Checkmate

Chapter 9

Rosalyn returned home. She was unpacking her purse when she saw the matchbox. Rosalyn slapped her forehead as she remembered something important. She had to ask Cathy for some personal lab contacts. Rosalyn wanted to get the fingerprints on the matchbox identified. She realised that she had been busy thinking about Adinel all the time. The idea of herself having a crush made Rosalyn shiver. She started thinking about Adinel and her stomach did happy dances with butterflies. She giggled but went downstairs for dinner.There, Camilla had brought a tornado into the house. Camilla's clothes were lying everywhere. Her sandals were scattered, and she was walking to and fro. Rosalyn enjoyed the moment but asked her elder sister, "Why are you so tensed?" Camilla shouted, "What should I wear in front of his parents?" Rosalyn laughed and teased her sister. Camilla gave her the death stare and Rosalyn helped her sister eventually. After having Camilla's suitcase packed, the sisters had dinner. Rosalyn wanted to talk about Adinel, but she chose not to as nothing was serious between them. She just had a crush on him and she didn't even know if he would be going to the store the next day. This idea made her gloomy as she wanted to see him often. Rosalyn shrugged the thought off and said to herself, 'I got a bigger issue to deal with.'That night, both the sisters couldn't sleep. Rosalyn had her regular nightmare, and Camilla was too excited to sleep.

Somehow, they managed to wake up the next day. Camilla rushed to the washroom and, Rosalyn got ready for her work. Camilla wore a cute outfit to meet her boyfriend. It was 8 am when Aaron arrived. Rosalyn clicked their pics as the happy couple posed. Aaron had brought flowers, and Rosalyn took them inside the kitchen. Camilla kissed her sister's cheeks and said, "I am worried about you and not sure if I should leave you right now." Rosalyn said, "It's okay, sister. I will be just fine." Camilla hugged Rosalyn, and she left with Aaron.

***

Rosalyn headed out after her evening shift was over. She was waiting for Cathy when someone called her from behind. She looked back and to her surprise, Adinel was standing there. Rosalyn's cheeks flushed red as she managed to stutter a 'Hi '. Adinel came towards her and said, "I was waiting for you." Rosalyn looked at Adinel, all confused. It took her time to digest those words. Adinel looked down, with his cheeks turning red in the light of the street lamp, and there was silence. They held each other's hands and kept walking towards the bus stop.

Rosalyn broke the ice. She said, "So Adinel, do you work around here?" Adinel nodded and said that he works as a marketing freelancer. Rosalyn was quite impressed by him as they walked. They talked about the most random topic for the sake of awkward silence. All of a sudden, Adilen looked into Rosalyn's eyes. Her eyes glistened and in a matter of seconds, blood rushed into her cheeks. She drifted her eyes from his. They stood at the bus stop and waited for Rosalyn's bus. Adilen's brown eyes were fixated on Rosalyn. He said, "Rosalyn, you look beautiful as a wood nymph yet elegant like a queen." Rosalyn's stomach flipped and she felt at peace. Somebody had complimented her in the most unimaginable way. She blushed, not knowing what to answer. Adinel's lips curled into a smile when he saw Rosalyn blushing. She boarded the bus and waved at Adinel and the bus started. After rethinking, Rosalyn shouted, "I loved meeting you! Thanks for dropping me till here."Adinel chuckled and said, "I loved meeting you too, Rosalyn." Rosalyn couldn't wait to tell Camilla all about Adinel. She rushed home only to realise that she would be alone that night. She let out a long sigh and unlocked the house. That night Rosalyn went to bed with thoughts about Adinel. She woke up at 2 am with the same traumatising flashbacks. She couldn't believe it. After sleeping with thoughts of a 6'2, handsome jaw-ed and brown eye-ed man, she still had nightmares. She woke up and made coffee for herself.