Chapter Nine - Treat You To A Meal

"yes," said Bianca "this is the place" 

she'd gotten herself prepared for the outing or she didn't know if she could call it a date with Lorenzo.

she looked at her sprained ankle. it was good, it already started healing because June had done something about it.

her mom didn't know that she went out so she had to be back before her mom found out. she was sure her mom wouldn't fancy the idea of her meeting someone when she was supposed to be learning family business, but her mom couldn't blame her, she needed a breather.

Lorenzo had been quite specific on where they were going to meet and the dinner aspect of their meeting. what did he plan for her?

"don't forget to come pick me up by exactly..." she looked at her watch "eight o clock" she said to the driver as she got out of the car.

"yes, BB" replied the driver, then he drove off.

she got into the eatery, taking slow steps because her ankle still pained her. once she entered, she noticed there was no one in the restaurant, only Lorenzo. he waved at her when he spotted her arrival.

as she walked towards the table where he sat, she saw that he'd already ordered food for the both of them.

why had he done that? she thought. she didn't like to see that trait in any one. she considered it arrogant. did he order food for the both of them without thinking about her food preferences? the thought of it made her lose her appetite. was Lorenzo's arrogant side beginning to surface? was he.....

the aroma of freshly cooked risotto wafted through her nostrils. her bad thoughts towards Lorenzo was put on a pause as she saw what he ordered. her appetite quickly resurfaced. 

"wow, Lorenzo!" she beamed as she sat down across him "risotto!"

he smiled too

"I figured you'd like it"

"thanks" she said as she began to dig in

"how have you been?" he asked as he ate

"fine" she looked around. this restaurant wasn't a place she knew that lacked customers.

"did you book the restaurant?" 

he hesitated before he answered, "yes"

"why?" she laughed. that was a total gentleman move, coming from him

"I don't know" he avoided her gaze. he looked antsy and did she detect shyness on his features? "I thought you'd like it?"

"so..." she began "you are trying to impress me" she teased. this was a new side to him. a charming side. she liked it

"I don't mind " he stared at her solemnly, she felt like he was boring into her soul. was he really serious about impressing her?

"oh!" she teased again "it seems you have a lot of money to spend"

"you are worth it" he said simply 

she flushed scarlet. 

"you have a candid nature, don't you?" she noticed this even during their chats. he really was straightforward about what he felt.

"I guess so" he said, that solemn expression, intact.

"Allegra's like that too" she added "Allegra, she's my friend, we met at college, and she's also from Italy"

"that's nice"

she looked around again, at the large restaurant where only the both of them used.

"are we on a date?"

he smiled, though it didn't reach his eyes. "are we?"

"well... for a start, you made this place look like we're on a date"

"really?" he looked genuinely confused now "I wasn't aware of that "

"I thought you'd like privacy" he added 

"okay, I'll take your word for it"

she said.

there was silence between them and she didn't want that.

 "so what do you do for a living?"she asked, in an effort to keep the conversation going.

he didn't reply for a moment, he looked flustered.

"I've told you before, I run a jewelry company" he bit out in a low voice

"what's wrong?" she sensed something bothered him. although she wasn't familiar with his personality, she knew that something wasn't right about him.

he suddenly looked thrown off "um.... nothing"

"I don't know....but I feel you've been acting up for some time" she said, the concern not lacking in her voice.

he looked up and met her gaze

"I'm sorry if I made you feel uncomfortable"

"it's fine" she looked outside the window. it had a nice ocean view, with smooth sand around it.

"let's go outside" she said to him

he hesitated for a moment then, agreed. 

he dropped the bill on the table, then they headed outside

she limped as she walked because her ankle still hurt.

"what's wrong with your leg?" he asked when he noticed

"I injured my ankle"

he gazed at her with concern

"you should have stayed at home"

"no" she laughed "I didn't want to"

"allow me" he said then carried her up before she could protest

"I can walk" she laughed again. 

her heart was beating in an irregular rhythm as he carried her. was he always this gentlemanly? or was he just trying to impress her because he fancied her? 

he caught her staring at him as he carried her, so she averted her gaze quickly, flushing again. 

he dropped her gently when they got to where the water began

they both sat down on the fine sand

"this is lovely" said Bianca 

"I've come here with my sister, before" 

"you've never talked about your sister before " he said "of course, you told me that you have a sister during our chats, but you didn't tell me about her"

for years now, she and Capria had been on loggerheads. they quarrelled over the pettiest things, they rarely called eachother. whenever they got home or wherever they stayed in the same space, they always broke into heavy bickering and scuffle. it's only her dad who'd managed to keep their fights on a leash. while she studied in Los Angeles, her sister studied in Germany, far away as possible from her. she just didn't have the strength to think about Capria and all the drama and fights associated with her.

she didn't want to revisit the painful incident that happened between them, ten years ago that caused her and Capria's perpetual fights. 

"I don't get along with her" she simply said to him

"why?"

"I don't know" she lied "it just became natural for us to fight all the time"

it was his turn to laugh

"sometimes I feel grateful for being the only child" he said "but sometimes I don't"

she stared at him. somehow, she felt him. she understood how it felt like to be lonely.

They sat on the smooth sand and enjoyed the cool breeze as they talked and shared stuff about eachother. she didn't want to stand up from where she sat because she really liked his company but unfortunately for her, her driver had come to get her.

she had to get back home before her mom found out that she went out.

"let's meet again, at the fountain" he said, when she was about to go

"okay" she smiled "good night, Lorenzo"