I found a man!

Everything that happened in the woods replayed in her mind as she continued to drive, causing her to once again flush with embarrassment. She couldn't believe it. 

She actually got her first kiss on the night of her birthday. It was very weird. Kids way older than her have had their first kiss even when they were younger. 

It was simply unbelievable. Now that she pondered about it, she couldn't fathom where she got her bravery from to be able to stand his beastly and dangerous figure, let alone allow him to kiss her. 

But despite the embarrassment, deep in her heart, she truly didn't regret it. And the fact that she felt a romantic bond between them even motivated her. She thought that the romantic life that she ever dreamt of was standing right in front of her. And he was the kind of man she was looking for, a dangerous man who was affectionate about her. 

The encounter left her deluded. Their romantic relationship wasn't pronounced yet but Roselia sensed, saw and so desperately wanted it to come. She didn't know why, but she believed he could fall in love with her, or she could fall in love with him, either way, she believed a romance could erupt between them both. Maybe it was because she could see the truth in his eyes. 

She didn't know why but as she imagined him right at that moment, she just felt that the man had an icy heart that would never, ever melt. Was it possible for her to fall in love with such a man, she wondered? Would it be possible for her to love a man who was cold, so cold that he might even scare her poor heart away? 

She didn't know both at this point she thought that there was really no reason for her to even tell herself to be scared anymore. Hesitating was no longer an option if she wanted desires as she had read in romantic novels–action was imperative. 

She had to do it now because she just felt like this was her last chance.

 When she arrived home her friend, Amelia was waiting for her in the living room watching their favorite TV show, then they had another pleasant and peaceful dinner before Roselia finally went to her room.

After taking her bath, Roselia lay in bed thinking about him again. Strangely, she could not stop. Was it because she was still shocked at the encounter? probably not. 

Maybe it was because of his ever-so-striking appearance. Lifting the note that the pleasant man in the black leather jacket gave her, she stared at it for a long while until her eyes finally drifted closed. 

The next time she opened her eyes, the sun was already streaming through her windows. She rose and did her usual routine, arranged her bed, helped prepare their breakfast–her and Ameli’s breakfast, and got ready for work. 

She kissed her friend goodbye before she drove back to the city. After Roselia graduated from college, she volunteered to work at the stars orphanage–the orphanage she grew up in. She had been a part-time volunteer since high school. 

She didn't see a reason why she could not help work at the orphanage, as she had lived there her entire life and the people became parents and siblings to her, there in the orphanage.

She had been a part-time volunteer since high school her job was mainly assisting the teachers during class time, she was assigned to read books to the kids on the weekdays, except Fridays and she loved what she was doing. 

She had grown to care very much about the children and she was truly happy extending any help, as long as she was able to.

It was Monday, so the kids that hadn't seen her for three days were excited to see her.

“Miss Rose, we've missed you!” the youngest in the bunch, Lizzy, kissed her on her cheeks.

“I missed you too, darling,” Roselia replied.

Now let's get inside, your teacher is coming. Roselia spent the entire day aiding Mrs Johnson, the children's teacher. 

As the class concluded, Roselia made her way to a nearby coffee shop situated close to the orphanage. She had spoken to Amelia last night, asking to talk to her about something.

So they planned to meet at the coffee shop, their favorite meeting place since college. Roselia was so tired yesterday and Amelia herself wasn't so good, hence the discussion at the coffee shop. 

“How are you? You were pretty drunk last night.” Roselia was looking at Kelly with a raised bro. 

“Do I look that bad?”

“yep” Roselia responded swiftly 

“Don't lie, Rose. I made sure that my eye bags were perfectly covered.” She said, and Abigail could only chuckle. 

Amelia, during college, was envied by many. She was pretty, super, rich, and had a lot of suitors. Amelia was adopted by the age of seven leaving Rosalia in the orphanage. 

Her adoptive parents were so rich, and popularly known in the city, But she was a loner at school. Only boys who wanted to hit on her approached her and the ladies avoided her like the plague. 

When Roselia started attending the same college as her and they began talking they immediately became close. The students started calling her Amelia's dog, but Roselia didn't care, she knew that Amelia was a good person and she was a kind friend no matter what anyone said, even behind their backs. 

