"Timmy! Catch me!" I laughed, and ran as fast as I could while holding firmly onto his favorite Spiderman action figure. Which I grabbed from the top of his bed. He loves Spiderman. There was one time he tried to climbed the wall and he fell onto the floor. I did nothing but laugh at his stupidity. I even told him that Spiderman's not real, then he told me that tooth fairy and Santa Clause weren't real. When he said those words my heart sank and I cried. He stuck his tongue out and laughed his ass off.
So here I am, running for my life as he tried to chase me.
"Lily, come back!" He furiously ran, and it made me laugh until my stomach hurts. I opened the front door of their house quickly, and dashed toward my house that was only six houses down. I turned my head around and saw him running with all his might. Three houses down, two more to go, but he was gaining on me. I sprinted and my heart sped with the rhythm of my feet. I will my short legs to run faster. Every inch of my muscle tensed as his footstep ring closer to my ear. I felt relieved when I saw my house. I opened the front door the house when out of nowhere, an arm wrap itself around my waist. Then he began tickling me suddenly he hit the spot where I laugh the most which was on my neck. I laughed as hard as I breathe.
"Okay okay, stop here..." I giggled, "You win." He stopped and I handed him his Spiderman action figure. He smiled and took it.
"I never knew you could run that fast." He said while wiping his forehead with the back of his hand. I grinned.
"I'm a girl full of surprises."
He smiled. "I bet you can't chase me to my house." He challenged.
"I bet I could." I ran first then he laughed that turned into a frown.
"Hey!" Then he ran after me.
My eyes flutters, and the sunlight from the windows illuminated my room with warm light. I sat up shaking my head averting the thought. It's only a weird nonsense. I glanced at the clock it's nine in the morning.
"Damn," I say placing my palm on my forehead. "The alarm clock didn't ringed early for an early jog. I'll run tomorrow since class starts around nine."
I did my morning routine, which was brush my teeth, and washes face. As soon as I'm finish, I descended the stairs and the aroma of bacon and egg made my tummy grumble.
"Good morning Granny." I greeted her and she greeted me back. I sat on the chair and ate peacefully. By the time I was finish I washed my plates.
"Granny, I'll just visit the ice cream store. I'll be back soon."
She smiled and told me I should be home early and I nodded.
֍֍֍
The sun blaze hot on my skin, and not a moment too soon the sky was covered with clouds. My eyes scanning the neighborhood in front of me. Not to mention about last night the place seems too odd. In a flash the guy from last night emerges in the back of my mind. Ugh. Damn him and his smug face.
Averting the thought, I amble along the sidewalk until I made it to the end of the street, and frankly I don't have a single clue where I'm going. Although Granny said the ice cream store was only somewhere around the corner. It's probably near here. Hopefully. The neighborhood seems peaceful, children biking, teenagers road skateboards along the street. Meanwhile I recall there's a park in here, somewhere. Because I know I used to play there when I was a kid. I don't quite have vivid memories in this neighborhood, I lived here ones and I only remember a few. I can't fathom why that happened.
At the end of the street, there were rows of stores. I brush through people along the street like an invisible spirit, not wanting to get attention. I pass through different varieties of mini stores which was: Family mart, Dunkin Donuts, a flower shop at the right corner, and lastly, Taco bell at the far end corner of the street. The cloud moved making the sun land on my skin, blazing with radiant heat. I squint my eyes while scanning around for the ice cream store, but it was no were to be found. I scurry along the sidewalk going to the other side of the street, which I almost died.
"Watch where you're going, you loony!" One of the bus driver yelled at me. I frown at him, talk about a friendly neighborhood. That guy is such an ass. The fact that it was his fault in the first place. He was driving too damn fast. What a jerk.
I stopped in my track scanning around examining people's faces. There were some who looks grumpy, neutral. Until finally I saw a guy walking in front of me. Although his attention was on his phone. He seems nice. I stood in front of him and to my astonishment he sidestepped and kept walking without looking up at me.
I turned around and went after him.
"Hey?" I tapped on his shoulder. He stops in mid-step and swiftly takes off his left earphone. He peeked over his shoulder and his left thick eyebrow raised.
"Yeah?" he says boyishly.
"Uhm...do you know where is the ice cream store."
He turned his body facing me, which I got a full view of him, he has a chiseled jaw, a straight manly nose that was perfectly sculpted. His charcoal, dark silky, kept hair. My eyes traveled to his lips. They were pink and full, he grins and a deep dimple appeard at the side of his lips. I find it cute. I look up to his eyes, they were chestnut and shaped like an almond. He gazes at me and I couldn't take my eyes of off him. As if I was mezmerized by his gorgeousness and oozing with sex appeal. Felicity, don't forget you have a freakin' boyfriend who is way hotter. Okay? I said to myself. Oh, right. I don't have one.
"New here ei?" he say, bringing me back to reality.
I nodded. "I guess?" Our eyes still locked onto one another.
He slightly nodded. "Well...You see that end of the street." He points and breaks our eye contact, and I nodded. "At the end of that street, turn right. Then turn left at the bakery store, then after Hoover Street turn right. Then you'll see the ice cream store you've been looking for." He says locking our eyes ones more.
"Thank you?" I say uncertain because my brain didn't absorb the direction he pointed out.
"Can you repea—"
"I'm actually heading to that direction, I can walk with you there." He suggested, cutting me off, which taken me aback. He stares at me intently, patiently waiting for my reply. I know I shouldn't talk to strangers. But something about him feels odd.
"Nope, it's definitely fine." I say, stepping an inch away from him. Get a hold of yourself girl!
