I tried to talk a lot to break the awkward silence, but he still didn't say anything-just kept looking at me like I was some kind of puzzle he couldn't solve.
At some point, I was so drained I didn't even have the strength to speak anymore. So, I just stood there, silent, staring back at him.
Then, he walked closer and asked, "Can we talk?"
I was so nervous I almost forgot how to breathe. "Let's go to my home. We can talk there," I blurted out.
He shook his head. "I want to talk in private."
I had no idea what he wanted to say or what he was planning to do, but I didn't have much choice. So, I agreed, and we both headed to my place.
Turns out, he couldn't convince me with his words, so he decided to just come home with me anyway. Maybe that was his strategy all along-no words, just persistence.
We both went to my home. I knocked on the door, calling out for my mom. She opened it, her face shifting from confusion to shock in record time.
After all, I had left alone and returned with a boy. The gears in her head were spinning so fast, I could practically hear them.
Before she could jump to any wild conclusions, I quickly said, "Mom, this is Lehan, my boss. He had some work in our area, and we happened to meet at the shop. So, I invited him over."
Her expression relaxed a bit, though I could tell she wasn't entirely convinced. Still, she invited him in with a polite smile.
Inside, my dad and brother were already home. I introduced Lehan to the family, and to my surprise, everyone welcomed him warmly. Even my dad, who normally looked like a bouncer guarding our house, was all smiles.
Lehan chatted easily with my parents, but his eyes kept darting to me, like he was trying to figure out how I'd managed to drag him into this situation.
My mom, ever the gracious host, asked him to stay for dinner. To my horror, he agreed without hesitation.
As I helped my mom prepare dinner, Lehan sneaked into the kitchen, trying to strike up a conversation.
"So..." he began, but before he could finish, my mom walked in, and he straightened up so fast he nearly bumped into the counter.
He tried again when she left, but she returned almost instantly. By the third time, he looked utterly defeated.
I couldn't help but chuckle inwardly. Welcome to my life, Lehan.
We all sat down for dinner, and despite his failed attempts at talking to me, Lehan managed to charm my family. He spoke to them comfortably, like he'd known them forever. Meanwhile, I avoided his gaze, pretending to focus on my plate.
After we finished dinner, my mom started talking to Lehan, asking about his family.
Lehan was clearly drained, but he still wouldn't give up on trying to talk to me. At some point, he texted me something and asked me to check it.
I opened the message, and it read: "Let's get ready. I'll drive you to your room before I head home."
I froze. What?
I didn't know how to handle this, but then he surprised me again. He turned to my mom and said, "I'm going to go now. I'll drop Nyla off too."
Before I could blink, my mom jumped in. "It's getting too late. Don't drive at this hour. Just stay here and leave tomorrow," she said, like she was giving him a hotel reservation.
I was frustrated. Why won't he just leave already? All he wanted was to talk to me, but my mom wasn't giving him a chance.
In the end, with no other choice, Lehan finally agreed to stay the night. And just like that, my quiet evening turned into a sleepover I definitely didn't sign up for.
We didn't have an extra room for Lehan, so my mom handed him a pillow and told him to sleep on the couch. He looked like he was mentally preparing himself for a long night of discomfort.
As we were getting ready to sleep, my mom and I settled into my room. Just as I was about to drift off, my phone vibrated. I grabbed it to check, and it was Lehan: "Come to the terrace. I want to talk to you."
Before I could even come up with a reply, my mom noticed me on my phone. "Put your phone down and just sleep!" she yelled from across the room.
I quickly shoved my phone under my pillow, trying to pretend like I hadn't just been caught in the act. Of course, I'm pretty sure Lehan heard my mom's loud warning too, and I can only imagine his amusement.
I woke up in the morning and went to the hall. Lehan looked like a ghost—pale and completely drained. It was obvious he hadn't slept more than five minutes all night. He looked so tired I almost felt sorry for him.
My mom handed him a cup of coffee. He drank it silently, then got up to get ready. I started getting ready too, but my mind wouldn't stop spinning. What does he want to talk to me about? Why did he even come here?
Both of us were finally ready to leave. We stepped out, got into the car, and sat in complete silence. Lehan drove fast, way faster than I expected, but something felt off. He wasn't heading toward the route to my room.
"Where are we going?" I asked, a little nervous.
He didn't answer. He just kept driving, his face unreadable.
Lehan finally stopped the car by the riverside and turned to me. "Get out," he said, his voice low but firm.
I hesitated but stepped out of the car, unsure of what was coming. He started walking toward the river, silent and distant. I had no choice but to follow.
When he finally stopped, he turned to face me. We stood there, the gentle sound of the river the only thing breaking the heavy silence between us.
I shifted uncomfortably and asked, "What do you want to talk about?"
Lehan didn't answer. Instead, he stepped closer to me. My heart raced as I instinctively moved back, but he kept coming closer.
"Lehan?" My voice wavered, nervousness creeping in.
Still silent, he closed the gap between us. His hand slid around my waist, pulling me toward him, while his other hand gently cupped my face.
Before I could say anything, his lips pressed against mine, firm and urgent. My mind froze as he kissed me, his intensity leaving me breathless.
I tried to push him away, but his grip didn't loosen. He kissed me again, deeper this time, and I realized there was no escaping this moment.