She could swear that he is the most handsome man she has ever seen, and as Vincent walked up to her with a smiling face, her heart developed a beat.
Dudum! Dudum! Dudum!
Came the beating of her heart
“Hi Dovey” Vincent smiled at her when he finally got to where she was standing.
Dove quickly backed him, and Vincent furrowed his eyebrows.
“Is there something wrong?” He asked.
“Not really” She replied in a low voice.
“Why are you backing me?”
“Why did you change your hairstyle?” She asked in return.
“Because you asked me to”
Dove turned to look at him.
“Don’t tell me you took my words to heart?”
“Everything you say matters to me, Dovey. I just want you to stop hating me” He said, calmly.
Dove cleared her throat and looked around the quiet restaurant.
“Why is this place quiet? I might not have been here before, but I heard it’s mostly occupied by rich people”
Vincent looked around and smiled.
“I booked it just for the two of us”
Dove widened her eyes cuz she knew how expensive it was to book a restaurant, especially the rich folks restaurant.
“Are you nuts? Why would you even do that?”
“I told you before, I wanted to make our dinner special”
“You didn’t have to put so much effort in just having dinner with me. You even sent more than the amount….”
“Sheesh!” He placed his finger in her little red lips.
Dove blinks.
“Don’t talk about the past. The money was nothing, let’s enjoy our dinner”
Dove jerked his finger away from her lips, and he smiled before taking her hand.
“Come with me”
“Where are we going”
“I am not going to kidnap you, so don’t worry” He takes her hand, and both continue walking inside the restaurant until they get to a table that was massively decorated by the best designer.
The interior designer must be a genius in the world of romance, cuz he made the setting so romantic and captivating.
A smile formed itself in Dove’s face immediately she saw the beautiful decorations.
She has always wanted a romantic dinner with Niko, but knowing how expensive it was, she never told him about it.
“Do you like it?” He asked behind her.
“It’s not bad” She said, pretending she didn’t.
Vincent took out a chair for her.
“Have a seat, my lady”
“Stop being dramatic” She smiled at him, before sitting down.
“I will be right back”
“Where are you going?”
“I will be right back” He winks at her and leaves
“It’s so beautiful” Dove muffled to herself, smiling.
After a few seconds, Vincent came back pushing a cart, containing different kinds of food.
“What’s all this?”
Vincent smiled and began dishing the plates of food on the table.
“Buffalo chicken, it’s spicy, but very enjoyable”
“Hot gumbo dip, one of Washington’s best dishes” He smiled at her, dropping a plate of hit gumbo dip on the table.
“Clam chowder, it’s basically illegal to visit New York, without trying clam chowder, and since you’re here in Washington and about to taste it, you owe me a big thank you” He winks at her.
“Smoky pork and Boston beans”
“Cobb salad”
“Griddled chicken”
“Sticky ribs with roast potatoes salad, it’s one of the meals I am good at preparing, so eat a lot”
“You …. made all these food”
“Yep. While growing up, I attended a cooking school, so I’m a chef on my leisure time”
“A bad boy like you knows how to cook?”
“Don’t underestimate bad boys. I told you I can be good if I want to” He winks at her again.
“So you booked this restaurant just to cook for me?”
“You won’t have agreed to come to my house, if I invited you over, and besides you have a boyfriend”
“Says someone you kissed me, forcefully”
“I’m sorry”
Dove chuckled
“It’s just dinner, you shouldn’t have cooked”
“I only eat homemade meals”
“Isn’t this too much, I don’t have a stomach to eat all of this”
“It’s fine, what matters is that you ate with me” Vincent smiled and brought out a wine from the cart.
Dove gasped.
“Isn’t this Pinot Noir?”
Vincent nods.
“It’s an expensive wine? Do you like wasting money?”
“I told you before, I want to make our dinner special”
“It’s not a dinner date, Vinny”
“I know, but still I want to make it special” Vincent said, and both stared at each other.
