One day being Cinderella...Updated Chap 6 - Pg 30 - Page 19

'Huh, sorry J'

'Where are you lost? Feels like I am having a conversation with myself'

'Sorry J. I was just thinking about the senior science camp and fair, I really don't want to go for it. Rahul, Dj and Kim are insisting it will be fun but I really don't want to and besides I miss our trips, I miss going shopping with you and rolling my eyes when you try out 8 outfits before deciding on the one you want, I miss everything j. Dad is hardly ever home and I just feel so alone... I come home loaded with work, assignments and preparing for pre entrance...I just...miss mamma also coming closer to this part of the year'

'M, please don't feel alone. Aunty is always with you, in your heart. She would have been so proud of you and your determination in fulfilling her dream. I miss you so much too, now I don't even try out 8 sets of clothes at malls anymore, I just try 3 and decide from there (lol)😆'

Manyata burst out laughing hearing J and wiped away her tears, at times she really did feel like her teenage years have disappeared before her, she would be turning 18 soon and whilst others her age had a lot to boast about in terms of a social life she had none... its not easy feeling like the social outcast and dealing with your insecurities and growing up without your mom to talk you through every significant change in your life...except for J no one got to see the real her or even know her(that's not anyone elses fault manyata you are such a weirdly alone person who never looks up from her books, how is anyone to notice you??? but he did😲 STOP IT MANYATA!! Lately her thoughts were getting out of control) and now there is the threesome Rahul, DJ and Kim who make her feel so comfortable and normal. J also insisted that she go for the trip and have lots of fun, and apart from being such a bookworm take up the gang on their offers of going out to the movies and just hang out. They chatted for a bit longer about J's latest pimple that's ruining her dating life...before finally hanging up. Manyata knew jai was right except for painting and cooking..(That's so boring manyata) what else did she enjoy? She had yet to discover herself. Her phone beeped breaking away her thoughts... It was kim

'Hello...( unable to say anything else as kim started jabbering nonstop)

'Hey Manya, the new movie Dark Sleep releases today and Rahul managed to get 4 tickets, Your excuses are not going to work today, and we are not taking no for an answer'

'Kim

'No, whatever you are going to say is not going to work. DJ and I have been waiting for ages to watch this movie and you...just be ready, Rahul is picking us up.

'Kim what time should I be ready?'

'Huh?'😕 ( kim was shocked herself when manyata so casually agreed normally she always has something to do that usually involves books, poetry and painting)

Manyata couldn't help but smile hearing kims voice, and picturing her facial reactions

'We are going for the evening show as we don't have to stress about being home early because there is no school tomorrow, ok I gotta go. My hair needs washing ... see you at 6. Bye'

Before waiting for manyata to reply she hung up

'bye kim'

Always in such a rush kim. 😆

Manyata sat in front of the mirror after her relaxing shower with just her towel wrapped around her and stared at her reflection, wondering what people saw when they looked at her. She has never been asked out on date, never had secret admirers or get roses like jai on valentines day, in fact she was approaching 18 and gasp... She has never been kissed. She touched her cheeks and had flashbacks to that day at the cafeteria when his lips kissed her tears away.

'You have really nice lips man... ya.. ta' .

She swallowed hard and shook away the thoughts standing up and heading towards her cupboard for something to wear. What is wrong with you manyata? And since do you even care about having a social life? (Uhm.. maybe because you a walking disaster and one day you will wake up alone and old and realize you should have lived without regrets, besides mamma always wanted you to live, experience, enjoy and be happy. Now enough with the pity party, get dressed look good, feel good and smile... pat yourself on the back manyata you are quite the pep talker.) Manyata smiled to herself shaking her head as both her thoughts seemed to have found a mutual agreement in her head.

She left her dad a message informing him she was going to the movies with the threesome. He called back and confirmed with her and asked maria to make sure she is back by the designated time. Manyata had just finished drying her hair and was tying in a ponytail when there was a knock on her door.

'Come in Maria, you know you don't have to knock'

Maria smiled at the pretty young lady in front of her.

'I made your favourite mac and cheese, when you ready come down and grab a bite'

'Sounds good, thank you maria'

Manyata turned one last time looking at the mirror and placed her glasses on. She looked average, a casual jeans, t shirt and her black hoody. Ready to go. Maria knew manyata well enough to know of her teenage hormones and insecurities about herself and her body. She is such a simple girl, being the only child of a rich man, she was so unlike the other youngsters her age who would make endless demands and have the latest brands but not manyata . Her dad did spoil her though, latest iphone, ipad air and all the techno gadgets he thinks she will enjoy. But she very rarely makes use of them. Maria wished manyata could see through her eyes just how beautiful she is inside and out without even having to try. She walked towards manyata, taking her hands in her own.

