Nikolai

21

Kiara POV

I sneeze, use my hanky before looking at Xahria who is sitting beside me.

"Hungry?" She asked.

"Very."

"Same," she replied.

"Mum, how long we are going to wait? I'm hungry, can we serve our plates?" She asked Elora, the aunty.

"Just five minutes, Nico said he is coming home," Elora aunty said.

"Ugh, you said the same thing ten minutes ago. Why are you making us wait?"

"Because we decided to have dinners together. We need to wait for Nico to come," aunty replied.

"Is he bringing someone with him?" Uncle asked. That got my attention.

"Who he is bringing?" Xahria asked immediately.

"I don't know, he said he invited someone. He didn't give me any details," aunty replied.

Before anyone could say anything.

"Sorry... Sorry for keeping you all wait." I turned around along with Xahria to see Nico entering the dining area.

"Oo... La... La..." Xahria whispered as I saw Florence following Nico from behind.

"Hi aunty, his uncle," Florence greeted Elora aunty and Xavier uncle.

"Hello, Florence."

"Hello, Florence," uncle and aunty greeted back.

I looked away not wanting Nico to see me. He didn't say a word or looked at us.

"Hi Xahria, hi Kiara," she said. She took the seat beside Nico.

"Hi," I reply.

"Hey, Florence," Xahria replied.

I stayed quiet as the food is served. Florence started talking with aunty and uncle while Xahria and I listened.

I started eating when Nico joined the conversation too. "It would've been ten I guess," Nico said.

"What in the hell they are talking about," Xahria whispered shaking her head.

I looked at the laughing Nico who sat in front of me. I gulped down the lump formed in my throat. I tried to shift my gaze but I couldn’t.

I feel like punching someone, Florence who sat beside him leaned over to his shoulder to say something.

I rolled my eyes keeping my gaze on my plate. Nico started ignoring me from the moment when I rejected his proposal. I never got the chance to talk to him.

He doesn’t even glance at me nor spare a minute to see my face. It’s been two weeks now, I cot the picture that he doesn’t wanna talk and see my face.

I felt Xahria patting my thigh, I frowned before looking at her. She casually smiled before mouthing: what’s happening here.

My lips turned down right in a negative response as in I don’t have any idea about it.

"My mum and dad seemed to be surprised," Xahria whispered.

"Hmm," I hum.

"She talks about a lot," Xahria said.

"True," I reply munching on my rice.

They were talking our ears out which is irritating me but I stayed quiet. I wanna complete my food and rush to my room but Elora aunty gave me a look which said you better sit here and finish your plate.

Even Xavier uncle seemed surprised seeing Florence but nothing else he greeted her and asked about well-being.

I put my spoon full of food inside my mouth, munching on it while looking at the plate. I don’t wanna see the persons sitting in front of me.

“You two seem to be close now, I mean you both aren’t close before,” Xahria voiced out.

Florence let out a small chuckle before saying “you are correct Xahria we weren’t close before but now we are friends and in fact, I'm going to work with Nico on his upcoming project.”

That snapped me, I didn’t like it a bit. I didn’t gaze up instead I grunted my teeth not to say something wrong.

"Oh, that's nice. You two are going to work together. Obviously you need to be friends if you two are going to work together," Xahria said.

"Yes, but when you are working together. Friendship doesn't come, you have to be professional," Xavier uncle said.

"Yes but friendship is also important," Elora aunty said.

"Yes uncle, Nico is serious when it comes to working. He doesn't treat me as a friend," Florence said placing her hand on Nico's arm.

"Oh...Oh..." Xahria whispered.

Everyone's gaze went to the Florence hand that is on Nico's arm.

I look away, pick my glass and drink the water. Nico says something but I zoom out. I don't want to look at them.

"I'm done, see you all later," Xahria said standing up from her seat. She picked her plate and glass.

"Okay, Xahria you can join us later. Nico and I thinking to discuss work. You could give us company and help with ideas," Florence said.

"Haha... Thank you but I'm not into work. Enjoy," Xahria said

I stand up from the chair. "Hmm... I will leave. Thank you for dinner," I say holding my plate and glass.

"Have a good night dear," Xavier uncle said.

"You to uncle."

"Good night dear," aunty said. Smiling sweetly to Xavier uncle and Elora aunty, I walked off from there.

I didn’t even look at Nico and Florence even though I felt his intense gaze on me. Call me rude but who cares.

I wandered into the kitchen, Xahria didn't say anything. She knows the better.

"See you in the morning. Have a nice sleep, don't think much,x she said patting my shoulder before leaving the kitchen.

I wash my dishes, placed them on the counter for air dry before going upstairs.

I can hear Xavier uncle and Elora aunty talking with Nico and Florence.

I closed my door padding towards my bed. I fell on the soft mattress signing I massaged my face.

I blankly stared at the ceiling, I don’t like Florence with Nico knowing she likes him. I know she is on cloud nine as she got to be with him for god knows how long.

You don’t have to frown and get sad about it. You were the one who said it's too early and it’s not love. My subconscious whispered.

Fuck them! I groaned getting up. I pick my bag, long skirt from the wardrobe and wander towards the door. I pulled the door open and walked towards the dance room with my dance bag.

I slowly padded towards the room as I can still hear Florence voice. gosh why the lady is so noisy

I opened the doors before walking inside. I took out my long skirt before putting it on and my ghungroos.

I sat down on the wooden flooring plugging my air pods in my ears. I went through the list on my playlist.

Closing my eyes I started feeling the music. Good thing, I didn't eat heavy food for dinner.

I stood up connecting my phone to the speakers. I took a deep breath before I started moving my moves.

I danced senselessly to different songs, my face couldn’t show emotions as I feel like this empty feeling inside me. Even dance couldn’t help me now, I pulled off my ghungroos in frustration before switching the songs.

Cheap trills started playing and my body took the lead. I pulled off my hair tie letting my hair fall. Sweat dripping off my forehead.

I closed my eyes swinging my body and hips according to the playlist.

I was so into my dance that I didn't notice the person who was leaning against the door enjoying the show.

I pushed my sweaty hair back with my fingers while I rolled my head and hips taking a step back shaking off the limps as the beat goes on.

I opened my eyes startled I stopped dancing and I quickly turned around with wide eyes before I composed myself settling a frown on my sweaty face.

"What are you doing here?" I crossed my arms glaring at Nico.

"You seem to be in a different world." his voice is low and I can clearly hear him out because I paused the song.

"I'm sure I asked you something."

He didn't answer anything but stared at me. I stared back at him, it's been a long time that I saw him and nothing feels better than this; seeing him here.

"I saw you sneaking. I came here to see what you are up to but never expected to see you dancing soulfully." I left shiver run down as he lifted him off the door taking small steps to me.

"We-were you there from all this time?" I asked.

He didn't answer my question but started smirking looking at my nervousness. He should be with Florence what is he doing here.

I backed off to pick my bag up, I stood only to bump into Nico. He is now standing so close to me. I blinked my eyes because I don't want him to see how affected I'm when he is near me.

"Why were you dancing at this hour Kiara?" his warm breath fanning on my face.

"Not that I'm complaining because..." he leaned closer and my eyes widen and I thought of taking another step back but I couldn't as my back hit the mirror wall.

"I enjoyed it." he finished off his sentence looking straight into my eye.

It is hard to take a breath being this close to him. I tried to push him off with my slightly shaking hands.

He just stayed rooted with his hands on either side of my face on the mirror wall. His gaze was a heated one which made my eyes stick on his beautiful face.

He pulled him off me sending a smirk towards me, he walked away leaving me startled.