The Blind Date

Anna was sitting at a table in a reserved room of a grand restaurant. A handsome guy in his suit was sitting exactly opposite her. He can be called quite a gentleman in looks, as this time, Anna really bothered to look at him. After all, that person is supposed to be her date today. She can't just forget the courtesy to value someone who is her date for tonight. So, she let herself check out the young man in front of her.

Actually, Kiera did no less making her look like a proper enchanting woman tonight for this date. She made her go through all the makeup sessions that Annabelle hates the most. She was really being a good girl this one time as she herself agreed to go with the flow tonight. But she doesn't get why she has to look all pretty for a stranger she doesn't even know. It would have made sense if she personally knew the person she was going to meet. Actually, all the girls should go without makeup on their first blind date, shouldn't they?

Thinking this and that, Anna got ready somehow for today's dinner as she wore a dark blue sleeveless knee-length bodycon dress which hung beautifully on her flawless body showing all her perfect curves. She didn't tie her hair but kept it hanging on each side of her shoulder. In another word, she looked breathtaking. Kiera was quite proud of her makeup skills when she saw Anna's dress amazingly getting matched with her makeup.

On the other hand, Anna prayed for her date to be a little bit considerate to not show up late tonight. Anna herself was a punctual person, though there was a time she was the most unpunctual among her friends a long time ago; so she hates when someone is not punctual and always late on an important meeting.

"Cheer up, Anna! Or else your outfit won't be justifying your expressions tonight," Kiera said when she saw Anna sulking over something on her mind.

"I don't know why you made me look like a clown for no reason, but thank you," Anna said frustratingly.

"Clown? Are you joking? Look at the mirror closely, Anna! You look amazing!"

Anna looked at the mirror for a while but returned her gaze to Kiera as if she was greatly disinterested in seeing herself in the mirror.

"Whatever, just hope for the night not to go any worse for me."

"Worse? Are you kidding me? He is not that weirdo, Anna. I looked over at him. He is okay and I guess… quite handsome? Not handsome according to your scale maybe, but he is indeed handsome," Kiera nodded as if she had known everything.

"I don't care, I just wish he won't be late tonight," Anna said, pressing her forehead between her four fingers.

"He won't be, Anna. Now let me give you the finishing touch as I am also running out of time, okay?"

Saying that Kiera ran back to the closet and found Anna's favorite lavender perfume bottle to apply on her.

"You said you need to go to your dad's, right?"

"Yeah…!"

Kiera sounded a bit off by mentioning her father's place. Actually, she kinda knew the reason. Kiera going to her father's, that was alone something surprising to her as she never saw her visiting them unless they forced her to. After running away from home years ago, her relationship with her family was a bit bitter, which was not unnoticed by Annabelle. That was the reason she was quite astounded to find that Kiera has a cousin close enough to let them stay in her place.

What happened again? Did they force her to come again for doing some favor? Anna was a bit worried for her. She knew already that the night wouldn't be that enjoyable for her.

"Kiera?"

"Uh-huh?"

"You okay?"

Kiera twitched her brows as she was a little bit confused by her question all of a sudden.

"Why? What happened to me?"

"No… it's just you're going to meet your parents today so..."

Anna looked at Kiera who stopped rummaging through her closet. She walked towards Annabelle.

"Yeah, I am good. Don't worry too much," Kiera tried to reassure her but still couldn't look at her eyes.

"Don't pretend to act all cool in front of me, okay? Just don't go if you are not okay, hmm?" Anna patted her shoulders as she was really worried about her.

"It's really okay, Anna. It's just for one night. It's not like I am gonna meet them every day. I can always leave everything in the middle if I am not feeling that good, you know? Just do your best there and tell me everything in detail later, okay?"

At that time, Anna didn't say anything in return but put her hands onto hers slowly. She really wishes things to go well for her this time. After all, they are her parents. What can she do if they are not in her support? It feels like shit not to have someone by anyone's side giving the back-up, she knew it, knew better than anyone else.

Actually, Anna was afraid for no reason. When she reached the venue, she found her date already waiting for her in the private room booked for them. He was a tall, quite handsome, blonde-haired young man. Hmm, not bad.

