Hard of Desire

Chapter 2

"What in the holy hell?" I shouted at my now empty living room. A few of our maids and workers ran into the room to check on me.

I blushed in embarrassment and quickly grabbed my bag and keys. I put on my shoes and got out of the house before starting my car and let out a deep breath.

If only Harry was here.

I drove to my best friend's house, all the while thinking what the hell just happened just now.

I thought about my future goals and how I am not going to reach it because I will be married to a man at a very young age. My plans for my career just collapsed because I would be committed to someone.

Goodbye, dreams.

Everything is just a mess in my once perfect life right now. Well, my life lost it's meaning the day I lost my brother anyway. But still, I am so furious with my parents right now that I don't even want to talk with them.

Even if I gave my parents silent treatment, I am still going to get married to him if I don't come up with a very promising plan.

Fabulous. Not only fate is playing the stupidest game with me by this forced arranged marriage but also I am going to marry a freaking jerk who made my childhood a living hell.

I reached my best friend's house in a record of time, thanks to my rash driving. Totally unnecessary but my thoughts are jumbled up right now so I can't think straight or drive straight. She was waiting for me and it seemed she waited for a very long time because she looked like she is ready to murder someone.

She skipped her way to my car and hopped in, then slowly she turned her head to face me. Her angry angry eyes visibly widened as she took in my appearance.

"What the hell happened?" She asked me, looking at me in concern.

"You may be eighteen but you still act like a child"

My mother's voice rang in my brain. I will prove to her that I am not childish and I can take care of my own damn self. I will show her that I can handle my problems on my own.

"What do you mean?" I asked her, "Nothing happened" I smiled tightly at her and pulled the car out of her driveway.

"Then why did you cry?" She narrowed her eyes, not buying my lie.

"I didn't cry" I laughed nervously hoping she will buy my poorly made-up lie, "Why would I cry?" I asked her back, trying my best to look confused and also trying not to sniff my nose.

"Then please explain to me why your mascara ran down your cheeks, making you look like a deranged raccoon" She raised her eyebrows at me.

"What?" I asked, stunned. I looked at the rearview mirror and groaned. Sure, I did look like a deranged raccoon.

I quickly pulled out a few wet wipes from my bag and wiped my face clean a little harshly. Once I am satisfied with my face, I sighed sadly.

I then looked at her and saw her eyeing me like I committed a crime or something, "Uh-I" I started to stammer, "It's a- um it's the newest tr-trend on i********: a-and I thought it was cool" I cringed as I came up with most ridiculous impromptu lie ever.

"Sure you did" She smiled sickly sweet before glaring at me, "Now cut the bullshit and tell me the truth" She demanded and I let out a sigh.

And that's how I started to bawl my eyes to my best friend, Aishah.

We ditched the classes and went on a long drive about fifty miles away from my house. After aimlessly circling the town that we are now in, I pulled my car in at a cozy-looking restaurant and both of us went in.

The car ride was mostly silent. Aishah only knows that something is up and I fought with my parents. Other than that, she knows nothing else. She didn't press for more and that's what I liked about her. She knows when to give me space.

I didn't want to lose my composure while driving and get into an accident so I took her away and calm myself down during the entire ride.

We sat at the most remote table. Hiding from everyone because I don't want anyone to watch my waterworks. Aishah looked at me patiently, waiting to hear my sob story.

"My parents want me to get married" I watched her eyes widen in shock, "The found someone whom they think is the most suitable for me" I let a tear slid down my cheek.

For the twenty minutes, I spilled everything that happened this morning, occasionally, wiping my damp cheeks furiously and my voice did crack here and there a few times.

"So you're telling me that you will get married in two weeks' time?" Aishah asked me for the third time and I nodded mutely, "Well, aren't you going to ask me to be your maid of honor?" She asked me in a very annoying voice with a huge smile plastered on her face.

Sometimes, I wonder why she is even my best friend.

"Aishah! I told you that I am being forced into a marriage and you're worried about being my maid of honor!" I hissed angrily at her making her shrunk back a little, "I don't even want to get married now!" I slapped her hand that was on the table.

She yanked her hand away from me, "Okay okay, no need to get violent!" she glared, rubbing the spot I hit furiously.

"Sorry" I smiled sheepishly feeling a little guilty, "That's fine" She waved her hand dismissively at me,"What's your plan?" She raised her eyebrows, looking excited.

"What do you mean?" I asked her, having no idea what's she is talking about.

She grinned like Cheshire cat, "Well aren't you going to" She paused looming around her to make sure no one was listening to us, "Runaway?" She whispered, her eyes held mirth and mischief.

I scowled at her, "Aishah! You know I can't do that!" I whisper yelled at her with the meanest glare that I could ever muster, "Not-not after Harry left us, I can't abandon my parents" I flinched, thinking about Harry brought a lot of memories to me.

Aishah put her hand on mine and gave it a little squeeze, "I know it's hard" Aishah said softly, she knows how much I miss him.

I nodded mutely and willed myself not to cry here in public. But some traitor tears still managed to fall before I could control them. I wiped it away.

"Hey, here's your order" A cute boy served the food in front us, "Your waitress went out for a bit, you can call me if you want to add on or want your receipt" He informed looking at us, he noticed me and then gave me a piece of tissue from his apron pocket.

"Tha-thanks" I flushed a deep pink and accepted the tissue from him.

"Anytime" He flashed a cute smile with dimples and walked away.

"He is cute" Aishah blew out a low whistle, trying to change the subject.

