3- The Stranger In The Café
1054 Words
The man in front of me wasn't your regular type of handsome.
He was the type of handsome you watch in animated movies, the type you create a fantasy picture of in your head while reading a romance novel that makes you squeeze your toes.
He had the perfect shade of blond hair that fell perfectly right over his forehead, matching his warm skin tone and my God, he was huge.
Standing well over six feet, his black suit was tailored to perfection, clinging in all the right places like the person wearing it was used to being obeyed. His broad shoulders with a chest so wide, made you want to fall into it and forget everything else, and the rich scent of his cologne that immediately captivated your senses pulled me in more.
His eyes were a deep Hazel, intense and piercing like they could see right through me and right now, those eyes were focused on me in a cold glare.
I blinked rapidly, stunned, as he slid into the seat opposite me, slipping off his glasses in an effortlessly sexy manner and setting it down on the table in front of him. My God, what the hell was wrong with me?
"E-excuse me?" I stammered, adjusting in my seat and smoothing my dress and hair in a weak attempt to look more presentable.
He sat up in his seat, his lips so distracting my thoughts were scrambled. "I don't have time for this Miss... so how about this? We both agree that it was never going to work between us, end things cordially, and you go back and report to your parents, my parents, whoever set this up and sent you here, that you never want to see me again."
My brain was fried. What the hell was he talking about?
"I'm sorry, but..."
"Oh for f***s sake!" The weird man cut in, his tone slight raised now and irritated. "Let me guess, you really want to get to know me, you want me to give us a chance, and you're down to do whatever I want."
I stared at him, a part of me enjoying the strange conversation and another part wondering just how far he'd take it before realizing the obvious mix up.
Sucks that his actual date, wherever she was, was meant to receive these words, but now, I guess it was fair to get a little payback in, for her sake and for my amusement.
"And if I refuse?" I teased, my heart doing a little chuckle even though my face was devoid of expression.
He c****d a brow. "Excuse me?"
"You heard me," I nodded, shifting in my seat more confidently. "What happens if I want to get to know you, if I want you to give 'this' a chance?"
"That's not going to happen," he cut in immediately, visibly annoyed and irritated.
Watching this man revel in frustration relived a little of my hurt from Vincent, and maybe it wasn't the wisest thing to do, but I had nothing to lose at this point. Nothing.
He moved forward in his seat, inching closer towards me. "Listen to me, Miss... whatever the name is. This isn't going to play out how you think it is."
"How do you know that?"
"Because I've met a lot of women, and you're all the same. You act honest and genuine at first, but deep down, you're all after one thing. Money."
"That's not true," I countered, my tone more serious now as I sensed the shift in the conversation.
"What? You're not like that?"
"You don't even know me. The concept of giving people the benefit of a doubt doesn't exist in your world?" I retorted, folding my arms and staring straight at him.
"It stopped existing a long time, because like I said, people are the same. And I don't have time for anymore–"
"If that's so, then men are all the same. You're a piece of s**t. Vincent is a piece of shit."
He tilted his head immediately, his eyes heavy as they glared at me, shooting darts. "Excuse me?"
I couldn't fake it any further, the thoughts creeping back in and my defenses giving way. I'd come in here to breathe, clear my head, and I was still being reminded of how cruel the world was.
"I– I," I stuttered, feeling a tear escape from my eyes slowly.
"Are you, are you crying?" The strange man blurted out, looking around to know if people were staring before returning his focus to me.
The tears rolled freely now as I sobbed. "I just came in here to get some coffee... and you... I can't even get a drink for myself? I-I tried to tell you I'm not your date–"
"You're not?" He spat out, taken aback.
"I'm not," I wailed, my voice a little loud now as I felt eyes land me in the cafe.
"What did I do so wrong?" I continued, having a complete meltdown. "I gave him my all, I did everything for him, and what did he turn around and do? He slept with my friend and now they're having a baby, and my bestfriend turned against me, hates me...."
The stranger pulled out a handkerchief from his inner pocket, sliding it over to me.
He ran a hand through his hair, my sobs making him visibly uncomfortable. "I'm so sorry Miss, it was an arranged date, I thought you were my date. If you could stop crying first of all, people are staring and it seems like I made you cry..."
I sniffed,blowing into his handkerchief and nodding my head slowly.
"I don't... he took everything from me, Vincent, I hate him so bad," I continued, trying to control the sobs as I sniffed hard.
"Yeah, I get that already. But can you just calm down, Miss?"
Dabbing at my eyes with his handkerchief, I nodded, finally gathering myself. I ran a hand through my hair, before settling down and looking up at him. We stared at each other for a while, saying no words but his silent presence felt like comfort. After a moment of silence, he cleared his throat.
"You need revenge. I need an escape. What do you say we help each other out?"
- Writer
