The Enemy I Hate To Love

CHAPTER 13! Shopping Shenanigans

Emma's POV

As Laila swept out of the house, leaving behind a whirlwind of excitement and a few playful giggles, I turned to find Michelle still lounging casually against the kitchen counter, his presence filling the room with an intoxicating energy. His piercing gaze met mine, and I felt a shiver of anticipation run down my spine. There was something undeniably magnetic about him.
“Hey, Emma, want to join me and Sophia for some shopping?” he asked, his tone laid-back, but there was an unmistakable spark in his eyes.
“Shopping? What for?” I raised an eyebrow, my curiosity piqued.
“Just some basic stuff we need to take to India. You know, toiletries and snacks. Nothing too glamorous,” he replied with a shrug, as if it was the most casual thing in the world.
Sophia chimed in, “I can’t, I’m going with Laila. But you should go, Emma. You’d have fun!”
My initial instinct was to protest. “I don’t know. I’m not really in the mood,” I said, glancing at my dress from last night.
“Come on! I promise i won't bite,” Michelle said, and I could feel the weight of his gaze pressing against me. There was something compelling in the way he spoke.
I hesitated, my mind racing with the possibilities. What if I missed a chance to spend time with him? “Fine, I’ll go,” I finally relented, feeling a rush of excitement mixed with nervousness.
“Great! Go change into something else i don't want anyone else saying in dress anymore he said, and I felt a flush creeping up my cheeks.
Rushing to my room, I rifled through my closet, finally settling on a fitted sweater and my favorite pair of jeans. As I caught a glimpse of myself in the mirror, I felt a surge of confidence. I gave my hair a quick tousle, threw on some light makeup, and headed back out to find Michelle waiting with an expectant look.
“You clean up nicely,” he said, his expression approving. A hint of a smirk played on his lips, and my heart raced at the compliment. As we made our way to the mall, I couldn’t help but steal glances at him. Michelle had this effortless aura of coolness about him.
Once we arrived at the mall, I followed him inside, and my excitement bubbled over as we wandered through the aisles. We picked up essentials—snacks, toiletries, and travel-sized items—before making our way to the makeup section.
As. We headed to the elevator, our arms brushing against each other as we waited. Suddenly, the elevator jerked, and the doors slid shut. My heart dropped as I realized we were stuck.
“Great,” I murmured, panic rising in my chest. My palms grew sweaty as the walls seemed to close in around me.
“Emma?” Michelle’s voice broke through my rising anxiety. “Hey, it’s okay. Just breathe.”
“I can’t! I’m claustrophobic,” I admitted, my voice shaking.
“Okay, let’s focus on something else,” he suggested, his tone low and steady. “What’s your favorite movie?”
“Um, I really like ‘Pride and Prejudice,’” I stammered, feeling the heat of his body close to mine.
“Ah, the one with the brooding hero and the strong-willed heroine. Kind of like us, huh?” He teased, a sly smile creeping onto his face.
“Very funny,” I retorted, but I couldn’t help but smile back. His playful demeanor helped distract me from the panic.
As we chatted, I felt my heart rate begin to slow, the tension easing. Suddenly, the elevator jolted back to life, and we both exhaled in relief as the doors slid open.
“See? You’re doing great,” he said, stepping closer, our bodies nearly touching. My heart raced as I glanced up at him, feeling the air crackle between us.
Then, suddenly, as if caught in the moment, he leaned in, his lips almost brushing against mine. I felt my breath hitch, my heart pounding as he paused, pulling back abruptly.
“Sorry, I didn’t mean to—” he started, a mix of surprise and apology in his voice.
“Y-Yeah, it’s okay. It’s fine. Cool,” I stammered, my cheeks flushing with heat. The awkwardness hung in the air like an electric current, yet there was something thrilling about it.
Just then, the elevator jolted back to life, resuming its ascent. We stepped out, both trying to shake off the tension that had just passed between us.
“Let’s check out some lipsticks,” I suggested, heading toward a colorful display.
Michelle leaned against the shelf, arms crossed, observing me with a mixture of curiosity and amusement. “You really like makeup, huh?”
“It’s fun! Plus, it’s nice to feel good about yourself,” I replied, swatching a bright red lipstick on my wrist. “What do you think?”
He raised an eyebrow, his lips twitching in a barely-there smile. “Bold choice. But I think you could pull it off.”
“Yeah, right!” I laughed, feeling a rush of confidence. “You should try it on your hand.”
Without hesitation, I swiped some lipstick on his palm, our fingers brushing together. I couldn’t help but notice the way his gaze lingered on me, the air around us thickening with an electric tension.
