Chapter 93: The Art of flirting (Poorly)

"Hello,"

Della had bent over to pick up something when the voice called unto her unexpectedly.

Slowly, she looked up and looked at the face. The body was that of a man’s, but he was standing directly behind the sun, making dark shadows fall on his face.

She squinted her eyes to get a better look at him, "Pardon me," She said, straightening till she was on both feet again.

Staring back at her was a man with light brown eyes, short hair and a smile that could make the world trip on its feet.

Darren. Their neighbour.

"Oh, it’s you," She tried to smile at him, but her lips only tweaked at one corner before falling back to its usual position.

"Didn’t recognise me?" He almost sounded like he was teasing.

"Yes," She nodded.

"I changed overnight?"

"The sun was blinding for a moment," She replied, then looked around the busy market around her.

She’d come here with Annelise, but from the looks of it, the healer had wandered somewhere else. Della’s eyes kept scanning around for her friend while she asked, "I’m assuming you’re here to buy things, right?"

The moment the question came out, she wanted to kick herself on the face.

What else would he come to do at the market?!

Darren simply stared at her.

"Or you came to sell,"

Now she was really sounding stupid, and Darren looked like he was trying his best to hold back so much laughter.

"Sorry," She finally muttered, too embarrassed to look at his face again.

"Don’t apologise,"

Della looked back at him. "I wasn’t apologising because you were offended."

"Oh?"

"I was apologising because I asked a very obvious question."

A grin spread across Darren’s face. "That somehow makes it worse."

"It does?"

"It does."

She frowned thoughtfully. "I’ll keep that in mind."

"I don’t think you will."

"I probably won’t."

He laughed, a genuine laugh that made a few people glance their way, "You know," he said, "Annelise was right."

"About what?" Della blinked.

"She said you’re different."

"Different?"

"In a good way." He rubbed the back of his neck. "Most people would argue with me by now."

"I don’t think there was anything to argue about."

"There wasn’t."

"Then why would I?"

He opened his mouth, paused, then chuckled to himself.

She’s impossible.

"So..." he tried again, falling into step beside her as they wandered between the stalls. More like she was trying to get away from him, but he followed her, "How are you settling in?"

"It’s peaceful."

"Just peaceful?"

She glanced around at the market. Children chased one another between baskets of fruit, and an old woman was arguing with a fish seller over two coins. Someone nearby was burning sweet bread.

"...Very peaceful."

"I’ll take that."

A comfortable silence settled between them, then Darren stole another glance at her, "You know..." He drew, his accent quite musical.

"Hm?"

"I’ve been trying to find an excuse to talk to you for days."

She stopped walking, and looked up at him, "Why?"

His confidence almost faltered under the genuine confusion on her face, "Because I wanted to."

"Oh."

"That’s all you’ve got?"

She stared at his face for a moment, wondering if she was supposed to say something else. It did seem like he was expecting something else from her, so she added a "Thank you,"

He stared at her in disbelief, "You thanked me?"

"You said you wanted to talk to me."

"I did."

"So... thank you."

He burst out laughing again, louder this time.

"What?" She asked, genuinely confused by now.

Has it always been this difficult for wolves to understand humans? Or was it just because this was all weird to her?! Speaking to someone that looked at her like he was just staring at someone else — and not a damned creature.

"You have no idea I’m flirting with you, do you?"

"Flirting?" Della tilted her head.

"Yes."

She thought about it for several seconds, "I thought you were just...talking."

"I am talking."

"Then what makes it flirting?"

"The fact that I’m hoping you’ll like me."

Another pause, then she answered, "I already do."

"You...what?" His eyebrows shot up.

"I think you’re kind." She said it so matter-of-factly that Darren’s heart skipped before immediately crashing back to earth, "As a person and as a neighbour," she added.

"Ah." The music in his voice fell.

"You look disappointed." She noticed.

"I was hiding it."

"You weren’t."

"I know."

She studied him for another moment, then she casually said, "I think humans are very honest."

Darren didn’t know who she really was, and neither did he know of Annelise’s true identity too, so that remark from Della had him faltering two steps, making her also stop and look at him.

The moment she saw the look on his face, she immediately understood she’d said something out of line and quickly corrected herself, "I mean, I grew up with literally no one. I’ve barely communicated with many people aside myself,"

Terrible save. Hopefully, he would buy it.

"How many people have you met before, Della?" He questioned as they began walking together again.

"I’ve met nine."

"You actually counted?" Another brow shot up.

"I count everything."

"Why?"

"It helps me think."

He shook his head, smiling helplessly, "I swear, Della... every conversation with you goes somewhere I never expect."

"I’m sorry."

"You apologise a lot, too,"

She didn’t argue with that. It’s sort of become a habit she was trying to curb.

"Next time I apologise, I owe you one load of bread." Della said.

"What?"

"A fine for apologising."

"You’re making up rules." He smiled, shaking his head again.

"To help me out of my habit of apologising all the time,"

"I don’t think that’s legal." He chuckled.

"I don’t think anyone’s going to arrest me around here,"

Before he could answer, a familiar voice called from across the market, "Della!"

Both of them turned. Annelise stood near a vegetable stall, one hand on her hip and the other holding two baskets, "There you are! I’ve been looking everywhere!"

Annelise looked up at the man standing next to her, "Oh, Good afternoon Darren,"

"Hi, neighbour," He greeted.

Della immediately walked towards Annelise without another thought, like she had been dying to leave him all this time — which was true.

Darren watched her go, then sighed to himself, "I don’t even think she realised I was trying."

An elderly fruit seller, who had witnessed the entire exchange, snorted, "Son..." He called.

Darren looked over.

"You’ve got a long road ahead of you."

Annelise quickly linked her hands together with Della as they both walked away.

"What were you guys talking about?!" Annelise was smiling stupidly, "God, did you see the way he was looking at you?!"

"Anne," Della groaned, "Don’t ever leave me alone!"