Love Beyond Love

Chapter 23

EDITED

"Huh, everyone calls me...Ali because of...my last name, Alexander." Sonia replied slowly. "Because Sonia doesn't...really have a short form, except maybe Sonny which...I absolutely don't like."

"Hmm." Drago nodded and put the gift back and Sonia sighed in relief. "So, you didn't go to the site because you must have been celebrating with your friends."

"No." She shook her head as she started to take out two cups from a cupboard. "I had a few meetings today, that's why I didn't go to the site."

"So, you didn't celebrate at all?" He frowned and leaned on the wall with crossed arms.

"I really don't have anyone here, do I?" She chuckled and took out the coffee beans.

"Oh." He said. "I would like to celebrate it with you." He said slowly.

"Sorry?" She asked, looking at him.

"If you want, we can...go for dinner." He said and gulped, all the while wondering Where is this coming from?

"That's sweet of you but it's quite late now." She said and looked down, trying to open the coffee bag.

"It's seven-thirty pm." He said, showing her the time on his phone. "Come on, let's go."

"I am not really dressed-

"We are in your home. You have clothes here, don't you?" He interrupted with a smirk.

Sonia looked at Drago and blinked, trying to find an excuse. Could she go to dinner with him? The last time it was okay because she was hungry and he had offered so nicely...which was exactly like right now. She sighed as he stared at her.

"I'll get dressed but no fancy place please." She said and his face broke into a smile which gave her butterflies of all sorts in her stomach.

"I'll wait outside." He said and she nodded slowly.

As soon as he walked out, she went to the washroom to quickly wash her face and comb her hair straight. Walking up to the closet, she took out a plain white blouse and a pretty off-white skirt which had a black, olive green and maroon flower pattern printed on it. Changing into the clothes, she put on some black, ankle-length boots and walked up to the dressing-table to apply some minimal makeup, to at least look presentable on her birthday. A black eyeliner, some blush and a soft, pink lip-gloss, she felt quite dressed up to go on a dinner.

Looking at the time, she felt proud of herself as she had taken hardly fifteen minutes. Taking her phone and bag, she put the keys to her apartment in her skirt-pocket after locking the door before walking down to meet Drago.

Drago heard the jingle of Sonia's keys and looked up to see her locking her door. He felt his hands go clammy as she walked down the stairs, looking so lovely in her simple choice of outfit that he felt his throat dry up.

He shook his head in confusion and licked his dry lips as she reached the car.

"You look...really good." He said and she smiled. He couldn't tell if the pink tint on her cheeks was her blushing or her makeup. Either way, it gave him butterflies like never before.

"Sorry to make you wait." She said, standing there awkwardly.

"No, not at all." He shook his head. "Let's go, shall we?"

She nodded and they sat in the car.

"So, where would you like to go?" He asked as they put on their seatbelts.

"I...don't know." Sonia said, looking at him.

"Well, we can go anywhere you like." He said and looked at her.

"Um, I don't know much about this place. But you do." She replied and he chuckled.

"I definitely do." He said and started the car with a exciting expression on his face.

--

"An all you can eat buffet?" Sonia said as he stopped the car in front of a small restaurant.

"This place has great food, trust me I used to come here all the time with my friends in high-school." He said with eagerness.

"And when was that?" She asked as they got down.

"Many years ago." He chuckled. "I am coming here after almost ten years."

"Really? Why after such a long time?" She asked surprised, genuinely interested in this conversation now.

"Well, after high school, I went to study abroad for a few years. Then, I came back here and joined the business. It has kept me very, very busy since. Although, I live here, I hardly have time to enjoy this beautiful place." Drago shrugged and smiled.

"I can relate." She said softly and he looked at her.

"Can you?" He asked and she nodded.

"It seems like forever since I have spent some quality time in my hometown. I grew up there, completed my education there but because of my work, I don't have time to actually live there. Don't take me wrong, I love what I do, I love travelling, I love the faces of those kids when I show them their new house but once in a while, I would love to just stay with my family for more than a few weeks, have some quiet dinners, talk some girly stuff with my Mom, fight with my sister, go grocery shopping with my Dad and maybe- you know what I am trying to say?" She rambled and sighed.

"I understand." Drago nodded.

"Anyways." She said and stood straight. "Let's go and eat and celebrate my birthday!"

"Please!" He chuckled and they finally walked inside.

After paying the asked amount, they walked into the hall and Sonia suddenly felt excited like a little kid as she looked at the display of various dishes on a very long table. There were cheeses and pastas and soups and vegetable and meats and breads of all types. And she almost squealed when she saw that a table was solely set aside just for desserts.

Drago almost laughed as he saw the childlike wonder in Sonia's eyes and controlled his own excitement as the familiar aromas filled him after all these years.

"Drago?" A voice called him and he looked back at the source.

"Thomas!" Drago looked at the owner of the restaurant with surprise and a smile.

"Oh my, it is you! It's been a decade, where have you been!" Thomas, a man in his sixties, laughed loudly and hugged Drago.

"Been very busy." Drago replied as he hugged him back.

"Yes, too busy making money to visit my humble place?" Thomas grumbled.

"That's not-

"I know; I am just joking with you! Well, how come you are here all of a sudden?" Thomas asked, the smile stuck on his face.

"They even have wines here!" Sonia exclaimed quite loudly, and Drago chuckled at her enthusiasm before looking back to Thomas.

"I'm sorry." She said quickly as soon as she saw Drago had company. "I'm just...a little too excited."

"It's okay, we are used to this." Thomas said with a smile, shaking his head. "Many tourists have a similar reaction as you."

"She's not a tourist." Drago replied quickly. "She's with...me."

"Really?" Thomas smiled more widely now. "You got yourself an American girlfriend!?" 

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I do not own the picture. Credit goes to owner.