Smitten: A Mafia Romance — Chapter 32

"I will have fried rice and a chicken breast." Cole said, he looked up from the menu and faced Korina, "What would you be having dear?"

"Still going through the menu." She said flipping the pages, her palms were sweaty now, she felt really anxious, the feeling she got had gotten worse.

"Please be patient." Cole told the waiter who already looked tired from standing.

"Oh it's okay." The man replied with a forced smile.

"I would have what he is having." She said closing the menu not being able to make a choice, "But with ribs not chicken."

"Okay, sir, madam." He curtsied, "Be back in a few." The waiter turned away and left.

"Are you okay?" Cole asked noticing his date kept fidgeting, he saw she had sweaty palms and she glanced around her briefly as if expecting someone to jump out and pounce on her by moment.

"I am fine." Korina said, "Just stressed and nervous. It's normal."

"Are you sure?" He assessed her with raised brows.

"Yes I am." She nodded, "Oh look they have a pianist." She pointed over to a small podium.

A big black piano was on it with a man sitting near it playing slow melodies.

Korina managed to distract Cole from her nervousness. She usually felt like this when she senses something was about to go wrong and as usual something always went wrong.

The evening skies were getting darker now, it was starless as usual, there was a crescent, a lone crescent positioned her in the sky.

Korina looked up at it and compared herself to it, the crescent was lonely as she was but there was a difference.

The crescent was actually lonely with no stars around but she was a crescent whom had stars around but still felt very lonely.

Hmm, She sighed deeply, life is tough.

"Here you go, sir ma'am." The waiter startled her out of her trance, he pushed a mini cart in front of him containing their food. He took the filled plates and place them on the table.

"Enjoy your meal." He bowed slightly, "If there is anything you need, just signal."

"We will." Cole said, "Thank you."

The waiter nodded and took his leave.

"Let's eat." Cole said picking up his cutlery, "I am starving."

"Yea." Korina followed suit doing same, "Let's dig in."

They began to eat and ate in silence, even as Cole tried to make small talks, Korina gave him Cold replies and sighs.

"You are oughfully quiet tonight Korina." Cole said and he took a long sip from his wine glass and dropped it, "I am asking again, is anything the matter?" He looked at her.

"No." She said, "It's nothing, I am just really stressed that's all. Remember I told you I wasn't feeling too well the other day that's exactly why I am stressed." She explained hoping he would buy it.

"But that doesn't explain why you are sweating."

"It's the heat."

"We are in an open place and you aren't even putting on a jacket."

"Hey did I ever tell you about the first time I broke my teeth?"

"Nope." Cole shook his head, "You didn't and don't try to chan..."

"Wanna hear it?" She said not letting him finish.

"Go no." He gave up on the topic, "At least you would finally be making a conversation."

"So I can't remember my exact age then." She started, "But Daniella and her mum had come to visit and Daniella noticed I couldn't eat and chew well when we were having steak, one of my teeth was wobbling really badly." She took a break from talking and sipped some water, "Daniella told me to put the tooth under my pillow and I would receive money from the tooth fairy."

Cole laughed, "Every kid believed in the fairy then."

"But Daniella made it really believable and enticing."

"What did she say exactly?"

"She said the tooth fairy gave her a thousand dollars and she spent it on her trip to Disney land."

Cole erupted with laughter, "She actually said that?"

"Yea she did." Korina shook her head, "And I believed."

"Then what happened?"

"When the tooth finally came off I put it under my pillow." She said, "I woke up to pee later that night only to wake up to the sight of my mum stuffing bucks under my pillow and the woman tried to convince me that she was the tooth fairy but she wasn't in her costume."

Cole couldn't help the loud laughter coming from him.

"She sat me there explaining for minutes." She added.

"Oh my God!" He tried to stiffle his laughter, "Your mum was hella funny."

"Yea she was." Korina smiled sadly.

"Did you buy her explanation?"

"Of course not and I also bit Daniella on her arm when next she came to visit as revenge."

"Oh ouch." Cole grimaced, "Your childhood was quiet fun and eventful."

"Well it was till the bullies came."

"Hey! Cheer up." Cole told her, she was about to reply when she felt another wave of unease rush through her.

"I need to use the rest room." She stood up hurriedly and practically ran away from the table, she got directions on how to reach the restroom and got there in no time.

Korina's hands were places over the sink with her head bowed, her once rapid breathing had begun to slow down.

Nothing bad will happen, you are just being paranoid, She told herself trying hard to make it believable.

She put on the tap brought her palms together took some water and splashed it on her face.

Okay, Korina calm down, go out there and enjoy your date, enjoy your dinner, She braced herself up and left.

"Hey sorry." She was back in the dining area now, she pulled out her seat, "Sorry I took so long."

"It's nothing." Cole replied looking up from his phone, "It wasn't that long."

Korina nodded, "Let's finish up while I tell you more ridiculous stories of my childhood." He laughed at her statement.

They both went back to eating.

"Well, well, well." Korina dropped her spoon in shock as she heard the voice, "If it ain't Korina, maiden Korina, Korina black." She paled, she knew the voice anywhere, if she was asleep, she could even point it out.

"Who are you?" Cole asked staring at the man.

Korina turned to look at the person to be sure she wasn't mistaken.

It was him.

Her ex boyfriend.

Brian Trey.

She gulped, this cannot go well.