ACTUALLY YOU

opened my eyes slowly, squinting them to get used to the light.

When my vision focused, everything went still. There was only one way to describe the sun-kissed bewitching, beguiling, captivating, enticing, charming, you name it.

His eyes were light brown mixed with amber and a little shade of green that one can only notice when the rays of the morning sun.

His lips were pale and thin, his nose slender and rounded. A prominent jaw curved gracefully around the strength of his neck showed in the twinning cords of muscles that shaped his body.

Only an Angel could have such looks, beautiful skin – perfect skin – that was the colour of butter.

On second thought, he could be an angel. I mean, the last thing I remember was stepping on a banana peel and tripping.

I couldn be possibly alive, especially with this Angel staring at me with his beautiful eyes. I bet he was Angel Gabriel.

He was my favourite Angel – still is – but why did he look very familiar?

He reminded me of that hot dude I met in the car…

Crap!

It was him!

My eyes widened in horror.

¨You!¨ I exclaimed, my mouth agape looking at the confusion on his face. He didn recognize me, I could tell but…

¨You!¨ So he remembered!

Unexplained happiness filled me with the thought that he did not forget about me. I felt his strong arms pulling me up, and my hands automatically grabbed his strong arms.

Perhaps because of almost falling, I became dizzy when he let go of me, causing me to take a few steps back when he held me again.

¨Miss, are you alright?¨ I heard him ask, steadying my balance.

The sudden grab lifted my heart and soul.

His hands were warm against my arms and felt like my skin was on fire, casting an electric shock that ran through me.

I heard him clear his throat, bringing me out of my stupor, and I blushed to know that I was staring again.

¨Um…ah…Th…thank you.¨ Oh, wow, I was even stuttering now.

Get a grip on yourself, Mel.

¨For saving me, of course. If it were not for you, then I would probably have the sight of attraction and a laughing stock.¨

¨Just be careful next time.¨ He said and was about to leave when my hand grabbed his arm, again feeling the sturdiness of his muscles and could not help but wonder just how much he works out.

¨Wait!¨ I exclaimed, surprised that my voice was laced in panic.

¨Anything else, miss?¨ He asked, his eyebrow quirked in a perfect bow. Now that we were not on the bus, sitting, I realized he was tall, like 65. He was more gorgeous than the last time I remember.

¨Miss,¨ His voice caused my eyes to snap to his, which were already staring at me with a questionable look.

¨Yes, I mean no…sorry, what I mean to say is that I am thankful for you.¨

¨You already thanked me.¨

He pointed out the obvious before adding, ¨And you do realize that you are making such a big issue out of nothing. Any other person could have done the same.¨

¨I am not sure about that,¨ I said to see him raise his eyebrow questioningly.

¨Maybe where you come from, but knowing my countrys people, I would be a celebrity, trending on every social media platform. I am sure I would be a meme queen, especially with a boomerang effect.¨ I said truthfully, earning a low chuckle from him, making my stomach flutter.

¨Thats why I am exceptionally grateful for you being a prince charming and saving the day.¨ I added.

¨I never pegged you to be a damsel in distress type when we first met on the bus.¨ He said, crossing his hands against his chest, and once more, I could only marvel at how his muscles bulge powerfully.

¨You remember?¨ I questioned, surprised by the fact that he would mention it.

¨Its hard to forget someone as close to being as annoying as a fly.¨ He stated, his look changing from emotionless a while ago replaced by an amused one.

I let out an awkward laugh, scratching my neck out of embarrassment. Of all the things, he only had to remember me as an annoying fly.

¨Yeah, about that, I am not always clumsy. I was just having a bad day, and everything was acting against me.¨ I tried explaining, hoping to rewrite his impression of me.

¨Except from you, of course.¨ I added Without thinking.

¨I mean, you saved me whenever we met – twice.¨ I continued.

¨I only saved you once, which was a couple of minutes ago.¨ The handsome guy reminded me with a small smile, making me shake my head in disagreement.

¨In the bus.¨ I pointed out.

¨We only swapped the seats.¨ He paused, looking like he was in deep thought, before adding, ¨And I did not want to hear a description of what your sweat smells like.¨

¨Jeez, can you not remember the embarrassing things about me?¨ I mumbled, looking anywhere but him.

¨You mean like the flying kiss part¨ He asked, his voice laced with laughter, and I knew I was doomed.

I didn know I could blush so fast until I met this guy. I always think that I have this kind of ability to keep my emotions to myself.

But, the burning of my face said otherwise.

Again, I was thankful for my skin complexion, which did well in hiding the blush.

¨Can you go easy on me? Its only our second meeting, and I don even know you.¨ I mumbled, my eyes still unable to meet his.

¨The name is Max.¨ Came his answer without even hesitation, causing me to snap my eyes to his. I was shocked that he introduced himself.

¨What?¨ he questioned, ¨ Don tell me you are the type to not give out a name on the first meeting with a guy?¨ He asked cocking his head to the side.

¨Actually, yes.¨ I answered, looking straight into his eyes, ¨But this is our second meeting.¨ I added.

¨And…¨ He drawled, waiting for me to continue.

¨And I believe that the first meeting to be an accident, the second meeting is a coincidence, but there is nothing wrong with exchanging names in the second meeting¨.

¨And phone number?¨ He asked, his gaze deep into mine like he was looking into me, not at me.

¨Are you hitting on me?¨ My mouth just had to open without thinking, spouting such nonsense. The hot guy, Max, was only trying to be friendly, and I was already much.

¨Can I?¨

What? Totally unexpected!

¨No!¨ I answered almost immediately. I expected him to huff and walk away like the other guys I turned down or leave a snide remark, but he did none of the above.

In fact, that amused smile and flirty look did not falter at one.

¨No?¨ he asked, ¨No, no number in the second meeting or no, I can hit on you?¨ I guess I found myself dumb, in the sense that my words stopped flowing, stopped because I figured that he was quick-witted

and a trickster.

¨No, as in, no number on the second meeting, and no, because without my phone number, you cannot hit on me. It will be useless.¨ I answered with a victorious smirk.

If he thought that I was going to allow him to twist or delude me with his words, in that case, he was so wrong.

Max stared at me for a second before throwing his head back with a half-suppressed, typically scornful laugh.

The sound of his laughter put me again in another trance. It was like the summer rain, and the bird song too.

It was as if his sound lifted a veil from my eyes and allowed me to see the world more clearly. Its funny how laughter can do that – his laughter – those honest rumblings of the soul.

¨Smart.¨ He commented, as pride swelled in my heart.

¨So your name? As it is, I am the luckiest man to have such great luck on stumbling on your path twice.¨ I felt pleased that he found me savvy.

¨Melissa, My name is Melissa.¨ I answered with a smile of my own.

¨Melissa.¨ He said, testing the name on his tongue, and I liked the sound of it.

Extending a hand to me, he said with a Cheshire grin, igniting my heart.

¨Well, Melissa, nice to meet you.¨ I accepted the handshake.

¨Nice to meet you too, Max.¨ His hands were huge, engulfing the tiny ones that I only notice now.

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