Into Your Heart

Chapter Three

~Aria~

Have you ever met someone and thought I see myself spending the rest of my life avoiding you? Well, I have. I have met someone like that, and he is here at this matchmaking ceremony, standing at least 25 meters away from me. I couldn’t move my body; it felt like I was paralyzed. Even after 10 years of separating, he still looked the same and hot as always.

‘What the heck Aria'.

Azrael Altman, the boy who made my whole body tremble; at the same time, made me calm. The second reason is I didn’t want to be in the spotlight, so I could never be found out, especially by him. He was a popular actor, popular worldwide. You could call him an international treasure.

There was no place you could go and not hear about the famous bad boy Yosef. Girls would squeal at the mention of his name and talk about how good he was or how hot he was and the worst was, it wasn’t only the girls, both boys and old ladies and men.

It was shocking.

He got more popular because of his amazing voice when singing for his fans during his livestream. I didn’t watch it; Rina is a big fan and makes me watch it whenever possible, which I always decline but still watch.

He looked very handsome tonight ‘he’s a celebrity Ari, duh'. His hair was gelled back neatly, but a few strands rested on his sides, which I think was intentional, giving him a bad boy appearance. He wore a turquoise tuxedo with matching black Suede loafers that had little golden designs.

Why do men like him exist? Making girls drool and scream, at just one stare or wink or just a smile and innocent business smile, even though I knew nothing about him was innocent, people went crazy.

And here he was, just standing a few meters away from me and smiling at whatever the people he was surrounded with were saying to him. He was always surrounded. No care in the world.

‘Is he tired?’ He looked tired.

I knew he was big, but I never expected him to be here. I heard he always rejected the invitation whenever he was invited. Then why come now? I bet if Rina saw him, which I know she will, she'd go bonkers, and it would be traumatizing for me just because of one man.

I’m going to turn old if I keep sighing

Please don’t look this way.

And he did look my way. I turned away immediately.

My heart was in a frenzy, I panicked. I really didn’t want to be seen, especially by him.

Get your s**t together Aria, I took in deep breaths and, when I finally calmed my heart. I stood up from my crouched position with my head high. Even if he sees me, I bet he will not recognize me. I mean with all the women he has had and the fame, he won’t remember a bug like me, so nothing to fear. Nothing.

I take it back, there was everything to fear. My palms were sweaty, and my heart wouldn’t calm down. I bet I looked like I stole the biggest diamond in the world and was walking away like it was my first theft. I really hate the effects he has on me. It’s new and strange and exciting.

‘Get a grip Aria, you’re not here to drool over that bastard’

Yeah, that’s true. I need to get my grip. I hated him, I hated that smile, those luscious lips and the words that came out of that sinful mouth, those beautiful deep gray eyes with rims of green on them, ah f**k I hate him. He doesn’t even know I am here, and yet I’m feeling this way already.

Fuck, f**k, Fuck

I have to leave here but I can’t. One can’t leave the gala until it’s over.

Calm down Ari Calm down

I calmed myself again, taking deeper breaths. Then I used my hat, which I feel so proud to wear today, to cover my face and walked to my assigned table. Surprisingly, Rina was sitting and good riddance. She was not in colourful suits anymore.

I sat next to her. “Where the f**k have you been, girl?” she asked, watching me closely and that made me feel cautious of my surroundings as I sat down, still covering my face with a hat.

Sat, I checked my surroundings for the target to know if I could be spotted and fortunately, he was nowhere to be found. I peered around once more before finally relaxing and releasing the breath I didn’t know I had been holding since I saw Yosef.

Finally relaxing and controlling my heart beat, I looked up to see Rina giving me the ‘What the f**k are you doing’ face.

“What?” I asked, grunting at her weird face, then stuffing a macaron that was on the table in my mouth.

Rina doesn’t know about Yosef and I or the fact we knew each other, or I was running away from him or trying to run away from him like right now, only Maia.

But Rina catches on to things quickly, and I sure am hoping I don’t slip, so I won’t be bombarded with questions later on.

What kind of celebrity uses their free time to gossip? Rina.

One thing I know, most celebrities have little to no time to themselves, and they always grasp every little opportunity to rest, but not my Rina. It seemed like time was always on her side when it really wasn't.

