When Blood Turns Cold

It was Saturday, and Emerald finally woke up at noon. She stretched lazily, her arm brushing against her phone on the bedside table. Grabbing it, she squinted at the screen as the first notification lit up—a message from Amy.

[Hey girl, I had to meet someone. In case you're wondering, it's work-related. See you when you're back from your date 😉.]

Emerald let out a long, exasperated sigh. 'Why can't Amy get it through her head that this is NOT a date? Ugh!' She tossed her phone onto the bed with a huff, staring at the ceiling as if it held the answers to Amy's relentless teasing.

Shaking off her irritation, she finally dragged herself out of bed and headed for the shower. The warm water felt like a small reset, washing away her morning grumpiness. Afterward, she pampered herself with a hydrating face mask—part self-care, part battle plan against acne. While waiting for the mask to work its magic, she tidied up her room, making it look more like a haven and less like a battlefield.

By the time she peeled off the mask, her stomach was growling. Lunch was quick but satisfying, and with a renewed sense of purpose, she sat down to tackle her students' homework. Sorting through their scribbled answers and doodles in the margins, she couldn't help but smile now and then—her students always surprised her.

Before she knew it, the clock was inching closer to when she was supposed to meet David. Emerald glanced at the time and felt a flutter of nerves creep in. 'This is so silly. Why am I nervous?' she thought, shaking her head as she opened her wardrobe.

After some deliberation, she picked out a knee-length purple dress with off-shoulder sleeves. The fabric hugged her gently, flowing elegantly as she moved. She paired it with white heels that added a touch of sophistication and a delicate necklace that rested lightly on her collarbone.

Deciding to embrace her natural beauty, Emerald kept her makeup minimal—just a dab of sunscreen to shield her skin from the lingering sun, and a swipe of glossy lip balm for a subtle shine. As she spritzed on her favorite perfume, her phone buzzed on the dresser.

It was David. [Hey, I'm here.]

Emerald felt her heartbeat quicken as she finished tidying up. She grabbed her handbag, gave herself one last look in the mirror, and headed downstairs to the parking lot. The warm sunlight greeted her as she stepped outside, her heels clicking softly against the pavement.

Emerald opened the front passenger door and slipped into the seat, her dress settling gracefully as she adjusted her bag. "I hope I didn't keep you waiting," she said with a warm smile.

To her surprise, David smiled back, his eyes soft. "Not at all," he replied, his tone easy and sincere. With that, they drove off into the golden hues of the late afternoon.

The sun was just beginning to set, casting a warm, amber glow over everything it touched. When its light reflected off Emerald's face, it seemed to enhance her natural beauty, giving her an almost ethereal glow. David couldn't help but steal glances at her through the side mirror, his grip on the wheel loosening as he got momentarily lost in the sight of her.

Emerald, however, was oblivious to his lingering looks. She was too engrossed in her phone, scrolling through messages and notifications, unaware of the quiet admiration radiating from the driver's seat.

Suddenly, Emerald put her phone down and turned to look at him. As if by some unseen cue, David also turned his head, and their eyes met. For a moment, the world seemed to pause, the quiet hum of the car the only sound between them. Emerald's gaze was steady, curious, while David quickly turned his attention back to the road, his fingers tightening on the steering wheel. He couldn't help but swallow nervously, his heart skipping a beat.

Emerald, however, remained completely unfazed. "So, where are you taking me?" she asked her tone light but laced with curiosity as her eyes stayed on him.

David's pulse quickened. 'Why can't she focus ahead?' he thought, the weight of her gaze making his hands feel clammy. He managed a small smile, keeping his eyes fixed on the road. "It wouldn't be a surprise if I told you," he replied, his voice betraying just a hint of unease.

"Alright, I'll find out anyway. What's with the surprise?" Emerald said, rolling her eyes playfully as she reached for her phone again.

David breathed a quiet sigh of relief, his shoulders relaxing ever so slightly. For a moment, he had felt like he was under a spotlight, and now that it was gone, he could finally focus on the road without his nerves betraying him.

The rest of the drive was wrapped in an unusual silence. David's hands stayed steady on the wheel, but his eyes couldn't help flicking toward Emerald now and then. Meanwhile, she remained absorbed in her phone, scrolling and typing with an air of calm that only made him more curious about what held her attention.

Finally, the car came to a smooth stop in front of a villa. The place stood tall and elegant, its soft, golden lights glowing against the deepening dusk.

