In Love With My Rival

Farah's POV 2

I’m at the grocery store’s counter when my phone beeps. It’s an invitation to an author’s 5th debut celebration. David Ibrahim. He’s somehow published seven books, three of them bestsellers, and, according to a rumor, is currently working on the eighth. According to another rumor, he has a team of ghostwriters.

I RSVP ‘yes’ before checking the guest list and groan when I do. Jaewook is on the list. The lady next to me looks at me, alarmed, and I mutter an apology as I start unloading my cart.

I consider backing out, but everyone who’s anyone in my field will be there. Why is he going there, though? More importantly, why is he still here? I thought he was here on a short visit, but it’s already been 3 weeks. I’ll have to ask Aliyah about this.

Our last encounter is still too fresh in my mind. I don't even know why I told him to meet me for coffee. I was just bored, and his text made me feel excited.

It's not that I don't enjoy talking to him, but it just takes too much effort. He is persistent for no reason, but it makes my heart flutter, and that is not exciting. It's really not. Nothing good can come out of it. I can just go with the flow. That might make it as much fun for me as it clearly is for him. The problem is, will I be able to control this ship? What happens if this turns into something more than ‘just fun’ for me?

His text is waiting for me when I get home. Of course he's seen the RSVP list.

‘I hope you're not planning to wear parrot green. It will clash with the hotel's decor.’

‘I am. You should decline, or you'll go blind.’

‘Or I can wear sunglasses.’

‘And look like an i***t? It's an evening event.’

‘Anything to catch you looking ridiculous.’

‘Why do you have so much time? Have the producers seen the light of day?’

‘🤣 you wish.’

‘I don't, actually. Because then you will leave earlier.’

‘Don’t sound too confident. You don't want me gone, you'll be bored.’

‘You overestimate yourself.’

I put my phone away and skim my wardrobe. Nothing parrot green. I'll have to settle on red, then.

………………….

The party is lavish. I roam around, pretending to enjoy meeting people who genuinely believe they are the next David Ibrahim. I'm talking to a publisher when I spot Jaewook staring at me from the other end of the room. Ok, that’s a lie, I noticed him the minute I walked in, which is one reason I am mingling with people I’d ignore if I were trapped with them in a dungeon.

I give him a polite nod when our eyes meet, and continue my chat with the publisher. He ignores the soft dismissal and comes up, looking like a man with a purpose. How predictable.

‘Fancy running into you here,’ he says and pretends to notice the publisher. ‘Oh, hello.’

‘You two know each other?’ The publisher asks, looking interested for no reason.

‘Not really,’ I say.

‘We have crossed paths,’ Jaewook says at the same time. The publisher looks between us, looking confused, and then his face breaks into a smile after reaching whatever conclusion he arrives at.

‘I’ll take my leave, then,’ he excuses himself, looking excited like a desi matchmaker. I roll my eyes.

‘What is it?’ I turn to Jaewook, annoyed.

‘I’m networking,’ he grins mischievously.

‘No, you aren’t. You’ve been standing in a corner, looking like a brooding Death Eater.’

‘Ooh, someone’s been noticing,’ he latches on, and I hold back a groan of regret.

‘Like I’d notice a bee on an otherwise neat glass window.’

‘You really like bees, don’t you? They inspire you, you said.’ You have to hand it to him: he is quick.

‘I respect all forms of life.’

‘Except romantics.’ I know he's trying to goad me. I force my mouth shut and move towards the bar. He follows, of course.

‘Sparkling water for you. Or would you like juice?’ he says with the innocence of the black widow.

I roll my eyes and order a soda instead. ‘You can use some of either. You know alcohol can dehydrate you, right?’

‘My body has enough water,’ he waves his hand dismissively. ‘Thank you for not wearing neon by the way.’ His eyes skim over my dress. It feels deliberate and makes my stomach do a weird dance.

‘Didn’t want you to go blind,’ I retort, trying to look unaffected. ‘You'd have kept bumping into me.’

‘That wouldn’t have been so bad.’ He huffs a laugh, the one where he throws his head forward like it's a secret. It looks adorable and sexy at the same time. I hate it.

‘Don’t you have someone else to flatter?’ I ask, part annoyed, part curious.

‘They are already bewitched,’ he gives me another one of his devastating grins. ‘You are the only one that needs persuasion.’

I try not to feel too flattered. ‘Oh, believe me, you aren’t getting any special treatment.’

‘Yes, you are equally unpleasant to everyone.’

Just then, we are approached by two female authors. Young. Up and coming. Beautiful, or so they say. They want to know if we’ll be attending the afterparty.

‘The afterparty of a … party?’ I ask before he can open his mouth.

‘It’s kind of like a meet-up for a select few,’ one of them says in a breathy voice, eyeing Jaewook. He smiles at her.

‘So, basically an extended drinking session. Sounds fun,’ I put down my glass of soda and get up. ‘Well, I’ll get going, have fun you all,’ I say with a tight smile. A minute later, he is waiting for the elevator with me.

‘Aren’t you going to the afterparty with the select few? You seemed so excited,’ I shoot, despite my promise to myself to stay silent. I can feel his lips stretch into a satisfied sneer.

‘Thought I’d see you out first,’ he says and walks in as the elevator doors open. ‘What are you waiting for? Come in.’

‘I’ll take the next one, it’s too crowded.’ I’m not lying, he has taken over all the space. He rolls his eyes and pulls me inside.

The air inside is charged. He turns to me, probably to say something, but I catch his eyes drop to my lips. Before he can look back up, I've pulled him to me. The few seconds it takes for me to silence my brain and wrap my arms around his neck to pull him further down, he has already captured my mouth. He moans when I graze his lip, and the sound makes a shiver run up my spine. I stretch up on my toes and feel his hands snaking around my waist, mouth hot and demanding as he pushes me back against the elevator wall.

‘You smell like vanilla,’ he murmurs near my ear before licking the spot underneath it. I gasp.

‘You’re pathetic,’ I whisper and pull him back to my lips, but just then, the elevator dings and I push him away instead. Thankfully, no one is waiting outside.

We are both quiet as we step out into the quiet lobby. I fix my hair, and he smirks.

‘You look like a mess,’ I tell him.

‘I am one. I call this look “the self”,’ he counters. His composure is infuriating.

‘Ah, so this is a common occurrence. I'll have to sterilize myself then,’ I try to sound disgusted, and he grins.

‘I won't. Until next time,’ he says when I turn towards the exit.

‘There won't be one,’ I hiss. My heels are too loud on my way out.