'You are so beautiful my little angel, there has never been nor will there ever be a pure heart like yours, I know you are going to a strange phase right now, but this is all part of life and it will soon pass. Don't think so much and smile more often let everyone see those beautiful dimples that you hide so well'

Manyata got teary eyed listening to maria and hugged her tightly

'Thank you maria for always making me feel better'

'You welcome my angel I might as well cherish these moments because when your special someone comes into your life, you wont have much time for old maria here'

'That's not going to happen maria, no one special will ever come into my life and im perfectly happy with old maria here'

She kissed her cheek and playfully pinched it before walking out of her room

'Oh but your special one will come... and once he gets a glimpse of your beautiful soul he will never leave you'

'Hello... MAN.. YA.. TA' a deep voice whispered next to her ear.

She jumped and covered her mouth to muffle a scream. She quickly turned around in Rahuls arm and came face to face with HIM! Rahul followed suit to see what had startled her as did the others.

The hair on the back of her neck stood up, she didn't even have to turn around to know he was behind her, she knew now why she felt that unease and sudden cold. How long was he watching her for?

Oh, he looked so good, so ruggedly dangerously good she felt her thoughts wondering again. He had on a black visor beanie with a black vintage tee and denim jeans. His hands were shoved in his pockets. The small visor from his beanie cast a slight shadow over his face making his intense dark eyes even more menacing. Manyata couldn't read his expression and was suddenly very intimidated to even look up at him again. But remembering his breath on the back of her ear as he whispered her name made her body shiver. She looked away while she could still feel his eyes on her.

'Well, Well what do we have here? Said a miffed karan

Their happy mood had shifted instantly as they watched karan, ria and all their sidekicks circle around them sizing them up and down, pulling out the popcorn from DJ's hand and playing with kims hair. Rahul was irritated and angry as hell but knew there was nothing he could do, nothing with so many jerks who would personally make his life a living hell if he even retaliated.. Manyata was now starting to feel that familiar feeling that scared her watching the creeps circle around them, she looked away wanting nothing more than to get away from these creeps as she listened to their laughter and teasing. Once again she could feel his eyes on her, and found herself looking into them... what is he doing here? He said he would stay away? It's a coincidence manyata.. its not like he knew you were at the movies?

'We are here to watch a movie karan so if you don't mind..' Rahul said firmly trying to walk away with ria, dj and manyata holding onto him.

'And what happens if I do mind... RAHUL ? What are you going to do about it?'

Manyata grabbed rahuls arm tightly as kim grabbed hers, karan was face to face with Rahul as if teasing him to say something further and start a fight, oh god why is this happening now, why cant they leave us alone?

He could see her fear visible on her face and that soft pink lips quiver.

'Please we don't want any .. trouble. We just came.. to...'

He walked towards her slow angry steps as he watched her try to explain to karan, his eyes bore through her causing her to stop speaking.. seemed as if she forgot to say what she had started to in the first place. He didn't say a word his eyes spoke, looking from her fingers clutching on tightly to Rahul to her flushed face and then back at karan. Karan was about to say something but one look from Uv and he knew not too. His expression unreadable as he tilted his head from Rahul and gang back to karan, while ria just looked speculatively at Uv.

One cue knowing exactly what Uv's unspoken words were, karan seemed to have changed his tune altogether.

Pretending to dust of an unseen speck of dust on karans tee's , he smiled

'Uv doesn't want you to be late for the movie.. so let me not keep you guys'

He arched his eyebrow looking at manyata who was standing there with a look of shock and confusion on her face.

After looking at their movie tickets, karan couldn't help but smile looking back at Uv

'Nice choice, Dark Sleep, lets go, wouldn't want to miss the beginning now would you?'

He pulled Rahul away from manyata and slug his arm around his shoulders pulling him closer and starting to walk

Kim looked as baffled as manyata and dj watching the scene unfold infront of them, Rahul looked so uncomfortable and the others knew he wouldn't say anything but go along with it, so they started to walk behind them. Uv didn't move with the others he still stood where he was, while manyata couldn't help but to look up at him again and there it was those intense eyes that had an unreadable glint.

