THE LUNAR ECLIPSE

CHAPTER EIGHT

I drove down to my café to close it up as New York City lights up at 7 p.m., as though the folks planned to celebrate Christmas in early February. A satisfied sigh escapes my lips when the weather turned cold and windy. In this weather, the feeling of serenity was overwhelming. A peculiar tingle rushed down my spine as a certain man invaded my thoughts.

As I attempted to recall where I had seen the certain blue-eyed man, a wave of familiarity washed over me. With his olive skin tone and chiselled features, he is undeniably attractive. He is, however, concealing something, perhaps some secrets. I sneered at myself, "Really Ria. What am I thinking?"

I parked my car and exited before strolling towards the café.

As I walked into the cafe, "Hey, Ria" Aki grinned.

"Hm, someone seems to enjoy going on a date with Zac," I joked, wiggling my brows as he looked at me sheepishly with a scarlet tint on his cheeks. "We're all going, Ria" He sneered as a chuckle slipped my lips.

"You can treat it as your first date with Zac" I smirked as I walked to my office, hearing Aki mumble something under his breath.

"Oh, you can go ahead, Aki," I said as I turned back to face him, who appeared perplexed.

"I'll close up and follow you guys," I smirked, directing his attention outside the cafe to Zac, who was standing near his car. "You can thank me later, lover boy."

I finished some paperwork in ten minutes. I'm going to close up the cafe immediately and drive to the New York skating centre. I stepped out of my office after turning off the lights but looking up I halted in my tracks.

"What are you doing here?" I snarled as a specific blue-eyed man leaned against one of the tables, his irritating grin on his face.

"I'm here to see you, gattina," he said, and something about him intrigued me and I felt compelled to slap the smirk off his face. "Well, you've seen me," I responded, narrowing my eyes at him. "Please leave," I said, hissing. What the hell is going on here? Aria, what's the deal with your sudden rage?

"Mio Amore, what's the rush?" he continued, his voice becoming rougher on the edges and tinged with an Italian accent. He straightened up and began walking towards me. I snarled, "Do you not understand English," as I backed away.

As my back met the wall, I said, "Leave." My rage appears to amuse him, as he chuckled while continuing strolling in front of me, his head tilted. "Are you scared of me, belle?" he questioned as he approached me.

As a shaky breath left my lips, his eyes travelled to my lips. The transition of his accent from Italian to French would flatter any girl. A sudden question about his life partner made me curious. Under the light, his blue eyes twinkled with delight. " Estpida loca, ¿Por qué no puedes escucharme?" I hissed as his eyes widen.

He murmurs beneath his breath, "me piaci quando ti arrabbi." "What's that?" I snapped, confused by what he'd said. As I scowled at him, he sighed, "Nothing to worry about, gattina."

"Don't call me that," I snapped as he smiled and stepped back, and I let out a breath I hadn't realized I'd been holding in. As he grinned at me, I responded, "Now will you please just leave." "Oh, gattina, I'm leaving," he remarked. "However, we will meet again." He left the cafe, leaving me with an unfamiliar pang in my heart.

I arrived at the skating centre in 20 minutes and was immediately reprimanded by Zac for being late. Zac being Zac, enjoyed my flustered state, although I havent told him about the encounter with Adrian yet. Laughter, mocking, and fun abound in the skating rink that night.

As I laughed and enjoyed myself with my friends, a sense of comfort washed over me. A sudden longing invaded me as something in me yearned for the blue-eyed man. What the hell is going on here? I shook my head and returned my attention to my friends.

That night, I had a dream about a certain blue-eyed man.

The weather was windy and sunny the following morning. The weather is unquestionably my favourite. The cafe was bustling, with students and, no doubt, some couples out on a date. "Ria, Frappuccino for table number 5", Aki said as I prepared the drink. As I turned around to see a man whose back was facing me. I approached the man with his drink.

"Hello sir- you," I growled under my breath, not wanting to make a fuss. He smirked as he said, "We meet again, gattina." He's attempting to irritate me. I placed his drink on the table Enjoy your drink, sir I clenched my teeth as I gave him my fake smile before walking away.

"Aki, your fucking buddy is here" I growled as Aki flinched. "Bro, you need to stop scaring me," he groaned, his palm dramatically placed over his chest. "And why is Adrian here?" he inquired, looking perplexed. "You think I know why, idiota." I snapped as he laughed at me.

"Just get him out of here," I groaned as I attempted to leave. "Oh, he's rubbing off on you, ah," a laughing voice said as I turned around to face him. "Now, Aki," I murmured solemnly, he saluted as he walked away.

Gosh! what a day. I sighed as I wrapped up the last order. "We are leaving first Ria" Aki said as he walked out of the cafe with Crystal. I walked towards my car after closing the cafe. I gasped as muscular arms abruptly wrapped around my waist.

As the deep rich voice entered my ears, I felt a chill run down my spine. "I'm going to kill you one day," I clenched my teeth as the startling knowledge hit me about the person with his arms around my waist.

I could feel his body heat on my back, as well as how my back was crushed against his. "Get off me," I commanded. Dont move, gattina he growled as I whimpered against him. Dont move, gattina or else well both die he whispered in my ear as I snapped out. what the hell is going on? Can this day get any worse?