Chapter 14

The night we spent was almost over. 

"I need to go home and have some rest." He winked at me and told him to go before the landlady would come here and ban him. 

"Just go." I pushed him while he was against me. 

"Where's my kiss?" He was pointing on his cheek and I didn't give him one. 

"Just go and be safe." I made a flying kiss on his back and turned around when he looked back. I shut my eyes while he was stepping forward. I thought he was leaving that time and when he called me, I looked back at him and smiled. He gave me a gift. "What's this?" 

"To contact me. I put my cellphone number there for you to contact me." He was smiling genuinely. I bit my lower lip unconsciously and he gulped. "I think you shouldn't be here. It's cold. Have some rest. See you tomorrow." 

He almost gave me a quick kiss on my cheek but I pulled myself with the use of my fast reflexes. 

"I think you're still uncomfortable and I am too fast, but I can wait until you're fine with us." 

My jaw dropped as he was so annoying. " Just go and be safe." I pushed him to his car and made a clenched fist before him. 

He opened the window of the car and winked. "I love you, Haina! I love you!" My head was hurting when I almost bumped it into the window to stop him from yelling like that. 

"Please, stop it, or else the landlady will gossip this." 

He made a peace sign and pouted his lips. I stopped him using my finger on his lips and it made him like he was about to cry like a crying baby. "Please stop doing that. You're too old for that." I giggled and then, he waved at me. 

He was stubborn. He made me feel like I was his mother. The cellphone that he gave me rang and I read his message. "Good night. Just think about me. See you in dreamland?" 

I touched my head and went back to the apartment. I was tired of this kind of thing. I took a shower and he messaged me for an update on what he does. "I am now in bed. Sleep well." 

I went to my bed and messaged him, "Good night, and sleep well."

He messaged me with a smiley face and I put the cell phone on the side table. 

It was a loud noise from somewhere and I was hoping I could sleep more. I was exhausted last night and I couldn't bear my body's weight. I sat and found the cell phone ringing. I checked it and the name on the screen was Nick. He was calling me this late at night.

"Hello? Where are you? It's already 9:00 am." 

My eyes widened and my body began to gain strength. I checked the time on the clock and it was 9:00 am. "Where are we going?" 

"Somewhere you like." 

Is he kidding me? I need to rest. 

"Or maybe, you have to rest well since we have more time the next day?" 

I didn't answer him, but when I heard the car engine, I stopped him from leaving. "Stop. Wait me for a few minutes." 

"No, I will not wait. I think you need to rest. So I brought you some food to eat and make time in private." He knew I was worried and he added, "I will cook for you and relax, I will take good care of you." 

We went to the apartment and he was busy cooking for breakfast. I came back to my sleep and rested for a while. I needed to gain more strength later because I couldn't level myself to his energy.

"Do my cooking skills make you fall in love with me?" He was smiling while I was drinking water. I emitted the water on his face and I panicked wiping it with a table napkin.

"I'm sorry. I didn't mean it." 

"No, it's okay." His face looked embarrassed and then, the silence was brought into the atmosphere. 

He insisted on washing the dishes and I made up my mind to buy an ice cream because I wanted to treat him well today. I was looking for an ice cream and I noticed a guy, my schoolmate, coming into the convenience store. He was taller than me and I think he was the rival of Graham's last basketball tournament. 

I left the counter and didn't bother about his presence. 

I saw Nick sleeping on the floor when I reached the living room. I put the quilt on his body and I saw his face near me. I realized that he was handsome and his facial features were getting mature as we grew old. I never realized how much we grew after this. 

I looked in the mirror and I saw changes in my face too. My eyebrows were getting thick and my face was a bit chubby. I didn't care about my looks even if I put a pigtail or not. 

"Wait. What am I thinking?" My heart was racing when I checked Nick who was sleeping on the floor. My heart skipped a beat when I saw him move. 

"Nana, Nana..." 

He was calling me my nickname and I went quickly into him. He grabbed me and hugged me tight. "Nana, I love you."

He was giggling and I made a grumpy look. "Stop making fun of me. Let me go."

"No, I won't. Just stay here for a while. I need your time and hug." 

For his request, I made myself stay with him even though my guts were telling me to move away from him. I was keeping myself safe from any harm, and he did nothing but hug me.

I fell asleep and when I woke up, he was caressing my hair, making me feel safe and being taken care of. I like the way he comforted me this time. He was sweet and careful about his body language. It made me feel appreciated, looking at his eyes made me realize I should not be this close. 

"What happened?" 

I shook my head and told him, "I think this is not the right time to do this thing."

"Fine. I understand. I will wait for your answer. Trust me, this will be the last time for what I did today." He was giving me an assurance that would make my heart beat rapidly again. 

"Are you making fun of me, Nick?" 

"No, I am serious. Do I need to prove it?" 

My mind began to be alerted by what he said. "No, I need space now."

"Okay, if that's what you like, I will not force you. I'll leave." 

I started blaming myself for what I said. I shouldn't make him feel upset and I remembered the ice cream for a peace offering. "Wait, I think we need to eat the ice cream before you leave." 

There was a curved line on his lips. "Is that an assurance you don't want me to leave yet?" 

I felt the goosebumps. "Are you teasing me?" He petted my head and I stopped him from doing that. "Just eat an ice cream with me as my peace offering a while ago."

"Which one?"

"Just accept it." I shut my eyes and went to the fridge to get the ice cream. "Please accept my peace offering." 

He was giggling and told me, "You're getting cute now. I can't resist your sweetness." He got my hand and kissed the back of my hand. I looked away to avoid him seeing my face blushing. 

"Do you know that I liked ice cream when I was a kid?" I started breaking the ice. 

"Yes, of course. I see you eating an ice cream outside the convenience store when we were a kid." He covered his lips, making my eyes widen and he explained, "I didn't mean to know it. I know that it is one of your favorites."

"I know. I saw you once when I was licking the ice cream."

"You look sad whenever you eat an ice cream. I know it, Nana." He chuckled. "I know everything about you."

"What? Are you stalking me?" My perception was unthinkable. 

"Nope. I am observing you from afar when we were a kid."

He wiped the ice cream on my lips and I flinched. "Why?"

"It is because I like you. Do I need to repeat it? I like you, Haina! I like you, Haina!" 

"Please, stop doing that. My landlady is strict."

"Then, let me introduce myself to her." 

The knock on the door made me panicked. I think that he needs to hide in my room. I pushed him there, but he insisted on introducing himself to the landlady. 

"Yes, coming." I opened the door, looking at the woman who was looking at me with a puzzling look. "Aya, what are you doing here?"

She was smiling with a meaning. "I think I need to go home. I left my pouch here. I will take it back on Monday. Enjoy!"

"What do you mean?" I was stopping her to leave, but she went off.