"You look stunning, baby." Emma groaned disapprovingly at her mother's comment, while making displeased expressions in return to the woman's attempt to make her hair look better.

Of course, like the filial daughter she pretended to be, she had dressed gorgeously before leaving the house, making her nagging parents believe she would try her best to look good for the man they arranged for her, after hitting the age of 27 with the perfect job and incredible look a woman would wished for, yet remained single.

They seemed particular about this man they chose and had given so many praises, but she wasn't interested.

Why should she be?

To her, men just couldn't love her like she would be ready to love them.

She had tried a few relationships and realized the feeling felt one sided as soon as she fell head over heels for them.

She felt like she's the only one invested emotionally and so she quit coolly and could she be more right?

They just called her a few times and after she ignored their calls, they stopped calling.

Their next meeting is always fortunate for her, because they would have another woman by their side and she would be spared of silly confrontations.

Okay! It hurts.

It hurts alot, cause all this proves she was right about them not truly being in love with her.

With these experiences, she wanted to be alone, but her parents aren't buying it.

She tried to trick them by asking her best friend to act like they were dating, but the annoying dude messed up when he was called to talk about marrying her as quickly as possible.

He had stammered and they thought he didn't love her.

After seeing them looking disappointed, he couldn't bear it and confessed it was all fake.

This scenario had led to her obediently coming to this arranged date, but with her own plan.

She was perfect before leaving home, but as soon as she entered a cab, she messed up her appearance, hoping to chase the date away, but who knew her clever mother would be waiting at the entrance to sabotage her plans.

She was dragged to the female restroom, which led to the present situation.

Moving back to check her out one more time, the woman gave a cheeky smile, before gritting her teeth.

"Emma, if you freaking do something funny to ruin this arrangement one more time, I swear to God that you won't see me smile again." Her mother threatened, pouting her lips like a cute kid.

Emma rolled her eyes inwardly, but knew her mom was trying not to be too pushy with words and actions.

It would suck if she used a real threat that would make Emma feel bad.

She's an emotional individual and everyone knows behind her nonchalance appearance is a simple girl that just wanted life simple and fun.

Emma is a free spirit being, yet fragile. She's a butterfly, carelessly souring the forest, despite her delicate feathers that could be torn by any branches.

Feeling like it wouldn't do her any good to argue with the woman, Emma decided to make the best of the situation.

There are so many ways to chase away a guy.

"Okay mom. I will try, so that you will keep smiling." She said and the woman only gestured her to proceed out of the space, while making a gesture of "I'm watching you" with her two fingers pointed back and forth between her eyes and Emma's direction.

Emma shook her head once more and left.

Her well rounded buttcheeks swayed left and right, accompanied with the clink clank sound of her shoe heels colliding with the marble floor.

Emma looked towards the table her mother had hinted at and oh dear!

Her eyes widened slightly at the sight.

She hasn't gotten near, yet the beauty of the man she was meant to meet shone so brightly that her formal disinterested heart skipped a bit.

Don't get her wrong here, she just wasn't expecting such a sight.

The dude has deep dark eyes that seem to penetrate her figure from a distance away.

Emma wondered why he's looking at her so intensely, but still couldn't believe her date is this gorgeous.

His left leg crossed over his right one, perfectly showing how long they are and how lucky his black trousers were to hug such perfection.

He was sturdy and leaving it to the imagination, Emma could bet her life on the dude possessing some crazy abs underneath his cyan shirt, that was buttoned all the way to the last button.

His jet black hair was cut low on both sides, with the curly one at the centre softly falling to the right side of his forehead.

The distance felt like eternity despite how short it was, as they continued to stare into each other's eyes, and finally, she was at the table.

While Emma was assessing the guy, he was doing the same.

Similar to Emma, he was forced to this arrangement.

He had to do this to get his parents off his back for a while.

"Hello." He said, gesturing to her to take her seat.

"Hi." Emma replied, taking her seat.

Looking at the beautiful woman that just sat in front of him, he was pleased to see she wasn't fazed by him at all.

It would suck to have a woman he doesn't want chasing him because of some arranged date.

He had noticed the slight shock she expressed after setting her eyes on him, but it had disappeared as it came.

She clearly doesn't care about looks. Noted.

And money?

He took in her appearance more and simply put, she carried herself well, which proves she's someone financially comfortable and probably won't care much if she knows he's a hot shot.

Wait a minute. Her parents should have told her about me, so that further clears the gold digging part.

He might find her interesting, if he was into this moment.

"You're welcome." Emma said, seeing the dude taking his time to check her out.

His penetrating gaze returned to her smug one and he scoffed.

"For what?" He asked.

"The free view." Emma said with a smug smile.

"Ah. I see." He replied with a dramatic facial expression.

"Nice voice." She compliments his smooth British accent.

He smirked. "Interesting. I'm guessing it's mutual that this arrangement is forced and we both aren't buying it." He went straight to the point and Emma paused her lips seriously before nodding her head.

"Awesome, guess we have something to talk about to keep them thinking this setup is going somewhere. Tell me something interesting, Emma." He said.

Emma raised her brows slightly.

"It's no big deal. I prefer being casual, if you don't mind." He said.

"You're no gentleman I see." Emma replied with a brief shake of her head.

"Buried it along with my former occupation." He countered, gesturing to her to choose which wine she would like to take.

Emma did the same by nodding her head to a cocktail blue wine on the table, before explaining her earlier action"Anyway, I was just surprised you know my name."

"Uhhh my mom sang it till it nearly became my favourite melody." He said with a slight grunt, while pouring her drink and passing it to her.

Emma took the wine glass and took a sip while watching him fill his own cup.

"Well, I forgot to register yours." She said after he's done.

"It's Ryan." He said.

Emma hummed in response and soon, they began to make small conversations before the waiter arrived to take their order.

They seem to share similar interests in food and soon their table was filled with delicious meals, which Emma eats without a care in the world.

He would point food stains on her lips, cheek and jaws often, before Emma realized he's so natural about it to fall for her, so he began to eat like she was supposed to.

"Don't tell me you did all that on purpose." He raised his brows at her sudden change.

"Wouldn't want you to start falling for my elegant eating style." She said and he chuckled.

He knew she was kidding, but couldn't help but clarify her misunderstanding. "Trust me princess, it's definitely not going to happen."

"I shouldn't be afraid to exude all my charms then." She said and both of them laughed.

They finished their meals in between their hearty chats.

Then all of a sudden, something had suddenly changed.

Something unexplainable with words.

An invisible black mist had appeared out of nowhere and entered through their nose, spreading all over their body.

As if being taken over, yet still being there, their body felt different.

They both knew this date could probably lead to friendship, based on how they are flowing along so well, but this strange feeling had suddenly enveloped them.

Small gestures were coming off too cute.

Silly flirty remarks started to pop every now and then in the conversation.

They had started to keep eye contact longer than usual and both of them already had a hint of pink on their cheeks as they blush at almost every simple act from one another.

Their words were clear

Their denials are well passed across since the start that both aren't into this date.

What came over them wasn't a foreign feeling of love at first sight.

It wasn't a situation of heartbeat accelerating due to special moments.

It wasn't love blooming out of nowhere.

This feeling.

It's the feeling of sin.

They want to do crazy things.