It had been weeks now since I had gone for the exam and I was getting nervous.
"You have to calm down. The results are not out yet, moreover, I believe you did well. " Rowan said lazily from the couch as he went through his phone.
"So easy for you to say." I mumbled as I sulked in a corner, burning my face in between my hands.
"Tora." Rowan called.
"Hm." I replied without raising my head.
"Tora, look at me," he said softly, this time his voice was closer.
Sighing I removed my hands from my face and I met with his brown eyes as he bent down to my eye level, making my heart skip a beat. He always had that effect on me.
"I believe in you, Hermosa. You have been studying day and night because of this so I do not get why you keep beating yourself over....wait over what exactly? The results are not out yet and damn it has been only five wee--"
"Only?" I asked with my eyes wide open. "It has been a month, a week and four days."
"Blah, blah. A month, a week and four days, five weeks, who cares? Hm, what we both know is the results would be out. So you have got to calm down and enjoy this present moment." he paused as he waited for a response but I had nothing to say. "Is that a yes or no?" he pouted and I smiled.
"Okay. Yes." I raised my hands as a sign of surrender.
"Okay. That is more like it." he smiled as she stood upright and he grabbed my hands suddenly.
"Wha... "
"Go in and change. I am taking you out to shake those doubts off. "
"No, I am okay. " I refused as I snatched my hand from and curled up into a ball.
Suddenly his arms went under my legs and arms, carrying me in a bridal style.
"Wh... Row... Put me down." I cried out but he chose to ignore me and the next second I was thrown into my room.
"Change into something nice and come out here. You have seven minutes to do just that. " he said and slammed the door not giving me the chance to speak.
"Seriously Row. You expect me to obey you? In your wildest dreams. " I shouted stubbornly as I sat at the edge of my bed.
"It is no problem then. " he entered again and carried me again.
"Row, what the heck are you doing? " I screamed.
"I gave you the chance. " he shrugged as he opened the door. "Nana we would be stepping out for a while. " he shouted.
"Have fun. " Nana shouted back from her room.
No matter how I shouted and wriggled in his arms, Rowan did not put me down. Not until I was dumped in his car.
"Do not try anything funny. " he warned as he pulled the seatbelt.
"You wish." I muttered folding my arms and I received a glare. "Like...who carries one, a lady to be precise in this manner? "
A snicker left his lips.
"What was that? " I asked and he looked at me with a straight face like he was not smiling a moment ago.
"Nothing." He curtly answered before closing the door.
"What the... " I mused.
The next hour turned out to be a lot of fun. Now he was pulling me in another direction.
"Row, I am not done with this. " I grumbled as I hurriedly ate the meatball but he continued pulling.
"You know yo... " the words hung on my lips when I looked towards the direction he was pulling me . Immediately I snatched my hand from his."I...I cannot go in there. "
In front of us was one of the most expensive stores in town, MR. Sure this was little to Rowan since he was born into a wealthy family so he could always get whatever he wanted.
"Why?"Rowan asked breaking through my train of thoughts.
"Why?" I repeated, with my mouth wide open. "You are asking me why? Seriously Row. I cannot afford any single thing inside that place." I breathed out in frustration and he chuckled
I looked at him like he had finally lost it before asking. "You think this is funny? "
And he stopped.
"You think too much . " he said with a straight face and took my hand again, this time dragging me towards the store.
"Rowan." I yelled attracting the attention of the passersby but I was too occupied to care. "I am not going in there. " I said firmly and he turned to look at me.
"Tora, you have got to calm down. I did not say you were buying. " he said so calmly that I felt guilty of my actions.
"So...so why are we going in there? "
"You are not buying but I am. You get it silly. " he flickered my forehead.
"Ouch, must you do that? " I groaned as I rubbed the sore spot and he chuckled.
"Can we go in now? " he asked ignoring my question.
"You are crazy. "
"You sure are crazier. "
With smiles, we both entered the store and my jaw dropped. This was the first time steeping my foot in here and it was just...so breathtaking. With Rowan still holding my hand, we walked further into the store and I wanted to run away. I became self-conscious of my outfit when I saw the manner the people inside were dressed and I regretted not heeding Rowan when he told me to change my clothes. I was dressed in black shorts and a big grey tank top with a pair of shoes Rowan picked from my room when he carried me. I looked up at Rowan who stood beside me. He was dressed in casuals, a pair of white tank top tucked into a pair of black trousers and he looked expensive and I subconsciously took a step back.
"Do not tell me you want to excuse yourself. " he spoke up Andi chuckled nervously.
"No." I waved my hands frantically.
"Welcome to MR. How may I help you? " One of the ladies, dressed like an attendant walked up to us, beaming. When her eyes met mine, I saw disgust flash through them making me want to cower.
"Clothes. For her. " he added and I snapped my head to him.
"What?" the lady and I chorused together and I stole a glance at her before turning back to Rowan.
"Are you nuts? " I whispered, enough for him only to hear.
"Bills on me. " he winked as he whispered back.
"No, I am not accepting that. " I replied moving backward but he was still holding my hand, restricting my movements
"Tora, you seriously need to calm down. " he held my shoulders, squarely maintaining a eye contact with me. "Friends do and buy things for each other. Remember the time you made me this bracelet. " he shook his hand in front of me, showing me the grey bracelet I made him.
"That is different. " I argued.
"How?"
"Those were made with the ones I had at home. "
"Whatever. What matters is you did it for me and now it is time I did things for you. " he ruffled my hair. "Now be a good girl and let us find you....let us start with the clothes. " he smiled before speaking with the lady who stood in front of us all this while.
"But Row... " I pulled his sleeve but I was only pulled along with him as the lady led the way.
AUTHORS POV.
Side talks arose as they walked through the store.
"Did you see that poorly dressed girl.? "
"She is obviously seeking his attention. "
"Yeah, that is how they behave. Jumping at any slight chance they find. "
"A leech. "
The talks amongst the women drew in the attention of a guy who stood at the far end of the store.
Looking towards the center of the discussion, his breath hitched.
She looked different from the last time he saw her. Then, she looked so naive and pure but now she was.....
He scoffed.