The Dinner Date
Aiden stood on the other side looking like the very personification of beauty and handsome mixed together. Donning an all-black suit that contrasted with his pale skin but complimented his obsidian eyes and groomed-back midnight black hair, he fitted the description of 'tall, dark and handsome' perfectly. He was such an eye-catcher with the poise and elegance that he had in his perfect form, and seeing him in that getup immediately sent my heart racing, and I felt like I could melt into a puddle.
Aiden's eyes met mine, and his lips tilted into a smile when he took in the image of me. I realized at the exact same time that I was wearing black like him, and I hoped to hope that he would not think that I was trying to copy. Luckily, it did not seem like so when he smiled appreciatively at my outfit. I would have thought that he must have given a tad too much attention to my body, but I didn't because his gaze did not linger on my body for too long, for it returned to my eyes immediately. What a gentleman!
"You look beautiful," he complimented, voice almost breathless. "I'm not even kidding. You seriously do look beautiful, Melindia."
That only immediately helped increase the desire to melt into a puddle, too awed by the way he looked and too flattered by his ever-coming compliments. I could feel a natural blush blooming on my cheeks, and I hoped my face didn't actually look red from both the heating of the blush and the rouge powder that Henrietta had brushed onto my cheeks.
Finding my voice although still mesmerised by him, I replied with a smile, "Thank you very much. And I must say; you look very handsome."
Aiden chuckled at the compliment, and I gave myself a mental pat to the back for returning his compliment with my own.
And then, we were both started gazing into each other's eyes, and it didn't seem like we would be looking away from each other for a very long time.
That is, until we both heard Henrietta squeak, "Ohmygosh, Mel. It's that guy. That guy I've told you about. That guy with the impossible dark hair and eyes. That guy."
All moments of seemingly budding romance with Aiden vanished as I felt myself blush in embarrassment at Henrietta. I saw exactly how he then looked at my babbling best friend with a raise of his brow and a clearly weirded and confused expression on his face.
"Ohmygosh…" Henrietta whispered in awe to herself as she continued to stare at Aiden with wide eyes. "You're even hotter up close. I'm sorry, Mel, but I really need to say this to his face in case he didn't know. God, you're so lucky, girl! Why didn't you tell me he was your date?"
Aiden's black eyes slid over to me, looking at me with amusement clear in his pair at what he was hearing. At that moment, I wanted to mentally strangle Henrietta for making a fool of me, and on my first date!
Now wanting badly to be off with Aiden, I wordlessly and immediately pulled her out of the house – Aiden was kind enough to step back to give her space – and switched off all the lights in the house before exiting myself and locking the door. Then, to Henrietta, I said immediately and hurriedly, "Well, Henri. Thank you so much for helping me out. Go home now, and have a good night."
I felt bad that I then just left her standing at my porch, but I was way too excited to begin my night with Aiden. Plus, I wanted to whisk him away before another word could slip out from her mouth.
So, without another glance to her, I turned and let Aiden escort me to the cab that was waiting to take us to our dinner date. I could feel her stare on the both of us – or maybe just Aiden? – boring into my back.
When Aiden opened the cab door for me like the gentleman I had presumed him to be, he remarked with an amused smile, "It seems like your friend there can't keep her eyes off me."
I flashed a glance to Henrietta, and indeed she was still standing there looking at Aiden with amazement. After he got into the cab and shut the door, and the cab started driving off to our destination, I replied with a roll of my eyes, "Same goes for me."
XXX
As Aiden paid the cab fare (another gentlemanly act) and thanked the driver, I could not look away from the place that he had brought me to.
We had driven up to one of the small hills that surrounded the outskirts of Heatherton. On this one particular hill, there was a very posh restaurant at the peak, ironically called Il Picco, which was Italian for 'The Peak'. This restaurant was well-known in Heatherton for being probably the most fanciest – and most expensive – restaurant in town, and also for its reputedly delicious Italian gourmet food.