Amelia was the one who was enraged every time people mocked Rosalia.

“So? What's the agenda? I'm really curious you know? You calling me out like this is so rare.” Amelia sipped on a drink as she looked at a friend with narrowed eyes.

Letting out a deep side Rosalia pressed her lips tightly together before she looked at her friend. 

“I have found a man,”  Roselia said looking carefully at Amelia. 

Amelia bloated out a few coughs before replying, “What did you say? Did you find the man? You?” Amelia looked like she just heard something so damn unbelievable.

“Calm down, don't be too loud.” oh my God 

“Rose, my ever so innocent Rose  finally found a man.”

“Well I think he's the man I've been looking for, and he's the one I want.” 

“Wow, this is unbelievable. Who is he? Who is the man that caught my dearest roses eyes?”  Amelia brimmed with excitement. 

“I forgot his full name, all I know is that he's called Caleb.” Roselia’s response made Amelia’s grin fade, but she was quick to bounce back to being excited and asked about how and where she saw him. 

Roselia told Amelia that she saw the man in the woods the spot where she usually plays her violin in the night, but of course, she did not say anything about the drama, the truth she witnessed, and the outrageous thing that happened.

“Oh my God Rose, I'm so sorry!” Amelia gasped as she suddenly remembered something. She was so drunk yesterday that she forgot to wish Roselia. However, she left a wish in Roselia’s room the night before leaving. 

“It's no problem, Amelia, this is not my first birthday and I saw your wish and I appreciate it thank you so much,” Roselia said, as that was not the pressing issue on Roselia’s mind. 

“The man is handsome, I wonder if he's some kind of celebrity, but I don't think he's one or I would know about him.”

“Wow, now I'm dying with curiosity this is the first time you praised a man's look this much you know?” 

Roselia blushed.”Really?”

“Hello? You haven't cared about men before Rose! You don't even look at them!” Amelia's brow lifted 

“Okay, so what are you going to do about this super handsome Mr. Caleb.” she was so damn intrigued and she looked like she was very much more excited than Roselia about this. 

Looking down Rosalia stared at her hand that was wrapped around the lemonade cup, she looked like she was considering something vital in her head while her friend was impatiently waiting for an answer. 

“I.” Roselia started as she looked up to her friend, looking serious. “I want him to be my boyfriend” 

For a while, Amelia gaped at her it seemed like she was shocked, but the moment she recovered a big huge bright smile curved up her face. 

“Okay, that's my girl! You are finally listening to my advice. My innocent bun has finally learned to become daring!” Amelia looked genuinely happy and for some reason proud like a happy mother who had witnessed a child finally learning to walk around for the first time.

“Amelia I want to impress him, so I want to ask you to”

“Darling, say no more. Leave it to me, I promise to dress you up and turn you into the most stunning lady on earth.” 

After their talk Amelia told Roselia to contact her once she decided to meet him, Amelia offered to help her get him bravely. 

Roselia simply told her that she had to learn to do it herself, which of course made a friend which of course made a friend beam happily again. 

“Okay just call me if you need help, okay? And about your outfit, don't even worry about it I will make sure that handsome man will fall in love with you at first sight or should I say second sites” was all Amelia promised before the two of them parted. 

Rosalia couldn't tell her friend that she was not trying to make him fall for her at all, she also didn't tell her that the man she wanted was heartless and cold and also was a werewolf, although she didn't believe that herself yet. She didn't tell her that she thinks he does not find her attractive and most of all, she didn't tell her that the man was a red flag because Rosalia knew that if Amelia found out what kind of man she chose she would surely go against it. 

Amelia had always been protective of her, so she could already foresee her reaction if she found out about the strange and mysterious man she chose. 

It was already dark by the time Roselia reached home. Amelia didn't sleep at her place so she just made herself dinner and ate. 

Upon retreating to her room, Roselia retrieved the piece of paper from her drawer. She took the number in her gaze and then swiftly tapped the digits onto our phone screen in her contacts.

Roselia saved the number as Mr man in the black jacket, she wanted to send him a message but she didn't know what to even ask. Should she shamelessly ask for the man's address? Definitely no. That would be too creepy then how would she meet him? She didn't know.

The half-asleep girl drifted to sleep without sending Mr man in the black jacket a single message.