'You know the only reason it didn't get out of control was because of UV ...and... you' kim whispered

'Me?' 😲😕

'Manya you had to have been blind to not notice the way he was staring at you, he couldn't take his eyes off you and I know karan and their gang, if he wanted he could have created chaos when he challenged Rahul, he backed way after uv said some unspoken word through his eyes and whether you believe or not it had something if not everything to do with you...'

'Kim that's . .. nonsense...'

'Is it really Manya? Remember what I told you not so long ago when he left you without hassle in the cafeteria...'

Flashback...

'So UV didn't do anything to you?'

Manyata shook her head, 'No instead he said no one will taunt me'

'WHAT?'

Both rahul and kim exclaimed together as she looked at them confused

'Uv actually said that?'

'Yes why?'

'Because he doesn't say things like that or listen to anyone'

Manyata stayed quiet while they both looked up and she followed their gaze only to see UV staring back at them... At her. Oh god

Yet he did nothing stood there watching and then walked away

'Omg he just walked away??? I don't believe this... there is just one explanation'

'What?'

Kim and her nonsensical assumptions

'He wants you'

'Stop it what does he want me for?'

'You are his manyata, the sooner you realise it the better'

'I am not anybodies, least of all his. So stop saying that, I guess he just realized his mistake and decided to leave me alone, simple'

End Of Flashback

Manyata gulped and couldn't help but shake away that feeling again as she brushed away that flashback she was so lost in her own thoughts as kim rushed in the movie theatre to make sure Rahul is ok and get her seat with him. Manyata didn't even realize when she had away as it was a busy day with the release of the much awaited movie, she just couldn't stop thinking about what kim said, could it be true? Why did karan leave Rahul and not interfere with them after looking at UV? How is any of this even making sense? What did kim mean by his? And why manyata deep down underneath that fear you cant help but feel a little pleased with the thought of being his.. WHAT, NO, STOP IT' Manyata was battling with so many different thoughts in her mind...

'I don't like that jacket on you...'

Her breathing hitched as recognized that deep voice that made a complete mess of her. Not knowing how to react or what to say to him, she just looked down at the extremely long and overly huge jacket of rahuls that she was using. His eyes never left her as he leaned down and moved closer towards her as she started to move back now realizing she was still in the lobby,

'You seem to have a knack of making me repeat myself and that's something I don't enjoy doing'

His warm breath on her face sending shivers down her spine, she swallowed hard before trying to speak,

'Uhm.. I .. This jacket. I mean its not.. mine. I left mine in the car.. and .. I suddenly got.. uhhmm very cold.. so Rahul.. ' she rambled like a lost deer walking onto oncoming traffic...

He tried to hold back his smirk as he watched her ramble nonstop, He lips quivered, her soft eyes full of innocence and her cheeks flushed. He placed a finger on her lips to stop her jabbering and her eyes widened staring at him, she should have known what came next as he pulled away her glasses, she blinked profusely

'I will say this only once.. I DON'T WANT YOU WEARING RAHULS JACKET... COME TO THINK OF IT I DON'T WANT YOU WEARING ANYONE ELSE'S JACKET'

She gulped hard, nothing made her feel more helpless than being without her glasses. She didn't understand what he meant when he said that and from the tone of his voice, she couldn't help but nod her head agreeing with him. He pushed her hair to the one side and his strong scent hit her full as she closed her eyes, she couldn't move, she felt his breath behind her ear and her skin tingled. She couldn't think or move. Completely numb, He inhaled her hair taking in that sweet vanilla smell.

'I like your hair down... Man..ya.. ta'

Oh god ... Manyata get a grip of yourself

She didn't even know how rahuls jacket was in his hand and he was standing in front of her smirking as he placed her glasses back on

'Give this back to Rahul... Will you...'

She took it from him and started to walk breathing heavily, feeling extremely light headed and uneasy, almost like she would be sick...

'Oh and one more thing...

She didn't turn around but stopped walking as she heard him say'

'... Those glasses...'

Oh god.. theres that line again..

' I Know.. I have to do something about them'

She completed for him not turning around once to look at him while he just watched her hair sway as she tried to get away as soon as possible, he couldn't help but smile inwardly as he bit his lip...

... Man ...ya.. TA... interesting times ahead

And she walked as fast as her legs could carry her even though she thought she would collapse at any given time and wiped away the sweat from her forehead, she sighed inwardly trying to calming her raging mind as her eyes fell on the threesome and the music Dark Sleep... as the movie started to roll.