I gladly welcomed her method of distraction, "Indeed" I snorted with laughter while dabbing my cheeks with the tissue the waiter gave. He does look cute, maybe nineteen or twenty years old.

Aishah sighed as she cut her chicken, pulling me out from my train of thoughts, "You know what I think?" She asked not looking up from her food, "You should meet this Declan guy, tell him in person that you're not interested" She said, stuffing a piece of chicken into her mouth.

Why I haven't thought about that?

"You think he will listen?" I asked her with a little hope, taking a bite of my own food. Will he listen?

Aishah stopped chewing and swallowed loudly, "It's an arranged marriage, silly" She grinned, "Maybe he is also as desperate as you are to escape from it" She winked at me.

She had a point there. I thought about how Declan used to love bullying me when we were kids. Maybe he does dislike me hence he acted that way.

"I never actually thought about it, Aishah" I admitted to her, "Wow, I was stressing over nothing," I said, feeling like I was the dumbest girl on earth.

"Well, not everyone as brilliant like I am" Aishah flipped her hair dramatically earning a chuckle from me.

"Feeling better?" She asked me in concern, still chewing loudly with her mouth slightly open.

I swallowed my food, "Yeah" I breathed. "And stop chewing with your mouth open," I said, pretending to be disgusted.

She just grinned and purposefully chewed her food with her mouth open again. We ate our food in silence after that, savoring it. This restaurant sure serves the most delicious grilled chicken on this planet. We literally ate everything we ordered. I made a mental note to come back here.

"The food is good right?" I asked Aishah casually as I paid for our food. She nodded her head in excitement with a huge smile.

"Let's go, it's getting late" Aishah urged.

Everything happened so quickly after that. In rush to get back home, I turned around from the cash counter in a rush and took a few hasty steps, bumping into the cute waiter.

It's supposed be a cliche scene but then, he was carrying a tray full of food and it flew right into a man who was waiting to pay behind me.

I froze and watched in horror as the man, whose back facing me, grabbed the waiter's collar and pulled him in front of him, "I am so very sorry" The kind waiter apologized but it fell into deaf's ears, "You need to watch where you going" The man roared in anger, his frame shaking in fury.

"It's not his fault!" I interjected and skipped my way to the duo, "I was the on-one who accidentally bu-bumped into him, I am so so sorry!" I stammered, scratching the back of my neck.

The cute waiter gave me a relieved smile when my eyes shot up at him apologetically. Then I turned to face the man before me, ready to face his wrath.

He looked absolutely stunning. He had textured spiky reddish-brown hair that looked like he spent a hefty amount of time to style it. His stubble made him look more matured and defines his chiseled jaw and strong chin.

His eyebrows made me wonder if he grooms them and that thick fringe of curly lashes made me wonder if he applied mascara. It framed his captivating hazel brown eyes into perfection. That ample lips of his must have been every girl dream to kiss.

He seemed a little familiar to me. Like someone, I used to know. That eyes, I definitely know that hazel brown eyes. The more I stared into them, the more I noticed that they looked royally pissed off every passing second.

I blinked twice and flushed in embarrassment. He was mad at me for ruining his shirt and here I was, shamelessly ogling him.

"I-I uh- I -um I am sorry" I apologized to him, bowing my head a little.

When I looked up, I caught him staring at me with an unreadable reaction. He wasn't glaring at me anymore, in fact, it softened a few degrees, and I took it as a good sign.

"I'll clean it up" I volunteered and grabbed a few pulls of tissues. Without thinking much, I wiped the front his once white shirt that was ruined with ugly brown stains here and there.

My hands froze against his chest as I realized what I just did. I slowly lifted my eyes to meet a pair of amused hazel brown eyes yet his face remained impassive.

"It's okay," He said and I yanked my hand away from him, my cheeks flushing in embarrassment at my own behavior, "Okay, sorry" I apologized again, running my trembling hand through my hair in attempts to act casual.

The corners of his mouth twitched as if he is fighting back a smile but he nodded firmly once.

"Hanna! Are you alright?" Aishah asked me worriedly but when I didn't answer hed and kept staring in front, she followed the line of my vision, "Oh, hi" She said, breathlessly.

Glad to know he has that effect on not only me but maybe to the entire female population.

"You're-" He started to ask but my phone started to ring and I used it as an opportunity to leave, so I pulled Aishah with me, "We got to go," I said, eager to get away from this awkward situation, "Sorry!" I threw another sheepish smile at him and walked away from him.

"What the hell Hanna?" Aishah frowned when we exited the restaurant, "You ruined my chance with that handsome hunk" She groaned, pretending to be angry.

"Sometimes your ability to build castles in the air amazes me, Aishah " I pretended to be shocked and she just grinned widely in return.

I unlocked my car but before I can step into it someone called my name and I turned unwillingly to face the person whose day I probably ruined

"Hanna, right?" He asked me as he stalked towards me, his eyes held an emotion that I couldn't read. I just nodded once and waited for him to continue. My heart was beating wildly against my chest and I don't know if it's because I am scared or nervous.

Even with a stained white shirt that reeks of curry, he still looked a stunning model.

"Hanna, you see I was about to leave to a meeting worth a million-dollar deal" He informed me making me swallow audibly, "Now I can't attend the meeting like this, can I?" He gestured his hand at himself, with raised eyebrows, waiting expectantly for my answer.

"No" I answered him truthfully, looking down in shame, for some reason it felt as if I committed a crime.

"Exactly. Buy me a shirt" He demanded, looking pissed as hell.