Resisting The Alpha

Chapter 4

Three months later...

Everything changed after I met Enzo. I lifted my eyes from the glass that I was wiping to meet his gray orbs. Enzo flashed a heartwarming smile at me when our eyes met, making a putty right then and there.

This had become our routine for the past three months now.

Enzo would come over to the cafe every day, giving various excuses to Leila so he can meet me here. Once,  he even said that he came in to find a book for a long lost friend of his as a gift.

I smiled at those memories before tightening the grip I had on the glass. I looked down and put the glass carefully on the counter before taking the next glass in my hands.

I don't know when it had happened or how it had happened but suddenly we became a couple. Enzo managed to steal my heart with his endless conversations by the beach almost every night now.

And it felt nice to feel special for someone. For once. To know that you mean something to someone is one of the best feelings that I have ever experienced.

"You know you should really continue your studies," Enzo said, after a few minutes of silence.

I sighed. This is something we have been talking about frequently now. I had expressed my wish to continue my studies to him a few days back and Enzo couldn't stop talking me into joining college.

"I know" I put the glass down and raised my eyes to meet his, "I just have to save some money first," I said, smiling at him.

Enzo smiled back at me but his eyes were tight, "You know, I can pay for your tuition fees" He said, but I shook my head before he could even finish that sentence.

The last thing I wanted is to be a charity case.

"You know, I won't let that happen ever" I repeated the first two words that he had said just now with the same tone he had used on me, "I don't want to be a charity case" I added when his eyes narrowed on me.

Enzo scoffed at me, "Is me spending my money on the girl that I love is charity now?" He asked, looking incredulously at me.

I kept my lips pressed into a thin line. Enzo raised his eyebrows at me, waiting expectantly for me to say something and I sighed again.

"You know what I meant," I said, before taking another glass in my hands and starting to wipe that glass clean.

"You're so..." Enzo's voice trailed as if he is thinking about a perfect word to describe me.

Once again, I allowed myself to look at him, "What?" I asked, waiting expectantly for him to say something.

"Stubborn" He uttered out, reaching his hand out at me and messing with my hair, making me let out a chuckle.

The bells chimed and I snapped my attention to the front door to find Leila walking towards us with the biggest smile on her face. I brightened up at the sight of her immediately, loving the positive vibes from her.

Finding Leila is another blessing in my life. She treated me like her own friend rather than her employee. Once she found out that Enzo and I were dating, she was the happiest of them all.

But sometimes, it feels strange to experience something that I had been dreaming about for the last eighteen years.

Sometimes it feels like I do not deserve Enzo at all.

"Hi, Leila" I smiled at her, ignoring my thoughts, "How are you?" I asked, watching her bounce towards us happily.

She grinned and nodded her head at me, "I am doing good" She chirped, "How you love birds are doing so far?" She asked, eyeing me and Enzo.

"Good"  Enzo answered her with a smile of his own.

Leila took the seat next to Enzo and looked really excited about something, "So what you guys are up to tonight?" She asked, narrowing her on me.

My answering smile for her was cryptic, "Nothing" I shook my head, knowing where she is headed now.

"Perfect" Leila clapped her hands together once, "Let's watch a movie tonight at my place," She asked, looking at Enzo and me. She has been asking this for the last two weeks and I keep denying her wretchedly.

Once again, I shook my head at her, "Leila, you know I am not available at night" I said in a soft tone making the smile on her face falter into a frown, "I have a curfew" I added, knowing that will be a good reason for me to avoid what she was planning.

It is true anyway. I did have a curfew. If don't go back home when my father comes home, he might just beat me to death.

"Live a little" Leila pouted, looking at me with her persuading eyes.

I bit my lip and shook my head, feeling bad for declining her request over and over again, "I can't" I said and Leila's shoulders slumped in defeat. She nodded her head with a forlorn expression before leaving the cafe without another word.

I sighed sadly as I watched her retreating figure, "Dang, I feel bad now" I said to myself and Enzo nodded his head at me in understanding.

He glanced at his watch before looking at me again, "Alright, I have to go now" Enzo said, looking up at me and I smiled nodding my head, "I guess I will meet you at our usual place tonight?" He asked me, his eyes never leaving mine.

"Yeah sure," I said, looking into his eyes.

Enzo smiled, pleased with my answer, and gave me a quick peck on my lips before leaving the cafe.

I continued to work until my shift is over. Leila never came back after that and made me feel a little guilty. She would always come back to check on her cafe a few minutes before my shift is over but today I had hurt her feelings and maybe because of that she didn't show up.