"Nice to meet you, Mr….?"

Anna said, walking towards the table situated in the middle of the room. That guy also stood up, noticing her.

"William Scott. Nice to meet you too, Annabelle," He casually smiled, extending his hand towards her.

Anna carefully took that hand. Looks like he knows her name. She kinda liked the casual vibe he was giving off.

"I am really sorry that you have to wait here for me," Anna tried to sound a bit apologetic though she came at the right time. He is the one who came too early. Was he too impatient to meet her or something?

"It's totally okay. I had some errands to run nearby. So, why not wait here beforehand, I thought," William dragged the chair opposite of his to help her sit on that. Anna was a bit impressed by the gesture as it was quite gentlemanly.

"Thank you so much, Mr. William," she said slowly.

"My pleasure. Call me Liam, it sounds easier."

Anna was glad to know that he didn't mind about the honorifics that much as she was having a little bit of a problem calling him 'Mr. William'. Goshhh…. It kinda reminded her of William Shakespeare. Liam is way better than William, right?

"Okay! Liam, it is," Anna chuckled as she already started to enjoy this guy's company.

After that, there was silence from both sides. All of a sudden they found nothing to talk about. Then the waiter came to take orders and went after taking the orders. Anna ordered only one dish as she was not that hungry today. She doesn't feel like eating in front of strangers, it was her habit for a long time.

"So…." both of them started to talk at the same time.

Anna chuckled when she realized how foolish she was acting in front of her date.

Liam also smiled seeing her chuckle. She was a real beauty for sure, and also kinda looked familiar to him. As if she has seen her somewhere before.

"You go first," Liam said smilingly.

"Hmm… What do you do? Actually, I know nothing about you and I really apologize for that," Anna said politely but she was already cursing Kiera inwardly for not even telling her his name beforehand.

"It's really okay. That's why we are here, getting to know each other better."

Anna gave an awkward smile as she didn't know how to react to this. Maybe her awkwardness also reached Liam too. So, he decided to change the whole topic.

"I am a Neurosurgeon at UCLA Medical Center."

*Ba-dump*

The moment Liam said he was a Neurosurgeon, her mind flashed a picture of a certain someone. Why does she have to remember him now of all time? And why the heck is she meeting doctor guys, to be specific neurosurgeons so often out of all people? UCLA Medical Centre? As in the best hospital in California? So, he is really a big shot here, huh?

"Wow… that's great."

"Can I ask you something?" Liam said all of a sudden.

"Yeah, sure."

"You kinda seem familiar to me, I don't know why but you do."

Anna was a bit taken aback as she knew what was going to happen after this. This is really impossible, hiding her identity in front of her date. She thought she could deceive her date for at least one night about her identity. As far as she knew, this guy, Liam, was her mother's school friend's son as Kiera cared to tell her this much. For some reason, he didn't recognize her at first glance, so Anna thought she could handle it at least for tonight. But all the neurosurgeons are not like Theodore actually.

"Really? I don't think so. I am quite confident about my beauty. Is it that easy to see another woman like me? I didn't know," thought Annabelle herself felt like dying saying these haughty words to him out of nowhere, it was her last resort to make things according to her wish.

And really, it wasn't in vain.

"No, no, of course not. You are really… I mean really the most enchanting woman I have seen so far. I just thought I saw someone like you before, I was wrong. I apologize," Liam said in a hurried manner.

Most enchanting woman? God knows for what reason, Anna started to think what would have Theodore reacted to it if he was here. If it was him, he would never admit that she is beautiful. He would act all nonchalant and give all his focus to his meal. Actually, he won't suggest it here either. He would much prefer her cook for him at home and eat it all alone by himself. But why is she thinking of him right now of all time?

*Anna! Focus on your date!*

"No, it's really okay. I was just teasing you. Don't mind," Anna said as she was feeling a bit sorry for Liam making him the culprit here when he really did nothing.

"Oh, thank god, I was really scared, you know. I thought I subconsciously offended you," this time, Liam chuckled too.

"I am not that petty, you know. I just wanted to make things a little easy," Anna shrugged as she thought she was really cool earlier.

Both of them smiled and started to chat until their order came as they found each other quite interesting to talk to.