Time passed quickly when you enjoyed it.
In the blink of an eye, the sky darkened.
Cassidy dabbed her mouth with the table towel and sighed in sheer contentment.
" Uhm.. Khalid, I must really thank you for spending time with me today. The meal was delicious and I haven't felt this good in a long time. Thank you so much."
Khalid chuckled.
" And I must also thank you for spending time with me too. Too bad the day had to end so early."
They trudged towards the door after he paid the bill and walked out of the restaurant.
Khalid glanced at the sky.
The dots on the sky reminded him of his childhood star song ( the twinkle little stars.)
" Did you also hear the song about the twinkle little stars?"
She giggled.
" Who didn't? It used to be my favorite."
They looked up above the sky at the same time.
After what seemed like forever, Cassidy spoke.
" I think it's time for me to leave. I'll see you tomorrow....if I can."
" Where are you going to?"
Truth was, Cassidy didn't plan to go back home.
She was going to show her father what stuff she was made of, and going back home at this point wasn't what she meant.
" Cassidy, I could still replace him. I could still be your Devin - the one you've always wanted."
Cassidy didn't move an inch.
Khalid would never be her Devin.
He wasn't even anything close to Devin.
They might have had a striking resemblance but it didn't mean he was the one.
" But, we just met and you have a woman," she said without a second thought.
He stared at her. He knew what she would say.
" I know I said that but I'm not even sure about it."
Khalid took her hand in his.
Cassidy felt hotness hit her in the face.
" What if Devin is out there with someone else? Would you still wait for him? Wouldn't you go with me?"
It hit her almost immediately. Women never knew with men.
They could be out there with another woman - just like her father.
A part of her constantly reminded her of their promise.
They were going to come back for each other. Nothing would stop them.
Now she was here, he could be here too but not with another woman.
They were made for each other.
Khalid was surely lying to her to take advantage of her naivety and innocence.
Her sudden brisk walk was held to a halt when she felt some powerful arms engulf her from behind.
Cassidy gasped wide-eyed as she tried to maintain her balance.
She jerked her head sideways and her eyes met with Khalid's deep eyes.
She felt strange as she realized it was the first time she looked him in the eyes since they met.
He lazily pressed his cheek on her shoulder as she glared silently at him.
She could feel her legs wobble in weakness when the vibration of his thick voice tickled her ears.
He was too close to her comfort.
" Can you stay with me tonight? I don't want to be alone."
Khalid's voice was so calm but this time he evoked a sense of pity from her.
In the end, she couldn't give him a straight reply.
" Let go of me first, then we'll talk."
Instead of letting go, his hold on her waist tightened.
" No. I want to stay like this."
Cassidy hissed impatiently.
This was indeed a dirty move.
" Khalid, don't treat me like an easy woman."
Her stern face caused wrinkles to become visible.
Khalid's hand flinched.
It took him a moment to realize that he had upset her, and a guilty look flashed across his handsome beige skinned face.
He reluctantly let her waist go.
He was supposed to be a gentle and patient man that he perceived Cassidy had always dreamt of.
His selfish desire made him feel conflicted.
" Cassy, I'd never once thought of you as an easy woman. You're a woman every responsible man wants and I wanted you because it was you."
Khalid's sudden declaration made her heart pound aggressively in her chest as if she was going to explode like a bomb the next minute.
She stood as if lost.
This was the second man aside Devin who acknowledged her and even wanted to be with her.
Khalid's voice was resolved and mixed with a hint of provocation.
He hadn't averted his almond shaped eyes from hers even for a second, as though he wanted to convey his honesty to her.
He used this opportunity to take her hand in his.
" I won't force you to do anything you don't like, but I don't want to lie to myself or you. I want you and only you.
His gaze deepened.
" Cassy, if you can find it in you to trust me, even if it's just a little, can you grant me a chance to hold you in my arms?"
His words were too much for her to bear.
Cassidy pulled her hand from his, and his crestfallen face felt like a stab on her conscience.
She couldn't bear to face Khalid's penetrating gaze, so she averted her teary eyes.
She didn't want a downpour of emotions unfolding at such unstable hour.
Khalid saw that, and a sad smile appeared on his face.
" Cassidy, I'm not saying all of this to take advantage of your innocence, but because I know deep down in you that there's pain."
Cassidy sniffed and wiped her face with her clammy hand.
She could feel sweat break out on her forehead.
" You might not say it but I can see it in your eyes.
He raised her chin and looked into her eyes.
" I want to protect you from whatever might be hunting you. I want to protect you from your pains, from your very self and from this cruel world."
Cassidy gazed doubtfully at him. She didn't want to believe a word he had said but she needed that protection more than anything else.
And she was going to try one more time - only once.
She was going to trust her instincts one more time.