❝You know damn well, that you're mine.

If you don't then, I'll have to unleash my beast on you to mark my territory.❞

∼Rihan∼

“God damit! Don't you think, I know that already? How the hell, she end up dating my only friend, in this whole world, by the way? Shit! I can't even fucking kill that asshole.” I said, frustrated. “They are going on their first date Rihan, it's not like she's into him. Didn't you hear, she was just 'trying'.” said Duke, attempting to calm my racing heart. He doesn't understand, what I'm going through. “Shut up Duke! She hates us. She hates me.” I said, recalling her expression, when Stephen said, I was a playboy. Her Loath filled eyes are still haunting me.

“I think, that is enough reason for her to prefer Stephen over us. He's Organized, well respected, Settled, well behaved and more importantly, he doesn't have a "reputation" like us. And damn, he is not bad looking either. Why wouldn't she choose him over us, tell me bro?” The room went silent. I have no idea, how to stop her from dating my best friend. Even if Stephen was a nerd at school, he was a smart, handsome nerd. Looks with brain. And I have seen, how naive and simple girls use to fall for his charm. I have a bad feeling about this date.

Women who want a husband material would definitely pay money to have a piece of him. “Fuck! For the first time in live, I feel insecure, Duke.” We both sighed helplessly. We know, there is nothing we could do to stop them from going on a date. “What if we make this date a disaster?” offered Aryan, not even moving from his relaxing position on the couch nor bothering to open his eyes to look at us. “Please, enlighten brother.” I said excitedly, sitting beside him on the floor, Indian style.

“It's simple. Suggest your friend a place, Aurora won't like. Offer food she's allergic to. Bring an ex when you feel, they are close enough. Make her regret going on this date.” he said calmly. My face lit up with ideas. Duke smirked followed by Aryan. This will work. This has to work.

~Aurora~

“No mom...yes...He said, it's a surprise. He would pick me up from here at 6... Hmn...Hmn..Aunt Maya said, I could use one of Tia's outfits...” I huffed, irritated. “Mom, please? Stop being so dramatic. It not a real date. We're just having dinner, followed by some place, then back home, before you know it.” I said, rolling my eyes. Why won't my family leave me alone. For some reason, they keep forcing me go on dates. Not that I don't want to but, I just don't feel connected to them. I sighed audibly. “Mom? If you please, just hang up the phone, I could use the extra time to groom myself for my first date.” I said, sarcastically.

After so many unwanted tips and suggestions, she finally let me disconnect the call. I checked the time. It's 5. Just one more hour before, Stephen comes. I wasn't that excited but let just say, I need a distraction from these mad house. The brothers are literally hogging my mind. What do they want from me? Are they all interested in me and want to pursue a relationship like Aunt Maya? Even if it's the case, I don't think, I like that idea. How can someone be in love with more than I person at a time? And how come, they don't have any problem sharing someone, they love.

I'm still not comfortable with the idea of polymorous relationship. And even if in future, I have a change of heart, I'm pretty sure, these Osborne brothers would never be my choices. I hate them. Actually I don't judge people easily but, since last 24 hours, lots of things happened, which brings my mind to a conclusion that, they are nonreliable. Hate doesn't even start to begin with what I think about them. It's like hundred ants crawling together onto my body, when they are nearby. I'm glad, I'll be out of this place in an hour. These people are really complicated.

Making up my mind, I opened the bedroom door to go get my "date outfit", but stumbled back immediately to avoid an impact. There stood in all his glory was Mr. Broad shoulder, Duke, in all black leather pant, shoes and jacket. He was about to knock, when I opened the door. We both looked surprised. “Yes?” I asked in a neutral voice. He was opening and closing his mouth in shock. “What?” I asked, frawning. He cleared his throat, looking to his side. Wow, what did I do now to make him so flushed?

“Umn..Mom asked me to check, what's taking you so long,...I kind of was... Checking you out....I..I mean, came to check on you.” he said shuttering. “Yeah, as you can see, I was about to step out, when you came.”I tried to shoo him away. Instead he just took all of me up and down, shamelessly. “Ahem, not that any of my brothers would mind seeing you in less clothing but, are you sure, you want to walk the entire Hallway in that?” he pointed towards my chest.

