Chapter 3. First Dance

[Flashback continues]

Alina and Clara entered their room to see the boys and girls already assembled there as if waiting for them. Alina didn’t dare to look at Edward who was openly staring at her with a small smile.

“So I guess, we can stay here in peace and no one will be disturbed” Edward informed all and made the room perfect for both the groups to stay comfortably. Clara and Alina decided to stay there as they couldn’t find any other rooms.

“Marriage talks have just begun and that doesn’t mean anything. Here in this room, we both are rivals and we don’t give a damn about your privacy and all. You all will be room thieves only for us.” Clara smirked at the boys and turned to her friends.

“Rivalry? Huh! It will be possible with people having equal strengths” Alex just wanted to give her reply. He can’t deny the fact that he wanted to talk to her even though his words are baseless and pointless.

“Be thankful for that then. We have accepted you as rivals even though I guess you don’t have anything special to even stand beside us” Clara’s friends screamed for her words making Alex smile at them. These girls have bigger mouths for sure. Now that they know about Edward and their family, they are not even scared to stay with strangers.

“Why don’t we spend some time with each other? Maybe a game?.” Edward suggested only with the motive to know about Alina or to impress her through this game. Alex instantly agreed to help his friend and the same goes for Clara.

The girls and boys were seated in a circle expecting a perfect game to play to get a fun mood.

“Don’t tell me that we are just sitting and going to play something childish?” Alina couldn’t get why they had to sit in a circle and face each other for any game.

Edward stood up from their position and went near Alina to sit beside her. The sudden commotion made her look at her left side where Edward was sitting. She turned away abruptly not wanting to show her uneven breaths because of his actions.

“It’s just passing the pillow game” Edward exclaimed, making the girls excited but the boys were annoyed to play such a boring game. It’s old and also no one is interested in such sports nowadays.

Clara sat next to Alina without noticing Alex who was already there. Alex smiled seeing her on his right side. He didn’t shift his eyes away from her as he noticed how natural her skin glows in that night light. She has not used any products to look good but her smooth skin is all enough to woo anyone.

Clara could sense his gaze over her. She purposefully turned to her left side not wanting to stare at him shamelessly the way she did in the morning.

The music started making both come out from their stance. The game is simply to pass the pillow and when the music stops, whoever has the pillow will get to do something exciting to entertain the audience.

The pillow passes from Alex and it stops near Edward. He didn’t pass that to Alina and instead, he clutched her hands making her nervous.

Alina turned to see Edward who was smiling like an idiot as if he got some jackpot. She tried to get the pillow but failed miserably.

“Guess you want a pillow only, not your hands?” Edward asked as she saw her hands back at his clutch.

“Leave my hands, Edward” Alina tried to pull her hand without minding the pillow. Everyone looked at them and smiled internally. They both look cute together, for sure.

He released his hand from Alina and looked at all. “What do you all want me to do?” He asked, showing his charming smile.

“Brother, the song” Clara did stress the word brother showing that she saw the couple of Edward and Alina and she would be calling him brother.

“He is not your brother,” Alina replied, instantly catching her thoughts.

Edward smiles at the girls and bends to get Alina. Both Edward and Alina stood there in the center. He starts singing the song as if he is dedicating the song to Alina.

Baby be my love song

Baby be my all night long

Edward took her other hand to let her see him directly.

He sang the remaining song looking at her eyes meaning every word sent shivers to her spine.

Alina just lets him do whatever he feels like doing. One thing is sure for her that he is not like those rich guys who would be spoiled brats as per her thoughts. She knew that instant that her parents chose the right guy for her. The main thing about him is the respect he gives for her. Alina knew that moment that she doesn’t have any choice to say no.

Everyone clapped for the adorable couple and that’s when both came to the land from the dream. But no one watched Alex who was checking Clara throughout the song. Clara made sure to not make it obvious that they knew about him looking at her.

Alina ran away from the place and Edward sat there giving her some time to process everything.

The game continues and now Clara can’t take her eyes off Alex as she was sitting opposite him. The pillow is passing between them only having no one beside them as all get out of the game.

Alex never knew that he would like this pillow game one day.

The pillow made its way from Clara’s hands and it reached Alex’s, making his hair move accordingly. That surely gives goosebumps to Clara. Damn, he is indeed looking so hot in that long hair of his. The silky hair is adding hotness to his looks.

