7

Tingles ran through her skin as she raised her head to lock eyes with him as he leaned forward, slowly starting to close in on her.

His phone suddenly rang, ruining the moment and he pulled back to look at his phone as she cleared her throat. Was she really going to kiss him if that call hadn't come in? How on earth could she kiss someone she barely knew? What exactly was going on with her that day?

"I don't think I can go today." He turned to her, after glancing at his phone. "How about tomorrow?"

"Okay, that's fine." She replied, wondering whether it was really fine or not. She was really looking forward to drinking with him, though.

"I'll see you tomorrow." He said as he rose to his feet and turned to leave. She took out her phone and smiled as she saved his number, having a feeling that he felt the same way she did towards him.

"He isn't the dating type." April told her, the next day over lunch and she turned to her in surprise. That wasn't what she was expecting to hear after she'd asked about Demir Wilson.

"What do you mean?"

"He may flirt but never commits. He just draws the line."

"Did he say so? That he never commits?" She asked as she took a spoonful of salad.

"Tahti, you know what?...Flowers don't bloom for one butterfly." April replied and she turned to shoot her a weird glance.

"What are you saying?"

"He is like..." April was saying and turned to point to a nearby hibiscus flower. "...that flower. Full of vanity, a symbol of seductive beauty that withers once it's plucked.That's what Demir Wilson is."

Tahti laughed. April, who hated poems suddenly became a poet, just because she asked her to describe Demir. "What's with you?I know we are an art students but still..."

April shook her head as she dropped her spoon. "You may not know it, but his every move is calculated."

"Well..." Her voice trailed off as she recalled his attitude during their first meeting. He had been just a stranger but yet he kept flirting with her.

'I sometimes felt that something was off..." Her voice faded and she shook her head, not wanting to believe April was right. "But it's not like that."

'That's how everyone falls for his tricks or not." She said, with a sigh before cupping her jaw on her hand.

"Actually, almost everyone knows...They say they won't get fooled, but they do when he shows an ounce of sincerity, because they want to believe it." April said and turned to her. "I'm telling you. Demir Wilson? He has no interest at all in dating...He just likes to play with girls who are drawn to him, so just forget him. You don't know how to keep things casual."

Tahti was taken aback by April's words. "What are you on about? We're just friends. It's not like there's anything going on."

April clicked her tongue as she shook her head. "Stop lying to yourself. Men and women can't be just friends." She said, emphasizing on the 'just friends'.

"Coming from the one with tons of guy friends." She replied as she resumed eating, though she was disturbed by what April had said.

"I keep them close since there's a possibility.

Hanging out with guys heightens sexual tension." April replied and Tahti turned to her.

"Even Demir Wilson?" She asked and April shrugged.

"He's not bad to hang out with. And he's totally handsome."

"Is it good?" Tahti heard someone ask behind her and she recognized the voice as Demir's, almost immediately.

She was surprised when he walked to her table with Ramiel and she raised her hand to cup her head as she turned to back him. If what April had said was true, then it would just be best for her to avoid him.

"You're actually eating cafeteria food." April said.

"I suggested eating it and at this table too." Ramiel replied.

"I didn't ask you." She muttered.

"Duh." Ramiel said and realized there was no water on the table. "I'll get some water."

"Okay."

"What is it?..."Demir asked and she turned to him halfway, guessing he'd noticed something was wrong. "Are you sick?"

"Well, I..." She stuttered, wondering what she would say. 'I want to avoid you henceforth because I heard some weird things about you' was completely out of the question. "I just bit my tongue."

He leaned closer, looking concerned. "Are you alright?"

"Yes, I'm okay." She replied, before April cleared her throat and Tahti turned to see her picking up her tray as she stood up.

"I'll be off first. Enjoy your food."

Was April really leaving her with him? Wasn't she the one who advised her to avoid him? Why then was she running away since he was there?

"Where are you going?" She mouthed and April winked at her before leaving and Tahti wondered her choice of a best friend. Why would she leave her with someone she had just advised her not to be with?

"You didn't forget, right?" Demir asked.

"What?"

"I'm using my wish."

She frowned. "You already used your wish."

"Aren't you granting me another one?" He asked and her mind went back to the night at the bar. He was right. She had promised to grant him another wish after she'd said his wish was too simple.

"Fine, but it can't be anything weird."

Tahti was almost regretting granting Demir another wish when he took her to a club later that night. She didn't only hated loud places but seemed to be the very odd one out of everyone at the club.

