It was a rainy day. All the drains were clogged and the potholes on the road were invisible. None of these things mattered on that day. It was the day where I finally get to go to the bakery and taste the most awesome bread of the century. It has been hectic for the past half year where I had barely survive with little sleep and truck load caffeine. Off day after so long can’t be wasted just because it is raining heavily outside.

I geared up myself with raincoat and boots. With a broad smile like a lunatic, I stepped out from my super-duper cozy house to the thunderstorm war zone. I skipped happily, moving across the potholes like a ninja, while the others were scurrying down the road. A car drove pass me in lightning speed and splashed a bucket of water on to me. “Nothing can ruin this day” I muttered looking down. After taking a few calm breaths, I looked up and smile broadly as if nothing happened. Looking at the beauty of the nature, I walked and walked until I can smell muffin in the air.

Halting my step at the car that gave me a bath, I spare a vicious glare and dried my boots on the carpet before entering the bakery. I stared at the colorful yummy goods and floated towards the magnetic pull of the muffin. I was excited to see my long lost friend, the chocolate muffin. It looked so lonely, as if waiting for me to take it and devour it. My hands almost reached the heavenly creation when another lean finger grabbed it right in front of my nose. I saw it disappearing into the dark hole in two munches. I stared at the abductor with an accusing look.

“Excuse me, sir. I was going to take that chocolate muffin!” I tried to keep my voice down, but failing terribly doing so. The abductor gave me a look, as if I’m a childish grown up.” But you were taking forever, so I thought you didn’t want it”, he replied me with his gruffy voice. I looked up and walked slowly to him, like stalking a prey. “You better be grateful that I’m in good mood today, you abductor!” I warned him with a glare and gave a “hmph!” before walking away to grab other yummy baked goods before they disappear as well.

Choosing several muffin and cakes, I walked towards the seat near window and make my self comfortable. Waiting for my chocolate drink ,I stared at the blueberry muffin longingly. “ I missed you. Sooo much” I confessed to it before opening my mouth to taste it.

I thought I saw red when I heard a snicker in front of me. Making myself calm for the third time in less than two hours, I looked up. The abductor was looking at me, looking amused while a small smile tugging his lips. I raised an eyebrow towards him, daring him to say anything. He shook his head and said ”Continue with whatever you were doing… your lovers talk!”. His lips quivered, trying to block his laughter from explode. Intending not to waste any more time on him, I turned back and started to munch on the muffin. I can’t help myself but to voice out the heavenly taste that welcomed me. I moaned and my fingers clean, not to waste any of the goddamn tasty muffin.

I thought I heard a grunt , but chose to ignore it . I sipped down the hot chocolate and played with the straw while looking out.” I miss this.” I felt like I was tearing up thinking of how these small changes in a day could make me happy. While floating in my own thought, I heard the chair in front of me scrapped. I looked up and saw the abductor, giving his mean (charming) smile while sitting on the chair.

*Excuse me. Mind if I sit here?” he gave me a sickeningly dashing smile to which I was blinded for a while. Getting back my composure, I gave him a good glare ,”I’m not giving you the muffin!,”. He smiled and his eyes twinkled, looking at me. His dimples were so deep, that I almost forget that he is the abductor of my chocolate muffin.

“I’m not asking for your muffin, love.” He told me, bringing me into the real realm again. “Then, why are you here, abductor?” I asked him with one eyebrow raised . “I thought it would be nice knowing you. By the way, I’m Charles.” He extended his long hands for me to shake and after giving it a thought for few moments, I decided it wouldn’t hurt to get another new friend on this wonderful day. I grabbed his hand for few moments and shook it. His hand felt rough and at the same time, with a hint of smoldering heat.

“Belle.” I introduced myself, graciously and looked up to him again. He was staring me with his deep blue eyes and despite the bright room, his pupil seemed to be dilated. I ran my eyes towards his sturdy cute nose, slightly parted pink lips and the strong jaw. I gave out an appreciating hum when I saw his stubbles. He cleared his throat, bringing my attention to him again. “So Belle, do you always come here? “ I nodded and told him that I couldn’t do it for past few months due to hectic job of mine in the hospital. He introduced himself as the grandson of the creator of the bakery and currently he is a president of a company that he co-founded with his friends. He stated that he was out today to help his grandfather to find out new recipes that could boost the sales. I gave him an understanding nod and told him that they really should keep the bakery goods as it is as they were the most mouth watering thing in my whole life.

“I can say the same thing about you.” He replied, with a smile hanging in his lips and I looked at him with an expression of “ what was that!” Brushing it off, I turned back his attention to his job and he gladly explained about it with moving his hands animatedly. I listened to him attentively as much as I could, but all the business jargon just made it difficult for me to understand and I opted to drink my chocolate drink . I swirled the straw with my tongue, playing with it while Charles low gibberish voice stopped. I looked up to him, feeling apologetic to take his companionship for granted. His ears were red and his eyes were totally dark looking at me. “ Okay, he is getting mad.. God,Belle. Can’t you act like a grown up??” I scolded my inner self. “Sorry, Charles. I am actually listening to you. I just got a bit thirsty!” I told him in my best apologetic voice. All I know, he might tell his grandfather and ban me from coming into the bakery. I can’t let that happen.

