I was dumbfounded for a moment.
"Why?" I asked.
He looks at me in confusion because of my question.
"I mean, you have lots of people surrounding you and probably want to befriend you. You're even having a good time with them already so why ask me?"
"Do I have to have a reason for that? It's just because I chose you. That's all it is."
I swallowed my sigh to myself.
"What if I say I don't want to?" I raised my brow, does he think he can toy with me that much? I've had enough of his wicked thorns.
After putting on a bandaid, I quickly clean up and put everything I've used back in the kit.
"You have no choice if I already consider you as my friend."
"You'll get nothing from me for I will never bring myself to consider you as a friend." I stood up ready to leave but he keeps on spouting absurd things.
"Then you want to be my girlfriend?"
"Most certainly not." I turn around rapidly, terrified by his question.
"You hate me that much?"
"Yes so leave me alone."
I finally was able to leave.
"You helped him?" Sir Richard asked when he saw me retrieving the first aid kit.
I stood by the stool to reach the cabinet above the counter.
"Yes."
After putting it back, I placed the stool in its place and clapped the dust off my hands.
"...Thank you." Sir Richard thanked me behind me.
"No worries, sir," I replied not looking back at him, and headed towards my room to finally have my peace.
'Will you be my friend?'
'Will you be my friend?'
'Will you be my friend?'
It keeps bothering me that I even dreamt of a dog who looks and talks like him. It keeps on following me everywhere I go, repeatedly asking me to be his friend. Even if I refused, shout, scowl, and tried to harm it a thousand times, it still keeps on wagging its tail at me showing off his excitement in every move I make.
In which, speaking of the devil, I didn't realize at first that the Saturday morning already came until the loud rock music plays next door.
My mornings these days aren't the same as before.
I jumped off from my bed to get ready to go to the market before my groupmates get here. They said we will start in the morning and will finish it today, they didn't set a specific time and they'll also fetch Katy first so I'll go to the market first before everything else. I don't want to die because of starvation.
Though I'm still worried, what if they woke up much earlier just to get here while I'm still at the market?
I was thinking about my decision while getting ready, I wore my usual faded pants, a plain peach-colored shirt, and black flat shoes that go on in whatever outfit I wear. I tied up my hair in a ponytail, letting my lower curls wave against each other.
My usual look.
I took an eco-bag and my money with me as I leave my room. Rock music still playing next door. I doubt he would hear my knocks or calls but it won't hurt to try.
I knocked three times at his door but he doesn't answer. I tried to knock again three times while calling out his name but when my third and last knock was about to land on the door, he already opened it.
With his pants on and a sleeveless, he's up and looks ready to go somewhere else so I hesitated to ask him my favor.
"Uh..." I looked down because I can't even face him with his flashing naked upper body of his on my mind.
"Hold on." He stopped me and stepped back inside, after a moment, the music stops. He went back wearing his flannel shirt. "Why?"
"Are you busy?"
"No." He answered immediately.
"Are you sure?"
"Yes."
He looks like he's going somewhere but if he says so then...
"I was about to go to the market to buy things if you don't mind..."
"Sure."
I'm not even done talking. Is he listening? Before I could even ask or finish my last sentence, he stepped out, locking his door, and heading towards the landlord's room.
He knocked so loud that my fist almost feel the pain of his knocking and he shouted. "Uncle, wake up!"
Uncle?
So they really are relatives? And he's his nephew? That explains the special treatment! I crossed my arms.
I know I shouldn't mind, they're relatives and I'm a complete stranger getting paid without doing a lot of work because of a lack of customers. I should even be more grateful I'm not losing a job.
The door opens, revealing the still sleepy landlord who looks disturbed.
"For fuck's sake, Lyndon. Stop banging my door, it's Saturday morning." He groaned.
The more I stare at them, the more I recognize their familiarity. They have the same messy black hair and a boyish aura around them.
"We'll leave."
I thought he's not busy?
"So? Want me to kiss you goodbye?" Sir Richard scoffed.
"If her groupmates came, tell them to wait." He turned around to face me. "Let's go."
"Where are we going?" I asked him while following him go downstairs. I have something to do!
"Where are you going?" He asked me back.
"To the market."
"Then we'll go to the market."
"Why?"
"Because you're going to the market."
"You're coming with me?" My eyes widened.
"Stop asking the obvious."
"What are you going to do there?"
"Follow you."
"Wait a second." I stopped him from walking because I can't keep up with him. "So you're not going to buy anything?"
"Nope."
I closed my eyes for a moment, closing my mouth as I inhale deeply.
"Go back," I said after exhaling my frustration.
"Why?" He tilted his head. "I thought you want me to come with you?"
"I never said that! I was asking if you could tell my groupmates where I am if they ever came here earlier but you didn't let me finish my sentence."
"Ricky will do that."
"You mean your uncle? The landlord."
"...Yes. Besides, I know you'll need me." He shrugged.
"No, I don't."
"Or don't you?" He lifted his brows a few times, suggesting himself that he'd be right after all.
I furrowed my brows. What the heck is he thinking? Will someone be following me except him?
"Don't make a fuss there." I doubt he ever went there before. "And don't get too close to me."
"Hmm, why? Are you embarrassed by me? I'm too handsome for you to be ashamed of." He tailed at me as soon as I continue walking. "Anyway, you look awful. Is that why you're embarrassed? It's fine for me."
I gritted my teeth.
"Thanks to you." I feel more haggard when I woke up instead of feeling refresh because of my dream which is also his cause and now he's tailing me early in the morning.
"You're welcome...?"
I decided to go to the wet market to save up my money, neverminding the guy who's following me.
The moment we reached the place, I expected him to scrunch his face in disgust of the smell of fishes, meats, flies, muds, and dirt but he showed no such expression. He looks fine, eyeing the whole area.
His eyes land on mine when he noticed my stare.
"What?"
"You look so out of place." I pointed out.
"I've never been here before." He admits.
"I know." I turned around to face the vegetable section not wanting to ask more even though I'm very curious about him.
After buying veggies, I went straight to the meat section.
"This place stinks." He said as he pinches his nose, checking out the meat I'm buying.
"I don't know him." I excused myself awkwardly when the butcher's eyebrows twitch and some people who are working near turned their heads towards us.
"Who?" Lyndon turns his head at me so I quickly move out from that area while he never fails to reach me.
"Stop following me around."
"But you brought me here."
"I never told you to come with me."
More and more people came here as soon as the sun peaks. The crowd is greater than usual when it's weekends.
A familiar hand helplessly tries to reach mine so I move it away farther.
I felt annoyed by the thought of him touching me in this place especially when I remembered his rude actions.
I already told him to not get too close to me.
"Hey! Don't leave me here!" He sounds anxious. "Suzi!" He tried calling my name a few times but it only made me more embarrassed because of him. When he went suspiciously silent, that's the moment I turn my head to look for him.
"Lyndon?" Despite the loud noises people are making, I feel like it's very silent when I didn't found him near me. "Don't joke around, come out now or I'll leave you here." I threatened him but he still didn't show up.
My eyes roam around in the crowd to find his presence but all I can see are a bunch of strangers surrounding me.
I never felt so strange in the sea of people filled with unknown faces until now. It's petrifying.