Hugh called Clarence but the latter was busy on his way to the wedding venue. A storm was broadcast ahead by the weather bureau and the venue would be one of the affected areas. So, Hugh could not ask Clarence right now. He decided to wait for his other cousins to finish their fittings. He sat at the cozy divan beside the door.The door opened, the bell hanging on it rang. Sheila came in and saw Hugh was the only available person standing near the doorway. "Is Miss Beauty Ferol inside?" She asked him.
Hugh turned his head to the direction of the voice and saw the woman he only saw once in person, the face he painted on a canvas, and the lady he tried to meet for years. And here she was, standing in front of him, but he only sat there silent, as if he became mute.
His eyes shone in delight to see this beautiful face but no longer sad. His heart raced like the Milan Red engine as he met her face to face. He"d never experienced anything like this before. Had never felt this strongly attracted to a woman. This feeling was even insane compared to when he took his medical doctor"s licensure exam. He wanted to grab her now and never let her go.
Sheila felt uneasy with his strong stares, her eyes lowered, and her cheeks colored. This man was obviously attracted to her and he looked like Clarence but maturer with blond hair, gray eyes, and ahem, handsome too. "Why am I feeling timid with this guy? He might be one of Clarence"s cousins."
She straightened her back, and asked again, "excuse me, is Beauty inside?" but Hugh was totally dumbstruck. Sheila felt more uncomfortable.
Then Jenna came out from the fitting room and saw Sheila and her cousin, who was getting crimson. She giggled and walked to them and planned on saving Hugh from this embarra.s.sing moment. Jenna grabbed Sheila"s arm.
"Sheila, nice to see you again. I think you"ve met my cousin, big bro Lucien." She waved her hand to Hugh, whose face was redder than earlier. "And cuz, this is Sheila, my beautiful friend, and a good cook." Then her gaze went to Sheila. "Sheila, this blus.h.i.+ng cousin of mine will be your partner on the wedding."
Sheila covered her mouth, lowered her gaze, and laughed softly with the word "blus.h.i.+ng" and Hugh was getting discomposed. Jenna eyed her cousin, "say something."
Hugh got his cousin"s meaning. He breathed deep, extended his hand, and showed Sheila his most charming smile. "Hi, glad to meet you, Sheila."
"Glad to meet you too, Lucien." She shook hands and felt his warm hand, it felt good. However, Hugh"s smile made her heart beat wildly.
It was now Sheila"s turn to be shy. "Oh my gosh, he is so handsome. That smile is making me crazy." She turned around and dabbed her face with her palms. "Relax, relax."
Jenna guessed, the two liked each other. A thought came to mind. "Playing Cupid for this two won"t be bad." She pushed Hugh to Sheila and the former stumbled on Sheila"s back. The latter"s body got off balanced, so the gentleman caught her. "Be careful." Sheila gasped, his touch led Sheila"s breathing to hasten. She didn"t move, her back was still resting on Hugh"s firm chest, his arm wrapping her waist.
Sheila thought, "don"t let go," while Hugh thought, "I don"t want to let go."
Jenna acted as if her pus.h.i.+ng was not done in purpose. "Cuz, why not both of you go and buy some packed lunch for the bunch here? But take your time." Her eyes went to clock on the wall, it said eleven o"clock. "You still have an hour before lunch. Bye, big bro. Bye, Sheila."
Jenna"s words woken the two and Hugh moved his hand away from the lady and whispered, "is that okay with you?"
Sheila nodded without looking at him. Hugh moved to the door and then Sheila whirled around to smile at Jenna, her mouth moved "thank you".
Jenna winked and gave Sheila a thumbs up. "Get him."
Hugh didn"t see the two"s interaction for he was already out to open the door wide for Sheila.
"Bye," Jenna waved her hand as her cousin closed the door.
Both of them walked slow, unsure where to go. At last, Hugh broke the ice. "Can you lead the way? I don"t know the place."
"Sure, there"s a mall at the corner. We can go there and we can choose which store to buy."
Hugh wished to hold her hand as they walked. Sheila saw his hand moved to hers and hoped he would. Then Hugh remembered what her mother said when he was young, "Filipinas are conservative women. Don"t touch a woman"s hand without her consent."
This memory made him undecided. He, thus, hid his hand in his pocket, keeping him from s.n.a.t.c.hing her hand. The girl saw it, unsure of what to think.
"Sheila," he said her name aloud, thinking that the mere sound of it was melodious.
"Yes?" Sheila"s heart sprung up hearing him call her name.
Hugh thought himself as a first-cla.s.s idiot for almost shouting her name. He seemed hardly able to connect one coherent thought to another. He shook his head. "Stop, think well."
Sheila saw his action and anxious face. This worried her. "What"s wrong?"
Hugh tried to compose himself but stammered instead. "Ah, could you … ah, dinner …"
Sheila answered not a second less. "Sure. When?"
That was fast. "How about tomorrow night?"
"Okay."
They continued walking. Hugh recalled something. "Ah, sorry to ask but can we meet at my uncle"s restaurant? I still don"t know my way around here."
"They have more than a dozen, which one?"
Shoot. "Ah, sorry, but I need to ask Clarence about that." He scratched his head. "Hmm, do you have any suggestions?"
Sheila felt laughing to see his blus.h.i.+ng face again but held it inside her belly. "Uhum," she gulped and collected herself, "how "bout I"ll get you where you"re staying and we"ll go somewhere. My treat."
"No … no way. I asked you out for dinner, it"s my treat."
Sheila thought hard. She was a modern woman, "who cares on who was treating or paying? As long as we"re together." How to convince this guy?