I sighed. At times like this, I wish I had someone who is much more responsible as a parent. Someone who would let me live my life peacefully. Someone who would put my happiness before them.

Speaking of parents, my father had been released from jail after a week of being in the cells. I had to admit that it was one of the most peaceful weeks that I had ever had.

He resumed his illegal activities just like that. Not even scared about the authorities in the slightest. It made me wonder how someone can be so ignorant about everything around him.

I reached the house and stepped into it, hoping my father wouldn't be in here. But luck was never on my side, I found him eating a slice of leftover pizza that I had bought last night in front of the small TV.

Without a word, I made my way to my room, and before taking a quick shower. I got dressed quickly and went to the living room again. Finding myself something to eat, I had my dinner while hoping my father would leave the house before I do.

But he didn't.

I stalled for as much as I can before finishing my dinner. I did the dishes like the good girl I am and grabbed my sling bag, intending to leave the house quietly.

"I don't know where you're going these past few months at this time" I heard my father say before I could reach the threshold. I turned my body slowly to face him.

He was watching me, standing a few feet away from me with his hands crossed against his chest. 

"Just to the beach," I said in a small voice, avoiding his eyes by ducking my head to look at my feet.

"Why?" He probed.

"To get some peace of mind" I answered without missing a beat, still looking down at my feet.

"Sure that sounds very convincing," He said, under his breath before dismissing me.

I let out a breath of relief once I stepped out of the house and started to walk towards the beach, constantly looking behind my back to see if my father is following me silently or not.

Enzo was already waiting at the beach for me with a mat spread out on the sand. He was watching the waves crashing against the shore, oblivious that I had reached behind him.

"Hi" I greeted him softly, plopping next to him.

Enzo threw his hand around me carefreely, "Hey" He said, pulling me closer to him and planting a kiss on my forehead making me smile at his display of affection.

Then he held out a paper bag towards me. It smelled heavenly and I grinned unconsciously, taking the bag in my hands before looking at the contents of the bag.

Cinnamon rolls.

"You're making me fat, you know?" I said, taking a bun out and tearing it into a smaller piece before stuffing it into my mouth.

Enzo shook his head, a small smile gracing his lips, "No, you're starting to look healthier now" He said, tightening his grip around my body.

I hummed under my breath at his reply, "I don't know if we can continue to meet each other here"  I said after a few minutes of comfortable silence, keeping my eyes on the waves.

From the corner of my eyes, I saw him turn his head to look at me, "Why?" He asked, sounding worried now.

I sighed and looked at him, "My father is suspicious of me coming here every night" I said, watching his beautiful features harden at the mention of my father.

Enzo hated my father.

Enzo scoffed, "Why won't you just leave him?" He asked me, looking at me incredulously.

Ah, time for our usual argument, "I don't know" I said, looking away from him, "Maybe I am just used to him right now that I couldn't find it in me to leave him. After all, he is my only family" I added before he could say anything.

"He is using you and your money" Enzo hissed through his gritted teeth.

I stiffened at the tone he had used on me as I felt a pang of pain in the truth in what he had said, "I know" I sighed, "Maybe one day he will change for good" I said, looking away from him.

"And that day, the pigs will start to fly" Enzo scoffed, his face looking grim now.

I scowled at that, "Alright, enough about my father" I glared at him, hoping he would drop this conversation about my father.

Enzo sighed and muttered an apology under his breath. "Actually, I have something for you," He said, smiling now, all the traces of anger gone from his face and tone.

I watched him take out a small gift box from his jeans pocket and then he held it out at me. I raised my eyebrows at him, eyeing the giftbox warily but he nodded his head for me to take it.

Biting my lip, I took the box gingerly in my hands and opened the lid of it only to gasp in astonishment.

It was a small teardrop-shaped amber stone pendant. I let out a chuckle and looked up at Enzo, "This is so pretty" I said, "But I really hope you didn't spend so much money on this" I said looking at the pendant again.

Enzo messed with my hair, letting out a chuckle, "Consider it as my token of love to you" He said, smiling down at me. He took the pendant from the box and put it around my neck. Then he moved a little away from me to look at me, "It suits you" He said, smiling at me.

I grinned, toying with the pendant with my fingers, "Thank you" I said, my eyes tearing up a little.

"It's nothing-" He started but I shook my head at him, silencing him abruptly.

I threw my hands around his neck and pulled him closer to my body, "No, thank you for coming into my life and giving it a purpose" I whispered into his ear, placing a kiss on his cheek, hoping this moment will last forever.