MYSTERY MAN

Two days had passed since Laleen first woke up and it was finally time for her to be discharged. Elizabeth had spent the last two days with her not leaving her side for a second. Laleen was not too sure what to think about Elizabeth but she was at least, grateful for her company. 

Laleen wondered if she had any family considering no one apart from Elizabeth had come to visit her all through her stay in the hospital. She had asked Elizabeth about it and Elizabeth was quick to clear her doubts.

"Of course you have a family" She was quick to say. Her voice grew quiet and Laleen caught the uncertainty that flashed in her eyes as she continued, "Something just came up and that's why they aren't here."

"Who else would foot your hospital bills then?" She questioned in a tone ladened with certainity as they both walked out of her hospital room with Laleen still in her hospital gown. 

Laleen nodded slowly as a sense of anticipation gripped her heart. She was excited to begin her life anew. 

***

The idea of a car excited and fascinated Laleen as she now sat comfortably in a taxi Elizabeth had boarded for them. She deliberately made sure she avoided eye contact with the taxi driver to avoid putting him in her spell.

As the car sped across the road, the warm rays of morning sunlight accompanied by the breeze hit her face from the halfway opened car window.

'It's so much better than a carriage ' She thought quietly to herself with a smile.

Turning to Elizabeth's direction, she noticed she had fallen asleep in the car. Laleen smiled as she watched her sleep.

She must have been tired staying with her in the hospital for so long.

Laleen's attention shifted to where a line of cars moved in the opposite direction with a soft whooshing sound. The car she was in eventually came to a halt at a red traffic light.

Confusion etched across Laleen's face. Why had the car stopped? She observed other cars doing the same and remained quiet, trying to make sense of the situation.

Her gaze drifted outside the car window, and her eyes widened in amazement. Before her, a sleek black car gleamed in the morning sunlight. It was more beautiful than any royal carriage she had ever been in.

Laleen's eyes then moved to the window of the car, but its tinted glass obscured the view inside. A slight pout of disappointment formed on her lips as she contemplated turning away. However, just as she was about to shift her gaze, the tinted windows of the black car rolled down and a man's head emerged, capturing Laleen's attention with his striking appearance.

He had lustrous black hair that cascaded elegantly down the sides of his face and with a face that could be likened to a god's, Laleen was starstruck at this stranger's beauty.

Yet, what struck her the most were his obsidian black eyes. They were deep and penetrating and seemed to hold so much darkness she couldn't help but be drawn to.

And even though he wasn't looking at her, she felt her entire body go still at his presence.

He looked beyond the long line of vehicles with an unmistakable sense of annoyance. He seemed to be in a hurry.

She continued to gape at him, her heart thudding loudly rivaling the hooting of car horns outside.

Slowly as if sensing her unwavering gaze, he looked towards her direction and their eyes locked. Laleen's eyes skipped a beat as those dark eyes met hers. 

He held her gaze for about three seconds more before looking away. All the while, Laleen's heart only beat faster and she only breathed once more when he broke eye contact. Laleen looked away, her fingers tingling. What was that? 

Every other sound dimmed asides from the continued loudness of her racing heartbeat. But a moment more and her eyes furrowed in shock as she whipped her head back at the mystery man's direction.

It was about time she heard his heartbeat. Why couldn't she hear it? 

Her once tingling fingers started to tremble and she folded them in desperation as she waited.

She watched as the tinted car window of the black car rolled up blocking her vision from seeing the man any further. The next five seconds were the longest wait her whole life. But even after seconds had passed, she couldn't hear his heartbeat.

She gasped in realization as she stared at the tinted windows shielding the mystery man from her sight. Her powers weren't working on him. 

Her shock quickly turned to panic when the cars suddenly began to move.

"Wait, why are we suddenly moving" She asked in panic, her eyes still glued to the black car as the distance between them increased.

The taxi man cleared his throat in nervousness not knowing how to respond.

He couldn't help but wonder if something was wrong with her head. Did she not know about traffic signals? 

"Stop the car" She ordered as her voice trembled. The car was getting further away from her and the overwhelming sense of panic was clouding her judgement.

She attempted to open the car but she had no idea how and she screamed again.

"Stop the car! He's getting away!" The taxi man turned confused as the car slowed down. Her shouting awakened the sleeping Elizabeth and he sighed in relief.

Elizabeth seemed confused as she looked around her. They weren't at their destination so why did he stop the car?

"Driver, why did you stop the car?" She asked, her voice groggy with sleep.

The driver turned to look at her and then motioned towards Laleen. "She said I should stop".

Elizabeth's eyes furrowed in confusion as she looked towards her friend's direction for the first time and realized she was fiddling with the car door.

Laleen let out a frustrated cry as the black car turned left and left her field of vision. 

She quickly turned to Elizabeth's direction and asked hurriedly, "Did you see?". 

"See what?" Elizabeth questioned back visibly confused.

Laleen facepalmed herself as she let out a groan of frustration.

Her frustration was slowly replaced with fascination at what she just discovered.

This had never happened before. In all the men she had met in the past, never had she met someone who held a resistance to the charm of her eyes.

What should she make of this?