Chapter 26
Cynthia POV
Arriving at our destination a few minutes later, I realize that he brought us to a fancy restaurant. My dream one at that.
"Do you like it here?" He asks as soon as walks inside the spacious restaurant, and I nod my head. This is more than beautiful, I must confess.
"Yes, I love it," I reply to him, and he nods his head before he holds my hand romantically, making my heart fluster. Asher knows how to treat a woman, I must confess. Who would've ever thought that the same man that treated me like a piece of trash a few days ago, would be here, acting all lovey-dovey with me?
The waiter came to take our orders as soon as we have our seats.
"So, tell me about yourself," He begins as he stares at me with a serious look on.
"My name is Cynthia, twenty-six years old, and the only child of my parents who are now late. I work in the same place as Adelie, and we are quite close," I reply to him, and he squints his eyebrows.
"Is that all?" He inquires, and I shrug.
"Yes, that is all," I reply to him, and he nods his head.
"What about you? Do you mind telling me about yourself?" I ask him, and I bet his eyes flickered, as a deep frown settles on his face. Did I ask a bad question?Têxt © NôvelDrama.Org.
"It's better not to know, pretty girl," The corner of his lips tugs up in a smirk, and I feel my heart skips like a million times. The way he stares at me feels so creepy and scary, that I'm beginning to think that something is wrong somewhere. He doesn't look like the Asher I came here with a while ago, but like another person to me because of the way he's glaring at me right now.
"Ar... Are you... Ok?" I stutter nervously, even though I know that I should be asked that question. I am not ok, and I can't deny it.
"Do I look like I'm not, Cynthia?" He leans forward and asks in a deep and scary tone, throwing me off guard that I end up flinching fearfully.
"You... You are scaring me," My heart hammers hard against my chest as I stare away. For some seconds, I find myself regretting coming out here in the first place, but on second thought, I feel like it has been gotten to that extent yet.
"Oh, I'm sorry, sweetheart. I was just playing with you," His voice sounds through my ears, but this time with remorse resounding in it, and I slowly raise my gaze to find him staring at me with an apologetic look on his face. Is he playing with me, or was I hallucinating?
"I know I can be terrible sometimes because of the kind of person I am. I really hope you will get used to that," He speaks in a parable that I can't deny not understanding it.
Just when I'm about to say something, the waiter finally arrive with our order.
"You can go. I will serve her myself," He says politely to the waiter, while smiling at him, and he bows before he walks away.
"You didn't have to stress yourself to serve me, you know?" I say to him, and he smiles softly.
"That's not a big deal," He says as he dishes out the food, and we start eating afterward.
A dead silence plays in the atmosphere as we eat silently. I keep peeking glances at him, and he never raised his gaze to look at me. I think he's strict with table manners, so I better go with the flow too.
"Adelie said you like me. Do you?" He suddenly breaks the awkward silence, and I choke on my food.
"Easy, girl," He pats my back after he hands me a glass of water that I gulp down the content in one shot.
"Thank you," I reply to him as I drop the glass, and he nods his head.
"So, I have an answer to listen to," He further says, and I nod my head shyly.
"Do you want us to date?" The next question makes me raise my head to look at him blankly. Is this his way of asking me to be his girlfriend? Who does this?
"Excuse me?" I blink my eyes confusingly like I didn't hear him, but I just want him to repeat what he said earlier. Instead, he sighs and reclines on the chair.
"You want us to date, right?" He asks, but this time, in a more appropriate way, and even if I don't want to appear desperate, I can't just help but nod my head. This may be my only chance of being with him, and I don't want to ruin it just like that.
"Do you want us to date?" He asks for the third time since I haven't really answered him. I guess he wants to hear it from me directly.
"Yes," I reply to him.
"So be it then," He shrugs while having a smirk playing at the corner of his lips, and I stare back at him blankly. Just like that?
"Why? Aren't you happy?" A thin line appears between his eyebrows as he stares at me with a questioning look on his face, and I quickly shake my head.
"No, it's not like that. I'm happy," I quickly reply to him, and he nods his head.
"Good. I will set the rules straight up. Our relationship is going to be a secret that can't be told to anyone, not even the person you're closest to, ok?" He utters, and I pull a puzzled look.
"Why?" I end up asking.
"It's better you don't know why for now. I don't want our relationship to be public. You can always call me whenever you want to see me, and I promise to come to you at once. I will do whatever you ask me to do for you, but my time with you is not promised, as I'm always busy..." He pauses and leans forward.
"Lastly, I'm a sex freak, and if you don't want me getting it outside, then I'm sure you know the right thing to do, right?" He finally says, and my mouth drops open in shock. Is he a jerk, or is he just being straightforward?
"Asher... Do you.... love me? Why do you want to date me?" I ask him, trying to suppress the tears that are threatening to escape my eyes. Everything he just said is a turn-off for me, but I'm sad, knowing that I won't still be able to move on, regardless.
"Love? I don't love anyone, Cynthia... Not even myself. Love is cruel, life is cruel, trust is cruel, and so is my heart. Why do I want to date you? Because you want me to," He replies to me honestly, and although I know this is foolish and hurtful, I still find him cool. At least he was just being honest with me.
"What will it take to win your heart, Asher?" I ask myself as I stare at him. I really want to be with this man for the rest of my life, I want to spend every minute of my life with him, but then, he doesn't even love me.
"Do you still want to date me, Cynthia?" He asks as his eyes darken.
"Yes, Asher Williams... I will date you, and marry you in the future," I don't know where the courage suddenly come from, but I find myself determined to be with this man. He looks like he's hiding something, he looks like something is wrong with him, and I need to find out about that. I need to know what is wrong with this man, maybe I will be able to help him.
"Welcome to hell, Cynthia," He leans forward and whispers to me...