Restore Your Smile
Among The Choices
The next day on Sunday at around 11:00, after enjoying breakfast and relaxing for a while enjoying the hotel facilities, Darrell decided to go to the Blouissant to meet Cecilia. He deliberately waited for a time where the shops inside the mall had opened and the mall began to be crowded with visitors.
He accidentally fails to inform Cecilia of his arrival for fear that the girl will run away. Somehow he had a hunch that Cecilia had avoided him ever since the girl learned of his match with Rebecca. Although not necessarily the hunch is right, it's good to first be on guard, right?
"Congratulations Da-" Cecilia's speech came to a halt as soon as she saw who had come.
"Hi .... Sorry bothering you. But may I have a little bit of your time?" asked Darrell while smiling wryly expressing his purpose.
Cecilia recalled Rebecca's words yesterday that Darrell's target had already moved on to her. And seeing the man visit him now, inevitably he began to believe the truth of the words. Fidgeting surrounds Cecilia. He is not ready with the answer at all.
"G .... Ma-sorry .... It doesn't seem to be able to. I'm busy right now, " replied Cecilia while avoiding Darrell's gaze.
Darrell smiled knowing Cecilia was making excuses. "Oh yeah? Busy what? I see that your boutique is not so crowded at the moment, "he said as he circulated the view around the boutique where there are only 1-2 visitors who are being served by Cecilia employees.
"A- I ... is ... being .. checking the item booking file!" cecilia said as she hurriedly picked up the booking note that happened to be visible in front of her.
Darrell's smile widened. Although his heart was a little bit sad because he felt his premonition was more proven, but it was nice to see the girl's nervous behavior as a result of her sentence. Darrell continued his fad. "Then ... need my help again?" tanyakanya.
"No! Nay! Not necessary! I ... I can do it myself!" cecilia said in a hurry due to panic.
Darrell smiled to hold back his laughter. But it didn't last long. In just a few seconds, the smile disappeared. It seems like it's time he ended the game. "Fille qui bave .. (meaning: Ileran girl) Answer me honestly .... Are you avoiding me?" ask her gently.
"Ti-no! Where possible?! I-I was just busy. Yes ... just happens to be busy. Ma-sorry yeah .." said Cecilia while raising her face looking at Darrell, but not long after, she again lowered her head and pretended to be working on something else.
"Cecile ..." call Darrell.
"Yes?" cecilia replied hurriedly. He again dared himself to look at Darrell, putting on a face as if there was no turmoil in him to avoid suspicion from the man.
"Try saying one more time that you're not avoiding me while looking at me. If you can do it, I'll go and not bother you anymore" Darrell said gently. A sad smile was engraved on her face, which further made Cecilia die of lice.
"A-I .. I ...." Cecilia tried to dare herself to say the words Darrell had said while looking at the man's face, to cover up his lies.
"I ... I .. cannot ...." Cecilia acknowledged her incompetence while bowing her head again.
"Why are you avoiding me, Fille qui bave?" (meaning: Ileran girl) asked Darrell in a sad tone.
"Because ... you .. and Rebecca ...."
"I've decided my match with the girl. If you don't believe me, please ask your best friend, "cut Darrell.
Cecilia remained silent with her head still down. He already knew that. But the problem for him now is not that.
"This follow-up is what I want to talk to you about. That's why I'm gonna ask you one more time, can I have a little time?" Darrell repeated his question, this time with a serious face and a slightly pleading tone.
With this statement, Cecilia became convinced of the truth of Rebecca's words. If he wants to be absolutely sure of the truth, he just gives his time and listens to an explanation of the meaning of the word 'follow-up' that Darrell said.
Surely he knew, if he wanted to avoid trouble with his friends especially Rebecca, he better NOT give it a chance and NOT listen to Darrell's words. It might also make her life and feelings calmer.
But something tickled his heart when he heard the man's tone. And his heart grew unbearable to refuse when he saw Darrell's face that was as clear as it was. Not to mention the curiosity that thrashed in order to be satisfied. He wants to know the answer. He really wanted to make sure. Did Darrell really choose her to be his next target? Himself? Not Sharon or Priscillia?
Looking at the speechless Cecilia with a face full of worry, Darrell continued his attack.
"Puis-je vous demander de votre temps, or pouvons-nous trouver un endroit confortable pour discuter et prandre une petite colony, Princesse ? (meaning: May I ask for your time, where we can find a comfortable place to chat and eat a little snack, Princess?) darrell said as he stretched out his right hand and lowered his head, like a knight asking for favor from the Princess.
