Chapter Thirteen

AVON must be really starving. She finished her veggie salad in just a few minutes. Now, she was at his kitchen, carrying the empty bowl that she laid down on the sink.

“You finished it already?” Roeden asked the obvious and smiled.

“Mm-hmm…” Avon nodded and leaned against the kitchen counter. “What are you cooking over there?”

He gave her a side-way glance. “Chap-steak.”

“Is that beef?” Avon sniffed.

“Yeah.”

“Oh… beef. I love beef!” she said cheerfully. Avon almost reminded him of a kid. Then, she sauntered towards the fridge and opened it. “Do you have chili paste?”

“None,” Roeden replied without looking at her. He was busy stirring the meat in the pan.

“How about chili powder? That will do. You have spring onion here. I’m going to make a fresh spring onion kimchi.”

She went to the sink and washed the spring onions.

“You’re so obsessed with kimchi,” Roeden remarked. He lowered the heat and strode to the cupboard to get the chili powder.

“This is the result of watching Korean dramas for a decade,” she said, laughing.

“What’s with those Korean dramas that made you so addicted watching them?” He picked up the spatula and went back to cooking.

“Those guys remind me of you,” Avon said without hesitation. “Now I have Park Seo Joon, Song Joong Ki, Lee Joon Gi, and ninety-nine others. Ah, there are so many of them. This is all your fault.”

Roeden suddenly halted from what he was doing and turned in her direction.

“And why are you blaming me?” His eyes were almost closed, but he could still see her at that rate.

“Because my obsession with them started with you.” She grinned from ear to ear.

Yeah, right. Roeden has almond-shaped eyes, and he got them from his mother. But they were pure-blooded Filipinos.

“So, does it mean that I’m your first crush?” His heart suddenly beat fasts with that thought.

“Ah, no.” She shook her head exaggeratedly. “My first crush is someone from my elementary days.” The grin never left her face.

His forehead knotted. “What’s my rank then?”

Avon cocked her head to the side. “I think you’re seventh in rank.”

Roeden cupped his forehead. “You have a lot of crushes, and you’re not even sure about my place.”

“And still counting.” She laughed out loud and then suddenly stopped. “Come to think of it. You ranked seventh on my list of crushes, but you are my first love. And I think you are my last because my heart only wants you.” Avon made a finger heart sign. “Roeden-a, saranghae!”

Roeden had no idea how to respond to that. His heart was beating like crazy, and it seemed that there was no way to calm it. It felt like his heart was going to burst any minute now. He was glad to know that Avon loves him still, but he was scared at the same time. Scared because he did not know where that love could take them. Roeden was one of those jerks that ever walked on the planet because he was so afraid to be consumed by his emotions.

“You have nothing to say again…” Avon said somberly. “It’s okay. At least, I was able to tell you.” Her shoulders dropped.

SHE was on the verge of crying, so she turned her back on him and resumed what she was doing a while ago. Avon told him what she felt towards him for the nth time, and she thought she was brave enough to accept whatever his reaction may be. But she was wrong. Until now, she still could not stand the pain of that unrequited love. But it was ironic how she managed to overcome that pain over and over again. How she wished she could read his mind that very moment. She wanted to find at least a little hope or even a hint to stop right there. Avon did not know what to do now. It looked like she was back in elementary whenever she tried to decode Roeden’s heart. All she could do now is to blame destiny. Why did they have to meet again? Why did she even let herself fall for him? She was slowly regretting that she accepted the friendship he offered back then…

But regardless of how things turned out now, it was too late. Avon could not turn back time to undo the desires of her heart.

Dear fate, I already suffered a major heartache back in the days. I just wanna be happy. If you grant me happiness this time, I won’t argue with you anymore.

Soon, Roeden finished cooking, and she finished making her spring onion kimchi just right in time. They set the table together and ate in silence. No one dared to break it. It seemed that both of them knew that talking about matters of the heart over dinner would make them lose their appetites. Which was good because filling her empty stomach was her top priority at the moment.

Then, his phone rang, finally breaking the silence between them. Roeden finished his meal and excused himself to answer the call. And now that she was alone at the table, she decided to finish her meal and clean the kitchen. Somehow, doing the chore helped Avon cleared her mind.

Roeden was done talking to the caller when she went to the living room. He slipped his hand holding the phone inside his pocket and turned in her direction. That simple movement that he made already made her heart skip a beat. Ah… How can she ever move on with her feelings for him at this rate? If only she could sue him for that.

“I only have one bedroom here. You can use that,” he told her with a half-smile. She wondered where the other half has gone to.

“H-how about you?”

“I’ll sleep here in the living room.”

“Okay,” she said agreeably. Avon knew that if she insists on sleeping in the living room, that will only result in a heated argument, and she did not have the energy to do that anymore.

“You don’t have clothes to change into.” Roeden sauntered towards the bedroom door and opened it for her.

“I only have a spare shirt with me.” She thought she could go home, but the rain poured hard as if it was cursing her.

“I can lend you my clothes. You can choose whatever you want to wear.”

Thank you.” She grabbed her backpack sitting on the sofa and walked past him. She was about to close the door when Roeden stopped her. “Why?”

“Mama left a few pairs of new underwear last month when she flew back abroad. I think you have the same size. It’s on the bottom drawer,” he said and pulled the door close.

She cupped her cheeks when she suddenly felt them burning.

“God, Roeden… what are you doing to me?” she mumbled as she strode towards the bed, where she laid her bag. Then, she headed to his cabinet.

She immediately found the underwear he was talking about. And since she already has a shirt, she just burrowed one of his boxer shorts and grabbed a clean bath towel from the pile on his cabinet.

Roeden was doing something on his laptop when she walked past him in the living room, going to the bathroom. He did not even notice her.

“Darn, even his bathroom is so clean…” she said as she put the clean clothes on the rack just outside the shower cubicle.

Avon was taking off her clothes when she heard a knock on the door.

“What?” she exclaimed. She opened the door and hid behind it. “Have you decided to join me in the shower?”

Roeden flicked her forehead. “Naughty.”

He waved an unused toothbrush in front of her face that she immediately grabbed from him before shutting the door. Did he intentionally give her the toothbrush when she was already inside the bathroom? Nah, maybe she was the only one thinking that way.

Avon threw the toothbrush on the sink and took off her remaining clothes.

“I should take a bath now to clear my mind.”

She stepped inside the cubicle and reached the shower knob. Warm water splashed on her face and body the moment she opened it.

“Mmm… feels good…”

Avon happily hummed her favorite song as she bathed herself in Roeden’s soap and shampoo. She wondered how she could fall asleep now that his scent lingered on her body. Her thoughts suddenly made her feel warmer, and she knew the reason why. Avon had to adjust the water temperature to cold to help her cool down.

“Damn it…”

It was wrong. She should not feel that way. Not now…

She cut her shower time short and dried her hair and body. Wrapping the towel on her hair, she stepped out of the cubicle and donned her clothes.