Bad News

Camellia's lips formed a smile and her eyes followed, creating a crescent moon shape. That showed how happy she was when she managed to win over this prickly man in front of her right now.

Opening the menu that the waiter gave just now, she moved her finger from one thing into another, her heart was blossoming right now. She loved how he gave up and ended up following her in.

'Ah, he was cute!' She closed her eyes for a second, suddenly thinking about that.

"Again, new scheme?" Alexander, who saw her smile and action grew suspicious.

"No!" She frowned, then she looked straight at his eyes. "I don't need to, eventually…" She profusely blinked her eyes, with her palms supporting her chin.

"Stop it, hurry up or I will leave right away." He threatened her and clearly she looked unaffected. She just proceeded with raising up her hand, calling for a waiter.

"What do you want to eat?" She asked while waiting for the waiter.

"I don't feel like eating."

"How about a drink? Coffee? Long black?" She asked, leaned her head a little, waiting for his answer.

Alexander raised his right brow, he was quite impressed with her choices, like she could guess his taste.

"How do you know?" He asked, in case Adam did tell her about his preference too.

"Which one? Long black? I just guess, well you seem to be like that type…" She paused while motioning her hand in front of Alexander as if she was scanning him, "The bitter type." then let out a quick smile.

"Sorry?" He showed displeasure on his face. Alexander still couldn't get used to her straightforwardness and felt displeased every time it happened.

Camellia blew her cheeks while blinking her eyes, acting innocent and fortunately she could avoid Alexander's glare when the waiter arrived at the right moment.

"Ah, so, one grilled lamb chop." She took a breath before smiling, looking at the girl that was waiting for the order, "with rice please."

The girl nodded and jotted down the order.

"And for the drink, one fresh orange for me and long black for my fiancé." She smiled again confirming the order.

Turning back after the girl moved, she was a little surprised looking at Alexander's expression. His eyebrows wrinkled as his lips curve into a lopsided frown.

"How do you feel knowing even when you're frowning like you're holding your poop, you still look so attractive." She crossed her arms and leaned to her seat, "That's unfair." She narrowed her eyes and smirked.

He was taken aback, he was never ready for that attack. Tongue-tied, he let out a huge sigh.

"If you behave like this, no wonder that you are always swamped with people that misunderstand your real intention."

Camellia sent a short glare before exhaling deeply. She tried her best to divert all her mind from what just happened with the man named Ralf before, but then, this guy in front of her at this moment reminded her of those things again.

"I did not. I didn't do anything that might mislead someone into thinking that I'm flirting or seducing. Do you understand?" She stressed every word that came out from her mouth so that he could properly take in everything she said.

"You did, with me." He repeated the same thing over again.

"Ah! Okay! I won't do it anymore! Satisfied?" Her frustration reached the limit. She only behaved like that with him. Him only. She admitted she was being friendly with everyone but being friendly and making advances or leading on someone was totally different things. To be honest all the confession she received ended up with her telling each one of them that she was already engaged.

"Great! Then can we proceed to talk about our involuntary engagement?" His brows raised, asking for her green light.

She just raised her hands and gestured to him to proceed. Her words couldn't come out because of the frustration, so she decided to just let him talk.

"So I believe you also did not agree with this so-called arranged marriage, right?"

Camellia started leaning her body to the table. Putting her elbow on the table, she supported her chin with her palm. "And who said that?"

Alexander was puzzled, his eyes widened listening to her response. "Seriously? You got engaged to someone you didn't even know at the age of ten and he left you for twelve years without any closure, are you okay with that?"

"Exactly! Who is that guy again? The jerk that leaves his fiancée without any closure?" She returned his words with sarcasm implied. An eye for an eye.

"Can't you be serious for a while."

"I am, very serious. See?" She pursed her lips, rounded her eyes and looked straight at him.

Alexander stayed quiet and didn't reply to her when he saw the waiter coming with Camellia's order.

When the waiter finished putting the food and drinks on the table, Camellia instantly smiled and mouthed the word thank you to her and Alexander, he watched all her gestures and came to realise about the dimples that Adam talked about. He saw them before but this time he looked carefully at how attractive she is with the dimples showing.

Diverting his eyes quickly when Camellia turned to him, he panicked and said, "I told you, don't smile at anyone."

"Excuse me sir?" She blew her bangs up like he blew out her anger. "Whatever you want to talk about, just let me eat first." She didn't care anymore. She pulled the plate closer to consume the food quickly as she could feel her hand shaking and her tummy rumbling.

After just one bite, her phone suddenly rang.

"Ahh, why is everyone trying to mess up with my life today?" She vented without realising it. Angrily taking out the phone from her bag, she took a long breath before answering the call, "Yes dad."

"Honey, where are you?"

She sensed something wrong with her dad's voice, "Why?"

"About your final year project, how many days before you need to submit it?"

His question was seriously making her curious right now, he never cared about her final project before. He knew but nothing more than knowing she was now struggling with his final year project.

Frowning, she replied, "In ten days."

"Oh really? Did you take a lot of time drawing them?" He asked again and his question sparked the bad feeling in Camellia's heart.

"It took me a long time to draw them, dad, and now tell me, what is it?" She couldn't hold her anxiousness anymore. She was so sure that his dad called to tell her some bad news.

"Can you come home right now? I have something to tell you." He refused to talk over the phone.

"What is it? Just tell me." Her heart couldn't beat faster than now. She was so nervous, afraid what she was thinking right now would come out to be real.

"Your sketch-"

"No dad! It is not a sketch, I finished them." She cut him out, she couldn't wait anymore and stood up.

Alexander was confused and stood up with her.

"Can you help pay them up, I will pay you back." She walked away quickly, wanting to go to her car as fast as she could before Alexander stopped her.

"Wait…" He held her arm before lowering his hand to clasp hers. "It won't take long." He dragged her to the cashier and paid the bill.

Camellia stared at their hands clasping together, at the anxious moment she felt like she shouldn't have that feeling. The happy feeling with just one simple gesture. She felt like she was too easy but she never felt it with other guys.

"Why?" She blurted the word without thinking.

"Why?" He asked back and didn't get the question.

"Ah sorry. Nothing." She simply apologised to cover it.

"Home?"

"Huh?" She was still not ready with whatever question right now because her mind and heart was so messed up that it took longer to digest everything that came.

"Let me drive." She took the key from her left hand that she's been holding since she decided to go home.

"Where?" Her question showed how chaotic her mind was right now.

"Home."

Alexander just pulled her to follow him when she stared blankly at him. He thought she was like that because of the call she received just now but well, their hands clasped together affected her more.