He was holding a glass of a drink when he walked over to her and she looked at it for a minute, before raising her eyes to him.

"Is this lime?" She asked and he nodded. "I like lime." She said and downed its' contents in a gulp, before giving it to a barman passing by.

He walked to her back and slipped his arms around her from behind. "Dance." He whispered into her ear.

"No." She said and he leaned closer.

"But that's my wish."

"Can't we just leave?" She raised her voice, through the noise.

"Let's hang out here."

She raised her hand to cover her ears. "I can't hear anything. It's too loud." She said and he lowered her hands before leaning to run his lips over her ear, which sent tingles down her spine. "What are you doing?" She laughed as he slowly turned her to face him.

It was as if it was only the both of them in the crowd, she thought as she turned to lock eyes with him. All she could see was only him, despite the crowd. She raised her arms to wrap them around his neck and his arms settled for her waist.

He started closing in on her, not tearing his eyes off her as he did and she found it difficult to pull back as she stared in his beautiful caramel eyes. He kept making her feel excited from time to time, and on occasions when they met and despite what she had heard about him that day, she wanted to believe he also felt the same way she did.

Someone suddenly ruined the moment by pushing her from behind while dancing, making it seem like that timing in the world was cursed.

"Sorry." The girl apologized and Tahti wondered if fate was always against them kissing.

"It's okay." He said and she wondered why her heart jumped into her stomach when he turned to her. "You're okay, right?"

"Yeah" She replied and decided it was a good moment to calm her unsteady nerves." Excuse me, I need to go to the restroom."

She was surprised to see her face all red after checking her reflection in the mirror and she raised her hands to fan her cheeks.

Why was she so red?

Coming there had been a terrible mistake, she decided after looking at herself in the mirror.

Her eyes shifted uncontrollably to the girl who was adjusting her makeup, not far from her. That was another reason she shouldn't be there, she decided after sweeping her eyes over the short dress the girl was wearing.

She could have just turned back to leave after she had realized he had brought her to the club.

A text came into her phone as she walked out of the restroom and she slipped it out to see it was from Demir.

«I'm drinking outside» It read.

That was good. She would just tell him she was tried and wanted to head home, she said to herself as she walked out.

He was downing a can of scotch when she walked out and she was about to near him when the girl in the bathroom suddenly called his name from behind her and walked towards him. They knew each other?

"You weren't reading my messages. Were you hanging out here?...Are you alone? Hannah and Yvonne are inside. Want to join us?" She asked and she could see he didn't look pleased to see her.

He sighed as he walked towards her to put an arm over her shoulder. "I'm with her.You can hang out without me." He said.

The girl smiled as she walked over to Tahti to lock arms with her. "Come on, we can all hang out together. We can call the other guys too." She said in a shady manner and Tahti looked down to see a drawing of a moon and star, just like the one Demir had drew, on the girl's arm.

Anxiousness set in as she wondered what kind of relationship he had with her. "Well.. I'm fine." She said and wiggled her arm out of hers before she turned to him. "You can go hang out with her. I'll head home first."

His hand went to her arm before she could actually leave. "Why would you leave?" He asked and turned back to the girl. "Why don't you just go?"

That was a bit harsh, she thought and the girl looked annoyed.

"Alright,then...Bye." She said and walked back in.

"Why did you try to ditch me? You made me feel awkward." He asked on their way home. She had told him she was in no mood to go back to the club and he didn't look like the wanted to either, after what happened.

"You two seemed close. I thought you should hang out with her."

"We're not close.We went to the same academy, that's all." He replied and she wanted to scoff.

"Is that all? She looked pissed when you told her to go." She said.

"Did she?"

It was probably not a big deal for him. April was probably right. He was the frivolous type.

"She had a drawing of a moon and star on her wrist too...I'm not sure if it was a drawing or tattoo." She turned to him.

"Really?She must have gotten it by herself." He replied.

"By herself?" He looked like he was lying. "Why?"

He shrugged. "Maybe she wanted to see my reaction.You know how friends from academies sometimes hang out together, but she kind of obsessed over me.She was delusional." He stopped as he turned to her with a serious look on his face.

"Why are you suddenly so serious?It has nothing to do with you, so don't worry about it." He said.

It was true, but there was no way she could hang out with him if he was like that.

"I'm taking the bus over there."

He was surprised. "You're really going?"

She tore her eyes off him. "Yeah. I'm a bit tired."

He didn't seem to like the idea. "I'll take you home. It's late."

"No, there's no need...Bye." She said and turned to leave.