Love me once more

Chapter three: First Impression

It was always hard to get a taxi in the morning and during rush hour. Since it is nearly twelve in the afternoon, traffic wasn't much of an issue and more taxi's were available. I stretched out one hand, to signalize a taxi to stop, but it simply drove pass me. Stressed and out of breath, I tried it once more, this time, the taxi stopped, but someone else pushed me to the side and entered. "Hey!" I shouted, but it was too late, the taxi had driven off. I gently massaged my forehead and looked around. This is going to take forever, I thought. An quite young looking man, maybe in his early-to-late 20s stretched out his hands, to signalise a taxi to stop and it did. I wanted to rush and push him aside to get on, but I couldn't. It wasn't right. The man looked at me and smiled. "Do you want to enter?" he asked. I slowly shook my head. "No no, it's your taxi." I said. He kept on smiling. "It's okay, we can share a taxi, am I right?" he looked at the taxi driver, who then nodded. "Come on, I don't mind." I slowly walked towards the taxi. "Thank you." I said and got into it and so did he. The taxi immediately drove off. "Take me to this address please." The man handed the taxi driver a piece of paper and then looked to me. "Where are you heading to?" he asked. I took out my phone and searched for my friends address. "Here." I simply said and handed the man my phone. He then gave the address to the taxi driver. "Don't I know you from somewhere?" he asked and looked me into the eyes. Who is he?, I asked myself. And why did I agree to get into the cap? What was I thinking?! I was about to freak out and tell the taxi driver to drop me off, but at the same time, I felt like I was about to fall for him. Was this fate? Is he my Mr. Right? After all, he showed he has manners by offering me to share the cap. And he wasn't that bad looking either. Tall, well built, good sense of style, manners and a great smile! Yes, I am starting to have feelings! But he is a stranger, someone I might never meet again. I realized he had been starring at me since, waiting for an answer. "Oh....!...I don't....think...so?" I hesitated to answer. He smiled. Beautiful!, I thought. "Of course, you ran out of that Café. What was the name again?.....Ah! Palmer's Café!" he said. Wait, what?! Was he following me all this time?, I thought. Or was he the older man who was having an argument with the younger costumer? But he sure would tell me where he knows me, right? I hesitantly smiled. "Uhm.....may I ask who you are?" I asked politely. He leaned back to the sit and smiled. "You are strange." he then said. "How can you enter the taxi with someone you don't even know?" he seemed to be joking, but he was right. I should have just said no and waited for another taxi. "I'm sorry. I'll get off here. Excuse me taxi driver, could you just drop me off here?" I asked and pointed to my left. The man quickly leaned forward. "No no, I don't mind your presents at all. Please stay. It would be difficult for you to find a taxi now." I pointed to my phone, which the man was holding, asking him to return it to me. He slowly gave it back. "Would you mind giving me your phone number?" I was shocked. "I beg your pardon?" I asked, my eyes widened and surprised. He smiled. "Please, I would like to get to know you."  I smiled out of disbelieve of this situation. Is he really interested in me? Bambi with no sense of fashion or status? I thought. He was waiting for my answer, but I wasn't sure if I could trust him, just like that. "Don't worry, we will get to know each other, if that's what you are worried about. Giving your number to a complete stranger." his voice had gone hesitant. Maybe he was reconsidering asking for my number again. "No, I was just....uhm...just give me your phone, I'll type it in." I said and grabbed his phone, which was in his right hand. "By the way, my name is Ryan Wade." he smiled. "Ah~ I'm Ireena Parks." and smiled back while returning his phone. He starred at his phone for some seconds then looked at me. "Do you mind if I give you a call?" he asked. I was confused, why would he want to call me right now? But I just nodded. He smiled and pressed the call button. Shortly after, my phone started ringing and I picked up. "Hello? Who's this?" I answered and he started laughing. I looked at the road. "Oh! Sir, could you stop the car?" I pointed towards the pedestrian walk. He then stopped the taxi and Ryan get off the taxi to hold the door open. "Thank you so much, Ryan, you don't know how much this means to me." he smiled brightly. "No problem. When will I get to see you again?" he asked. I was mesmerized. "Uhm....well.....just give me a call, I'll let you know." I slightly laughed and gently punched his shoulder. "Thanks again." I said and ran off without looking back.