“You can’t finish a dinner without a dessert, so here’s our dessert. Fresh cream pineapple cake, Marionberry pie and huckleberry ice cream”
“All these just for the two of us?” Dove asked with widened eyes.
“I am a foodie, and the big advantage is that I don’t get fat no matter how I eat”
“You’re crazy”
Vincent smiled and sat in a chair that was facing her.
“Dig in. You have nothing to worry about, I’m a good cook”
“Let’s see if you’re bragging” Dove said with a smile, and ate from the sticky ribs with roast potatoes.
“How does it taste?”
Dove was disappointed.
“Does it taste bad?” Vincent asked with a worried face.
Dove gave out a smile, giving him a thumbs up.
“It’s so good!”
“Gosh, you scared me,” He said in relief.
“Why? You said you were a good cook”
“I dunno. I just want to be perfect for you” Vincent said.
Dove gulped down and gave out a fake laugh.
Vincent’s words are making her nervous.
“Mmmm so delicious”
Vincent smiled as he watched her eat.
“I didn’t know you can be this cute”
“Of course I am, it’s just that I don’t show it” Dove said and both smiled.
“By the way, I’ve your hairstyle. You look handsome and cute” Dove said with her eyes on her food.
Vincent smiled, happily.
******
Dove keeps smiling as she walks back home, she had a nice time with Vincent during their dinner and she loves it.
He’d have dropped her home, but Dove insisted on going home herself.
Her plan was to stop by Niko’s house.
Niko has sent lots of apologizing messages, but she snubbed him, and that’s why she chose to see him.
“Niko” Dove called him when he came out of the house.
“My love!” He hugged her tightly.
Dove hugged him back, and after a few seconds, they broke the hug.
“Dove, I am sorry I raised my voice at you, I shouldn’t have done that. You know I can never raise my voice at you, right? I understand I hurt you, but it wasn’t my intention. I’m sorry” He cupped her small face, caressing it softly.
Dove sighed
“What kind of job are you into? When you worked at the construction site, you weren’t as busy as you’re in your new job. You told me it was easier than working at the construction sites, but I think working at the construction site was better, cuz you had time for me, and you never had blood on your shirt. What are you into?”
“It’s not something out of the ordinary, Dove”
“You don’t want to tell me? Fine, I’ll just leave” She turns to leave, but Niko holds her.
“Dove, please”
“If you don’t want me to leave, then tell me the kind of job you’re into! Why is it so difficult to tell your girlfriend the job you have?!”
Niko took in his lips
“Niko!”
“I… I… well, I…”
“You what?”
“I work as a mortuary attendant” He lied.
“What?”
“Yes, Dove. I couldn’t tell you because it’s so embarrassing”
“You should have told me, there’s nothing to be embarrassed about,” Dove said, believing his lies.
“I’m sorry,” He said, crying.
He is crying, cuz he knows he’s lying to Dove. This’ll be the first time he’d lie to her.
Dove hugged him.
“There’s nothing to be ashamed of, Niko. I’m your girlfriend and no matter the kind of job you do, I won’t be ashamed of you, as long as you’re not into something illegal”
Niko sniffles and hugs her tightly.
“I love you so much, Dove, and I’d do anything to make you happy. I will stop doing my job after I save up enough money to give you a nice house, a grand wedding and a comfortable life”
Dove broke the hug and cleaned his tears.
“I don’t need any that okay, I love you the way you’re, so you don’t have to pressure yourself”
“Where have you been?” He asked, and Dove took in her lips.
“Well, I was Izzy” She lied.
“Izzy?”
“Yes”
“Alright, have dinner with me, I will prepare something delicious for you”
“I already ate. Izzy and I ate dinner together, she treated me to a nice meal” Dove lied again.
“I guess you both went out, no wonder you are wearing a nice dress”
Dove looked at her dress, and fake a smile.
“Anyways, I got you something” Niko smiled at her.
“What did you get me?”
“Come with me” He took her smile and both went to the backyard of his house.
“You got a new truck? You aren’t into harvesting, so why bother buying a truck?” She asked.
“Actually it’s for you”
“Me?”
