"You look elegant." He said in an American accent.
"Me? No." I blushed out, all at once like i am a spotted guilty in a robbery court case. I lowered my face like a humble pet before his owner.
"C'mon. Stop acting cute." He rubbed over my hairs and turned off from my side to que for the lunch.
"Cute? Elegant? To me? Did he just say i look elegant? No. Am I dreaming now?"
"Hey Rose," i said to the girl standing next to me. "What did Mr. Ray just told me?"
"What?" She exclaimed with her eyes almost popping out. "Are you crazy?"
"I am serious Rose. Just tell what you just heard from him now."
"He said, you look elegant and also said you to stop acting cute." Rose said. "I don't know what the mess is going around here." She added.
"Thanks." I acknowledged her.
"Wow! I wasn't dreaming. Yes, Ray just came to me and said me i look elegant." I smiled a broadest inner smile.
°°°
That morning, Ray made the presentations on 'Evidencing the factual data with the narration.' Ray was a data analyst working in one of the top documenting institute. He was outsourced as a Resource Person to educate the forty of us who have gathered for that function.
As soon as Ray entered in, Rose exclaimed, "See that, his body. He is so fit for his age."
"I noticed it first." I wanted to tell her back. But i just nod at her remarks as i continued adoring his big hazel eyes, broadly curved lips and the gingerly colored hair that was perfectly combed to the left end.
He was wearing a sky blue collar shirt, grayish pant and a red-dotted black tie, giving the appearance of a movie star who has just dressed up to play the scene of a professionalized banker.
"How old could he be?" I asked Rose who has already drowned into taking the notes from his presentation slides.
"Huh? Well, i am not sure. Maybe 34 or 35." She said without looking at me.
"34 or 35? 15 years of age difference between us. But why my heart is not in peace at his sight? Why do i want to know more about him? Am i starting to like him? No, no way."
"Focus Zoe. You are here to learn, not to find a man." I reminded myself.
°°°
After almost 20 minutes of Ray's presentation, we were intervalled for the next 15 minutes for the coffee break.
I took the last five minutes of the break to check my mail. There were 7 new mails. I opened the first one.
"Yeah." The mail was from Ray. It read, "See me at Cafe Ion at 5:00pm."
"What? Why do i need to see him? Why can't he talk to me now? Or is he asking me out? Oh no, he must have some works to share me or maybe he will help me more to analyse on my work case." A series of options filled my little brain.
Meanwhile, the moderator made the time-up announcement for the coffee break and reminded all the participants to resume back.
"Okay Sir. I will see you then." I typed and clicked the send button and closed down my laptop.
Yes, i agreed to see him after the session. Well, how can i actually deny that offer after all, he was the boss at work and my secret crush.
°°°
"Hey, i thought you aren't coming." He said standing up from the beautiful wooden chair.
"Sorry sir. I am late. It took a bit of time to freshen up."
"Oh no worries. I didn't wait long. The waiting just took 15 minutes of my life." He said and both of us laughed at how sarcastic he sounded to articulate that 'just 15 minutes.'
"By the way, you look beautiful." He continued, as he signaled me to take the opposite seat, facing him. I was wearing my favorite moron colored outer with the the brown sugar leggance.
"Beautiful?"
"Okay. Not just beautiful but also simple, sweet, decent and...yea, you look amazing."
"Thank you. But i am enough of your parises now." I said back, giving rise to another round of laughter.
Meanwhile, the waiter arrived. He ordered for a cappuchinno with some vegetable burger. I ordered one strong coffee with less sugar.
°°°
In the cafe, we talked about almost all stuffs except our personal information.
At one point, i had the urge to ask if he is married because there wasn't any ring in his fingers. Silently, i wished him in to be still unmarried.
"Why do you want to ask about his marriage? Are you crazy? Don't be so desperate." I scolded myself, in my mind.
"Hey, you okay." He reminded me to the reality. "You look lost, now. "
"Huhh, yes, i am okay. I must be just tired." I replied but the truth was i was lost in his thoughts.
"Oh, okay then, please go and rest. I will see you tomorrow in this same spot at the same hour. Fine?"
I nodded. Actually i am so fond of nodding and agreeing with the person who owns my heart.
I bid him a good night, acknowledging for the good presentation and for the coffee.
°°°
Back in the room, i warned my heart to behave. I said, "Zoe, how is the thing called love be even possible when you are just 21 and he is 34 or 35? You are still growing but who knows your old crush may already have a child, or maybe two. Worst of all, Zoe you are Indian and he is American. There is no way that you can be with him unless some magic happens."
°°°
So, I sorted myself to be in the safer zone until the next morning when i saw him again, i was already wishing for the magic to happen or atleast the day to end soon and get us back to the cafe Ion.
- - - Continuable. Fiction.
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