“Why do you look like you saw a ghost and ran a mile away from it?” she asked, raising an eyebrow, and before I could respond she continued

“Oh, my gosh, don’t tell me you ran away from a man trying to ask you out, you virgin?” She gasped, emphasizing on the virgin in a low tone, of course.

Such a drama queen

I rolled my eyes at her. “Can you be any less dramatic?” I sipped the wine in my glass and savored the sweet taste.

“Of course, no, I’m an actress. I have to be dramatic."

“Seriously?” I asked, raising an eyebrow, and she just shrugged with a silly smile on her pretty face. I shook my head and kept stuffing the little snacks on the table.

I could feel eyes on me, but I didn't care at first.

“Ari” she started to say, then rested her hands on my shoulders and continued, "you’re very pretty, no scratch that you’re gorgeous, and you deserve the best of the best, but you don’t....” then she stopped suddenly,

“What?” I asked, but she kept looking at whatever it was, she looked like she saw something unbelievable. Is something going on? I was about to turn, then she said “Oh my gosh! It’s Yosef Altman!” she shrieked silently, still aware of her surroundings, and I froze.

‘Oh my gosh, dear God in heaven, do you hate me?’

I couldn’t even turn or even open my mouth;

‘Dear God, I’ll pray three times a day, no, five times. Please let it be a lie or let him go away. I don't want to see him and neither do I want to be seen. I promise to do your will please just let me leave here peacefully', I prayed fervently in my mind.

“Oh my gosh, Ari, it’s him, I’m going to meet up with him” she said in a calm tone, but I knew she was not calm, nothing about fan girl Rina was calm, especially when it concerns that prick. I'm surprised she could maintain her composure.

“Come with me.” What? I couldn’t believe my ears and that woke me up.

No way you’re bringing me near that se… no i***t, just because you don’t know, doesn’t mean you should drag me in. I finally got control of myself, at least my mouth and hands. I stopped her from grabbing mine,

“What? No, you promised not to involve me in matchmaking or whatever” “This is not matchmaking, it’s a little fan meeting...”

“Mind you, I’m not a fan” I interrupted, then stood up ready to bolt away anywhere but here and knowing Rina, she’s very, very persuasive and doesn’t take no for an answer.

“But I see your eyes light up whenever I talk about him” she said, acting like she had just saved the whole world by that statement

“What? My eyes don’t” I denied No really it doesn’t, does it?

“Mhmm Really?” she scoffed with her hands on her waist

“I.. I... I” I’m stuttering, I’m f*****g stutt5 at her directly in the eyes. Really, Aria, that’s all you could come up with. She furrowed her brows

"Fine, I give up... For now" she emphasized on the 'For Now', squinting her eyes at me, I’d have to come up with something reasonable later right now. I needed to escape and hide somewhere, or I’m doomed.

“Okay?” she commanded “Okay, Okay, I got it.” I surrendered with my hands in the air. First thing I need is to wipe that satisfied smile off. She left with a huge fan girl smile on her face while I packed my stuff into my bag and went to find a hiding place.

Looking at the time, there was still an hour before the ceremony ended.

'f**k'

I shouldn’t have come to this f*****g gala. I should have just paid the money and just been at home eating some cheerios and some chocolate cake while watching Netflix or some Korean drama. That’s life. What the heck am I doing here? I can’t be caught by that insolent, selfish prick, not today, not ever.

I strutted to the bathroom. It looked empty. I felt relieved

I entered an empty cubicle and shut it. Taking in deep breaths, cool and calm Aria. Cool and calm' if one saw me right now, they’d think I was a first-timer thief.

Seconds passed; minutes passed...is an hour this long. It should end by now. Just as I was about to come out, someone entered the bathroom. Well, not someone, two people, and they were not doing something I’d love to see in reality. I closed the door immediately. Wait, why am I hiding here? I mean they wouldn’t even notice me if I left. I bet they were too interested in eating each other’s faces.

I heard a cubicle door open and the kissing continued. Then ruffling and moans.

Are they really going to do it here? What are they, horny teenagers? Oh gosh, and why the f**k am I still here?

“Oh yes” wait a second, I know that voice. “Oh dear” the moaning and kissing continued.

Shocked, I left as fast as I could, not wanting to listen anymore and let them eat each other or whatever.

The gala had ended and everyone was leaving ‘thank God’. I need a week's sleep and some holy water to wash everything off.

What a night.