Chapter 18: Chapter Seventeen

“IF THIS is okay with you, then my team will continue with the project as planned,” Roeden told her publisher.

Sir Nate just nodded agreeably and turned in her direction afterwards. “What can you say, Ara?”

She shook her head in response. For years, Avon learned to trust Roeden in everything.

“How will you be able to comment when you did not understand anything that we talked about? You are just sitting there, biting your straw, and spacing out as you stared at Mr. De Leon.” Sir Nate turned to Roeden again. “Please bear with her, Mr. De Leon. Perhaps this is the first time since forever Ara saw a male specie as gorgeous as you. You don’t need to worry, though. I can assure you that she’s vaccinated. However, I cannot guarantee that she won’t bite you.”

Avon almost spilled the coffee inside her mouth. She knew her publisher was teasing her. It was his character since the first day they met in the publishing house.

“Sir Nate…” she groaned. “That’s slander, you know?”

“Well, I don’t think of it that way. It seems to me that your publisher is just stating a fact,” Roeden teased.

She turned to him abruptly and scowled at him.

The two both laughed.

“Anyway, just keep me updated, Mr. De Leon,” Sir Nate said as he collected his belongings from the table. “I need to head back to my office now. I still have a meeting with the editorial department.” He rose from his seat.

Roeden smiled at him. “Sure. And if you have questions or suggestions, feel free to ask me, Mr. Sandejas.”

“Thank you. `Bye to you two.” Her publisher waved his hand on them and left the coffee shop.

After Sir Nate left, Roeden immediately transferred to the seat beside her.

“Avon…” He sounded cautious, and she did not know why he had to sound like that.

“Why?” she asked and turned in his direction with a knot on her forehead.

His gaze reverted to the infamous Kismet Wall. Avon already had a hunch about what was going to happen next.

“Remove that sticky note that you pasted on the wall. It has my name, and it’s kinda scandalous—”

“No,” she cut him off.

“And why?” His brow arched. “Remove it if you still have decency left in your—” She cupped his cheeks and pressed them tightly, making him look like a fish. “Hey, stop it.”

“Sorry, my love. But no matter what you say, I won’t remove that sticky note.”

He caught her wrists and took her hands away from him. They had a staring game for a couple of seconds before Roeden stood up and sauntered towards the wishing wall. She did not need to ask what he was about to do. It was clear that if she would not do it, then he will. Avon left her seat and followed him.

She stood between Roeden and the innocent Kismet Wall. There was this voice at the back of her head that tells her to protect the wall and her wish. And if she was persistent in protecting it, Roeden was determined to take it away. They were almost playing patintero in front of the wishing wall. Because of that, they caught the other customers’ attention.

“You are not allowed to remove that sticky note. That’s my wish, not yours!” she snapped.

“Yeah, that’s not mine, but it has something to do with me. Get out of my way, Avon.” He pushed her to the side.

She suddenly plopped down on the floor and clutched on his leg, causing a scene that will definitely drive him away from the Kismet Wall.

“What are you doing?” he asked through gritted teeth. “Stand up.”

“I won’t stand up until you leave my wish in peace,” she said and held onto his leg tightly.

He heaved a deep sigh. “Fine, I’ll leave it alone. Happy now?”

She raised her head and beamed at him. Roeden helped her stand up and ushered her back to their table.

“There are tens of wishes that you could have written there, but you chose to write that one. Why, Avon, why?” Roeden shook his head, picked his cup of now cold coffee, and took a sip.

“I wrote it out of fun,” she said nonchalantly.

“I don’t believe you.” He scoffed. “I know you, Avon. I know you more than you know yourself. You wouldn’t make such wish just for fun. You’re the type of person who always voices out her wants.”

“I guess I couldn’t hide anything from you anymore, Mr. De Leon.” She looked away. “Once upon a time, I thought it would be nice. I want a remembrance from you.”

“You’re crazy. What you want isn’t a remembrance but a big responsibility.”

She leaned her head on his shoulder and caressed his chest. “`Love you too!”

“But seriously, you should remove it, Avon. What you did was malicious.” He patted her knuckles. “I can bear with your antics but not on this one. I prefer to keep that in private.”

“The owner won’t let me remove the sticky note unless my wish is granted. So, if you want that sticky note out of that wishing wall, you better get me pregnant as soon as possible.”

Avon wanted to burst into laughter when she saw Roeden’s eyes grew wider. His neck, ears, and cheeks were burning red.

“Do you think it’s easy to produce a baby?” He flicked her forehead.

“Shall we eat ramyeon at your place tonight?” She winked.

“And now you’re suddenly craving for—”

“Nope. In Korean drama culture, when someone invites you to eat ramyeon at her place, she’s inviting you to… you know. So, I’m telling you to make love to me in a decent way—”

Roeden covered her mouth. “Lord, what have I done in my past life?”

Two months later…

ROEDEN was not surprised to see Avon lying on the sofa when he went inside his home. She was watching her new favorite Korean drama series that aired recently. She was too enthralled. She did not even notice him. So, he prowled towards the back of the sofa and covered her eyes.

Damn it, Roeden, they’re about to kiss!” she exclaimed as she removed his hands.

“How long do you plan to stay here?” He sat on the armrest.

“Why? Are you kicking me out?” she said with pouted lips.

Avon had been staying with him for a month now. She did not have any intention to seduce him so that she could get pregnant. She said she found her muse in his home, and she will stay until she finished her manuscript.

“It’s not like that.”

He picked the remote control and turned off the television. She turned to him with blazing eyes. That was supposed to scare Roeden if he was not used to it. She was looking at her as if she wanted to eat him alive.

“Are you nuts? I’m watching—”

“I need to tell you something.”

Her expression changed. “What?”

“I’m flying to Singapore next week. Business as usual.”

“You’re leaving me,” she said somberly.

“I’ll be back after a week. You can go with me if you want.”

“You know I can’t. I have to finish my manuscript. If I don’t submit it by the end of the month, my contract might get terminated, and that’s bad news.” Avon sighed. “I’m going to miss you, my love.”

She pulled him down on the sofa and crawled up to his lap. Avon sat there and buried her face on his neck, sniffing his scent.

“I haven’t showered.”

“I don’t care.”

He laughed. Lately, it became her habit to sniff him whenever she has the time. And Avon did not care at all whether he showered or not.