Chapter 25 - Flashback 3

Inside a high class restaurant.

Stella sat opposite Alex with butterflies in her stomach. 'This devilish handsome man is interested in her, 'this man that didn't spare a second glance at all the gorgeous women walking past them since they arrived is going to be her man? If so, then the waiting is worth it, the feeling of rejection all this while pays off, he's perfect, so perfect. I think I fell for him; it's not about just wanting a boyfriend like i believed last night, it was love at first sight'

Stella was deep in thought, she's staring at Alex who stares back her. Alex looked down at the table; where Stella was subconsciously starring her food with the fork, her other hand holding her handbag on her lap, as if scared it's gonna get stolen.

He grinned at her emerald eyes, as it shone happiness and excitement staring at him. Some of the passerby smile softly at her gaze on Alex.

Alex cleared his throat; which made her snapped back to reality. She resumed with her food, not realising how long she's been staring.

Alex chuckled softly, "Is there something wrong with the food or is it that I'm too good looking?" He asked.

"The food is nice, it's just that i couldn't believe I'm out on a date with a guy, it's like a dream i don't wanna wake up from, at anytime soon." Stella said.

'This girl! She says what comes to her mind' Alex thought, as her words stirred up something inside him. He raised his hand and signal for a waiter to come.

A well dressed male attendance walked to him, he whispered something into his ear and the waiter left.

Stella raised her brow, 'what was that about?' She thought.

Alex understood immediately, "those words deserves a reward, we will move to the VIP after we're done eating, I want to bring you back into reality, make you realize it's not a dream, and that I wish to build a life with you." He said.

Stella cover her face with both palms, her bag fell off her lap, under the table. Some of the content fell out, which included the protection case her mom left inside; as she didn't close the bag. She was looking for a perfect opportunity to search through it.

Alex adjusted his chair backward and squat, helping her picked up her bag and restoring the spilled content back in it.

He put the bag on the table and stare at her, "hey!" He frowned slightly, "Are you okay?" He asked.

Stella couldn't take her hand off her face, she was already crying, those fears of being cursed, all those scary assumptions, all those eagerness of waiting for the guy that approached her to call the next day; but didn't. It would have been better if none approached her, but the fact that they did and was all sweet with her, and suddenly changed the next time they met is scary.  She has been holding the urge to cry, consoling herself that it's not a curse or something bad, it's probably because they weren't meant to be.

Now that someone really wants her, now that they met again after the first meeting and still remain on good terms, the fact that Alex didn't stay away from her is like a dream. Although she acted all tough with him and all, she was actually scared, scared that it will happen again, scared that Alex is gonna stay away from her soon, but those words he uttered brought out the weakness she has been trying to bury deep inside her heart, her facade finally broke.

Those words were so emotional, she felt like getting found after being lost for a long time, 'this is so embarrassing, how do i look at him now? Why did i lost it?' She asked in her head and felt Alex's arm on her shoulder, pulling her up.

He helped her to picked her bag and soon, they found themselves inside the VIP section, it was more like a room where they get to be alone. She helped her to the couch and try to pull her arm from her face.

"I don't want to." Stella said amidst tears, feeling embarrassed for ruining her first outing with crying.

"Talk to me, have I said something wrong?" Alex asked, then suddenly thought of something and sighed, "you already have someone?" He asked.

Stella was shocked, "have someone? I never had anyone before." She said, pulling her hand away from her face, sniffing.

"I'm your first guy?" He asked, passing her kerchief to clean her tears. She's lucky she didn't apply make up, thanks to her mom wasting her time; otherwise, it will be all smudged by now.

Being a natural beauty, she's well off without applying anything, but her problems with males broke her confidence. She didn't even find herself attractive anymore, she felt bad when she got compliments on her beauty, it felt like they are mocking her.

"You're the first guy I'm out with." She said, cleaning her tears, she's scared she's gonna make Alex hates her for crying.

Alex was panicking inside, he's not good at consoling, even when his two sisters had their girly issues and began crying, he only look at them in confusion, or try to escape from the sight. It's better to not be there than doing nothing.

"I'm honoured, i hope to be your last." Alex replied, and once again Stella broke into tears.

"Oh! no! no! no!" She exclaimed shaking her head, "I'm so sorry." She apologized.

Alex felt his heart broke at the sight. He moved closer to her and hug her, wondering what he has said wrong again.

"What's going on Stella?" He asked, stroking her back gently. "Please talk to me." He pleaded.

"I just can't believe this is happening." She replied, hugging him back and breathing in his nice smell, closing her eyes shut and hoping to stay like that for a while longer, even if Alex leave her, she wanted to create a moment to cherish, this moment that breaks the assumed curse on her.

Her mind drifted to sex, 'should i just sleep with him?, will it make him stay? I want him to stay.' She thought, but on second thought, 'sex shouldn't be use to make a man stay, there are lots of girls out there who could provide the same thing, wouldn't it hurt more if someone else snatch him with it?, what should i do?' Her inside is going through battle.

Seeing her starting to shake, Alex got scared, 'what is going on?' He asked in his head. He pulled her back gently, but Stella hugged him back, unwilling to let go.

"Stella, tell me what's going on, I'm worried." He said and tried to pull her back again.

Stella finally decided to give it a try, 'she's old enough anyway, if it will make him stay for a while, then it's fine; she will just have to make sure no one snatch him'.

She let him pull her back and saw the sincerity in his gaze, she could see the worries and confusion. She felt bad and nearly chickened out, before snapping back. 'It's now or never.' She thought and reach her arms around his neck.

Alex look confused and stare at her determined gaze, wondering what's going on inside her head. Her thin pink lips moisturized, her emerald mesmeric eyes shows she's up to something….' Before Alex could finish assessing her features and trying to figure things out, Stella pulled him into a kiss, which Alex didn't return.

He let her kiss him, he was tempted to kiss her back, but the way her body is shaking makes him worried the more, he could feel something is wrong with her.

Seeing that he didn't kiss her back, but only let himself got kissed, Stella felt shame and fear swept through her. She pulled back and stood up, 'I fucked up! It's over!' she exclaimed in her head and wanted to run away when Alex held her hand. "Tell me what's going on, what happened to you?" He asked.