"We're eating dinner here?" I questioned in astonishment when I felt Aiden come to a stand beside me. I felt surprised because, never – in as long as I had lived in Heatherton – would I have thought that I would actually be able to eat here. Not only was this place way off my budget, I had always deemed myself as not classy enough to eat amongst its equally posh patrons.
"Don't you like it?" he inquired, sounding a bit nervous.
Instantly, I whipped my head to him and exclaimed, "No! No! I didn't mean that! It's just that I'm admittedly surprised that we are, because I never thought that you would actually take me here for a date. I mean, this exceeds all expectations I had for a first date."
I was afraid that whatever nonsense I was babbling would only make matters worse, so I quickly mumbled apologetically, "I'm sorry, Aiden. I will admit that I'm nervous, considering the fact that this is our first date. But, I really do thank you for bringing us to somewhere really nice."
Without even a hint of anger appearing on his expression, Aiden gave me a reassuring smile. "Don't worry about it, Melindia. I'll do the same and admit that I'm a bit nervous too. And I was hoping for 'somewhere really nice', so it's great that both of us are dressed right for this date."
Then, like the gentleman he had been, he offered me his arm, and I could not help but feel flattered by the gesture. Without hesitation, I took his offered arm, wrapping my hand lightly around the crook of his elbow, and we both made our way up the small flight of steps to the door.
He opened the door for me, holding it as I walked in, then led me to the lectern that was next to the actual entryway into the restaurant. There, the hostess – a young woman who may be slightly a few years older than me – stood there, looking bored as she flipped through a thick book.
When she looked up at us, I could immediately see just how bored she had been on her job. But when her eyes settled on Aiden, all traces of boredom immediately vanished, replaced by a look of intrigue and, obvious, attraction.
"Good evening. Welcome to Il Picco, the finest restaurant for Italian gourmet in Heatherton," she greeted mostly to Aiden in a voice that was a bit too sweet for me. "Do you have a reservation?"
"Yes, I do," Aiden answered. "A table for two, please. Under the name of 'Aiden Pater'."
The hostess looked through the names that were listed on the opened pages of the thick book until she came to a stop at the slot that presumably had Aiden's name on it. "Ah, here we are," she said as she proceeded to pull out two leather-bound menus from under her lectern. "Follow me, sir."
We followed the hostess into the restaurant silently, with me silently fighting the annoyance that the bloody hostess did not even once acknowledge me because all her attentions were on Aiden. I get that he was handsome and indeed very eye-catching, but he was my date, and she did not have to make it so obvious that she was making him her eye candy.
But that annoyance in my head was put aside as I began to take in the breath-taking interior of the restaurant. Like I had imagined, it was fancy to the max. I was immediately enamoured by the red and gold theme, especially in the soft lighting which gave it an even more alluring – and romantic? – atmosphere. In the background, a soft ballad could be heard playing, adding even more to the atmosphere of romance which was already present. On the walls, some artwork that fitted the décor of the restaurant's interior.
The hostess led us to a table that was located somewhere at the middle of the huge room, and I noticed that the table had a candlelight, which only made the situation more romantic than I could ever imagine.
"Here is your seat, sir," the hostess told Aiden sweetly as she gestured to one of the chairs and ignored me completely.
But Aiden did not take the seat. Instead, he pulled it open and gestured for me to sit. The hostess was immediately flustered that he did not sit there, and I could catch a glare on her face as I took the seat with thanks. So she gestured to the other seat and was immediately satisfied when he did.
Passing the menu to him with a big smile while giving me mine without even looking at me, she told him, "Our special tonight is the Pollo alla potentina – Potenza-style chicken braised with tomatoes, onion, white wine, peperoncino, and topped with fresh basil, parsley and pecorino cheese. Our special wine tonight is Pecorino white wine. Your waiter will be attending to you shortly. I hope your dinner tonight will be a fine one, sir."
"Thank you very much," Aiden replied as he started to flip through the menu. The hostess then smiled rather… seductively at him, the attraction she felt towards him growing more noticeably as the seconds passed. But when she turned to go back to her post at the lectern, I caught her casting a quick glare to me, to which I responded with my own.
"Is she causing you any problems?" Aiden asked, concern clear in his voice and face.