“Yes. Though I couldn’t help you deliver the sugarcanes to Mint-More, but I noticed your truck was getting old, so I got you a new one”
“It’s expensive buying a truck, where did you get the money?”
“I saved up for it” He lied.
He got paid for his robbery job.
“You shouldn’t have, Niko”
“Why? You’re my girlfriend”
“You shouldn’t spend money unwisely, Niko. You don’t have enough”
“Don’t worry Dove, from now on I will give you the good things of life, including the fancy clothes and shoes that I couldn’t afford to buy for you”
Dove widened her arms.
“Come here” She smiled.
Niko returned the smile and hugged her.
Dove wanted to tell him about his dinner with Vincent, but she chose not to.
Niko might be gentle, but when he is angry, he is scarier than the devil.
So she chose to let him believe she had dinner with Izzy.
******
•LOUNGE, SAME NIGHT•
“Seriously, you mend your relationship with Piper? I thought you were heading towards breaking up with her?” Jayden asked disappointedly.
“You know it’s difficult for me to do that. I love Piper, we have been together for eight years”
“Are you sure you’re not dating yourself?”
“Why would you say such a thing, Jayden?”
“She turned down your marriage proposal three times, Charon, but she kept billing you as if you’re her money making machine”
“I am not complaining,” Charon said.
“I support Vincent when he says you’re a fool. Should I write a webtoon about your crazy love for Piper?”
“Don’t, or I am going to ki|| you”
Jayden rolled his eyes.
“Where is Vincent?” Charon asked.
“Where else would he be if not with his Dove? I wonder if he is following the tips I gave him”
“What tips?”
“The girl in question h@ťěs him, and he told me to give him tips on how he’d win her” Jayden said
“And you did that? What if she has a boyfriend?”
“I am sure she doesn’t. You already know I won’t give him tips, if she has a boyfriend”
“Vincent wants tips on how to win a girl’s heart? I find it unbelievable” Charon said.
“Same here. He is shocking me”
“Isn’t it illegal to gossip about me behind my back?” Vincent said, sitting on the couch.
Charon and Jayden fell on him.
“What?”
“What happened to your hair?” They both asked at the same time
Vincent smiled.
“She doesn’t like it when I braid my hair”
“Who?” Charon asked.
“My Dovey” He said with a smile.
“You mean the Dove girl you talked about?” Jayden asked, and Vincent nodded.
“She said she didn’t like your braided hair and you changed it immediately? Are you seriously interested in her?”
“Yes, I wasn’t joking when I said that I love her, and just like Jayden said, I won’t force it on her. No more drinking and smoking, my Dovey doesn’t like it”
“It was so so sweet having dinner with her” He rested on the headrest of the couch, smiling, with his eyes closed.
Jayden and Charon looked at Vincent, and they looked at each other.
In their eyes, lies a surprise expression.
*****
•NEXT DAY•
Niko walked around the boutique, picking out nice dresses for Dove.
“This won’t look good on her, she is not tall” Niko said, dropping the dress.
He got another dress and smiled.
“She is going to love this”
Niko was about to pick up another dress when he spotted Izzy.
She was checking out some heels.
Niko walked up to her.
“Izzy”
“Niko!”
“What brings you here, Izzy? Do you want to get new heels for yourself”
“Of course not Niko! This boutique is one heck of an expensive one, I can’t afford anything here. It’s for the models in the company I work, so it’s the company’s expense”
Niko nodded.
“What about you? Why are you here?”
“I’m buying new dresses for Dove”
“Whoa! Did you hit the jackpot? Poor folks like us can afford buying anything in this boutique”
Niko faked a smile.
“Thanks for treating Dove on a nice meal”
“Meal?”
“Yes. Dove told me she was with you last night” Niko said.
“She said that? Are you sure you’re not mistaking me for someone else? I had a lot of models to apply makeup on last night, so I spent the whole night working. Dove wasn’t with me” Izzy said.
“Dove wasn’t with you? Then who did she eat dinner with?” Niko asked, getting angry.
……
TBC