WHO'S TAKING ADVANTAGE OF WHO

Ivan and Kaye left their apartment to go for a morning walk and find something to eat. It wasn't even seven in the morning yet but there were busy people coming to and fro already. Some students were in a hurry to catch their bus as well as some employees who works in farther places.

"I've seen them together all the time and they looked close to the owner of the complex." said one of the ladies who passed by them, whispering.

"I think they are couple. They live together in one of the rooms at the 12th floor." answered the other woman.

"What a waste. He's really good looking but he's blind." added by another lady in the group. They kept on whispering as they went on their way to wherever they were planning to go.

"Aren't you bothered?" she said to Ivan who's walking beside her.

"About what?" Ivan asked her back with a raised brows.

"About your handsomeness being a waste because you're blind." she answered him softly to keep the conversation between them.

"As long as you're not bothered, it doesn't matter to me." he answered her with a sheepish smile.

"What does it have to do with me?" she was confused now with the statement. They were clearly talking about him but he said it like she was partly at fault or responsible for him.

"They said that we are a couple, so as long as my girlfriend isn't bothered, I wouldn't mind as well." this time he was chuckling faintly at his statement, but Kaye was turning red all over due to his statement.

"Who's your girlfriend? Stop spouting nonsense." she told him while trying to calm her heart. Ivan just laughed at her as he was getting closer to her.

"Come here my girlfriend." he teased her as he grabbed her hand and intertwined their fingers.

"Hey. Don't take advantage of me, you idiot." she smack his hand away from her but Ivan held her tightly.

"Aren't you the one taking advantage of me because I'm blind? You even smack my hands just because I couldn't see." he argued back to her childishly.

"I will not take advantage of you." she retorted back to him.

"Really?" he looked at her directly with I-don't-believe-you gaze. Kaye paused for a while staring back at her.

"I'm...I'm not taking advantage of you." she looked down at their linked hands trying to get his hold removed from her. She lied. She's been taking advantage of him from the start.

"Okay, since you won't take advantage of me, then I'll take advantage of you." Ivan simply stated and dragged her, who stood like a statue, so that they can continue walking while holding hands.

"My goodness Ivan! What's wrong with you? Are you not feeling well?" she was being sarcastic at him but Ivan didn't mind at all.

"I'm perfectly fine." Ivan said to her calmly, not exposing any emotions to her.

"Why are you holding my hands in public? You were fine without anyone to help you before." she exclaimed, making him stop on his track.

"Didn't you hold my hands yesterday in public? What difference does it make that I'm the one holding you?" his retort made her speechless. She couldn't find the words to talk back. She just stared at him silently.

Ivan stood in front of her, waiting for her to answer but nothing came out from her mouth. No sarcastic remarks or reason. "I'm so used to you holding me that I don't mind holding you. I don't care if they would say I'm depending on you. I'm happy I found someone I can depend on." he resorted to being shameless. Who cares about face if it would mean losing the person you like? If being shameless would allow him to hold her hands, then shamelessness is a great skill to him.

"I...I didn't...I'm..." she didn't know what words to say. Truth be told, she liked holding hands with him but if she get used to it, she might end up hurting herself one day.

"Alright. I'm the bad guy here. I'm taking advantage of you so let me hold your hands." Ivan smiled at her with that mischievous smile.

"Fine. If ever the girl you like saw us, I'm not at fault here." she told him tugging his hand before they continued walking.

Ivan didn't say anything. After all the girl he likes has always been her. At first, it never occur to him that she was her. He didn't know why but when he entered her room one time, the atmosphere was the same as her room in the past. The room that he never wanted her to go back to. The pain, the burden, the sadness, anxiety, panic, fear and other emotions linger in her room.

'This time, I will keep my promise to you.' he thought and gave her hand a gentle squeeze. Kaye looked at her but she didn't utter a word since he was silent.

When they arrived at the fast food that she frequently go, Kaye looked for a seat first so she could have Ivan seated.

"What do you want to eat?" she asked him after he took a seat, still holding hands.

"I'll take whatever you like." Ivan answered without any intention of letting her go. Kaye didn't know whether to laugh or cry in her predicament.

"My dear Ivan, you've been holding my hands. Can you let go of me now so I can order our food?" she pleaded to him but Ivan just looked at her. "Come on, you can hold hands on the way home."

"Really?" he asked her back to make sure she wasn't bluffing.

'Why do I feel like I'm digging my own grave?' she noted mentally before answering him. "Yes. I promise."

"Don't go back on your promise." he told her before letting her hand go. Kaye rolled her eyes and left to order their food, leaving Ivan who smiled brightly like a fool for gaining leverage today.