CHAPTER 4 - His First Step to Hook Her
1117 Words
"Ameelah, your name is as beautiful as you are. I wanted to talk with you much longer, but my time will not permit me to stay. I have an errand to run," Darmiel said, his bluish eyes smiling as they captivated the most sought-after heart in the university. "I hope we could have a cup of coffee sometime soon. Can we?"
She nodded, blushing slightly. How could I easily give in to an invitation from a man I just bumped into a second ago? Ameelah wondered.
"Ameelah, goodbye for now. I’ll see you next week at the start of the semester," Darmiel said before finally walking away. Ameelah stood there for a moment, appearing as if she were still not in her right senses.
She shook her head, her eyes lingering on Darmiel’s retreating back. His tall frame and well-proportioned, not-so-bulky body made him look stunningly alluring.
Ameelah reprimanded herself, reminding her heart that she was in this university to finish her course, graduate, and earn her diploma. She needed something to show her parents, who both disapproved of the path she had chosen. They wanted her to be like them and her siblings, but since childhood, she had never dreamed of becoming an engineer or an architect. Music was in her heart, not the construction of buildings.
She turned around and entered the registrar's office to finalize her subject schedules.
After finishing her business with the Registrar, Ameelah stepped out with a satisfied smile. She had secured every schedule she wanted. Of course, as the Miss Ambassadress of their university, she was a darling to the staff and could hardly be refused.
From the office, she went directly to the parking lot to get her car. After pushing the button to unlock the door, she suddenly felt the sensation of being watched. She looked around the area and was surprised to see Darmiel standing beside a new silver-gray Honda Civic.
Hmm, not bad, she thought. Although Darmiel’s car was not one of the top-of-the-line elite vehicles like her latest model white BMW, he still looked stunningly handsome standing beside the shining silver-gray car.
Their eyes met, and instantly, his gaze warmed as he waved his hand at her. She waved back and smiled sheepishly. Her heart was pumping so hard it felt as though it wanted to leap out of her chest.
Darmiel walked toward her, and for a moment, they both fell silent.
“I... I thought you had left already,” Ameelah said, breaking the silence.
Darmiel shook his head and cleared his throat. “I decided to wait a little longer, hoping you might come out after a few minutes. My gut feeling was right. You appeared.”
“Oh? Why were you waiting for me, Darmiel? Did you forget to ask something?” she asked, her heartbeat quickening further.
“I realized that waiting for the first day of class would be a very long time to see you again. So, I waited here to ask if we could meet tomorrow for a cup of coffee—and perhaps more, depending on your mood and liking,” Darmiel replied straight to the point. Ameelah was stunned. If it were any other man, she would have rejected him outright, but she couldn't bring herself to do that to him. Instead, she gave a shy smile and a nod.
“Yes, I am free tomorrow afternoon around three. We can meet at Lulu’s Cafeteria,” she said, looking at him with a shy smile.
A sudden ray of light flashed through Darmiel’s eyes the moment he heard her agree to his invitation.
…
Ameelah was in high spirits while driving home. She knew she ought to curb her interest in Darmiel, but she simply could not do so. She felt different—happy, even—and she wanted to savor the feeling a little longer.
She reached her family's mansion still feeling light as air. The moment she entered her room, she plunged onto her bed and closed her eyes with a thin smile on her lips. Darmiel was different, and she liked him. She liked his appearance and his straightforwardness, which she interpreted as bravery and honesty. Her smile widened as his features flashed through her mind.
She had been disheartened a month ago when she found out who Mr. Blue really was and when the letters stopped coming. She was disappointed not only because he didn't look like the man she had imagined while reading his poetry, but even more so because he had given up so easily after her rejection. His character was as weak as his appearance, and that was what she despised most in a man.
While lost in her thoughts, she heard a knock on her door. She opened it to find one of their maids standing outside.
“Ma’am Ameelah, you have a call,” the maid said, handing her a wireless landline phone.
“Who is it?” she inquired, her forehead furrowing. It was rare for her to get a call on the landline, as her friends usually contacted her via her mobile phone or social media.
“A man named Darmiel, Ma’am Ameelah,” the maid replied courteously. Hearing the name, Ameelah quickly grabbed the phone.
“Hello?” she said in a low, excited voice.
Darmiel was silent for a beat before finally speaking. “Hello, Ameelah. It’s Darmiel.”
“Darmiel? How did you get my landline number, and why are you calling?” she asked, curious about how resourceful he was.
“I have my ways of knowing things, Ameelah. I forgot to get your mobile number when we met earlier, so I decided to call this way instead to make sure you made it home safe,” Darmiel said in his deep, melodious baritone.
Ameelah’s heart jumped with excitement, and she secretly giggled. "Hmm, Darmiel, I arrived home safe and sound. By the way, I have social media accounts where you can message me. I prefer to use those over my mobile number. Tell me yours, and I'll message you."
"Hmm, Ameelah, I actually don't have any social media accounts. But I will create one just to talk to you. In the meantime, please give me your mobile number. I’m hoping you won’t back out of our date tomorrow."
Hearing his pleading voice, Ameelah readily gave him her number.
"Thank you, Ameelah. If you back out tomorrow, I’ll be calling you all day to beg you to come see me," Darmiel said. His voice was serious, but it sounded sweet in Ameelah’s ears.
After Darmiel said goodbye and hung up the phone, a sudden, treacherous smile painted his handsome face.
- Writer
