The Unspoken Attraction

Chapter 1: The Serendipitous Meeting

Hello humanzz

Just a heads up, this is my first time writing and English is not my first or second language.

So, if there're typos, bad grammar, poor sentence structure, etc, feel free to correct me. This way I'll keep on learning.

Enjoy human!!!

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Ian Aiden Reyes stormed out of his office, his face tense, jaw clenched, and eyes narrowed in frustration. The sound of his leather shoes striking the marble floor echoed throughout the hallway. Anyone who crossed his path quickly stepped aside, carefully avoiding his cold glare. No one dared to greet him; the air around him was cold and brimming with an unmistakable anger.

It wasn't just the pile of work waiting on his desk that set him on edge. No, his icy mood had everything to do with the phone call he'd just had with his mother.

His mother had just called, and the conversation played on a loop in his mind.

"Ian, sweetheart, it's time you start thinking seriously about your future," his mother had said in her sweet but firm tone. Ian immediately knew what was coming next.

"Mom, not this again—" Ian tried to interject, but she was already pressing forward.

"I've set up a blind date for you this Saturday. She's the daughter of an old friend, a lovely girl. You'll like her. You're not getting any younger, and it's time you meet someone!"

He rubbed his temples in frustration. "Mom, I don't need you setting me up on dates again. I'm fine. I don't even have time for this." This blind date is the fifth one this year, and it's only the beginning of April.

But his protests had fallen on deaf ears, as they always did.

"You're always working! You're not getting any younger, and it's time you settle down. She's a lovely girl, and I'm sure you'll like her," his mother insisted, her words final.

In the end, he just hummed to his mother as his response. Not want to drag the conversation on this topic longer. He loves his mother dearly, but her constant meddling in his personal life drives him insane. As much as he respected her desire to see him happy, a blind date wasn't the answer. He wasn't against the idea of meeting someone, but he wasn't about to let his mother dictate when and how. The call ended with Ian's patience wearing dangerously thin.

The thought of the blind date still irritated him, gnawing at the back of his mind. His mother had been relentless about setting him up with someone ever since he hit thirty as if time itself was running out. He didn't need anyone, he often told himself. His life was already filled with work, books, and... well, more work.

Feeling suffocated in his office room, he decided that he needed air—fresh air—and maybe some coffee to calm his nerves. Anything to help him shake off the irritation that clung to him. Ian walked briskly out of the office, without thinking, his feet carried him down the street to the small café on the corner. It was a quaint place, with large windows that let the sunlight pour in, casting a warm glow on the simple wooden furniture inside. The familiar scent of freshly brewed coffee greeted him as he pushed open the door, offering a momentary sense of relief.

He stepped in, the bell above the door chiming lightly as he entered the cozy café. Feeling a little bit relaxed, Ian exhaled a big sigh. The café wasn't too crowded considering that it was still early, and people would still be in their offices doing work. The low hum of conversations mixes with the quiet sound of piano instruments playing in the background.

He joined the line at the counter, still brooding, his mind replaying the conversation with his mother. He wasn't against the idea of finding someone—he knew he wanted to settle down eventually—but being set up on blind dates felt so wrong. It felt forced, as if love was something you could schedule on a Saturday afternoon like a doctor's or a meeting appointment. It felt like if you go for the scheduled blind date, you'll for sure meet 'The One'.

As he moved forward in the line, something, or rather someone, caught his eye.

That's when he saw her.

She was sitting at a small 2-sitter table near the window, engrossed in a book she was reading. Sunlight poured in and reflected off her light brown hair which fell in a gentle wave over her shoulders, and she wore a light cream dress. She had a certain grace about her, the way she tilted her head slightly as she read. She had a calm, attentive look, as though the world had stopped and the story, she was holding was all that mattered.

But it wasn't just her beauty that caught Ian's attention—it was the book she was reading. He squinted, recognizing the title instantly. "Feral Sins" by Suzanne Wright. A werewolf romance.

Ian blinked. It wasn't often that he found someone, let alone a woman, reading the same genre he secretly loved. Werewolf fiction had always been his guilty pleasure, a break from the cold, calculated world of business he lived in. It seemed strange that fate had brought them together to see her there, engrossed in the same book he had previously read. There was something about her that drew him in that he couldn't quite put his finger on.

His coffee arrived, but Ian's feet hesitated as he glanced back at her table. Should he approach her? The idea seemed ridiculous. What would he even say to her? Hi? Won't that be awkward? But before he could overthink it, his body betrays his mind and moves on instinct, and soon he found himself standing next to her table.

"Excuse me," Ian said, his voice steady yet curious. "Is that 'Feral Sins' you're reading?"

The woman looked up, startled at first. Her olive-green eyes met his hazel eyes, for a split moment, everything around them seemed to blur. Her olive-green eyes were full of warmth, contrasting sharply with his cold exterior. She smiled, a little sheepishly, and nodded.

"Yes, it is," she replied softly. "I love werewolf stories"

A small smile tugged at the corner of Ian's lips. "Same here," he admitted, surprising himself with how honest he is right now. To a stranger at that. "It's not every day you find someone reading one of those"

The woman's smile widened, and she gestured to the empty seat across from her. "Would you like to join me?"

Without hesitation, Ian sat down, setting his coffee on the table. "I'm Ian, by the way. Ian Aiden Reyes" stretching his hand for a handshake.

"Isabella Evans," she introduced herself, her voice as melodic, soft, and warm as her appearance. "Nice to meet you, Ian." She replied as she took Ian's hand for a handshake. With that handshake, both felt a weird spark that sent a shiver down the spine.

They fell into conversation effortlessly, as if they had known each other for much longer than the few minutes they'd spent together. They talked about werewolf fiction, how the supernatural world's dynamics captivated them, and how the genre provided them with a sense of escape. As they laughed about the craziest plots and characters they had come across, Ian felt his usual guardedness slowly slip away as they exchanged favourite novels and stories.

There was no need for putting up walls, no pretense, and no need to be the cold, business-driven man everyone knew him to be. With Isabella, it was different. It was as if the world outside the café didn't exist—just them, their coffee, and the connection growing between them.

As the conversation began to wind down, Ian realized how much time had passed. He didn't want the moment to end but knew they couldn't sit there forever.

"This has been... nice," Isabella said, her voice tinged with something akin to reluctance. "I don't usually meet people who share the same interests."

"Neither do I," Ian replied, his tone softening. He hesitated, then added, "Maybe we could meet again sometime?"

Isabella's eyes sparkled at the suggestion. "Sure, I'd love to."

As they both stood to leave, Ian felt lighter somehow, the weight of his earlier frustrations was long forgotten. As he watched Isabella walk out of the café, he couldn't shake the feeling that their meeting had been more than just a coincidence. It was serendipitous. Something unspoken had begun between them, and Ian couldn't wait to see where it would lead them.

"Until next time," he murmured to himself, already looking forward to their next meeting.

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What do think of chapter 1?

Do you believe in 'love at first sight'?

or have you personally experience it?