CHAPTER 2: THE CLASSIC PLAYBOY

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As my eyes drifted from the car to its owner, everything else faded into the background.

He leaned casually against the Porsche, like it was just another day, another car—no big deal. But there was something about him, like he'd just stepped off the cover of a magazine. His dark hair was styled just right, and his blue eyes—God, those eyes—were like icy flames that saw straight through you, and a jawline so sharp it could cut glass. 

It was like he had been sculpted by the gods themselves for maximum visual impact. He was tall, effortlessly confident, and every inch of him radiated the kind of arrogance that made you want to both punch him and kiss him at the same time.

He was like the sun, and a group of girls were orbiting around him like planets, giggling and flirting. And it seemed like he was enjoying every bit of the attention. Of course, the playful smirk on his lips suggested he knew exactly the effect he had on them—and maybe on me, too. Guys like him thrived on that kind of attention, and I could see why. He was, for lack of a better word, perfect. Too perfect. The kind of perfect that sets off alarm bells in your brain. Classic playboy territory, right?

I watched him for a moment longer, feeling a weird mix of irritation and attraction bubbling up inside me. There was something about the way he moved, the way he seemed so untouchable, that drew me in, even though I knew I should be running in the opposite direction. But my feet stayed planted, like I was frozen in place.

But deep down, I recognized the vibes he gave off, the dangerously attractive kind. Guys like him were walking red flags—trouble with a capital T. But despite every warning sign flashing in my mind, I felt this unexplainable pull toward him, one that defied all logic. It was as if my rationality had taken a vacation, and I was left there, staring, like I was under some enchantment.

For a moment, I couldn't tear my eyes away from him, like he was the only thing worth seeing in the whole universe. There was something magnetic about his presence, an intrigue that both drew me in and unsettled me.

He was in the midst of a conversation with his friends, a mischievous grin playing on his lips. It was a scene I had no business being interested in, a territory I had firmly decided to avoid. Yet, against every rational thought screaming at me to stay far away, and the blaring alarms in my head—alarms that I had no clue how to turn off—there was a tiny, persistent voice within me—the type that's always up for mischief—begging him to look in my direction. It was a sensation I couldn't quite understand.

God, what was wrong with me today? 

This was ridiculous. My own inner turmoil both puzzled and frustrated me. It was as if my instincts had gone haywire, like some cosmic joke, my own mind betraying my better judgment. I shook my head in disbelief. 

Seriously, Melissa, get a grip.

But then, as if the universe had overheard my silent, absurd pleas, it happened. His eyes—those intense, enigmatic eyes—unexpectedly found mine. For a second, time stopped. The world around us blurred into insignificance, and it was just him and me, trapped in some invisible force field that neither of us could escape. 

The laughter, the chatter of the crowd—it all faded into a dull hum as his gaze drilled into mine. Time seemed to slow, the air thickening between us, heavy with something unspoken. My chest tightened, my breath hitching, as if he'd reached across the distance and stolen it from me. His gaze was intense, piercing, and it sent a shiver down my spine.

In that instant, everything else faded into the background, and there was just him, and me, and nothing else. It felt like the universe had pressed pause just for us, the rest of the world fading into a blur. He didn't smile. But the way his expression shifted, just slightly, was enough to make me feel like the ground beneath me had disappeared. My heart raced, a drumbeat of confusion and curiosity, mixing with a surge of adrenaline I couldn't quite explain.

It was both exhilarating and unnerving, like being on a rollercoaster ride I hadn't signed up for. I should've looked away—that's what any rational person would've done—but I couldn't. It felt like my eyes were glued to his.

Then, just as quickly as it had happened, he looked away. His smile disappeared, replaced by a look I couldn't quite decipher. And just like that, the spell that had momentarily consumed us both was broken, leaving me standing there, breathless.

I shook my head, trying to clear the fog that had settled over my brain. 

What the hell just happened?

***

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