For few minutes, he shook his head and looked down to his lap. Taking a long breath, his smile was back on his lips. Somehow, we started to talk about the weather and the other less- boring stuff. While we were enjoying each other, the rain started to pour heavily and the wind was blowing everything away. I casted an eye outside, thinking of my fate going home, when Charles told me that he can drop me at my apartment.

“Really? Aww… I owe you one. I promise you that I will come to this bakery as long as I’m alive to pay back your kind heart.” I pretended to be a knight and gave him a half bow when he tugged my hand towards him with a laughter booming across that hall. I gave a little squeak that turned into full blown laughter when I saw the face of the cashier looking weirdly at me. We walked out , cautious not to slip and again my hands were in his big ,comfy hands, not that I mind. He stopped at his tracks and I looked past him when I saw that bloody blue car that gave me rain bath. “This is your car?” I almost screeched. He tugged my hand and I resisted, taking my hands away from his. I folded my arms in front and gave him a stern look. “You splashed water at me in the morning!” His eyes went big and as if realization hit him, he took back my hands and tugged me forward, causing me to lurch towards his arms. Holding me down, his voice tickled my ear with a quiet sorry. I tried to move away when his warm hands touches my cheeks and he tugged my chin upwards, lightly. “I’m so sorry, love! You know I wouldn’t done that to you on purpose.” He looked sincere and I gave him a nod into his warm hand. I realized his body was warm and solid like a rock. Forgetting the fight, my fingers started to wander across his abdomen. “Good lord, he has abs!!” I could hear myself giggling when his fingers caught my hand, reprimanding the movement. Questioningly, I looked up and found an amusing smile tugging at his lips.”You might want to stop doing that here, love.” My face turned hot and turned around just to get fascinated by myself for the comfortable feeling that I was getting with a stranger.

Hearing a car beep, he opened the door for me and ed his left hand that was on my waist towards the car seat. After making sure I was inside the car, he closed the door. He got wat a bit by the time he settled in the car and I helped him dabbing his clothes with tissue. “It is very windy. You think it’s safe to drive?” I asked him while looking outside the window. He scanned through the car window and turned back to me, buckling my seat belt. “Where are you staying?” his mint and chocolate breath whizzed through my nose and I can’t help myself, but to stare his lips.

“Greason  Apartment.” I inched closer to him unknowingly and caught myself before I his lips. “What a chocolate muffin can do to me ?” I groaned inwardly and getting awkward with the closeness, I turned my sight to the dashboard, trying to take a deep breath. He chuckled and started the car engine, and drive swiftly towards my apartment. The weather was getting worst and thunderstorm warning was issued by the radio reporter. Looking worriedly to him, I can’t help but to think whether should I ask him to stay with me until it cooled down.

Reaching my apartment, he stopped his car at the underground area and turned , looking at me. “Everything is okay?” I realized that I have been quiet for the whole ride and I shook my head . “I was just wondering if it’s safe for you to drive in this weather? “I looked up to him. “You can come up to my house until the sky clears up!” I was fiddling my fingers nervously when his large hands engulfed mine. “I would appreciate that, love.” He replied with a smile and we got out of the car.

Bringing him to the elevator, I squirmed looking at the number of people inside the small metal box. I stopped my track , intending to take the next elevator. But, Charles took my hand and got into the elevator , holding me in front of his body with his hands caged me. He leaned down to my ears, whispering ”You are shivering and it will be the best to reach your house ASAP”. I gave a small nod and shivered again, feeling his breath on my neck. Thinking it was because of the rain, he tugged me back into his body, until no more space left between us. By the time we reach my floor, I was a nervous wreck, unable to swallow my own saliva.

Reaching my house, I keyed in the password and step aside, making way for him to go in. He gave a small smile and went inside, taking his shoes off. “I will get you a towel. Make yourself home!,” I tried to reign my high pitch voice, but failed at it. Before I move away, he hold my shoulders ,turning me back to him.” Are you okay?” His eyes bored into my face and all I can do was staring at his lips. He waited patiently for me to recover, and I gave a big sigh. “Its just that I never bring anyone to my house , and you, I just only got to know you and it is dangerous out there..” I can feel myself babbling non stop but I couldn’t stop it.

His right hand went my waist, making me flushed against him and his left hand tugged me at the chin, making me look up to him. I was blinking animatedly when his lips came down, crashing mine. I went static but couldn’t help tasting the chocolate muffin in his mouth. My hands went to his neck, encircling and tried bring his mouth towards mine.  I felt heavenly when the chocolate muffin taste welcomed me and I gave a satisfactory sigh. He stopped kissing me and moved slightly back, looking down to me. “Did you just did what I think you did?,” He asked with a fake accusatory look and I replied with my goofy smile. He shook his head and came down to my lips again, hungrily, and we made ourselves warm,in our own way.

The next day, I was at work with panda eye bags, sore in the muscles that I didn’t even know they exist until yesterday and yawned a trillion times. But all of it vanishes the moment my phone dings, indicating newly received message. I opened it and my lips parted with a smile. “See you tonight, Charles.” I whispered back to the message and tucked the phone to my heart, giving out a girlish squeak, earning a nasty look from my bedridden patient.