Chapter 3

22:33

[Zavian's Point of View]

"Aaaarrghhhhhhhhh"

I woke up to the sound of a scream.

Opening my eyes, I saw the movie, Fantasy Island, playing on the television.

"Right... We fell asleep while watching." I sighed, turned off the television, and turned to my right side.

Mom is silently sleeping on the long couch. I took a blanket from her bedroom and placed it on top of her sleeping body. Then, I went to my room so I can sleep as well.

But as soon as I lied on my bed, my phone rang.

I groaned before looking at the caller, "Oh, shit. Shit. Shit." I climbed out of the window beside my bed and ran out to the lawn.

"Zavian Koa Rhodes." I heard my name being called by a lady as soon as I answered the call. "Where the hell are you right now?!"

"Well, hello to you too," I uttered.

"Don't give me that tone. You left without even saying a word, Zavian Rhodes." She sternly told me.

"Yeah, I know," I said, feeling guilty that I'm hiding so much from her, from my partner.

"Well, at least you sent me a text." She sighed. "How's Papa?"

Right, the text I sent her was full of lies, saying that mom and I are at grandpa, that we call papa, because of his health emergency.

"H-he, he's f-fine." I stuttered. "I umm, visited h-him. Earlier, in the h-hospital. H-he was doing fine."

"Oh, umm, okay. That's good. How are you? And mom?" She questioned.

"Mom and I are good. You don't have to worry." I assured her.

"Okay. I better go now." She yawned. "You should take some rest now, too. Take care and be safe always okay? Make sure that you and mom are eating at the right time."

"Yeah..." I nodded even though she can't see it. "Yeah. Always be safe there too. Bye."

"Bye. I'll miss you." She sighed.

"I miss you already. We'll be back soon. I love you. Bye." And with that, I hung up the call.

I took a deep breath then stared at the moon above.

Sighing as I look down, I muttered, "I won't be able to sleep tonight."

"I might as well have a stroll to know this town." I took a cigarette stick and a lighter from the pocket of my jacket. Starting the stroll, I puffed some smoke in the air.

After some time, I found myself in front of a small park with a playground.

I'm not a kid anymore but, I like sitting and laying on the foot of the slide, then look up to the bright half-moon.

The wind rustled through the trees as I saw such strange sight. Stopping on my tracks, I rubbed my eyes in disbelief.

I-it's er-

It's a girl.

She's lying on the grass in the middle of the park! In the middle of the night, I may add.

What the hell is she doing? Moon bathing?

Is she dead? What if she's a corpse?! I'm going to jail if someone sees me!

Tsk. I better not get more involved since I don't want to go to jail.

I turned my back on the body and started walking out.

"Who's there?" A soft voice was what I heard.

Quickly turning around, two beautiful crystal blue eyes pierced through my cobalt ones.

Yellow blonde hair strands scatter on a small, fair, snow-white face.

How captivating her looks are.

She's more beautiful than the last time I saw her.

"W-who are you?" She asked, hiding her fear.

Her voice. Her voice is as pure and pretty as a newly bloomed flower on the first day of spring.

"Uh, I'm live near here. Three blocks away from here." I pointed in the direction of my house. "Yeah, so, umm. Are you alright? Like, d-do you feel okay or anything?"

She tilted her head slightly and raised an eyebrow. "Yeah. Thanks." She stood up.

"Oh, okay. Good. I-I thought you passed out or er- something because y-you were lying on the ground earlier." I chuckled.

The girl let out a nervous chuckle then broke the eye contact.

"Should you be outside by this time of the night?" I questioned her.

She stared at me for a minute before replying, "Doesn't matter. I'm going home now."

"Oh, well, let me walk you home." I volunteered.

Not because I'm attracted to her, but because I know it's not safe for girls to walk at night alone.

"No." She answered shortly.

"Why? It's not safe for a lady to walk at nights alone." I told her.

"Why would I let you walk me home if I don't even know you. Plus, I can handle myself- Oh, Woah!" Cutting her sentence, she stumbled.

I quickly rushed to her to help her but, she stood up before I can even lend a hand.

"Told you, I'm fine on my own." She walked past me then sat on a swing.

Chuckling, I said, "Your action says the opposite, red cheeks."

"Don't call me red cheeks and forget what happened." She grumbled.

"What happened?" I teasingly asked.

"I tripped." She stumped her feet and took a deep breath. Letting it out with an annoyed sigh, she queried, "Why can't you leave me alone?"

"Because I can't go home without knowing that the girl I met this night went home safe." I stared at her.

"What's with you and walking girls home? I-is that your signature first impression to all the girls you've been in relationships with?" She rolled her eyes at me.

Wow. this girl is something else. Shy yet feisty.

"No." I laughed. "I have three girl members in my family. And I can't let anything happen to them. If you have a dad or a brother, they can't let anything happen to you too. I'm doing this because if someone found my mother or one of my sisters alone, in a park maybe, I want that someone to take them home safely."

She stared back at me.

"Okay, stranger. You can walk me home. But, please keep a distance." She said to me, then walked towards the exit.

I followed her silently as she leads the way to her house.

How lucky I am.

I saw this beautiful girl earlier at the ice cream shop, and now, I saw her again.

Is this what people call fate?

Tsk. Sorry not sorry, I don't believe in such things as fate.

Tonight is a mere coincidence. And nothing more.

"Hey, stranger." She snapped me out of my thoughts.

"H-hmm?" I gazed at her.

"This is my stop." She pointed at a beige-colored house.

I nodded. "Oh, okay. You should go inside now."

"Yeah..." She nodded as well.

I was about to leave when she called me again. "Stranger."

"What?"

"Thanks, umm?" She waited for me to say my name.

"It's Zavian." I smiled.

"Zavian, okay. Thank you." She gave me a small smile.

Oh, sweet honey! Smiles perfectly fit her pretty face.

I can't help but smile more at her. "You're welcome, red cheeks."

"Stop with the red cheeks already." She pouted like a puppy.

I laughed at her cuteness.

"It's Cynthia." She bit her lip shyly.

Argh!!! She's too much. She's so freaking cute!

"Cynthia. That's a beautiful name. It matches your face." I smirked.

Cynthia rolled her eyes at me while smiling, then started walking towards her house.

"Goodnight," I said.

She smiled at me once again before saying, "Goodnight, Zavian."