Bak was brainwashed, unconsciously Cecilia welcomed the helping hand and replied, "Oui ..." (meaning: Yes)
"Oui ..." (meaning: Yes) Again Cecilia replied and followed Darrell's direction like a fool.
But when Cecilia stepped on her third step, her steps suddenly stopped. He seemed to be reminded of something and was made aware of the hypnotic magic that had just bound him. (author: actually this novel what genre is it?)
Darrell was silent and aware of that. Tense feeling melodied him. Will Cecilia change her mind and reject her? But all he could do was wait for the certainty to come by itself.
Cecilia turned around and turned back to face her boutique. Then he said, something Darrell had been waiting for with a feeling of anxious expectation. "I'll go for a minute yeah .... Please handle the boutique as usual .." said Cecilia who turned out to be intended for her employees.
Hearing that, Darrell heaved a sigh of relief and smiled to himself laughing at his apparently unreasonable anxiety.
...****************...
Darrell and Cecilia are now in the cafe on the third floor of the mall. In front of them was already a glass of coffee belonging to each of them that they ordered. Awkwardness covers them. All they did from earlier was sip coffee little by little or stir the coffee, even though they did not know to let alone stir.
For some reason, after actually dealing with Cecilia like this, Darrell became confused about where to start. As for Cecilia, don't ask. His heart was already pounding from earlier waiting for Darrell's statement. He himself also began to doubt himself whether his heart was really ready to hear anything that would come out of his mouth.
"Fille qui bave ..." (meaning: Ileran girl) Darrell starts trying to open the conversation by calling the girl.
"I-yes?" cecilia replied nervously and averted her gaze now staring at Darrell.
"Do you like me?" ask Darrell directly. His gaze looked straight into Cecilia's eyes.
Cecilia who shot such a question, could only petrify and slowly blush her face. He really did not expect to be asked that. Unable to stand it, he turned his gaze back to the coffee cup in front of him.
Seeing the girl's reaction, Darrell smiled and realized his mistake. He forgot it was in the East. The question can be considered too bold for the culture here. But he was pleased with Cecilia's reaction. The girl was quite innocent and her feelings were obvious.
"Sorry .... Sorry .... I don't mean deep feelings like love and so on. I don't really understand what love is. All I ask is a light feeling like, is it possible that you have a little bit of interest in me? Just answer it casually and as it is .... Don't feel burdened .." said Darrell immediately read his words.
The silent atmosphere again covered them. Darrell waits for Cecilia's answer with anxious expectation, even though in front of him he tries to look relaxed. The girl was still trembling with her head down.
"I-yes .." replied Cecilia blushed. Cecilia decided to be honest in the end. However covered, he knew his feelings could not be lied to.
Darrell's smile widened. He also continued his sentence. "Then will you be my partner?"
"Eh?" The stunned Cecilia involuntarily looked back at Darrell.
"You don't have to rush to answer, Fille qui bave .. (meaning: Ileran girl) I know there's still a lot to think about.
Maybe you already know my background looking for a partner. I can't promise you love, because as I said, I don't understand love myself. All I can promise is commitment. I will make you my queen and the only woman in my life. I will try to grant all your wishes as long as I can grant them.
I know the problems you'll face in the future if you accept me. It's possible that you'll run afoul of your friends who don't like me and would rather support Celine. You could even be judged with your own conscience for betraying Celine.
I don't know how close you are to my cousin. But seeing Rebecca's reaction, I feel that your relationship is quite close. But this is the situation that exists between us. Celine and I were in a situation facing each other. Sorry if I put you in a difficult position to choose.
Think about it first, Fille qui bave .. (meaning: Ileran girl) I will wait for your answer. Follow your heart. Don't be burdened if you finally choose to reject me .." Darrell said with a sincere smile at Cecilia.
Cecilia was only fixated on listening to the words that came out of Darrell's mouth, until she finally lowered her head again. It was realized that this was not a romance story filled with flowers and rainbows. It's reality. There are choices he has to make. Every choice has consequences that you have to face.
Silently, they decided to have lunch together at the restaurant that was still around the mall. Afterwards, Darrell returns to deliver Cecilia to her boutique.
Darrell is also ready to return to his town later this afternoon. Cecilia offers to drive Darrell to the airport, but Darrell refuses. This man did not want her to do anything for him until Cecilia completely decided her choice. He wants Cecilia to really think about her options without being burdened with risks that could happen prematurely.
...****************...