“Looks good on me,” he said, a smirk playing on his lips. “I think I might wear this to impress my next date.”
“Just make sure you don’t go too bold,” I shot back, my heart racing at the flirty banter.
I couldn’t shake the lingering warmth of his closeness. I continued to browse, and I found  This time, I picked up a soft pink lipstick.
“I think you should try this one on your lips,” Michelle suggested, leaning closer as I applied it. His breath brushed against my cheek, sending shivers down my spine.
“I think it suits you,” he added, his eyes studying mine.
“Thanks! You have good taste,” I replied, feeling a rush of warmth spread through me.
After we paid for our items—much to my surprise, he insisted on covering everything—I felt a mix of gratitude and embarrassment. “You really didn’t have to,” I protested.
“I wanted to. It’s no big deal,” he replied, shrugging it off with a casual confidence that made my heart flutter.
As we walked back to the car, I felt my stomach growl loudly, and I cringed in embarrassment. “Sorry! I guess I’m a bit hungry,” I muttered, my face burning.
Michelle chuckled softly. “Let’s fix that. There’s a great restaurant nearby.
“Really? You don’t have to—”
“Emma,” he interrupted, his tone firm yet playful. “I want to. Trust me.”
Once we settled into a booth at the restaurant, I felt my nerves ease again. The ambiance was warm and inviting, the low hum of conversations surrounding us. We ordered, and as we waited for our food, we continued to share stories, delving deeper into each other's lives.
“I really like your hair,” he said suddenly, his gaze locking onto mine. He reached across the table, tucking a loose strand behind my ear, his touch sending electricity coursing through me.
“Thanks,” I replied, feeling my heart race. “I, um, I like yours too i guess .” He chuckled, and trust me i immediately felt embarrassed for saying that.
Our food arrived, and as we ate, It felt like the world had faded away, leaving just the two of us in our own bubble.
When the meal wrapped up, he offered to take me home, and as we walked to the car, I felt a strange mix of anticipation and anxiety. Once we reached my house, I turned to thank him.
“Thanks for today. I had an amazing time,” I said, my heart racing.
“Yeah, it was fun,” he replied, his eyes locking onto mine, a flicker of something intense passing between us.
As I reached for the door handle, he grabbed my hand, stopping me. “Wait.”
My heart raced as I turned to him, confusion and curiosity swirling inside me. “Yeah?”
“Give me your number? I’d like to keep in touch,” he said, his voice low and steady.
“Of course!” I replied, quickly typing my number into his phone. When I finished, I looked up to find him watching me intently.
“Great,” he said, a satisfied smirk tugging at his lips. “I’ll text you.”
As I climbed out of the car, I couldn’t help but feel a wave of happiness wash over me. I waved goodbye and hurried inside, my heart racing with excitement.
Once inside, I found Sophia and Laila lounging on the couch, pizza boxes scattered around them.
“Emma! You’re back!” Laila cheered, her eyes lighting up. “How was your shopping date?”
“Yeah, did you have fun with the ‘mystery man’?” Sophia teased, raising an eyebrow.
“Ugh, stop! It was just shopping!” i replied, trying to mask my embarrassment.
Laila and Sophia exchanged glances before bursting into laughter. “Come on, Emma! We know you two are vibing. How did it go?”
I sighed, rolling my eyes but unable to suppress my smile. “Fine, we had fun. He’s just… nice, okay?”
Laila leaned forward, resting her chin on her hand. “Nice? Is that all? Did you even buy anything interesting?”
I grabbed my shopping bags and began pulling out the items one by one, detailing everything i had bought. “I got some makeup, toiletries, and a few travel essentials. And guess what? He paid for it all!” i added, feeling a mixture of excitement and disbelief.
“Wait, what?!” Laila exclaimed. “He paid? For everything?”
I nodded, my cheeks flushing again. “Yeah, he’s just really generous. He even took me out to eat because I got hungry.” o paused, remembering Michelle’s warm gestures. “He’s really sweet, you know?”
Sophia grinned. “Sweet? More like charming. You totally like him!”
“No, I don’t! He’s just acting nice because it’s all part of the contract!” Emma retorted, though her heart didn’t fully agree.
“Whatever you say, Emma,” Laila said, laughing as she dug into a slice of pizza. “But you can’t deny the chemistry.” “You’re back! How was shopping?” Sophia asked, a knowing grin spreading across her face.
After chatting for a while longer, I excused myself to head to bed, still buzzing with the memory of the day. As I settled into my sheets, I couldn’t help but smile.