~*~
After a couple of hours, we arrived at the Ayala triangle garden. Parking my car, we both got off.
"I'm surprised. You know this place." He said when we got out of the car.
Of course, I know this place. What did he think of me, clueless about the beautiful places here in Manila?
"Of course," I said, and I walked away. He followed me. I didn't know that there were a lot of people there. Most of them are dating.
Should we leave? Maybe later we'll be mistaken for sweethearts.
"Why did you think to come here?" He asked from the back.
Why? I don't know either. But I think we need to go to another place. I don't want to be surrounded by a lot of couples with this crazy guy.
I stopped walking to face him. "I changed my mind, let's go somewhere else. Do you know any place to go?"
His eyebrows were slightly raised. "Why? This place is beautiful and relaxing. I like it here."
"But I..." I couldn't continue what I was about to say because someone pushed me from behind, causing me to fall. But I didn’t fall to the ground because Lukeweynn caught me right away.
"Are you okay?" Lukeweynn asked me in concern. Our faces are inches away from each other, so I could feel his breath on my face.
When I came to my senses, I immediately moved away from him.
"Who the hell pushed me!?" I asked, annoyed, and I looked behind me and saw a kid. I think she is between 7 and 8 years old. She is holding a ball. She is staring at me.
Oh, it was a kid. I thought it was an adult.
"Hey, kid. Are you okay?" I asked her because she looked stunned at me.
She nodded her head.
I gently pat her head. "Okay. Good. Go back to your mother. You might get lost." I told her.
"Yes, but I can ask you a question?" She asks me in her cute voice.
"Question? Sure. What is it?"
She looked at someone at my back before looking at me again. I think she looked at Lukeweynn. Yeah, there was no one else behind me anyway.
"Are you two boyfriends?"
I raised my two eyebrows at her question. I was speechless. I didn’t expect that.
I turned my gaze around to look at Lukeweynn. He also looked at me, shrugging his shoulders, but there was a small smile on his lips. I frowned at him and turned my gaze to the girl.
"No. We're not. We're nobodies."
Her forehead is slightly furrowed, and confusion travels over her face. "Uh-uh. I don't think so." After she said that, she immediately left.
Like what?
I heard Lukeweynn chuckle behind me.
"Kids don't really know how to lie.".
Like what?
I faced him again. "Excuse me?"
"Never mind. Come on, let's have a walk." He said while smiling, then he walked past me.
"Hey! Didn't I say I don't like it here? Let's go somewhere else!"
"But I like it here!"
"Damn it," I murmured, and found myself following him.
"What's even good here? I mean, there are so many couples around, dating..." I paused as my eyes caught the two men kissing while sitting on the ground.
What. The...? Seriously? Here? Aren't they disgusted?
I immediately averted my eyes from the two of them. I'm terrified.
"I think we should leave and go somewhere else."
"Nah. I told you I like it here." He stopped walking and looked at me for a few seconds before wandering his gaze around. "I know you feel uncomfortable being surrounded by couples while I'm with you, but don't mind them. It's their business, and we have our own business too." He looked at me again. "Let's just enjoy the place together. As brothers." He smiled at the end of his sentence. "Come on. Let's have a walk." Then he walked away.
I don’t know, but I felt something strange in my chest. I don't know. Never mind.
Deciding not to stay there, I followed him. We wander around.
As we wandered around, it came to my mind that there was a museum there. We can go there instead of lingering around and watching couples dating. Besides, I like art exhibits and I guess he likes them too since he also loves art.
"Hey," I called him, so he barely looked at me.
"Are you calling me?"
"Yeah. Do I have anyone else with me here?"
He chuckled silently. "What is it?"
"Do you want to see the exhibit? Exhibit for arts."
He looked at me. "Really?Yes. Where?" He asked with enthusiasm.
~*~
The two of us are now inside the Ayala Museum, looking at artworks. I really like watching artwork. The artists are really amazing.
I looked at Lukeweynn who was also busy looking at the artwork. It's obvious that he is really into them.
Just then, I remembered the artworks he made that were displayed in his office. He has potential since he draws well.
"Why don't you sell your artwork here?" I asked him, which made him stop staring at the artwork and look at me.
He looked bewildered. Right. He didn't know that I had seen his artwork.
"I'm sorry, what?”
"Well, I saw your artwork earlier. There in your office."
"Is that so? How could you say those were my works?"
"I thought you bought them, but your secretary said you made them."
He said something but I didn't hear it.
"I didn't know you were good at drawing. Why don't you sell your drawings here?"
"I won't sell them."
"Why is that? They looked... incredible. I'm sure they would like them."
"I don't want other people to see that."
My eyebrows rose slightly in astonishment. "Why?"
"Because that's just for one person."
"Huh?" Wait... No way. Is he talking about the girl he likes?
