Chapter 14

Alitha's POV

"Friends?" I had difficulty breathing while waiting for his condition. I wondered what his condition was. I was thinking of all his possible conditions, it turned out he just wanted us to be friends.

"Yeah, friends."

"Why me? I mean why do you want me to be your friend?"

"I don't know. I don't understand myself either. Maybe because of Cedrick and Glaiza. My bestfriend loves your bestfriend. And I want to be with and see him this time. This is the first time he fell in love. I want to support him."

"You want to support him. What is my connection there?"

"You're Galiza's bestfriend. It's better if you support her also. Be with her just like what I do to Cedrick."

"I don't get it."

"Look, just think of them. Let's be friends for them. If we fight and hate each other, they will be affected. We may even be the cause of their break up." He paused and examined my reaction. "Unless, you really hate me that much you won't like me as your friend."

I shook my head. Okay, I understand him now. He wants us to be friends for the sake of our best friends. Maybe we'd better be friends. I suddenly remembered what Uncle Dan had said. That it is not normal to have just one friend. That I should be open and welcome new friends. But it's Nikolai Johnson.

"I don't want to be friends with a bully, with a rude attitude, with a bad record and possibly a bad influence and I don't want to be friends with a bad boy."

His eyes narrowed as he looked at me. Finding out if I'm serious or just kidding. "You will know me better if you'll let me. And we start being friends."

"Can I still think?" I don't know but why do I feel that it is right. To be friends with this man is the right thing to do.

"No. I need answer now, Ali."

"Okay. Fine."

"What?" He looks surprised.

"I said yes. Let's be friends."

"Really?"

"Are you backing away?"

"No! No. I thought you still have to think."

"I did."

"Oh, okay."

"For the sake of our best friends."

"Yeah, for the sake of them." I smiled at him a little. It felt so awkward with him smiling at me. Somehow, I found out that he looks more hot when he smiles. And come to think of it, this is the first time I saw him with that kind of smile. Is that his signature smile? Is that the reason why girls are crazy over him?

"Is Tracey won't get angry?"

"Why would she?"

"She's you girlfriend, you know. And girlfriends will not be okay of the idea that her boyfriend is having a new girl friend."

"Girlfriend? Who told you that she's my girlfriend?" I was stunned.

"Cedrick."

He laughed again. "She's not my girlfriend. She's just my.." He suddenly stopped talking.

"Fuck buddy?" His eyes widened at what I said. He didn't seem to expect me to mention that.

"Y-yeah." He removed his gaze from me. Seems embarrassed by the confession he made.

"I'm not as innocent as you think. Don't be shy."

"I'm not shy." He hissed and suddenly turned to me.

"Okay. You're not shy. Don't shout at me." We both look at each other and both laughed after a while. I laughed at his expression. It doesn't seem like Nikolai Johnson is the one I've seen earlier. Shame is not his thing.

"Shame doesn't suit what you're wearing." He just laughed at what I've said. After a while, he extended his hand for a handshake.

"Hi. I am Nikolai Johnson." So this is his kind of a thing, huh?

Well, I accepted his hand and we shake hands. "Hello, I'm Alitha Dominique." He grips my hand tightly enough to feel his hand in mine. His smile became sympathetic. We laughed again as he let go of my hand. We faced the ocean together.

The lightness I feel inside is not the same as before. It was as if a thorn had pulled out from my chest as we shook hands. But I can't deny the tickling feeling when our palms meet. I don't know if he felt that too. I do not know.

We went back to the road after a few minutes. He promised to show me his another sanctuary. This time, I hugged him without inhibitions. We sometimes talked anything while on our way.

Because of his presence, I almost forgot to call Glaiza. I was surprised because I could no longer see them.

"Where do you think they go?"

"To where we are going now."

"Okay."

Just like earlier, we entered the small alley. Narrow and lots of trees around. My weeds but just enough to pass two motorbikes. I am excited how far is this road. I'm excited for his next sanctuary. My mind was busy with the scene I was looking forward to. I just realized that Nikolai was already stiffening in front of me.

"Are you okay?" I lean on for him to hear me. But I think he stiffened more. So I pulled myself away from him. I don't think that the reason why he stiffened is the reason that I am thinking.

He is used to it, right? He even have a fuck buddy. So I think it is not what I think it is.

"You okay?" I asked him again.

"Y-yeah." Why is he stammering? Is he cold? Well, it's cold here. The wind is blowing cold air and the sun doesn't shine here.

"Are we not there yet?"

"We're getting closer."

I looked around. I didn't know there was something like this near our place. I have never been here. Suddenly I heard a woman screaming followed by a hard laughing. And it's not only a woman's laughter. I could also hear a man's laughing. I know that voice.

"They're probably swimming." Nikolai said and he slowed down. I can also hear falling waters.

Wait.

Is it waterfalls?

