“So, alpha’s daughter,” Axel trailed off as he tagged along Bella. “How about befriending a rogue?”
“How about you shut up and leave?” Bella retorted sarcastically. “I have somewhere to be. Let’s meet up on Wednesday. Follow my orders if you want me to help you.”
“You’re so bossy.” Axel laughed in amusement as he quickened his pace behind her. “Can’t you give your new friend a quick tour?”
Bella abruptly halted. Axel jerked backwards in surprise, stopping himself on time from bumping on her back. He almost fell on his bottoms if it were not for his steady balance.
“And you’re so annoying.” Bella turned her heel and faced him, her brow raised. “Can’t you see rogues are not allowed here unless they have a permit for visit? This counts as trespassing and I can seriously jail you for that. Now, leave.”
“Then why are you not treating me like a trespasser? Go ahead and imprison me, princess. It’s not like I’ll go down alone when I know something those guards don’t.” Axel grinned, his eyes lighting up mischievously. He extended both his arms forward, his hands curled in a fist – motioning Bella to handcuff him.
“And whose loss do you think will it be?” She snickered. “Meet me by the boundary on Wednesday at twelve noon. I’ll help you get the medicine you need. After that, you no longer have to deal with me.”
Bella continued to walk her way to Baskerville Beanery, where Seth Morgan was waiting. Just as she thought Axel would stop following her, an amused laugh once again flooded her ears. She was starting to think that this guy was invincible of any threats. He, perhaps, had no fear of being locked up in a dark, dangerous dungeon. His head was just too hard to understand and it was impossible to see through his unpredictable words and actions.
“You’re right!” he said as he walked alongside Bella. “It is my loss. But that doesn’t scare me, princess.”
“Stop calling me that and just leave,” she coldly replied.
“Am I that annoying?” he asked. “By the way, I’m Axel – ah!” He grunted in pain as he cursed at the pole he bumped into. Bella could not suppress her laughter and just chuckled to herself, an amused smirk forming on her lips. “Wow, how embarrassing.”
“Idiot,” she muttered.
“Well…” Axel trailed off as he sheepishly scratched the side of his neck. “This idiot has to go. See you, princess!” he exclaimed and ran into a dark alley.
“Wait!” Bella searched for him, but he already disappeared. “Your coat…” she trailed off as she stared at Axel’s coat on her shoulders.
She had no choice but to wear it. It was a black French coat which perfectly matched her black beret hat and boots, only that its size was a little too big for her. Nonetheless, she found it comfortable and its scent felt safe. It smelt like home – a combination of a mother’s warmth, coffee, and apples. She held her head high and walked in confidently into Baskerville Beanery.
“Forgive me for being late,” Bella greeted with an apology as she sat down on the fancy chair. Seth Morgan only smiled at her as he handed her the bouquet of white tulips.
“These flowers are as beautiful as you.” Bella politely took the bouquet and placed it on her arms. “Perfect like your peculiarity and flawless like your fair beauty,” Seth said with a smile full of admiration for the young lady in front of him.
“Thank you,” she told him with a forced smile. Though, Seth did not seem to notice. “I’ll be sure to put them in a vase at home.”
“I’m glad you like it,” he said. “Why don’t we eat first?” Bella only nodded and smiled at him while Seth motioned the waiter to come over. “What would you like to have, Bella?”
“Um…well.” She placed the bouquet on the side of the table and quickly grabbed the menu. “Let’s see… I’ll have the carbonara and this blueberry wine. As for the dessert, I’ll have one honeycomb ice cream and this caramel cheese cake.”
After all the dates she had gone to, she knew exactly what she must do when her date would ask what she wanted to eat. In order to get things done faster, she would order everything from main course to drinks and dessert. All of the men she had gone on a date with had just copied her order. She did not know why. Perhaps it was to impress her with politeness or to make them seem like gentlemen. To get her date over with faster, she had done this antic to all of her dates. A date with Seth Morgan was not an exception.
“I’ll have the same, please,” Seth told the waiter just as Bella expected. She bit her lower lip as she played with the coat’s hem, feeling a bit tired after all the walking and running she had to endure to get to her date. “That’s a nice coat. I’m guessing you like to wear oversized clothes?” Bella’s head snapped upright upon hearing Seth’s question.
“I do,” she replied. “They’re comfortable.”
Seth only nodded his head, somewhat feeling disappointed at Bella’s short and awkward replies. He was trying his best to start a conversation, but Bella seemed to be occupied with something else. This was not how he expected his date with the alpha’s daughter would be. He imagined it like how first dates in movies were: a romantic evening with scented candles frolicking in the air; both of them chatting earnestly as they satisfy the hungry butterflies in their stomach; staring at each other’s beaming eyes with interest; and feeding the excitement of their spines’ nervous chills. However, it was only Seth who was feeling that way. Ever since Bella sat on that chair across him, the butterflies in his stomach were wildly exploding in excitement as if a flower filled with overflowing nectars had called their names. Well, to Seth, Bella was indeed a flower he thought of as a sweet nectar whose petals could be somehow his. But, as he sat there, he felt like he was only one of the many butterflies who would love to hold and own her.
He was only one of those men who could only see her, but could never reach her.