The best love is the kind that awakens the soul; that makes us reach for more, that plants the fire in our hearts and brings peace to our minds. That's what I hope to give you forever.

~ Nickolas Spark.

......

Akira

Our 'kind of' staring contest breaks when the man from earlier knocks on the door, notifying his presence. He seems scared as he walk toward us like he is walking on an unknown territory and I can't seriously blame him. I still remember my first day like yesterday when I received my first glare from the person sitting opposite of me, I was so scared that I thought I might piss in my pant. Romero has that effect on people.

Slowly but surely he reaches our table scrolling a trolley along with him. Raising his head slightly he nods at Romero and me, greeting politely, "Good evening sir, mam."

He then carry on transferring all the things from trolley to our table silently. Once he is finished, he takes a step back looking at Romero, "Would you like to have some wine along with the dinner, sir?"

Romero gives me a glance and asks, "Which one you prefer, red, white or anything else?"

"I don't know, the only drink I have ever tasted is red wine." I shrug.

Leaving that one glass at party.

That doesn't count!

Back in home, grandma always has a bottle or two of red wine in fridge that she likes to drink with her dinner. I have had it few times before, without her knowledge of course.

He raises his brow but doesn't comment. Turning back to the man he orders, "Get some red wine."

The man nods, "Enjoy your dinner." Before retreating with his trolley.

I look down at the foreign thing on the plate in front of me. I have no idea what it is but it kind of looks like pasta with some more ingredients in it.

"I didn't know anything about your favourites so I just ordered it."

Hearing Romero's voice I look up from my plate, "What is it?"

"It's Pasta e fagioli, an Italian dish. Eat it, you will like it."

"Okay."

I take one spoon full of it and stuff it in mouth and he is right. It is freaking mouthwatering, a bit spicy and damn tasty.

"It's delicious." I almost moan out the words. His expectant looking face relaxes and he gives me a smug, boyish grin as if saying 'I told you so' before digging in his own plate.

Another man carrying a bottle of red wine enters with a knock on the door. Romero stops him when he goes to open the cork with a, word, "Leave."

Rude!

I flash that man an apologetic glance when he turn around, silently giving an excuse for Romero's rudeness but there is no excuse seriously, he is the way he is. For a moment I also contemplate telling Romero how rude his behavior was but thought better of it. I don't want to ruin his mood when he is like this, happy. And also I think that all the staff member must be aware of his attitude considering they don't even twitch at his curtness.

Romero, then opens the cork of the bottle and pours wine in two glass. I take the glass when he offers and murmur a 'thank you'.

Taking a sip from my glass, I continue to chew my yummy dinner, shifting slightly toward window.

"You dropped your psychology class." His tone is mixed of a statement and a question.

I stop eating, this is not the conversation I was hoping to have tonight. I knew it will come up somehow, just not now.

Alas!

"I did." I shrug non-committally.

I'm anything but-

"Why? Is it because of me?" He asks but I think he already knows my answer.

I can lie and tell him 'no', that it wasn't because of him but what is the point when he knows it too.

"Partially yes."

"So It is me." I hear him mutter and when I give him a side glance, I find his head hung low sluggishly. He looks defeated.

And I don't want him to feel like that. It is in past, I'm trying to move on and he should too.

I take a napkin to wipe my mouth before replying, "I guess I did this to avoid you but mostly I did it because it was hard for me to manage time between my other classes and my job. And I could always take it back from next semester." I add smiling cheerfully.

He lifts his head, "I'm sorry Ray, for everything I put you-"

For the love of god!

I cut him off shaking my head firmly, "Stop. You don't need to say sorry every time past comes up. I told you that I forgive you and I meant it."

I don't want him to feel guilty whenever we talk about how we got started. He has apologized for so many times and that was more than enough. I just want to forget all the bad things and concentrate on future. Past is past and it is called that for a reason.

"What's in that?" Deciding to change the direction of our talk, I ask pointing at the covered bowl on middle of table with an eager smile that I'm sure shows how much dumb my question is or over my smile looks.

I mean, who does ask that on their first date? About food to avoid a serious mood.

I am that terrible at making conversations.

