Chapter 11:

“Oh heck! the rain is getting heavier! ”

“Nick! My shirt is getting wet! We need to stop somewhere!”

"Look! A waiting shed! Let's go there! ”

They were only fifty minutes down the road when the rain hit them. Since Nick didn't have a raincoat, they were forced to go down and find shelter. Nick puts his jacket on Say's head so she wouldn't get wet.

They found a dilapidated waiting shed near the road, one part of the roof had a hole so Say could do nothing but sit on the part where there's no rain while Nick chose to stand a little far from her side. The waiting shed lights, on the other hand, keeps flickering like an old Christmas tree light so Say used her cellphone flashlight on.

"You're completely drenched with the rain, Nick... Are you sure you don’t want your leather jacket? You looked cold.”

“I’m okay, Say. You can wear it.”

“How about you? “

"I’m a man. I can handle it. I am not c-coooold..." A strong wind blew through so suddenly that Nick grabbed the column of the small shed to get his balance.

He said he was not cold but look at this guy who acts warm while drenched in the rain…

Say smiled secretly when he saw how cute Nick was who seemed to want to hug himself but because she was looking, he couldn't do it.

“The metabolism of men runs 15% faster than women, so technically, men are more resistant to the cold than women ---ATSHOOOOO!!!" He confidently educates her with some Scientific lessons about boys being manly enough but sneezed in the middle of his words. “Sorry, that was random...”

She broke into a beaming smile“I see. What else, Mr. Meteorologist and Scientist and now Microbiologist?”

“Our immune system is 17% more active than with females during this situa--ATSHOOOOO!!!"!”

“HAHAHA! That wasn’t random Nick.” Say was no longer embarrassed and laughed heartily right in front of Nick. “ Can you just come over here with me? You’re too far from me. I may not be better at Science completely but what I know is we stand a better chance if we do like the Eskimos and combined our body heat.”

Say stood up and unzipped the leather jacket she is wearing. She is ready to give him back the leather. What she meant was they could put the big jacket in front of them while Nick sits beside her closely. But instead of saying that, she blurted something else.

“So here, your jacket is a little big for me, we can have it covers us both while you sit and hold me. “

She stood up and stepped closer to Nick. “O-Or better yet..." She stammered as she continued to step closer.

“Better what?”

“J-just hug me...until the rain stops?”

And suddenly she didn’t know why she just said that. Her pulse quickened when she saw Nick stared at her. Say can’t understand why she had this unexplainable as this deep compelling attraction to Nick.

“A-are you sure it’s okay?” She heard his deep baritone voice as he asked her cautiously.

She did not answer him anymore but instead put her arms around Nick's waist with her head bent down in his chest. Then, she felt Nick followed her action but putting his arms to her waist too - this time tenderly, tentatively as if he was not sure if this is what she meant.

The heavy rain was falling loudly, but Say's heartbeat was even louder at this moment. She didn't know if she was the only one who felt that, but she felt Nick's breathing was starting to get heavier.

With her head on his chest, Say seemed like she wanted to see his eyes, so she pulled softly from his embrace and looked at his face - only to see him looking at her too.

And she could see too many emotions - emotions she can’t identify.

****

Nick didn't know how to avoid Say's gaze. His heart was pounding so hard that he was so afraid Say would hear it and laugh at him. He looked at Say whose hair was wet with the rain. Not even her messy hair can take even half of her beauty in this state.

“N-nick...” He heard her whispered his name.

Move away Nicholas...move your head away...stop looking at her…This is crazy. When did i start to become like this in front of anyone...in front of this lovely lady...

But Say was still looking at him with those dreamy hazel brown eyes of hers as if she was helplessly anticipating something from him. His heart pounded uncontrollably as his gaze took in her half-open mouth, mouthing some words he can’t understand at the moment.

Don’t look at his lips, Nicholas. Oh Lord, those succulent lips…

She repeats his name softly. Nick can even feel Say’s warm breath. Her face was just too close for comfort.

“N-nick...”

Don’t call my name...oh please stop and don’t call my name...

He restrained himself and removed himself from her embrace. “ S-Say...we need to go home. You need to go home.”

Nick returned the jacket to Say, walked away quickly, and averted his gaze. He was trying to say something to her from afar but even he himself couldn't understand it.

“Give me your phone. I’ll call your Security. I’ll have them pick you up from here..” He was not even looking at her when he mouthed those words. He doesn’t even know if Say answered him back or something. The moment seems just too loud for him to hear anything right now.

He could hear nothing but the beating of their hearts.

“Say, your phone! “

“H-ha? P-phone? H-here...”

“Give it to me, I'll call them and – "

Nick made a mistake in deciding to turn back and take the cellphone from Say's hand. The mere touch of her fingers against him sent an amazing jolt of electricity and Nick stiffened at the unexpected shock.

He is now looking at her again and this time he can't help his heart from doing something desperately. And he is angry with the feeling - because he doesn't have the right to have it in the first place. But why does his heart seem to explode in agony and want while staring at her beautiful face?

“STOP IT, SAY!”

“S-stop what? I didn’t do anything...”

“You don’t know what you’re doing? Of what you’re doing to me? For Pete’s sake, you’re almost 18, and you don’t know what I’m talking about?”

He held his breath when Say stepped closer next to him.

“L-like what?”

“You---” He took a deep breath and removed her hand from holding his and turned his back again.“Forget it!” He shot back angrily - not to her but to his own uncontrollable feelings.