"Other than ignoring me, she's practically trying to get you to notice her," I told him in a huffing sigh as I too picked up my own menu and started flipping through, scanning all the Italian-named dishes that I, admittedly, did not really understand. "It seems that she was hell-bent on doing it too."
"Really?" Aiden asked, sounding genuinely surprised. "I barely even noticed that she was, because my eyes are too busy admiring you."
I raised a brow at that, but a smile spread through my face. I did not think that he was lying, because he looked and sounded really sincere when he said that. That, and also because had so far been one of the most kindest people I have ever met, and maybe the possibility that he has a crush on me was what fuelled me to believe him immediately.
"So… this is a really swanky place," I remarked as I took another good look around the restaurant. "I never had expected that you'd bring me somewhere like this. You really must be loaded to even manage to get a reservation here."
Aiden shrugged his shoulders, and then humbly replied, "I don't want to make it seem as though it was a too flashy attempt of wooing you, nor do I want to make it a show of my wealth. I just wanted to treat you to something nice."
"And trust me, you have," I told him in reassurance. "This is really nice, and no one has ever done anything like this for me before. In fact, to just be very honest with you, you're the first date I ever had."
My words caused an intriguing spark in his eyes, and he clearly took interest in the topic. "So you never dated any other men before me?" he questioned. When I nodded my head in agreement, he asked, "Why not? Surely a beauty like you had gained the attentions of many, and I'm sure that there must have been a few that have caught your eye as well."
I scoffed and shook my head in denial. "A lot of unwanted attentions, yes," I told him, briefly remembering yesterday's incident at the park with the two douches. "And no, none of them has ever caught my eye. I know what goes on in their minds when all they look at is my face and body, but not my personality."
"I see," Aiden murmured in understanding. "But is there any other reason, if you do not mind me asking?"
"Well, there is the fact that I'm quite a mommy's girl," I admitted to him with a light laugh. "My mother and I are very close, and she has a tendency to be overprotective at times, especially when it comes to guys. I know it's kind of childish of me, but I don't really want to give her any displeasure, since she and I have been together all my life that I consider her my bestest friend. That's why I don't date so much, or at all."
He looked at me with a hard, emotionless gaze, which may or may not hold some other meaning beneath the façade. He seemed to take in my words as intently as sponge absorbing water, letting it soak into his mind all that I had just said to him.
"So why am I an exception?"
I was caught by surprise at his question, but nevertheless I began to think it over. Indeed, why was he an exception? Despite the fact that here we were now, he was still practically a stranger to me, having only met him for just a few times. But, there was something about him – something that went much deeper than the pull of attraction I felt towards him and the urge to know this mysterious man who just popped into my life so suddenly – that beckoned me to be close to him as much as possible.
And in addition to the strange occurrences that were happening to me lately, all the more reason to do so.
"Maybe it's because I somehow knew that you were different from any other guy I've met?" I reasoned with a smile. "And maybe because you saved me, and I felt the need to thank you? Anyone who would be willing to do that for me will immediately be in my instant 'likes'."
He still looked at me with deep thought when he questioned, "But you're not afraid that your mother would find out?"
And here came the confusion I felt whenever the topic of my mother came up. Why was it that Aiden seemed so worried about my mother, even though he had never met her before? Possibly could be due to the nerve-wrecking thought of meeting a (possible!) significant other's parent, but why was it that he seemed so serious about her in general?
But pushing that thought aside until I had more time to ponder on it, I replied, "I'm a big girl, Aiden, and I do what I would wish to do, as and when I feel like it. If I want to spend some time with you, I won't tell her so that she wouldn't get on my case about it, but I'll still spend time with you regardless."
Luckily, that finally seemed to make him at ease, and he smiled as though the words were like good news to him. "Well, I'm very flattered indeed, Melindia," he replied with a grin that flashed to me all his pearly whites. "Likewise, I have never dated anyone else."