But that doesn't matter because I have desired effect of my stupidity as his eye flashes in amusement and the corner of lips quirk up in a smirk. He stares at me with the same laughing eyes making it almost impossible for me to keep the smile on my face or hide my wince.

Just when I feel my smile slipping from my face, he looks down at the bowl I just pointed, I exhale a breath and mentally pat myself for keeping up with my expression.

Removing the lid of the bowl, he puts a piece of whatever that thing is on a plate and push it toward me, "It's a dessert, Tiramisu. Try it."

I eye cake looking dessert with interest before taking a bite from it. Sweet Jesus! I think I'm gonna remember this day mainly because of the food I'm having. Damn! It's heavenly.

I swallow it, "It's good, more than good."

I go on finishing my plate silently, receiving some ceaseless looks from Romero once while. Though we both have become quiet but it isn't uncomfortable silence infact it is filled with unfathomable peace and mixture of love. At least my love.

And I like it.

Romero pulls out the door for me to come out of the room, once I'm out he follows my suit. As I move away from the room, I shudder evidently when a strong wave of cool air passes through us. We are on a yacht surrounded by water, of course it'd be cold, not to mention my lacy thin dress and I didn't even bring my coat with me.

Romero notices this and shrugs off his jacket, leaving him in black shirt. Draping it over my shoulder he takes both of my hands in his and rubs them warm, "You okay?" His eyes warm and full with concern.

I nod, "I am now." I whisper licking my lips.

His gaze falls to my lip and lingers there for a quite minute. Grey eyes flash with hunger and desire, longing is clear in them. For a second, I think he is going to kiss me, anticipation and awareness floods in my veins. My body starts responding to his closeness and I wait for his lips to touch mine.

But it never comes, instead he looks away from me. I try not to show my disappointment when he steps back from me.

Ugh! I want to kiss him, so bad.

Why can't he just kiss me and relieve me of this torture. I want to scream in frustration but manage to keep it at bay.

He clears his throat before leading me toward the end of stairs and I notice we are at edge of lake, through darkness I can see his car in short distance.

I climb down the stairs with his help and walk to his car. He opens its door for me, I move to sit but the buzz from the pocket of my dress stops me. I pull my phone out and see a text from Alex, instantly Romero tenses beside me. I feel him slipping away from me as he leaves my hand making me miss his touch immediately and goes toward his seat. I don't open Alex's text, noting to check it later and get inside the car.

I glance at Romero and find his face void of any emotions, a mask of passiveness but his hands are fisted tightly against steering wheel betraying his control on his anger.

He starts engine and car begin to move in silence. This time, silence is not comfortable like before but piercing like thorn.

And I don't like this.

I open my mouth to speak, "Rom-" but he starts radio to shut me off.

Now he is being a jerk!

I don't know why he is angry with me. I get that he is jealous because I'd be too if gets a text from Carina or any other girl at ten pm, but instead of talking to me when I'm trying, he let his mood take an U-turn. We could avoid this whole sulking if he just talk to me.

There is nothing to get angry when I didn't even open that text. Why can't he understand that my priority is him. I knew he wouldn't like me opening that text so I didn't. I choose him, how hard is it to understand. Ugh, now I am getting angry.

By the time car stops in front of my dorm, I am exhausted both mentally and physically. I have no energy to have any drama. Taking off his jacket, I gently place it between the seats without looking him, "Thank you for everything Romero. I had great time today." Well, until some time ago, I don't say that aloud.

It takes everything within me to not turn around and comfort him from his irrational anger and jealousy.

Reaching for the door I come out of his car and close it behind me. Aimlessly I walk toward my room carrying a heavy heart.

Why does it happen to me?

Everything was going fine and then it was not fine at all. How did such a beautiful day of my life ended with a disaster? And it's all because of a less than important text.

A disturbing question occurs to me, is my love strong enough to survive everything or is it going to destroyed in this brutal world? But I successfully shove it away, for now.

My heart breaks when I hear his car roar away from me. I think somewhat, deep down I was hoping that he'd come after me.

I guess I was wrong, I think bitterly to myself as an unwanted tear escapes my eye.