CHAPTER 17: BONDING

It’s Saturday and Rev decided to stay at home to keep me company so that I won’t get bored. It’s been few weeks since he brought me here and quite honestly, it’s starting to get boring being holed inside. I told him that I will look for a job the next Monday and he agreed. He even offered me a job at his office but I declined. I don’t want to abuse his kindness and I still have a little pride left.

I was sitting in the dining area, holding a book I like, when I heard the strumming of the guitar. I looked up and saw Rev. He took the chair across me, looking like he plans to play the guitar. I rolled my eyes at him while he grinned at me.

How can I concentrate with my reading if a yummy existence will play a guitar directly in front of me? I keep on lifting my eyes to look at him, and he kept on smiling seductively at me that I find it hard to breathe normally. My heart beats quicker and my pulses are racing whenever I glanced at his mischievous lips.

“The end is coming. What will you do with the time you have left?”

“You saying anything?” he asked.

“The end is coming. What will you do with the time you have left?”

“What do you mean?”

I did not answer hi, I just kept on reading the line in the book that I am reading. I just cannot follow the story anymore. Aaarrrgggh!

Rev started strumming again. And then I heard his voice.

“Why is it that when I look at you, I am melting?

Why is it that when you come near, my heart beats like thunder?”

His voice sounds good, I think I am the one melting here, and my loud heart beat deafens me. I stared at Rev, he looks back at me with a hint of a smile in his lips.

“Why is it that when you are here, my day becomes a bliss?

Everything about my world becomes peaceful.

Why is it that when I look at you, I am floating in clouds

Why is it when I talk to you, I am stammering

Why is it that when you are here I am going insane?

My heart is going crazy in happiness.”

I closed the book I was reading on placed it on top of the dining table. First time for me to put down a book, especially one that was written by my favorite author.

“With your glance you caught me

Everything seems like a miracle

With just one glance you attracted me

My heart became filled with hope

With just one glance I knew

How good it is to live with all these colors

With one glance from you, I am fine

With one glance, you made me fall in love.”

I joined him and sang the next verse.

“Why is it that when I’m with you my world changes?

Why is it that when you’re with me, my heart is invigorated?

Why is it that when you are here my problems just dissolve,

You are my hope and my happiness.”

“That was cheesy!” I joked and hit his arm.

We laughed at ourselves.

And then he started another song. The one we used to play when he was teaching me how to use the guitar. It was hard to learn because I was always so conscious of his arms around me every time.

The song was ‘Is it Okay If I Call You Mine?’ by Paul McCrane. Is he telling me something?

I suppressed my gasp as I saw Rev staring at me with soulful eyes. His eyes are expressing something that I’m afraid to acknowledge. How should I react in front of him?

We were both quiet for a while after he finished singing. Then I took the guitar from his hand.

“I’ll show you I also learned the guitar.” I tried strumming playfully, trying to brush aside other thoughts. If he was sending me a cryptic message, I do not want to acknowledge it. No. Not when Auntie Eva’s face is hovering in my thoughts.

Disappointment briefly flashed in Rev’s face, but I am not sure. Maybe I’m only assuming things? Maybe, he’s not really telling me anything.

I started strumming the intro to Jason Mraz’ ‘I’m Yours’.

I cannot acknowledge him expressly, because I cannot blatantly cheat on Auntie Eva. But maybe I can tell him my answer in my own cryptic way, if this is cryptic at all. But atleast, if it goes down to that, I can reason that I was just singing.

Half-way through the song, I stopped. His gaze burns my skin and my fingers started losing its strength.

I froze when he suddenly, without any words, pressed his lips onto mine. Not the deep, wet kiss we shared many nights ago. He just simple let his lips touch mine. Before I can react, he pulled away and took the guitar from me.

“Let’s get lunch,” he said and put the guitar down on one side, then he pulled me up.

We prepared lunch together. He cooked earlier so all we needed to do was prepare the table.

“I have a story,” I told him when we started eating.

“What’s that?” he looked at me.

“There are two birds standing on a branch of a tree. They are Repit and Repat. Repat flew away. Who was left behind?”

“Is that a joke? Give me a cue when to laugh,” he said.

“Tch! We’re moral support for my effort??”

“I have a question.”

I raised my eyebrow but he continued.

“What do you call a fortunate guy?”

“What?” I asked.

“Lucky me with egg!” he said referring to a local noodle brand, and then laughed at his own joke.

I gave him a pointed look. “That’s your last!” I told him. How shameless, he’s still laughing so hard even though his joke isn’t funny.

“My joke is funnier than yours,” he argued.

“Fine! Then I have a mind game!”

“Game!”

“There are three people at a riverbank. Person A weighs 100 kilograms. Person B is 50 kilograms and C is also 50 kilograms. They wanted to cross the river and the only way is to use the boat. There is only one boat and it has a capacity of only 100-kilogram load. If you put more, the boat will sink. How will they cross the river?”

“They will swim!” he answered instantly. Please stop me, I wanna kill this fool.

“No! They don’t know how to swim! They have to use the boat!”

“Then just leave A behind. They will just bring him back some gifts.”

“A did not agree!”

“They made a raft.”

“They don’t know how to make a raft.”

“I will teach them.”

“You don’t even know how to make a raft yourself,” I pointed out.

“But I do!” he argued.

“You don’t even know how to make a paper boat. How can you even claim you know how to make a raft!”

“Tss!” he just hissed and stopped to think of the mind game again.

Meanwhile, I kept on eating and watching him as his forehead began to furrow. I am so close to laughing out loud.

“Any progress?” I asked. “I can tell you the solution anytime.”

Before he can answer me, his phone rang.

“I’ll just get it,” he said and went to pick up his phone. He kept his distance and lowered his voice while speaking.