Confused, I looked down and closed the door on his face, yelping. How could I be so careless, in a house full of men? “Stupid! Idiot! Buffalo!” I scold myself, gripping my hair in one hand and the other gripping my almost falling down towel. Aaaah. He saw me wrapped in a ridiculous towel. Way to embarrass yourself Aurora. “How am I ever going to face him, without recalling this incident. Shit! I would blame my mom's bickering, which fried my brain so much, that I even forgot the fact that I was about to walk out of the room in a towel. How Pathetic?

Cursing my pea brain some more, I walked out of my room finally, to go to Aunt Maya's and waited after knocking once. She opened her door wide enough for me to get in. “Come. I selected few dresses for you, after I talked with your Mom. Hope you like at least one.”she chuckled. “Its ok, Aunt Maya. I'm not that choosy person. I prefer comfortable dresses over beautiful one. And my mom just exaggerated about this "date". Stephen and I are just good friends. I have no intention of making him my boyfriend.” I said, shyly.

“Then why are you going?” Her serious expression took me off guard. “What I mean is, don't force yourself to do something, your heart doesn't agree with.” she smiled. “Get ready and come down.” she said, walking away, leaving me thinking behind. She's right. Just because I want to get rid of the boys, it's wrong to lead Stefan on. What should I do? No matter how much I think, I couldn't cross the friend zone with him. I mean, I don't...Feel for him, the way he does. We are so similar but still, I can't find any chemistry with him.

God! What am I doing? After standing there for god knows how long, I decided to choose a simple dress to get ready. My mood was already spoiled by Aunt's million dollars question. After checking myself in the mirror, I walked out of the bedroom, towards the living room, where almost everyone was sitting and chatting. As soon as I let my presence known, all head turned towards me. I swear, someone mummered, 'its illegal to look that hot', followed my lots of throat clearing.

Being in the spot light, kind of made me uncomfortable. “Sis, you look awesome!” said Aaron smiling, walking towards me. Just when I was about to wave him away, uncle Roman came inside with a very handsome looking Stephen. “Hey, you look beautiful, Auro.” he smiled, offering me his hand. I felt eyes on us so, instead of avoiding his hand, I took it. Before I could say anything else, he dragged me towards the main door. “See you later guys!” was the only thing I could mutter, before going out of the house.  I heard a corous of “Have fun” in return.

“Slow down Stephan. Where are we rushing to anyways?” I asked holding him back. He turned around and gave me a toothy smile. “First, I'll take you to a beach view restaurant. Then I'll take you to a place, which is the surprise and then, if you're not very tired, I would take you to my favorite place.” he said, excitedly. “Ok...Lead the way.” I said laughing acwardly, trying to hide my panic. It is so wrong. How am I going to act normal when I'm not even willing to go on a date with him but, the way he is excited, It won't hurt to give him a chance right?

Sighing, I got into the passenger seat and decided to have atleast a friendly outing with him. It can't be that bad right? After we reached our destination, I found out, it was a Thai restaurant. “Ok, I never had Thai, so I have no idea what to order.” I said frankly. “Really? I thought...It's fine, we can go to some other place, you prefer.” he said, concerned. I suddenly felt bad for his efforts. I took a hold of his arm and pulled him inside. “Its no problem. It won't kill us to try something new. And I'm starving. Let's go.” his usual smile returned, and posture relaxed.

A waitress in Thai attire, welcomed us and offered the menu. I'm not sure which one to choose. Everything looked exotic. So, I let her suggest few dishes and they were really good, seriously. During dinner, we had small chats about, how his father, my professor was contributing in his upcoming hospital. He also offered me an internship in his own hospital hospital for the medicine department but, I refused saying that, I might have to think about it. “The offer is always on though.” he said, taking my hands. “Aurora?” here comes the acward questions.

