Chapter 13

Early the next morning, I found Blake standing at the entrance to my apartment block again. It looked like he had been waiting for long, with clothes slightly damp from the morning dew.

"What are you doing here?" As usual, I was the one who spoke first.

"To send you to the school."

Blake's flat tone instantly ignited my morning fury. "Blake Wagner! Who the hell do you think you are? Do you think you can just show up whenever you wish? Do I look like I need a fucking ride from you?

"Southvale is such a large city. Do you think I have difficulty accessing the bus or subway?"

"Nate? What are you on about?" Blake's voice remained unstirred. However, it was evident that he was puzzled by my irritability today—a stark contrast to how I used to get in the car calmly.

"Me? What are you on about? Blake Wagner, I'm begging you, please leave me alone! Stop acting like you're in charge of my life just because you're older!"

"Nate, you know that I have never tried to meddle in your life."

Blake's unwavering calmness brought tears to my eyes. I pointed a quivering finger at the man before me, forcing myself to curse at Blake to no avail. I couldn't muster anything meaningful at all. Even the simplest insults were not materializing on my tongue.

With a sigh, I withdrew my hand and walked away. Blake reached out to stop me but caught himself and stopped.

All of that I couldn't care less about. What really bewildered me was the fact that there were no shared bikes available in the neighborhood that morning.

It was like everything was going wrong for me all at once. Bad luck really did come in threes! I had no choice but to start trekking toward the subway station, keeping an eye out for any shared bikes along the way.

I could sense Blake trailing slowly behind me, but I wasn't going to give in and go with him.

I couldn't understand why things had to turn out this way. Why did everything have to unfold as per Blake's wishes?

Why did I have to listen to everything Blake had to say? Why, after all these years, did I still have to live under Blake's shadow? Why did Blake have the right to come and go as he pleased?

At this thought, a lump started to form in my throat. I rubbed my palms against my face vigorously, trying to calm myself down.

Just then, a series of honks sounded behind me; each burst louder than the last. When I turned around, I found that Blake was blocking several vehicles. Yet, he seemingly had no intention of breaking his slow pace.

Some of the drivers were even leaning out of their windows to curse at him. Nevertheless, he remained unfazed as he continued at his leisurely tempo.

"What exactly do you want?" I couldn't hold back any longer, so I strode up to the car to confront the man.

"Get in!"

"Are you threatening me?" I was furious. If I couldn't figure out Blake's intentions by now, I might as well be dead.

"So, are you getting in or not?"

Scrutinizing the confident smile on his face, I didn't even think before replying, "I'm not..."

However, I was cut off by the obscenity that surged at me from behind. Seeing me stand by the passenger door without getting in, the drivers had all blown their tops. In response, I gritted my teeth and climbed into the car, albeit reluctantly.

As though he had predicted this outcome, Blake drove off as soon as I was seated.

"You did that on purpose!"

"What on purpose?" asked Blake nonchalantly as he tossed a glance at me. "Nate, put on your seat belt!"

"You!" My eyes turned red with anger. After buckling in, I refused to engage with Blake any further.

Faced with my childlike behavior, Blake fought back a wide grin.

My expression was just as cute as it had been when I was a kid. This made Blake wonder if I would be equally as adorable with tears streaming from my red eyes.

Numerous wicked thoughts flitted through his mind, but he restrained himself. Now wasn't the time. He had to take things slow, or he might scare me off again.

I had no idea what Blake was smiling at, but I had a bad feeling about it. The strange grin on his face made the hairs on the back of my neck stand on their ends.

Finally, the painful journey came to an end. I couldn't wait to unfasten my seatbelt, but a large hand suddenly wrapped itself around my own. I froze, like a startled cat with puffed-up fur.

"What are you doing?"

Blake's gaze was intense. His deep eyes seemed to hide an abyss, and one look was all it took to send a chill down my spine.

My bravado faltered, and I stammered, "W-What do you want? I-I'm going to be late for work..."

"Nate, I was working on a very important project."

"Oh..." I couldn't fathom what Blake's project had to do with me. Was he trying to say that he was so stressed from work that he'd gone mad? Damn him—he should simply let me go!

I peered at Blake, then down to my imprisoned hand. I signaled for Blake to release me, but he seemed oblivious and continued talking to himself.

"Now, that project's been bagged."

"Uh... Congratulations?" Was Blake really just holding me there to brag about his work achievements? Heck, he must genuinely be out of his mind!

Blake still wasn't letting go. I started to panic. Did this guy really have issues?

"Pfft... Nate, you're a teacher now! How could you be so impatient?"

"Blake Wagner! Are you sick in the head?" If so, he ought to go to the hospital instead of dragging me into his frenzy! I wrestled harder against Blake's grip to free myself.

Tsk, such temper! Blake watched my cheeks puff up in annoyance while attempting to pry his fingers apart. He pressed his tongue against the roof of his mouth and turned to look at me.

In a low, deep voice, he said, "Nate, I'm trying to explain everything to you!"

"Explain what?"

Gazing into my red eyes, Blake decided not to tease me any longer. "Nate, I was too busy with that project last week to pick you up..."

Before he could finish, I cut him off, "You were busy, so what? It's not like I asked you to pick me up! In fact, I'm happier without you around!"

"Nate, don't say things you don't mean..."

"I'm not! It's the truth! I get by just fine without you picking me up! Besides, you never once asked if I wanted to be picked up in the first place!"

Interrupted yet again, Blake patiently tried to soothe me. "You're right. It's all my fault. It was solely my decision to come and pick you up. In doing so, I failed to take your feelings into consideration. Please accept my apology, will you?"

"You..." I found myself losing steam at the unanticipated soft approach. However, I couldn't help noticing that it sounded like Blake was talking to a child.

"Nate, there's something I need to explain to you!"

"What is it?"

"The woman standing next to me yesterday was just my secretary."

A bazillion questions barged into my mind. What the hell was Blake talking about?

"Tsk..." Blake couldn't resist ruffling my hair upon seeing my confused expression. He found me adorable! He said, "I just had to explain in advance—in case you got the wrong idea!"

His reply didn't answer any of my questions. Had he gone insane? To hell with his stupid excuse!

The mix of bafflement and vexation in my eyes only boosted Blake's mood. He couldn't fight the urge to pinch my bulging cheeks. "Weren't you worried about being late?"

"Blake Wagner, you're a damn lunatic!"

Watching me leave behind an insult and dash out of the car, Blake let out a hearty laugh.

He stared at his hand, still warm from the prior contact. His eyes filled with an uncontrollable sense of longing. "Just a little longer! He's almost yours!"