SERENDIPITY

~5~ I Like You And Making Out In The Car ✔️

Recap: I couldn't help but feel a tinge of jealousy at Mia's enthusiasm for serving the man she referred to as her "prince charming." Jo took one last jab at me before exiting the room, "Keep on waiting for that lowlife of yours to make your day off a memorable one." she sneered and waltzed out of the room.

As I watched Jo leave the room, her parting words stung like a whip on my back. I heard the door open, and a gasp escaped someone's lips, followed by a throat being cleared.

"Um... Are you here to see me?" Joanna's voice reached my ears, its pitch unnaturally high.

My curiosity piqued and I turned my head to catch a glimpse of the person who had elicited such a fake reaction from Joanna. My heart nearly stopped when I saw who it was.

...•...•...•...

The room fell silent as he strode in, a black silhouette cutting through the muted tones of the space. Joanna, invisible to him, was nothing but an afterthought. His gaze locked onto mine, and my heart stuttered in my chest. A part of me had resigned to the fact that he wouldn't show, but here he was.

"Hey," he murmured, his lips quirking into a small smile as he closed the distance between us.

My own lips twitched into a forced smile as I struggled to find my voice, to say something, anything. But the weight of his presence rendered me motionless, a mere observer in my own body.

It was only when the door slammed shut, a violent echo ringing through the room, that we broke from our trance. Joanna's departure was a welcome relief, a sign that we were finally alone. The room hummed with tension, every breath heavy with unspoken words.

"I thought you weren't coming," I muttered, the disappointment in my voice barely concealed.

A pang of disappointment fluttered in my chest, as he finally spoke after what seemed like an eternity of silence. "I'm sorry if I gave you that impression," he said, his eyes locked onto mine. "I overslept."

I couldn't help but feel a twinge of irritation at his tardiness, but I swallowed it down, not wanting to ruin this fragile moment. "Oh," I replied, my voice barely above a whisper.

He fidgeted, a hint of nervousness in his movements, before finally broaching the subject that hung between us like a heavy fog. "You haven't changed your mind, have you?" he asked, his words laced with a tinge of desperation.

My heart faltered for a moment. Had I? The doubt crept in, insidious and unyielding. "I practically did," I admitted, the confession hanging heavy in the air between us. "You don't expect me to wait around all day, do you?" I forced a laugh, the bitter taste of disappointment lingering on my tongue. "Even Joanna had a good laugh at my expense."

He let out a deep sigh, the kind that betrayed an inner turmoil. "She's quite the handful, isn't she?" he queried, his voice heavy with concern.

I raised an eyebrow, my demeanor cool and collected. "I can handle it," I replied nonchalantly, refusing to let him see how much her antics had gotten to me.

A small smile tugged at the corners of his lips as he shook his head, a hint of regret in his eyes. "I apologize for her behavior, especially for the way she mocked you."

I waved my hand dismissively, a facade of indifference masking my true feelings. "No need to fret, it's nothing I haven't dealt with before," I said with practiced ease, hoping to convince him - and myself - that her taunts were mere trifles.

For someone who was almost stood up on her first date, I was surprisingly composed. Come to think of it, was it even a date?

He hesitated for a moment, his eyes scanning my face for any signs of uncertainty. "Would you still allow me the pleasure of taking you out?" he asked, the question laced with uncertainty.