He nodded. "All right. But hey, were you that weird looking girl I saw last night?" He asked. "Your voice...it's kind of familiar."
I blinked a few times as I recall his face and his tone of voice. To my disbelief, he was the guy from last night, his voice was familiar too.
I gulped. "I don't know what you're talking about. Although I get that a lot." I say, grinning while gazed at his chestnut almond eyes to look more sincere.
He cross his arm to his abdomen and scratch his chin with his thumb and index finger. "Well, you sound like her, anyway I better get going." plugging his earphone back in his ear and he wave a hand saying goodbye and saunters off. I also waved goodbye.
I stood there at the very spot waiting until he disappear from my sight. I followed his direction. At the end of the street at the left side, I saw the bakery store he was saying and I also saw him turned right in Hoover Street. I guess he was right after all. The moment I reach my destination.
I sigh. Finally, the guard opened the door for me. I stepped in, cool, sweet air welcomed me in. The sweat around my body relaxed as the cool air wrap itself around me. I glanced around, and to my astonishment, the line was pretty long than I expect. There's a woman who stands in front of me waiting in line, while there were probably sixteen more other people waiting for their turn to reach the counter. But thank goodness the line kept moving. I thought I'd take eons to reach the counter, it wasn't like one of those, one mbps speed that takes forever for a single file to download.
As I waited for my turn I examined the interior. The window glass was from ceiling to floor and somehow the sun's blazing radiance illuminated the place, and some of warm yellowish lights were turned on. The theme of the store has a modern twist with an old fashion kind of style. They still kept the old ice cream maker and used it as a design. The ambiance however was the same feeling as before, it was still welcoming and comforting as if I could stay here all day long, like I used to. My eyes suddenly landed on a guy, I found him gazing at me. He has a jet black hair, chiseled jaw, high cheekbone. Fair skin.
He winks at me. I look away as if I saw nothing. What a freakin' weirdo.
Soon after it was finally my turn. I ordered my favorite strawberry ice cream. It took her awhile to arrange the ingredients. Not before long she place the ice cream on the counter and added a real strawberry on top and sprinkled some chocolates after. The moment she was done. She smiled at me while giving me my medium cup of ice cream, and she handed me the change which I dropped it in her tip box. I happily smiled at her and she warmly smiled back.
"Come again." She grins.
I nodded with a smile.
Sauntering toward the stool that was facing the glass window. I sat comfortably and I scooped up a mouthful of ice cream and as soon as it landed on my tongue. My heart did a summersault. I wasn't expecting it to be this incredibly delicious. It's definitely a mouth-watering experience, I could taste the sweetness and the sourness of the strawberry. Meanwhile I indulge in the moment while staring out the window, enjoying the scenery of the trees, swaying from side to side as the breeze flew. Cars and buses passes by. When out of the blue, the thought of my parents struck me. Every weekend we'd eat strawberry ice cream. My dad would invite Dylan to join us and we'd all watch horror movies. The thought of it made my stomach churn. I stared at my one/forth ice cream that I've already eaten. I rested my head on my hands and sigh.
This sadness cloging my hear, it won't last forever right. My thoughts suddenly drifted to the memories I had with Dylan. All those memories you've built and cherish together with your family too. Its so hard to accept.
"Are you all right?" someone asked bringing me back to reality. I turned my head facing to the person who spoken to me, and I stumble upon a dazzling sepia eyes, and to my disbelief it was the strange guy who winked at me earlier.
"I saw you frowning at the delicious ice cream, and no one frowns at the ice cream around here. And I couldn't help but ask." He motions to the crowed and warm smiles lingers and examines their faces. I raised my perfectly plucked eyebrow at him, while he was invading my personal space. I leaned far a bit.
"Are you the manager or something?" I asked a bit annoyed.
"Nope,"
Before he could say another wors I stood up and grabbed my ice cream with me, and rush to reach the exit door, without glancing back at the weird looking stranger. It's not like he's weird or he only wants to be friends, but I don't feel like talking to anyone. I'm too depress to talk to anyone in fact. Just wanna be alone in my own little bubble. I opened the door and saunter outside, and out of nowhere I fell, hitting someone with an ice cream on a manly chest.
My eyes widen in dumbfounded. Shit. This can't be happening now. This is so not cool. I didn't noticed the uneven cement floor. My ice cream landed on a mans chest.
"I'm terribly sorry." I apologies to the man standing in front of me while my right hand tremble as I wiped his shirt. I couldn't find my hanky from my pockets, so I had no choice but to use my bare hands. I regret not finishing my ice cream, so this wouldn't have happened. I can die from embarrassment right now.
He abruptly held onto my arm and I glanced up at him. A smile lingered on his face and when I reached his eyes. It was those chestnut eyes I've seen earlier.
"I'm...I'm so—so sorry." I stammered.
His eyes dilated. "Oh, hey it's you." He stepped back and I place my right hand to my side that was awfully sticky from the ice cream.
He took off the cap of his water bottle and pours some in his handkerchief. He grabs my sticky hand and raised it in front of us, then he begin wiping my hand. All I can do was stare in humiliation.
The moment he was done with my hand. "Thank you." I murmured.
"It's fine. Anyway want another ice cream?" He asked and I stare at him.
Why in the hell is he so kind and generous?
I shook my head. "Nope, it's fine thank you. But your shirt?" I ask worriedly. "Should I get you a new shirt?"
He looks down on his chest examining the mess. "Nah, its fine. I'll just go to some laundry shop around the corner, before I head to a party."
Guilt rises to the surface of my being. "I'll buy you a new shirt, I insists."
I grabbed him by the arm and pulled him toward who knows where.