Class ended on time the next day. Tropes of students leaving the building suddenly made the environment crowded again. Priyanka walked out after a long day of studies, holding a globe in her arms. She look so hot in her blue denim short, white hoodie, pairs of white Nike air force sneakers, pink socks, her hair neatly tied into two ponytails with two pink butterfly scrunchies, and her backpack black as usual.
She drew the attention of too many both far and near. Guys whistling at her but she just focus on where she's going. Some girls carried away by the length of her hair. She kept her head up high like a serious lady. Her mind is supposed to be thinking of the number of assignments she has to do when she gets home but no. Her mind is still drifted to what happened at the deserted area yesterday.
She couldn't sleep last night. She can't believe she spent the entire night thinking about the kiss. That was her first kiss, how can she just brush it off? She was traumatized. She had to wear her earbuds and play some songs before she could sleep last night and today when the scene flashed in her head again, she found it difficult to concentrate in class. It was like she wasn't present in school today when she was. Her mind was active somewhere else.
What about him? Is he happy they kissed? It won't surprise her if he is. Because, guys like him have kissed a thousand women before. Why should it feel new to him? She is the victim here. Stuck in this dangerous snare.
She startled when she saw the devil himself, standing behind a black Ferrari, holding bouquet of roses, waving and grinning at her like a donkey. He was looking super stunning in black Dior pants and a blue t-shirt. His brown hair tied into a man bun.
"Oh meh," She cursed. Super tired of seeing him around all the time. Does he have to come all the way from Washington to see her in LA? She rolled her eyes and walked towards the white Audi A8 waiting for her.
Justin's smiles fades in one second when he saw her walking towards another car. The man on black suit standing beside the car, helped her with the globe and opened the back door for her to go in. Justin clenched his jaw and fist. He couldn't withstand the sight of her going away from him. And who was that man? Though he looked like her chauffeur but he wasn't liking the gesture. Jealousy and anger overtook him as the car drive away.
He was super mad that she didn't even come to say Hi. Not even a wave of the hand or a smile. What is she? A stone? He came all the way from Washington to see her here and she didn't regard him. How can she be so selfish?
"Fuck!" He kicked his foot on the tyre and winced, holding his leg.
...….
The following day, he sent her flowers. Bouquet of roses, lilies, daisies and a big box of chocolate. He doesn't know her favourite flavor so he had to put it in Choco. He added a sweet note to it. Hope she'll like it when she sees it.
He was scanning through some documents he was signing when his friends busted in uninvited. They brought champagne, empty glasses and cookies and he wonder who was celebrating a birthday party. Max was grinning behind them, giving him thumbs up. Then he knew his little secret has become his greatest regret.
Why can't he keep his mouth shut for a while? He asked him never to disclose anything of what he had told him and now, third parties are already involved. He is not ready to answer sarcastic questions from his friends. Beside, he was busy before they came in and now, he can't concentrate with all their praises and whooping.
"Can you guys please bring it down?" He whined and they obeyed like adorable nurseries. He ignored them and continued his work.
"Wait, aren't you gonna ask what's cooking?" Tristan placed a bottle of Rosé Grenache on the desk.
Justin lifted his head, looked at his friends and cousin. They were smiling nonstop. He leaned his back on his seat, tired. "Okay. What's roasting?"
"And that's the spirit!" Harry exclaimed happily. Max shared the empty glasses while Tristan began to pour.
"I'm not drinking when I know nothing about this celebration." Justin stated firmly.
"Chillax, man." Max chuckled, lifting his glass in the air. "To our biggest playboy who now has a crush for the first time."
"Hurray!!" Tristan and Harry clicked their glasses with his and on Justin's who was still hanging his glass in shock.
He knew it. He knew his cousin was a lousy big mouth. "Max, you can't be ridiculous."
"Uh huh, you know you can count on me when it comes to surprises." He sipped his wine. "And I'll like you to tell me more about her. Especially the night at her place."
"Seriously, this dude already had encounter with the India mermaid for the first time?" Tristan finding it interesting, sat on the chair across the desk. "Damn me for missing a lot."
Justin's jaw and fist clenched. His lips pressed together as he keeps a narrow eye at his cousin.
"What a hot night for you too." Harry whispered, grinning. "I'd like to shake hands with her. Will you bring her over, Sir?"
