There stood Neva; dumbfounded.
'What—what did he say?' Wondered she.
No words from her, so he arched his body to level their height.
Deep striking eyes of his, adorned in long dark lashes, boring deep into her soul, Neva found her senses hopeless to read.
Her features remained frozen.
The mystery man tilted his head, awaiting a response.
Neva just looked at him.
At him before her. So close...
Way too stunned to form phrases... way too astray to even blink the eyes.
Heart drummed uproariously in the ears. She did not remember any scene, wherein someone had stormed her heart, or frozen the breathings.
As if forced out of heaven, a crunching of leaves under an approaching foot made her split the heated linking of the eyes.
A man walked past by them.
Briefly glancing at the pair lost daydreaming in the middle of their path.
"I have to–I have to go..." She glimpsed here and there, but nowhere near his eyes.
Rhett straightened. His stare never leaving her.
Neva coming being in a very challenging placement concluded to far away from this man rising her to feel the damn contrary of nerveless.
She swallowed, forcing a great strength.
"Excuse me," Gently she whispered.
She harrowed and gathered the concealed courage in her 169 cm, slightly shivering frame and rotated to a hasty ninety degree.
She walked away. Over her small faring back the long wavy locks bounced and danced with the breeze. And she failed to glance back and own the fortune of stumbling upon the mystery man's trailing eyes, or a dreamy little smile painting his lips.
.
.
.
Still in a daze, clouds of fog hovering her mind, she stood, abscend minded in the entrance of the convenience store.
What has happened?
Feeling she only blinked an eye, but covered this long distance?
Her brain flew away the blinding fog, but remnants of faint mist could still be found.
She bit her lips, the 'Mystery Man' flying with his wings, penetrating her muse.
She had an agaped heart, out of nowhere. Won't ever admit, yet she hoped the mystery man followed. Maybe... destined for the same destination.
Then again who was she kidding, he was headed towards the east, and she towards the west.
She exhaled, wondering what went wrong with the heart. Purposelessly, her eyes roamed around for a glimpse of him. Maybe? Maybe no?
Then, just then a bakery cafe not far distant caught her eyes.
Happiness glistening in her pretty almond eyes.
.
.
.
Neva was slightly bend forward, scrutinizing, pupils dilating—observing the delicious, differing varieties of baked goods, adorning through the glassed display of baked sweets.
Her gaze lingering on a certain dessert.
"You like shortcakes?"
Her eyes sparkled, salivating for she had a very sweet tooth. She gently swallowed. her favourite: strawberry shortcakes. "Yes!"
A presence with a tranquiled beating heart, failing to recognise the voice. Unaware of the man of the beautiful evening, who had made the heart beat threateningly fast.
Juvenile smile danced on her rosy lips, only to turns her head and unveil the owner of the voice.
She blinked once, twice, then thrice. Dramatically protruding eyes as the vision lifted the curtains of the familiar features, just a few inches apart.
Corner of her lips, failing to lift anymore.
None other than the Mystery man!
He smiled at her.
Her knees weakened, a storm whirling in her belly.
A ting~ sound of the bell designed in the doorway announced a new customer coming in. Aiding Neva to seize her sense. Neva immediately straightened her posture.
She glanced up at the cashier.
Mind hazy; always hazy. Whom to blame? The mystery man.
Neva shook her head lightly.
"Please pack four pieces of strawberry shortcakes, and a pack of bread."
The cashier was always there.
Heeding them as they floated in their own Universe.
He nodded.
"That'll be 28.90. Anything else ma'am?" He asked. Neva shook her head and waited for him to pack.
"Thank you." She said as he handed her the purchase and she the bill.
"You're welcome. Please visit again." He smiled. "Sure." Neva smiled back at him.
The mystery mad only stood beside
Hus gaze on her.
But Neva ignored him this time.
Heart reluctant to calm down. Was she sick?
Outdoor she was headed a few steps afar, when she felt the urge to look back and did.
Breath caught in her throat, as their eyes met.
He stepped out and closed the door behind.
She tore away her stunned gaze and started ahead. He held nothing in his hand, indicating he bought nothing from the bakery.
His soft footsteps behind her.
Was he following her?
No! Why would he?
But what if he indeed was following her?
She immediately swept away the giddiness of a young virgin heart.
Having being seized recognition from a handsome young man. Instead she became weary, making her guard stand secure.
There was no exchange of words as she reached the convenience store.
She walked through indoors hurriedly. There was only the cashier and quiet scanty people spread about.
She directly marched away to quickly fetch her needs.
As she glanced over her shoulder. Her heart skipped a beat.
There he was, only a few strides away, hands inside the oversized, black Zip–through hoodie pocket.
Neva pursed her lips.
As he glanced at her Neva turned away.
Sucking in a sharp air she hastened off.
.
.
.
It has been unknown amount of flying time. But she knew it had been long since.
She was messily roaming around the store, engaged in her own business and grabbing the most random unneeded things—pretending there was no stranger trailing her path, no one silently observing her at all.
Neva was breathing heavily. Actually in a great difficulty, endeavouring hard to control her emotions.
She sneaked a glance at him.
Him who glued to her like a shadow, arms crossed.
Looking at her intently with shimmering dark orbs.
He revealed a smile.
Neva turned away.
She bit her lip. She wanted to inquire him of his 'misbehaves'.
"What's the matter with him?" Neva murmered to herself.
She unusually did not sense any creepy vibes looming her in, and it made her eyebrows crease further down.
Calculating hundred ways to deal with the scene, she breathed in deep.
Then she braced herself to face him.
"Why are you following me?" She tried to voice out every word firm.
He arched up a a thick dark brow.
He did not reply for a moment.
But Neva waited patiently. Brows furrowed at him.
"I confessed," he started.
"Yet you gave me nothing in return."
He made towards her.
His strides intimidating and slow.
"And I remember.
I asked if you liked shortcakes?" He shrugged his shoulders.
Neva swallowed as he stood inches away from her.
How was she to retort that?
She inhaled deeply through nostrils.
"Please keep your distance. I don't owe you any response." She held a fierce face and words calm and stern as she could make it.
But, that darned stroke of brush in a rosy hue adorning her fair cheeks gave her away easily.
"I wouldn't, I couldn't now even if I wanted to." He lightly shook his head.
Oh...
The was his smile made him appear such pure merchant.
This girl made the strings in his heart clench. While he made an attempt to weave her own disheaveled strings.
How could he? Why would he leave and not let her compansate for it?