Gypsy Lover

Alodia was brought to reality when her employer, Iustina, knocked on her door and told her that her visitor just arrived. She had not even realized the family had already returned, since she took a long bath and pampered herself. She had not realized until that moment that she did prepare wholeheartedly for her date with Harman later.

She smiled and thanked forty-year-old Iustina for letting her know. After looking at herself in the huge standing mirror in her room, she went out. She thought letting her natural long dark brown hair down and wearing a black tube top sundress with blue printed hibiscus paired with flat sandals were good enough for this summer night. Her feet were light when she walked out of her cream-walled room. She could not almost believe she was anticipating this date. But she knew deep inside that it was way different from going out with those men she had in the past.

When she appeared in the living room, where the three were waiting for her, she had not missed the admiration in Harman's dark brown eyes, which she saw for the first time since he wore shades when they met at the airport. She realized they looked striking that she felt her knees wobbled a little. His effect on her was evident and she was so aware of it. Her heart that was beating so crazily inside her rib cage was enough proof. She was even breathless. No man made her breathless with anticipation and exhilaration like he did to her.

Harman wore a simple pair of dark blue pants, sneakers and V-neck shirt, which showed off his well-toned lean body that was drool worthy. She almost forgot how tall he was until now, which she guesstimated as six feet. He even easily towered Petru, whom she thought had more than average height.

His short hair was so dark and a bit curly. It was also shiny that her hands itched to run through it. She wondered how it would feel against her fingers. It looked smooth and perhaps it is. Meanwhile, his slightly angular face was handsomer than she could remember when she met him yesterday, and it showed off his other facial features. He had not-so-thick brows that looked perfect for her that framed his intense dark brown eyes. His lashes were a bit long, thick and curly that she loved to gaze at. It was seldom she took note of even this slightest detail in a man. Aside from these admirable assets of this effortless smashing man, his slightly beaky nose made his face imperfect but seemed to add more appeal on his manliness. And her heart seemed to grow wings when she felt it flutter in her chest as her eyes of course shifted to those red lips that she could not seem to forget even when she slept last night. Until now, she wondered how many lucky women were able to taste them and how those lips must taste and feel when they kissed theirs.

Was it good? Will his kiss be good for her? Does he like it sweet and gentle or passionate and wild? She wanted to hit the back of her head for thinking about this intimate thing.

"For you," Harman said with a smile and sultry eyes that made her heart flip again.

Her eyes went to his extended hands, which held a bouquet of fragrant white and yellow narcissi and a box of Raffaello chocolate that had crunchy coconut around each piece. That was actually her favorite. She wondered how he guessed. Nonetheless, the flowers and chocolate box were unexpected for her first date in Romania.

She thanked Harman for these and introduced him to the couple, her employers, Iustina and Petru, although she already thought the gorgeous visitor already did it. She still thought it was necessary though. Just in case Harman was going to come back after this day, it would be better they already knew him and his intentions. Fifty-year-old Petru seemed to like the guy as he easily smiled at Harman.

But wait, what intentions? Was Harman even still single? Who knows if he had already a wife or a family for that matter? What if she was only a kind of pastime to him while he was in Bucharest? Or, if he had no family yet, perhaps he already had a girlfriend somewhere? With his being a drop-dead gorgeous man, he must be taken for all she knew.

Alodia just realized she did not know much about him. But maybe she will later while on a date with him. But she had to remember she did not wish herself or other women to end up like her sister. Certainly, she had no desire to snatch somebody else's boyfriend for that matter. She had her own good conscience after all when it comes to that specific affair. Nonetheless, this was a game. So why would it matter? She could give him a lesson if in case he had someone to cheat on!

They went out of the house and through the black gate. Just a few meters away, he led her to his parked ride. It was a sleek and shiny two-seater black sports car. It looked like it winked at her as it tried to seduce her. At the same time, it seemed to scream "I have lots of money, baby! What are you waiting for? Hop in!" But she tried to be nonchalant about it. He opened the door for her before he settled behind the wheel, next to her.

"What do you fancy to eat tonight?" he asked in a gentle manner, turning his head to her before he turned the engine on. It purred softly like a naughty girl.

"Anything you fancy, I'm game. I don't actually want to miss any flavor or cuisine, so you don't have to worry about me."

"I love that," he said, winking at her, which sent her heart to the other side of the galaxy for some reason. Then he drove off smoothly and with confidence that she'd never seen in any man.

***

"So, are you married?" She straightforwardly asked Harman while they ate their dinner at a Korean restaurant in downtown Bucharest. The restaurant had a few booths, where they took one in a corner. Only both of them were there and they could barely be seen by other customers who were in their respective booths. The booth was large enough and gave them privacy. The cool pendant light was shining overhead, in the middle, where the square table was between them. The table was filled with food that perhaps they could never finish. They both ordered bulgogi, kimchi and bibimbap.

Harman chuckled at her being blunt at the moment. "No. Are you?" He returned that question to her with raised eyebrows.

"Do you think I'm the type of woman to go out with you if I was?" she shot back with raised eyebrows. "But really? You're not married?"

"Do I look like married to you?" He chuckled, showing his white even teeth. She discovered there was a small dimple in the lower part of his left mouth. He raised both hands, showing her their backs. "Do you see any telltale sign of a ring?" Her sherry brown eyes fell on his beautiful manly hands. Indeed, there was nothing that could tell her he wore a ring.

"I still find it hard to believe," she commented; an eyebrow rose up. She looked deep into his dark brown eyes, meeting his dark brown gaze.

"Why is that so?" he asked and ate a piece of his bibimbap. He chewed it while his eyes never left hers.

She pulled her mouth down and smiled. "Because you're... a very... very good-looking guy. I even doubt if you'll tell me now that you're single."

"But I am!" he insisted, after swallowing his food. The intense gaze he gave her was sincere, she could feel it.

Her smile faded away. She could not just believe him entirely though. "I want you to be honest with me, Harman," she said seriously.

"I am being honest with you." His eyes searched hers, almost pleading. "But are you being honest with me, Alodia?" he asked her instead. He held her gaze for a long time. There was something in his eyes that made her heart beat faster and stronger. However, she looked down at her plate and took a slice of bibimbap to keep her mind balanced.

"If you mean about my being married or not, then I am telling you I'm not married. I can give you a special power of attorney to get my certificate of no marriage from my country if you wish," she told him and looked at him before she ate the piece of bibimbap. She chewed it slowly while looking at him.

He then nodded at her as he was smiling at her. "Very well. I'll call up my lawyer first thing tomorrow morning so he can get your SPA. He'll go to your embassy to request your certificate of no marriage in the Philippines," he agreed.

She snorted softly at him. Well, she'd let him have his way. And she could test if she'd be having fun with this new kind of game she was playing with him, in which she was the only one who knew the game and its rules.