I could feel my eyes widen in complete surprise. "You can't be serious," I protested, in entire disbelief. I mean, who would actually believe that Aiden, who was most probably the very epitome of handsome, had never dated anyone before. Girls would have most probably been willing to throw themselves at his feet, just for the chance to go on a date with him. I know Henrietta might, and that flirty hostess. I just feel blessed that he had been willing to give me his attentions.
But yet, he shook his head in disagreement, and answered, "I swear that I have never gone out with any other girl beside you. Simply because all of them are only interested in the way I look, but not who I am. And also the fact that none of them has caught my eyes as much as you had."
All fell into silence afterwards as we finally start to decide what we would like to have for dinner, but I could not stop myself from mentally smiling at what he had just said to me. Not only did it make my heart soar, but it made me feel even more confident of the fact that both of us may actually have mutual crushes and interests for each other.
After a while of reading through the menus and sipping the water that they have served us shortly before, a young man came to our table. "Hello, my name is Robert, and I will be your waiter for tonight," he greeted with a big smile, his eyes focused solely on mine. "Have you decided what you would like to have?"
Robert was still looking at me when I told him what I wanted – some sort of creamy risotto dish – but was still writing down my order and ignoring Aiden when he told him his order. When he asked what drinks we wanted, he didn't pay attention to Aiden, even though he was the one who asked him for two glasses of Pecorino white wine.
"Well, he was rude," Aiden grumbled, glaring daggers at Robert when he left. "He dares to just stare at you, like you're a prize to be won, despite the fact that I am clearly seated here."
"Aiden, are you jealous?" I questioned him in amusement.
Looking back at me with a more calmer façade, he replied, "Of course, I am. I am your date, aren't I?"
"Well, guess you already know how I feel about you and the hostess," I giggled in response. But then, daringly, I placed my hand atop Aiden's hand and smiled at him in reassurance. Aiden looked surprised at the gesture, and so was I because I never have ever thought that I would do such a thing. But by this point, I was already comfortable in Aiden's presence, so just a little bit of hand-holding seemed alright for me now.
"But don't worry, Aiden. Because, like you said, 'my eyes are too busy admiring you'."
A smile broke out on his face, just as he moved his hand to hold mine, and we both just simply gazed into each other's eyes, smiling as all attentions focused on just one another.
XXX
During the course of the meal, as we ate and sipped Pecorino, we talked and talked and talked, getting to know more about each other. From this, I learnt that Aiden's favourite animal were dogs, his favourite colours were red, silver and black, and he was actually a globetrotter, having travelled to so many countries in the past years but now had decided to settle down in Heatherton for a while.
After a hearty and delicious meal of gourmet pasta and sweet white wine (we were mindful to drink it in small amounts, although I had been tempted to drink slightly more because of its exquisite flavour), we were finally done with dinner. Aiden had insisted that he paid for the meal, and he told me that he didn't mind because I was his date. I don't know if he knew about my thoughts to suggest that we split the bill, but I just kept quiet and let Aiden do it.
When she thought I wasn't looking, the hostess had slipped him her phone number, asking him to call her if he felt 'bored'. I wanted to be insulted and angered by this, and I internally fought the urge to cause a huge stink in the restaurant even though I so badly wanted to tell her off. However, I was glad that Aiden had simply crushed the small slip of paper and left it on the lectern, stating that he had no use for the number since he had no intention of calling her for anything. This caused a look of immense shock and crushed hopes for the flirting hostess, which turned into a deadly glare when she caught me giggling at how very dismayed she looked. Aiden had not taken any notice, and simply walked me out of the restaurant.
Surprisingly, there had already been a cab waiting for us, and Aiden opened the door for me like he did earlier on. But instead of giving directions to either of our homes, he asked the cabbie to take us to the park.
"There's one more thing I wanted to do with you before we end the night," Aiden told me with a mysterious smirk that sent chills of curiosity and anticipation up my spine.
"And that is?"
"You'll see," he simply replied.
Author's Note:
Okay, okay. I swear that this will be the last 'boring' chapter, and that things will finally take a turn from here. Just try to guess; why exactly is Aiden taking Melindia to the park?
Pease do leave a review! Helps me out a lot!
Muse of Fanfiction
