Turning back to her friends, she remained quiet and continued listening to their banter. She felt miserable. Tonight would be a very long night with her revisiting this conversation over and over again, thinking about what she could have done right.
Out of nowhere, he spoke in a soft voice. "But I guess I might need the certificate." He chuckled.
She was the one surprised this time. He had a distinctive accent, she noticed. Where could he be from? He didn't look Malay, or Chinese, or Indian. Maybe from the south? Sarawak or Sabah? Though he didn't look Asian at all. But well, what did she know?
"And to answer your question, I'm actually looking for a school for my brother. This looks like a nice fit."
"Ohh. That nice." What was there for her to say again? "It's a really nice school."
"Can I know your name?" His deep voice resounded close to her ear.
A shiver ran through her veins. "Um..." Was it okay to tell this stranger her name? Dammit. She sure as heck would never see him again. But so what? People told their names all the time. But not to dangerously looking hot guys.
"Faride, look at this." Liu giggled, pointing to the screen. Of course her friends would mess everything up.
"Faride." He said the as if the name was sugar and it was melting in his mouth. "Nice to meet you, Faride."
"Nice to meet you too. What about you?"
"Me?"
"Your name?"
He almost smiled this time, amused. "I'm Alessandro."
Now she was sure he wasn't from around here. That name sounded like a Spanish name. Or Italian? Maybe he was from Europe, She wondered. Strangely, she felt at ease sitting in the midst of this strange man and her friends. She felt comfortable and happy. But that would soon end as well. Like everything always ended. "Team Stefan or team Damon, Faride?"
"Um, I'm not sure. I love both of them."
"Oohhh. Both huh." Liu raised her eyebrows playfully.
Faride blushed. "No. Not like that, o. I mean they're both amazing. At first it was Stefan then Damon came along and I ended up liking him as well."
"So you won't choose then, is that it. Well. I'm team Damon all the way."
"Seems like your friends are interested in some guys." Alessandro whispered in her ears. Quickly, she nudged forward a bit. Unfortunately for her, she noticed he had done the same.
She glanced towards him but quickly averted her gaze. "They're some fictional characters, the guys."
"Oh really?"
"Yeah. From the vampire diaries."
"I wouldn't know it. I don't watch movies."
"Ohh. Not even series?"
"Not my thing. Do you?"
She nodded. "Yeah. I do."
"Let me guess. Romance?"
"What?" Her eyes widened.
"You love romance movies?" He clarified.
Of course. What were you thinking Faride? "Oh no. I actually prefer Horror, Thriller, Crime dramas sorta movies."
"That's strange. You're the first girl I met that isn't interested in romance movies."
"I guess I'm not like most girls."
"I think so." What? Did he really say that? She jerked her head towards him but his face was impassive. Must be in her head, she concluded.
A gush of air whipped towards them, causing a shiver from Faride. It was still dark outside but the rain had stopped. The place was getting livelier, and Faride snuggled deeper into her seat just as Nur announced that it was time to go back to class.
"Okay," was all she said. Was this where she bid him goodbye? She would never see him again. Wrapping her bag around herself, she stood up. Without a second glance, she walked side by side with her friends.
"Mind if I join you in class?"
She whipped her head behind her. "But you're not… um, enrolled in the class."
"Yeah but I don't think the teacher would mind." He stood up abruptly, hands in pocket as he towered over her. Damn. This guy was doing something to her. Ugh!
His gaze burned her back as she tried to concentrate on the lectures. Alessandro had sat at the last row while she and her friends were in their usual seats. "Where do you know that guy from?" Nur whispered.
"I only just met him today." She whispered back.
"He does seem to like you."
Faride looked at her disgusted and rolled her eyes. Whatever was wrong with Nur? She thought every guy liked Faride. Was she blond or something? That was the type of girl Alessandro would fall for. Blond, busty, tall, light skinned. He most likely had a hot girlfriend already and if not, then maybe he even had a wife. Why dream of something that was impossible? Her life was sad but it was something she was used to. She hated change and she couldn't begin to imagine falling in love. When it was time, Papa would find the right man for her. Just like he had done for them all their lives. Protected them, sheltered them from the evil world. He was already finding someone for Hajara. She would be next, she knew it. Or maybe their cousin Ibrahim was next. Or he might find partners for them both at the same time. Deep down, she didn't want to imagine how the future would look like.