CHAPTER 3: Dreams and Wishes

Kira dropped her spoon on her plate gently as she suddenly felt dizzy –if she was on her feet, she might have lost her balance and would wish to have been devoured by the ground.

She tried to comport herself as she still had food in her mouth but she got choked on her meal. She tried holding back the cough coming from her mouth but she couldn't help it.

"Are you okay?" Alex asked as he reached for the glass of water on the table. "Have some."

Kira collected the water and drank it. She sat back on the chair for a while to get herself coordinated.

"Thanks," she whispered while clearing her throat.

Alex could sense that what happened to Kira was an effect of his request. He kept mute and they both kept eating until Kira broke the silence.

"So you want a no strings attached relationship, just sex and sex alone?"

"Yes, that's what I want. If you have a problem with it, you don’t have to accept it," he said even though his heart was rooting for her to take the offer.

Kira paused for a while, an expression of disappointment was boldly written over her face. She was only a simple girl who wanted a perfect relationship with a perfect man. Was that too much to ask?

"Thanks for the meal," Kira said, wiping her mouth clean. Her head was no longer calm. She couldn’t stay with him. "I think I should take my leave, it's getting late."

Alex nodded and a grin formed on his lips. "Alright, no problem, my chauffeur would drive you home.”

He walked her to the car and just as she was about to board the vehicle, he said, "Kira I can give you some time to rethink and when you do, I'm always available. Goodnight Kira."

Kira left his house without saying a word she didn't know whether to accept or reject his offer. A larger part of her wanted to be with him but not in this manner. She wanted a perfect relationship that would lead to marriage but Alex's proposal was miles away from what she wanted.

Kira finally got home that evening, she walked in and sank into the chair. Tess came out of the room to receive her.

"Hey babe, talk to me. How did it go? How is this your mystery man? I need to know the gist." Tess bubbled with excitement. It wasn’t every day Kira came home with a man.

"It was awful. What he said wasn't what I expected and I don't think I can give him what he wants,” Kira said with a long face.

"What exactly did he ask?" Tess asked as her brows joined in curiosity.

"We had dinner and he was hospitable. I thought he would express his love for me, but he said he wanted a relationship with only sex. Only sex Tess, only sex!"

Tess was quiet as she listened to Kira. This was not what they thought but it was something at the very least.

"So what are you going to do? What's your decision?" She asked her friend.

"To be honest, I don't know what to do. How can I be in a relationship with only sex? It's irrational."

"You're in love with him," Kira said sharply, looking into her eyes. "We've become more than friends and I know you more than anyone does. I see it in your eyes."

Kira paused for a few seconds. "Maybe, Yes I am, but not that kind of relationship."

"Well, the decision is up to you to make. But as a friend, I would advise you to give him a chance. I mean you have this charm that makes men fall for you. He seems like he's a gentleman and who knows, he might end up falling for you too."

Kira breathed deeply as she contemplated Tess’s words. "So you're saying I give him a chance?"

Tess adjusted on the seat, so she could face Kira. "Well, what I am saying is that you know what's best for you. The final decision can only come from you.”

They sat there in silence until sleep started drowning them. Slowly they went to their respective rooms each with a beautiful dream cooking in their heads.

The next day, Kira sluggishly got out of bed. She went to the bathroom, sprinkled some water on her face, and slowly brushed her teeth.

"Kira, you'll have to meet me at work," Tess shouted from the corridor of Kira's room.

Kira just had her bath, and Tess has left already. She looked at her phone on her bed and Alex's thought struck her mind once again. She had thought about it and she felt Tess was right. She would give it a trial and hope things turned out the way she had seen in her dream.

She decided to call him.

“Hey, Alex.”

“Kira, good morning, so have you accepted my offer?" his smooth voice asked and Kira smiled.

"I was just calling to check in on you and thank you for last night…" She trailed not knowing how to put her next words.

“So should I take that as a yes?"

"I never said yes," Kira let out a laugh and sat on her bed. This was going to be fun. "Hmm, why don't we meet this evening?" she asked in a small voice.

"Alright, let's settle at my place this evening."

“Of course,” she whispered as she felt shivers move into her body. She couldn’t believe she had almost called off such beautiful chemistry.

By the time she ended her call, she realized she was very late for work.

“Oh shit!” she cried out as she hurried out of the house. Thankfully, her office wasn’t so far away from her house.

In a few minutes, she got to work and tried to sneak in. she was a usual latecomer but this was way beyond her actual habits.

She had just sneaked past her boss’ office and she thought she had made it when his gruff voice filled the hallway.

"You should have stayed at home!"

Kira froze, on hearing the voice of her boss. She felt like the world was about to collapse on her. Her boss had zero tolerance for lateness.

Kira turned slowly. “I'm sorry sir, I…"

His bulky mass of a body came to stand in front of her and his beady eyes scrutinized her entire form, making her throat run dry and her words unable to escape.

"Whenever you feel sick, you stay home till you're fully recovered. Just look at your eyes, it's like you've not slept for days. You know what, take the day off," the man blurted out.

Kira's startled face transitioned into a confused one. Her boss who used to be harsh has now become a caring one. What did he have for dinner?

"Thanks –sir," Kira said hesitantly.

She didn’t waste another minute in the building. As soon as her boss declared her sick, Kira went into character and soon enough, she was running back home to prepare for her date with Alex.