Alex passes the pillow to Clara and she hides her face behind it. She needed the most to hide her stare over his hair. “What must he be doing to maintain such shiny hair?” Clara facepalmed herself imagining thinking of how stupid she is.

She again pulled her thoughts together and played sincerely. The music was about to stop. She wants to win. That’s when he raised his eyebrows and winked at her, almost licking his lips making her numb. She is shocked by his sudden act. And forgot to pass the pillow. And with that, the music stopped and all clapped for Alex. That’s when she was brought back to reality.

She looked shocked at him. while he passes her his charming smile.

“Oh hello, what’s this? Don’t think of yourself as Salmankhan” Clara yelled, taking everyone by surprise. Salman khan, a famous Bollywood actor did this action in a movie and it was a famous one. How can he do the same trick with her?

“What Salman?” Asked Alex with a smirk.

“Which Salman. Can you explain?’ asked Edward, not able to get her words.

Clara looked at both with anger-filled eyes.

“This is cheating,” said Clara. And Alex raised his eyebrows as if challenging her to tell all.

Clara looked down embarrassed. But she is not that heroine in that film to get swayed by this wink.

“He winked at me” snapped Clara looking back at Alex and all gasped dramatically and looked at Alex who did not expect this to come out. Armav coughed badly and looked at Clara who was smirking at him.

“Omg, did you wink at a girl? That too in front of all?” Edward gasped dramatically, making Alex roll his eyes.

“I didn’t wink but it was dust in my eyes” Alex defended his actions and shrugged off his shoulders casually.

“Whatever. what’s my punishment?” Asked Clara not wanting to embarrass herself more.

“Dance with me” Alex dared to ask her in front of all. She looked at him wide-eyed.

“But” Mumbled Clara while Alex bends to her height “Why? Are you scared?” Asked Alex and this always worked with Clara-type girls. The opposite reaction.

Clara took his hands harshly and pulled him towards her side and all the guys cheered for them. Edward switched on the song to lighten the mood.

Alex takes the lead and twirls her to make her dance as per his tune. Clara struggled to take the lead but failed as he didn’t let her do her dance.

The melody music of the song made them forget about everything as they started dancing to the tune. He stood behind her and slightly bent towards her making her aware of his actions.

The sound of their friends made them snap out of the spell as Clara tried to move but Alex didn’t let her as the song goes on.

The dance ends on a sweet note and everyone could see the building romance between Alex and Clara and the Sizzling chemistry between Edward and Alina.

Both the groups enjoyed this little game and went to sleep.

***

The next day, Alina made a special effort to look cute in her attire which is obvious to Clara. She helped her friend and both left to spend the day with Edward to see if he is a nice guy or not.

The day went long. Alina is highly impressed with him. Edward hoped a lot to get a positive answer from her. As he worked hard to impress this beauty. Be it booking the entire hotel for their lunch. Be it their romantic theme of getting everything decorated in pink and white. Be it his expensive yet cute diamond ring as a gift. But never in any place, he tries to show off his wealth. Instead, he made sure that she would be comfortable and like everything.

“The day was beautiful and thanks to you for that.” Edward started as it was almost evening.

“So I guess you would have decided something?” Edward asked with the hope to get a reply from her side. He likes Alina and wants her to marry him as per their parents’ wishes.

“You have spoiled everything. Now, what’s there to decide?” Alina asked, crossing her arms with an angry face.

“What?” Stammered Edward. He didn’t expect her to be angry for sure. He didn’t do anything wrong.

“Idiot. Did you order a salad? Girls always tend to get angry if they are not given salads at the end.” Alex came walking towards them and both Edward and Alina looked at him as if he had grown horns. Is he for real?

“Are you angry that I didn’t order a salad?” Asked Edward as he is now regretting. Alex controlled his laughter seeing how his friend had gone nuts in love.

Alina looked at him with a weird look.

“I was about to say no to marriage. But I couldn’t. That’s what I meant,” Alina blushed and lowered her eyes.

Clara hugged Alina tightly to show her happiness whereas Edward was on cloud nine.

Their little conversation comes to an end when Alina receives a call from her parents to return to her home that day. And as a result, all the girls canceled their trip and packed their bags to leave.

In this whole mess, Alex and Clara didn’t even share their numbers. And even they don’t properly introduce themselves.

[End of flashback]