Emerald lifted her head, her attention drawn to the grand entrance. Her brows furrowed slightly as she took in the view, curiosity flickering in her eyes. Turning back to David, she found him already looking at her, his gaze unwavering.

"What?" she asked, her tone a mix of curiosity and amusement.

David straightened in his seat and smiled. "Come, let's go in," he said, his voice carrying a hint of excitement as he opened his door.

They walked through the gates of the villa, the soft crunch of gravel beneath their feet breaking the stillness. The place had a quiet charm, with perfectly trimmed hedges and soft lights illuminating the path. It was clear the villa was well cared for, every detail meticulously maintained.

At the main door, David stopped and quickly typed in a code on the keypad. With a soft click, the lock released, and the door swung open. He turned to face Emerald, a wide grin spreading across his face.

"Surprise!" he said, his arms slightly outstretched as if expecting a grand reaction.

Emerald stood frozen, staring at him like he had suddenly grown a second head. "Huh?" she finally said, her tone flat and utterly unimpressed.

David's smile faltered at her confused expression, and for a moment, he wondered if he had somehow misread the situation. But then he took a deep breath, stepped closer, and held out his hand.

"Emerald," he said, his voice softer now, almost a little nervous. "There's a reason I brought you here tonight."

Emerald raised an eyebrow, glancing between him and the villa, her curiosity piqued but her guard still up. "Uh-huh. And what's that?"

David swallowed, the weight of his next words heavy on his tongue. He stepped back slightly, pulling something from his pocket—a small velvet box.

David opened the box slowly, revealing a thin, delicate bracelet made of gold, the kind that shimmered with every subtle movement. The intricate design of the bracelet looked simple yet elegant.

He took a deep breath, his fingers trembling slightly as he held the box out to her. "Emerald," he said, his voice steady but tinged with nervous excitement. "Will you be my girlfriend?"

Emerald's eyes widened as she looked from the bracelet back to him. The question hung in the air between them, and she could feel the weight of it pressing down on her. For a long moment, she said nothing, just staring at him with a mix of confusion and hesitation.

Her thoughts were swirling. What is he thinking? she wondered, glancing at the beautiful bracelet. It was a gesture that felt so serious, and yet, she didn't feel ready for what it implied.

"David..." she finally spoke, her voice hesitant. "I don't know what to say."

David's smile faltered, just slightly, but he tried to remain hopeful. "You don't have to say yes right away," he replied gently, his tone soft but sincere. "I just wanted you to know how much I care about you. I want to be with you, and I want you to be a part of my life. But... I understand if you need time to think about it."

Emerald looked down at the bracelet, her fingers lingering just above the box but not quite touching it. This is a lot, she thought, her chest tightening. It wasn't that she didn't care about David; she did. But was she ready to take that step?

"I... I don't know, David," she said, her voice quieter now. "I don't want to rush into something just because you're asking. I need more time to figure things out, to understand what I really want." She met his eyes, her expression softening. "It's not that I don't like you. I just... I can't promise anything right now."

David nodded slowly, a fleeting look of disappointment crossing his face, though he quickly masked it. "I understand," he said, his tone steady. "But that doesn't mean you can't learn on the job." He then retrieved the bracelet, gently taking her wrist and fastening it on her. "I can assure you that you won't regret this decision."

Before she could protest, he added, "I want you to be the owner of this villa," offering a reassuring smile. "Let's go take a tour," he suggested, gently pulling her along as he led the way, his confidence evident in every step.

Emerald followed David's lead as they toured the villa, trying her best not to break the mood. Once the tour was over, they settled at the dining table, where the housemaid quickly set the table with dinner.

"This is so awkward," Emerald said, feeling the weight of David's doting gaze on her.

David smiled warmly. "Don't worry, you'll get used to it," he replied, his tone light and reassuring.

Emerald couldn't help but ask, "So, you've been planning this for a long time, huh?"

David leaned back, a slight chuckle in his voice. "Not long, actually," he said. "From the day I saw you at the parent-teacher meeting."

Emerald laughed out loud this time, the sound genuine and carefree. David raised a brow, a hint of curiosity in his expression. "What?" he asked, his voice laced with amusement.

Emerald shook her head, still chuckling. "I just didn't expect you to say that. You're full of surprises, aren't you?" she teased, her smile softening as she met his gaze.