I gasped. My eyes widen when I see waterfalls from afar. Below was a wide body of water where I saw Glaiza and Cedrick bathing. I immediately got off Nikolai's motorbike when we got close to the side of Cedrick's bike. I give him the helmet and hurriedly walk across the water without looking at him.

Cedrick and Glaiza waved at us so I waved back at them. Looks like they've been here about half an hour. I was constantly amazed to get close to the water. The water is as clear as crystal. It is lucent and very transparent. The sand is white but the stones got my attention. It is not big nor small. Parallel on both sides under water. Yes, I can clearly see that because of the crystal clear water.

"Do you like it?" The baritone voice captured my attention from admiring the beauty of nature. "Ah, let me rephrase that. Do you love it?"

I laughed at him. But my smile died little by little, I noticed that the cloth around his head was gone. The jacket he was wearing was also gone. His tattoos are already visible in my eyes. Those are tribal tattoos I have seen before. I don't like the man with tattoo but when I look at him now, it seems like my beliefs will change. Though I also have my tattoo and I had a valid reason why I got one.

"Yes. Really love it. Thanks, Niko." I showed him my most alluring smile. The reason why he looks stunned and surprised.

"We're friends already. Can I call you Niko now?"

"S-sure. Call me whatever you like."

"Guys! Come on. Let's swim!" We both looked at Cedrick.

"Later, bro!" Niko shouted back at him. He never lost his smile when he looked at me again. "Are you hungry?"

"No. I'm still full. How about you?" In good manners, I asked him.

"I'm not hungry. Do you want to swim?"

"Yes! I would love to."

"Okay!" He took off his shirt in front of me. I look at him and gasped when I saw his abs.

Jesus Christ! I turned around and swallowed hard. My eyes are not virgin anymore. Tsk! This man is so annoying!

"Ali, come on! The water is good!" Glaiza called me. I just nod and smile at her. I can't speak right now. My heart beat is racing. I took off my jacket because I can already feel the heat in my body. I put it down in the blanket that Glaiza and Cedrick prepared.

Glaiza is only wearing her undies. Should I do the same? I felt conscious all of a sudden. Why she didn't tell me that we are going to swim? I didn't bring extra clothes. But I really want to swim. I would like to try to bathe here in the stream. Thank God, I wear a pair of biege undies this morning.

I started taking off my spaghetti blouse. I immediately felt the gentle caress of the air on my skin. I am hell of conscious but I'm sure Niko is also used seeing naked women. Though I am not totally naked. I'm sure my body will not have any effect on him. Besides he is my friend now.

I unbutton the fly of my jeans after I drop my spaghetti blouse over my jacket. I did not forget Niko is still behind me stripping. But as what I've thought, he won't be affected just by seeing my body. So I hurriedly remove my jeans.

I was halted when Niko pass by and jump into the water. But to my surprise, he has a tattoo on his back. Not just a tribal tattoo but a big lion looking into the distance. The eyes are full of anger and there are still fangs to be seen. He was fast but that didn't stopped me from examining his tattoo. That was hell of a hot tattoo I have ever seen.

I averted my eyes from him when he when he swam underwater. I walked closer into the water and jumped as soon as I reached the edge of the rock.

Damn! This is heaven.

I opened my eyes under the water and I could see the white sand underneath. I am not a great swimmer but I can swim like a pro. I swam to the top to catch some air. I saw Glaiza and Cedrick flirting. I would have liked to approach them but it was embarrassing. I might even mess with their intimacy.

I just distracted myself by swimming underneath. Enjoying the breathtaking scenery. I forgot to bring my camera. It's a pity I can't take a picture of it. Maybe next time. Maybe I'll get here next time. I swam to the top again to catch some air. It's deep in this part because I'm already in the middle of the stream. I looked for Niko but I couldn't find him. Where is he?

I almost screamed when suddenly someone grabbed my waist. And I was sprinkled with water. I wanted to turn around but I was stunned to feel him squeezing my waist. Nikolai!

He is the one I see when I turn to. He released me and looked at me with a smile. He was still very handsome even when he was taking a bath. I think he's the only one I know who, whether dry or wet, is still more handsome.

"Come with me." He said.

"Where?"

"I want to show you something."

"What is that?"

"Let's go over there." He pointed the highest rock at the bottom of the waterfalls.

"That's where we're going?"

"Yes. Do you want to?"

"Of course!"

We went ahead to swim to the side to climb. Of course he was ahead of me. He is standing in front of me now. I think my heart dropped when I saw him. He is only wearing his black boxer short. He is the definition of gorgeously hot and sexy young man. He is so perfect. Breathtakingly perfect!

He held out his hand to help me climb. I didn't know that he's a gentleman. I accepted his hand. He pulled me but I think he was too strong because I sank into his chest. We would have almost fallen if he hadn't just hugged me tightly around my waist.