“Umn...I know, you don't feel the same way for me like I do but, I would like you to consider me as a choice at least. I'm not saying, I'm the best match for you but... I'm not able to move on from you, Aurora. See, I'm not a selfish person Auro but, when you kept rejecting my approaches, I tried dating other women, which never worked. I couldn't leave you behind. I'm just too obsessed with you, I guess. Do I sound desperate to you?” he asked embarrassed.

I bit my lips, not able to answer any of his questions. Here I was about to give him a clear view of my mind but, he beat me to it, leaving me speechless. “Say something.” he said, squeezing my hands. “Umn... Stephen...I don't know, what to say, seriously. Can you give me some time please. I have never... Imagined you in that way. I don't know, if this would work.” I know, I'm breaking his heart but, It would be wrong to lead him on. “I understand” he said with a sad smile, gesturing for the waitress to get the bill. “Im sorry Stephen. I didn't want to mislead y...” he cut me mid sentence.

“Aurora, it's not your fault, it's mine. I was too hopeful, I guess.” he said, paying the bill in cash. “But, I'll not let our first or last date to go waste. I'll take you every where, as I planned. Who knows, maybe you'll change your mind.” he said, winking at me. “In your dreams, loser.” I teased him, laughing. “You wound me princess, you would me.” he faked it. Thank God it didn't go as bad as I thought. I asked him to drop me home but he was dead set on taking me to his favorite place. A pub? This is the last place, I wanted to come with him.

Stephan laughed when I made faces, taking my surrounding. “Don't tell me, it's your first time in a pub.” he said, dragging me through the horny couples, who were shamelessly making out with each other. Few were all over each other. It won't surprise me, if some dresses comes off. “Why the hell, did you bring me here?” ofcource, he can't hear me over the loud music. “comeon” he said dragging me to the dance floor. I shaked my head in denial. “Oh come on. Just for a little while ok?” he said in my ear.

I gave up finally and tried to let loose for a bit. How the hell people are able to see each other in this dim red light? I can't even make out Stephan's features clearly. “Do you want something to drink?”he asked me. I can handle one beer, I guess. “One beer” I said. “Dont move. Stay right here.” he said, disappearing into the crowd. I suddenly felt panicked, when he didn't come back for almost 10 minutes. Dwelling over, whether or not to go look for him, I started walking the same way, he went a few minutes ago.

But, it was useless. He was nowhere to be found. I thought, it would be best to message him and get the hell out of this suffocating place. After, sending an sms to Stephen, saying I would wait by his car, I started pushing past the sea of people to go out of the pub but, something got my attention. It must be a dilution or, I must be dreaming. Stephen was dancing with a girl in his arms, giving her neck open mouth kisses exploring her body, like he would fuck her right here right now.

“What the hell!” I yelled, as best as I can. The girl must be too much wasted to hear my voice but, Stephen came out of his lust filled stance. “Fuck” he mouthed, startled. Is this the same man, I was thinking is too perfect for me? Is this the same person, for whom my heart was aching too much, to hurt. How is it possible that, the only person I thought was better than the others, turns out to be the worst of them? Where did I go wrong in judging him? Or may be, it was all an act to begin with.

Rage replaced my hurt and before my mind could place, what was happening, I rewarded his face with a slap to release my anger and frustration. “Bloody men! All of them are bastards!” I concluded leaving him behind, to deal with his mess. I'm glad, I couldn't hear him, calling my name in this loud music. I ran out of the pub, with Stephen not far behind me. “Auro? Shit! Auro wait, please. Let me explain. She was my ex. I just... I'm sorry, she just jumped mup bones and took me off guard and I... I'm.. I'm really sorry, love. Let me drop you home, ok?” he said unlocking his car, somewhere a little far.

He thought, I was following him but before he could reach his car, I halt a taxi and told him my new home address. Just when, I was about to close the door, I saw Stephen rushing towards me in panic. I couldn't make his word but, he was trying to convince me, I guess. Sorry but  I don't date loosers. I didn't look back to see, how long he was running behind the cab but, at this moment, I don't fucking care.

What a disaster date?

Please vote if you like the chapter and your suggestions are always welcomed, please remember that. See you next week.❤️ chao.