She had just passed the refectory when Tom sighted her. He ran after her, calling out, “Amanda! Hey, Amanda, wait for me!”

Amanda stopped and turned to Tom.

“Hey,” she said, giving him a cute little side smile.

“Hey! I was wondering if you would be free this evening. I would like to buy us dinner.”

“Aw! What are we celebrating, Tom?” she asked.

He smiled. “Nothing much… at least nothing *out of the ordinary*. Just dinner.”

“Okay. What time?”

“I will pick you up at seven p.m. Deal?”

Deal! she replied.

See you at seven then.

Amanda turned back with that wild smile on her face. She had only walked a few miles when some guys kidnapped her. They took her to a place she had never been before. It looked more like a palace, its walls designed in white patterns, like embroidery in the making. There was a gigantic chandelier right in the middle of the hall’s pop ceiling. Everywhere was spotless and quiet.

She approached a guard and asked where she was, but received no reply. Suddenly, Mark came walking down the stairs with so much pride and confidence, feeling he must have impressed Amanda enough for her to fall for him without needing to repeat his proposal.

“Mark...? You sent those guys?” Amanda asked in a disappointed tone.

“Amanda! Hope they didn’t hurt you?” Mark asked pridefully.

“Mark, I have told you I am not interested. I love Tom, and there is nothing you can do about that.”

“Amanda, please... give me a chance to show you how much I love you,” Mark pleaded.

“I told you already, I am in love with Tom,” Amanda replied.

Just then, Mark’s parents walked in and asked what was going on. Amanda told them  the whole story, and Mark was reprimanded by his parents. They apologized to Amanda and arranged for a cab to take her home.

![](https://images.ecency.com/DQmZSBsCeDYq4EPxEF29Q1CXYzRTgGDj2b5coM13nZpkaq1/1750024003175.jpg)

It was past seven p.m. already, and Tom was waiting patiently at the restaurant. Amanda quickly showered and dressed up. She told herself, *It’s better to be late than absent.* When she got to the restaurant, she apologized for coming late and told Tom everything that had happened.

Although Tom was so upset , he promised Amanda that he would deal with Mark for kidnapping her.


## All images are mine.
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