Justin was about to say something but then, the door opened and his secretary walked in with bouquet of different flowers. "Excuse me, boss. I received these from a postman. He said miss Abhishek sent them" He dropped them on his desk.
They are the same flowers Justin sent to her. Even with the box of chocolate. Does it means that she rejected his gifts? She must be very strong-headed and stubborn.
"It's alright, you can go." He dismissed him and he left.
Justin was very disappointed in what she did. How on earth does she want him to express himself to her? Is it that she's too expensive or what? All these things he's doing, he has never done them to anyone before. He had to do some research on how to make a woman happy on Google. With all the lists google gave him, he picked the one that said flowers and chocolate and a little love note. Yet, it didn't work on her. Does she know the number of women dying to have him on their bed for just one night?
"Nuttella sticks. Hmm." Harry took the box of chocolate and Tristan joined him to consume it.
Justin was frustrated thinking of what to do next to please her. His head is blank and he won't ask his friends for help.
"Troubleshooting?" Max sat across him. When he didn't say anything, Max took the note from from the flowers. It was the sweetest love letter he has ever seen for a woman. What type of woman would reject a thing like this. Max felt sad for him.
"Do you like her?" Harry broke the ice after observing the silence.
He lifted his head, his eyes red like he had been holding up his tears. To be sincere and candid, the feelings he has for her is too much for only him to carry. He doesn't know how to put it to her. This is no longer a 'come back and fix me.' This is a 'be my woman.' Thing. He has been having this uncontrollably syndrome since that kiss. He has kissed so many women in the past but she? She was so different.
"I don't think this is just about liking someone, Harry." He ran his hands through his face and exhaled. "I've never catch this type of feeling for anyone before. I think am about to get a migraine." He massaged his temples.
"This guy is drunk in love." Tristan mumbled. Falling in love with a mermaid? It's psych.
"I think she left you something." Max showed him the back of the note.
A 'Fuck you' sign and a 'To hell with you, coward.' note. Ugh, she must be a very good artist with the drawing. His chins clenched as he took his phone to call someone.
"Look, how I got your number doesn't really matter. You're frustrating me, driving me crazy. I can't think straight, do you think you're easy for me to overcome?"
The others looked so surprised. Watching him like he's a horror movie.
"So, you still managed to get my number, huh?" Priyanka snapped. "Don't you read? Leave me alone, Justin. Let me be! You know that kiss was not supposed to happen."
"I didn't regret that kiss and am not gonna leave you for one bit."
The others gasped in unison. They've never seen him so serious like this with a woman. He usually do 'come and go' but for this one? He is deadly into her.
"A player will always be a player. I know you just want to get into my pants, use me and dump me when you're done. That's why you're always pestering me, Mr. Chadwick!"
"If you think am into you because of your body or because of sex, then you're misquoting my feelings for you. What I have for you is genuine and way beyond kisses and romance."
"I hate you, Mr. Chadwick." She said with disgust.
"Hate me all you want, Priyanka. But I won't stop loving you. You started what you can't finish, remember?"
"I was just trying to save you and your family, Justin. Was that too much?" She growled.
"No." His eyes dark with desires. "Just have it at the back of your mind that...I'm in love with you and am not ashame to tell it out if you want me to. The highest you can do is kill me and I know that is not gonna be easy for you."
"I can see you're so dumb and foolish at the same time." She hung up.
Justin looked at his phone, fuming in anger. "Did she just hung up on me? Just wait for me, Priyanka. I'll prove to you today that no man on this planet earth can love you the way I do."
Did he just said that out loud? And did he just say 'Love'? That's the last thing anyone would expect of him. Loving a woman dearly? Unbelievable!
His friends were trying to reason with him but he wasn't listening to them at all. He quickly typed something on his laptop and porch some buttons on the DeskPhone. "Clifford, tell my pilot, Keith, to arrange my chopper. I'm flying to LA now."
"LA?" Max gasped. "Dude, don't kill yourself for this woman."
"Hey, Justin, you need to take it easy, okay? Or else you might run mad or lose your brain for her." Harry warned.
Justin ignored them. He grabbed his phones and walked out. The three men looked at themselves after he was gone. They helplessly shook their heads for each other.
"In love with a mermaid? Like seriously, who started this initiation and manipulation first? Him? Or her?" Tristan is left quizzical.