I may not be able to hear what they are talking about, but I can sense that the caller said something that upsets him. He became agitated. He came back after the call.

“I.. I’m sorry, something came up. I need to leave.”

I felt disappointed but I forced a smile. “It’s okay Rev. Do your thing.”

He sighed and turned around. He took a bath and prepared himself.

He was ready to leave, but I was still eating, forcing myself to finish everything on my plate. Everything tasted good earlier, why is it bitter now?

I felt Rev’s presence beside me so I turned to look at him.

“I’m leaving-!”

We both stopped when his lips touched mine. He was about to kiss me goodbye on my cheek when I suddenly turned my head.

He scratches his nape as he straightens up, a boyish grin forming on his lips.

“I.. I’m going.” He gestured to the door. I couldn’t speak so I just eyed him as he left.

And since I was left alone, I just decided to also go out. I’ve been holed up here for a long time, so maybe it was just right for me to go out and get some fresh air.

I was wearing a simple shirt and short and a pair of sneakers so that I can move around comfortably. I brought an earphone and listened to music so that I will not look pathetic looking around alone.

I headed to the mall and went to each boutique even when I had no intention of buying anything. I am tight with money so I cannot just buy anything. And I really need to find a job soon or I’ll eventually find myself among those who are living in the street.

It was almost 5pm when I decided to go to the nearby park to see some greenery. I watched as people walk by and it’s entertaining smiling at random joggers. Sometimes you see cute ones. I stare at guys who are walking or jogging my way, and then when they are almost in front of me, I suddenly smile at them. Their mixed reactions are hilarious.

When I got hungry, I entered one of the restaurants that lined the perimeter of the park. Then a guy approached me to ask if he can share my table. Since the place is crowded and I am occupying a four-seater table, I nodded at him without really looking.

He sat beside me. I thought he will take the other side. I got slightly annoyed but didn’t let it show on my face.

Then I saw him took out his phone and started playing a game where he keeps on running while collecting coins. Hmm.. He’s good, I didn’t even reach 5, 000 meters in that game without using a save me card.

I wondered why he suddenly stopped and yelped involuntarily when I saw his character plummet down the ravine.

Then I froze. Shit! I was leaning so close to him that my chin is almost on is shoulder.

“I’m sorry.” I straightened up as if I did nothing wrong and went back to my food.

I turned to him when he started laughing softly which gradually got louder and louder that people started looking at us.

I was about to glare at him, but my eyes went round instead.

“Xander?!”

He pouted. “Aw! I’ve been trailing you since earlier, and you only noticed me now??”

“Huh? You were following me since earlier?”

“You even smiled at me while I was jogging.”

“Eh?? I didn’t know that was you!”

“Then why did you smile at me? You just found me handsome?”

I hit the back of his head.

“Ouch! I did not see you for so long and this is how you would greet me??”

I gave him a peace sign.

“I really didn’t recognize you earlier. I was just playing around to disconcert joggers. I did that to everyone I crossed paths with earlier, so I don’t even know which one of them was you.”

“Ouch again! This handsome face did not even manage to leave an impression on you? My bruised ego.”

I giggled. “You’re crazy. I missed you!”

“Missed me?! You just up and left after graduation, I was like a fool looking all over for you. And you’re telling me you missed me??” his voice sounded sad and hurt.

I touched his hand. “I’m sorry about that.”

He changed the topic. “So how are you? Are you married now?”

“Do I look like I am married already?”

“No, but I just want to be sure that no one will punch me.”

I laughed. “Of course, no one will punch you!” I showed him my fingers bare of any ring.

“Then, Rev did not marry you?” he asked, astonished.

“You’re really crazy! Why do you ask that?”

“I haven’t gotten back to that bastard,” he said and touched his jaw. I smiled when I recalled that they exchanged punches because of me back in college. Ugh, the memory still gives me butterflies.

He shook his head. “That was my birthday and that idiot punched me!”

“He didn’t know it was your birthday. I forgot to tell him that I will be going out with you.”

“He was so possessive of you. But he didn’t care if his own girlfriend goes out with male friends. Did he really not court you?”

“He didn’t.”

“You sound really regretful there,” he teased and I blushed.

I hit his arm. “Idiot! Don’t start with me again!”

“But seriously, he really did not pursue you?”

“I said he didn’t. Why are you asking?”

He shook his head and looked confused.

“Never mind.” He shrugged his shoulder. “I’ll confess something.”

“What’s that?”

“The guy who sent you that first white rose on our graduation was me.”

My eyes grew wide.

“What?? I knew it! I knew you really had a hidden desire for me!”

He laughed. “Yes, I admit. But I just couldn’t get past your bodyguard. He’s guarding you like a hawk. But he turns out to be a chicken, huh? He couldn’t even confess. Tss.”

I raised my brow.

“This is late, but thank you for that rose.” I grimaced when I remembered what I did with that rose. “If I knew it came from you, I would have accepted the second one you sent.”

It was his turn to raise his brows so I explained. “I though someone was just pulling a prank on me so when another one came, I did not receive it anymore. Then I saw the kid throw it in the garbage can when I did not take it from him.”

“Oh.. so that’s what happened.”

“Your courier did not tell you?”

“Did you not hear me earlier. I said I sent you the ‘FIRST rose.”

“Huh? Then who gave the other one??”

He smiled mysteriously. “It’s for me to know, and for you to find out.”

“Grrrr! Just tell me now!”

“Life wouldn’t have its thrill if everything is spoon-fed.”

I glared at him. “Maybe you just don’t want to tell me because you still have hidden desire for me!”

He laughed again and went back to eating.

I sighed. But then my eyes grew wide.

“Xander..” I tapped him.

“Why?”

“Please prepare your jaw again. Something raging is coming your way.”

We both looked in front of us. “Rev..”