"Are you talking about the girl you like?" I asked him but he didn't respond to me. Instead, he looked at the artwork again. Well, silence means yes.
"In that case, did you make them for her? Has she seen them yet? Did she already know that it was for her?"
He looked at me, chuckling. "Are you that curious?"
"Huh? No. I'm just... asking." Well, I’m curious too.
"Well, that person already saw them, but that person doesn't know that they are for.. her."
"Why didn't you tell her?" I asked, but he didn't answer me.
"No way? Don't tell me you still haven't confessed your feelings for her?"
He looked away.
I laughed a little. Okay. I know.
"It's okay, bro. We're just the same."
He looked at me. "Yeah, but with one different."
"What do you mean?"
"Nothing." He smiled at me before looking away.
Weird. Tss. Whatever. I'm going to the history exhibit section. I was about to walk when he spoke.
"Now, you know that I can draw."
I looked at him. I didn't speak because I knew he had more to say.
"Let me draw you," he said, looking at me.
"What?" Maybe I heard it wrong.
"Let me draw you," he repeated.
"No. Of course not. Why would I let you?" I laughed a little in sarcasm. "And why would you draw me?"
"Well, I want to try drawing a person."
"Well, it’s a no." I shook my head.
I saw him shrug his shoulders. "Okay. Tell me if you've changed your mind."
I scoffed. "Come on! That will never gonna happen. I won't let you draw me. No." I shook my head.
Why does he want to draw me? Tss. That's ridiculous.
"Well, just in case you change your mind, just call me. I'll clear my schedule to draw you." He winked at me before looking away.
Well, I'm not gonna change my mind.
---
QUEENIE's POV
I'm ready to go to meet Jake but I'm stuck here in my room. I have been calling Jake's phone number but he is not picking up my calls.
Hmm. Is he that busy? Where on earth is he?
I just sent him a message, then.
__
JAKE's POV
Presently, we are here in a restaurant, eating. I checked the time on my wristwatch and it was already 3:35 in the afternoon. I need to go.
"Where do you want to go next after this?" He asked me while eating.
"Going home." I instantly replied, which made him lift his head to look at me.
"Already?"
"Yes. You know, I have a lot of assignments to do for tomorrow. I haven't started even one, so yeah."
Of course, I am just lying so that I can get away from her and so that I can go to my Queen's house.
"Oh, I see. Sure. Study first."
"Yeah, thanks."
We continued eating. After we ate, we left the restaurant. And since he didn't have a car, I took him to his company.
I stopped my car in front of his company building when we arrived.
"Thanks for driving me, Jake," he said to me while unfastening his seatbelt.
"Um," I replied, nodding my head. Hurry, man! Get out.
"So, see you tomorrow?"
I frowned at him. "What? Tomorrow?" Who told him we would meet tomorrow? Tss.
"Yeah, see you, bro." He said while smiling and he got out of my car before I could react.
I followed him with my eyes and immediately lowered the window of my car.
"Hey!" I called him but he didn't look at me. "We won't meet tomorrow!" I half yelled, but he ignored me.
Seriously? Didn't he hear me or was he just pretending he didn't hear me?
Whatever. I'm not going to see him tomorrow.
Shaking my head, I started the engine of my car and drove it away.
In the middle of my driving, I picked up my phone and checked if there was a text and I was surprised to see thirteen missed calls and one text message from Elle.
Damn! The notifications were two hours ago. Damn! Why didn't I notice it? Shit.
---
ZED's POV
"Thank you, Manang Terese!" I said to Manang Terese after I took my order.
The three of us are now on our school field, playing soccer. We also had nothing to do today, and Jake wasn't here either, so we thought of going on the field and playing.
When I returned to the field, I immediately saw Gab lying on the grass. Where is Tobi?
Ah, maybe he goes to the comfort room.
I ran closer to Gab.
"Hey!" I called Gab when I could get in his direction. I sat on the ground next to him.
"Water," I handed him a bottle of water.
"Thanks," he said and got up from lying on the ground. He opened the bottle and drank it. After he drank, I took the bottle from him and I also drank it.
"Whoah! Wait, bro... I already drank that." A little shock traveled his face.
"So? What's wrong with that?" I asked in confusion after drinking water.
He shrugged. "Nothing," and he lay down again.
"Where are we going after this?" He asked while looking at the sky.
I also lay down next to him. "Shall we go to the bar?"
He looked at me with a foolish smile. "Shall we?"
I laughed. "I don't think that should be asked."
He also laughed. "Cool! This day is perfect for the bar. Lots of people and most of all, lots of pretty, sexy chics."
"I just want to drink and chill with you and Tobi."
"Really, huh?"
"Of course! Come on. When else have I paid attention to a woman?”
He laughed a little. "Yeah, never." He tilted his body to face me, so I looked at him. "Why don't you look at women?" Curiosity traveled his face.
Why?
Because there is only one person I want to look at.
~*~