I'm already his target and I can already feel my dead-end coming closer.
He caught me looking at him and so he stared at me intently as he puffs his cigarette.
When I finally realized how stupid I look, I moved my feet.
"You're late," Lyndon mumbled when I get close to him.
I remember the thoughts that have been running through my mind while I was walking.
I frowned, "It has nothing to do with you."
I stopped when he starts to puff smoke again and tried to avoid it while scrunching my nose. As I shove the smoke away from my face he threw his cigar and stomp on it while his left-hand pushes the top of the door for me to enter.
Setting my things aside, I tied my hair in a ponytail preparing myself for another hectic job but Lyndon's orders were nothing compared to yesterday. Is he guilty of what happened or is he scared to overwork me again because the landlord's here? I bet it's the latter.
He's been glaring at me for a while, annoyed because he can't abuse me like yesterday.
Lyndon closed the door and the windows before turning up the aircon.
"Are you hot, Lyndon?" I heard them asking him.
I picked up a book while waiting for their orders as they play billiard, finally.
"I don't know, someone tied up their hair so I guess someone's hot." He shrugged as he did his shooting stance.
Ash, from earlier, laughed. "Are you being considerate?"
Jake coughs from Ash's statement and elbowed him. Some guys suppressed their laughter too.
He wasn't able to shoot the ball and so he stared at them irritatingly right after like they are the cause. I don't really pay attention to them that much, maybe some of them have long hair? Either way, I feel unsettled because it seems like he's teasing me silently.
I just stared at the book without any comprehension because all my thoughts and ears were on them.
"Are you seducing Jillian?" A low voice near me asked.
I was shocked to find him close to me while picking something to drink inside the fridge.
"What?" I stared at him.
What drivel is he spouting?
"You said you're going to stick to him like super glue, is that why you tied up your hair?"
"Of course not."
He smirks at me before giving me an expression like I'm the silliest person he has ever met.
"Good. 'Cause you look like an egg with your hair tied up."
My face heated because of his last statement. I withstand my hair all tied up and his words for the next few hours because I don't want him to see that I'm affected by it even though I really am.
When they finally decided to leave, I felt relieved and itchy to go upstairs so that I can untie my hair already.
I hurriedly clean up their mess even when they're still getting ready and planning where to go after playing billiard.
"I'm starving, we should eat first."
"Your treat?"
"You mutt head, of course not."
"Jillian's our credit card, remember?" They all laugh while waiting for his response expectedly.
I haven't noticed him earlier. I look around for him and when my eyes found him, his gaze locked me up. He's also holding a book, he didn't play?
"Sure. I'm craving for eggs too." He said that while staring right back at me.
My face heated again because of pure embarrassment. Does he hear what Lyndon said earlier or do I really look like an egg with my hair tied up? I even comfort myself that maybe Lyndon's trying to abuse me mentally because he can't do it physically today but I guess not.
"I'll pay for today." Lyndon interrupted their loud cheering.
"No, I'll do it." Jillian diverts his eyes from me to Lyndon.
"Your pocket might cry." Lyndon grins.
Some agreed with Lyndon due to the reason that Jillian is the one who always pays.
"I've been paying our expenses for a while now, it never cried." Jillian insisted.
Why are they insisting to pay each other's expenses? If I'm the one who gets treated, I'll eat freely to my heart's content. If they have nothing to spare, just give me the money and leave. I badly want to go upstairs.
The guys' loud cheering fell silent.
The landlord noticed my urgency to go up so he joined the conversation too to finish it already.
"You two can share for the total expense. Now, leave and don't start a quarrel here. Suzi, you can also leave now I'll lock the hall."
I thank him as I picked up my things and bid my goodbye before rushing upstairs and locked myself inside my room. I aggressively remove my hair tie and throw it to God knows where.
I throw myself on the bed with my body facing the mattress and a pillow covering my face. I tried to scream all my pent-up embarrassment as much as I can.
I change my position once I felt satisfied and thoughts came running down my head. Lyndon's not here so I won't be hearing that damn song tonight. I'll have my focus to study but before that, I have to give him the copy first, I don't want to face him so I'll just leave the papers in front of his door.
I suddenly remembered the torn papers earlier. What happened to those? Did he sweep it away? Or the landlord accidentally saw it when he got to his room this morning and swept it? But if he did, he must have told me about it. Or did he told it to Lyndon?
I lift myself up to check what happened and saw the torn pieces of papers still outside, all messed up. Luckily, the landlord didn't saw this. I look down from the terrace to check up on him but there's no one there. Maybe he joined them to eat. Oh, I forgot I haven't eaten yet.
I took the broom to sweep the torn papers and throw them away. After sweeping, I left the copies in front of his door as planned and left to buy dinner for myself.
I embraced myself while walking as the cold night breeze blew. Near the shop where I always bought my dinner, a familiar noise was heard.
Their laughing and teasing seem usual to me these days, I turn around to see what are they up to.
"Lyndon, share your blessings." A man laughed along with the others.
Occupying a large table, a group of people is eating happily together...mixed with both men and women. They look like they just met for the first time but get along together easily. Among the table, there's an exact place where the women crowded the most. I can tell who it is already so there's no need for me to look anymore.
The familiar feelings I felt the last time I left the house occupied me once again. I felt alone.
"Miss? Are you going to buy?" The owner suddenly asked.
"Oh, uhm..." My hands search for money in my pocket while looking at the dishes in front of me. "One order of this." I pointed.
The lady told me the price when I noticed I forgot to bring my money!
"Miss?" She asked impatiently waiting for my payment.
I looked at her, embarrassed. "I'm sorry I forgot to bring my money. Please wait for me while I get it."
"You're wasting my time here." She annoyingly said.
I got annoyed too, what kind of seller is she to say that to a customer? Yeah, I'm at fault but I apologized already. It's not that hard to wait. I was about to utter back but someone cut in and places a large bill on the table.
"Keep the change." Jillian arrogantly muttered at the owner before handing me the meal.
"That's...too much. I can't pay you a thousand." I worriedly said.
"You don't have to."
I felt relieved.
"What are you doing here?" Everyone's eating together.
"It's too crowded, I hate it." He walks over to a secluded place and sat on an empty bench.
I don't have any business with him but it's too rude of me to just leave him after his treatment for me.
"Have you had your dinner?"
He's scrolling through his phone when he answered.
"Yeah, an egg." He smirks.
I frowned when I remembered Lyndon's words.
"Good for you." He already ate so I'll take my leave now.
I won't be buying my meals there anymore! I can cook much tastier meals anyway. Plus, it will help me manage my savings and my food intake so it's no problem.
I'm still annoyed. Damn that beast.
I've been cursing Lyndon in my mind for the whole walk to the apartment but it's not enough. Before my room, I passed through his and saw the papers I left earlier at his front door. I gave it a kick and slammed my door when I entered my room.