3: Surprises and Midnight Adventures

I looked at the back of the man who escorted me to my unit. “ Today’s a lot of surprises” he took a glance at me with a half smirk on his face. “So, you happen to be my new neighbor” he added before facing me, stopping in front of my door. I frowned at him in confusion. “I live at 720” he chuckled, my mouth hanging half open at his statement. He laughed more, “so my neighbor Liana, maybe I can borrow the book tomorrow? I’ll just knock and I’ll bring the book as well” he smiled before placing down the bags he offered to carry before striding toward his unit and opening the door. He opened it and looked back at me, gesturing for me to go in as well with a smile.

And I did go inside, in a trance. I shook my head at the revelation before carrying the bags from the department store to my room and the ones from the supermarket to the kitchen. Half of the day was spent organizing the house. I cleaned the kitchen counter and placed the snacks and foods inside the cabinet, placing the drinks inside the refrigerator. I dusted the living room, placing the pillows inside the pillowcases and placing the decorations I bought in their respective places. Finally, I cleaned the closet before scattering my clothes on the bed. I hung all my clothes, and placed my shoes under it and the other necessities. There’s a table already, and I only need to build the drafting table beside it.

‘Maybe a few decorations and lights will make it cozy’ I nodded to myself before closing the closet door and changing the bedsheets and the pillowcases with mine. I left the last bag that contains all my school supplies on the table and slumped down the bed with a groan. I stared at the ceiling above me. ‘Glowing-in-the-dark moons and stars would be pretty, right?’ I asked myself once again, nodding at my own question.

I grabbed my phone that was placed on the nightstand beside me. Messaging on our family group chat that I cleaned and organized the unit and I’ll be resting before I smile tiredly to myself and closing my eyes for sleep.

Who knows how long I slept, no one. All I know is that the room was dark when I woke up. I squinted my eyes at the light that emitted from the living room, my head hurting at the pressure it gave me. Deciding to eat outside, I changed into comfortable clothes, it was pajamas, before grabbing my wallet and keys, along with my phone, and walking out of my unit. Another door closed, making me look at it, only to see Akihiko going out as well. “My new neighbor, why are you out at this time?” he asks, approaching closer to me. Instead of answering him, I looked at my phone only to be shocked. “11 PM? What the heck?” I look up at him with wide eyes. “Why? What is it?” he asked, confused at my reaction. “Akala ko saglit lang yung tulog ko, what the heck” I blinked before frowning at the growl my stomach made. I bit my lower lip, “obviously, it was a long sleep, let’s go eat?” he chuckled. I look at him, “huh? Wala ka bang pupuntahan?” we walked to the elevator and waited in front of it after pressing the button.

“I was about to go out because I kinda want a drink, and I happen to see you, then I remembered I haven’t eaten as well” he shrugged nonchalantly as it wasn’t a big deal that he was about to drink without eating. I gaped at him, “you’re going to drink without eating? Diba masama daw yon” I tell him while we get inside the lift. “Really? I’ve been doing that since last year” he looked back at me, mirroring my expression. “Yes, that’s bad,” I told him.

Another thing about Brye, one that I noticed since we met, is that he only speaks in English but does understand when I speak my own language.

“Hmm, then it’s a good thing that you informed me then, that gives you a free drink from me” he winked, changing the topic before softly laughing.

After that, we fell into silence. We got out of the elevator after hearing the ring and went out of the building. “Do you have any preferences?” he turned to me while we stood at the entrance. The breeze was colder since it was probably nearing midnight. There are still cars that filled the road. Some of the shops are still open and some are closed already. “Kahit ano, I don’t think that I could think of anything to eat since I’m hungry” I shrugged before looking at him. I met his side profile, “I know a place, but it’s a bit far from here, I’m kinda worried that maybe you’re too hungry to travel” he looked back at me, looking down as he smiled softly.

His soft smile doesn’t seem to fit his sharp and mean features. If you’d see Brye at some place, you’d probably strike him as a mean person. That one kind of stranger that you won’t want to speak to or ask to.  

“Well, if it’s worth it, why not?” I chuckled at him, “if gutom din naman na ako, it’s better to eat something worth it, di ba? Saan ba yung place?” I added with confusion painted on my face. “We still need to get on a bus, it’s one travel, I kinda don’t want to use my car” he grinned before grabbing my wrist.

His hand which I thought was rough because of the veins that pop out from it was soft and gentle around my wrist.

He pulls us to the nearest stop and waited for a bit before we got inside a minibus. We were standing since it was already full. No, it wasn’t just full, it was loaded with people who are desperate to go home already, who were left with no choice but to stand up during the ride. I frown at the closeness of the man behind me, trying to squeeze himself comfortably which made me uncomfortable because of the way his body brushed against me. Not to mention his sly arm that seems to cage me so that he can ‘hold’ the rail well to balance himself. A sudden stop causes the people inside stir. And because I was focusing on the man, more like focusing on trying to be far away from him, I tripped in Brye’s side and the man behind me pressed his body on mine, making me push slightly with a frown.

A hand snaked on my shoulder in a protective manner, the man looks up at Brye, gaining his composure and clearing his throat. I look up at him, “careful” he muttered while pulling me close to his chest this time, closing the gap between us and widening my gap from the man.

It didn’t take long for us to arrive at the place Brye was pertaining to. It was a restaurant just beside the road. I look at it, the warm ambiance matched the time. As soon as we walked in, my eyes were glued from the flooring to the interiors of the place. The patterned floor matched the dark brown wooden chairs and tables. The blackish corners of the walls made the cream wall stand out, which was filled with pictures of different people, or events that happened from past eras. “Well, if it’s the infamous Lim, the youngest of all” the guy on the counter smirked, leaning on the counter while he watched us approach him. From eyeing Brye, his gaze shifted to me, making his eyebrows raised in confusion, or in surprise even. “Finally going to break the long list of families who wanted to be tied with you?” he asked while standing up straight.

“Shut up, Karlos, we’re here to eat, not gossip about the rumors that stupidly fly around the air” he spat the guy, who was apparently, named Karlos. Karlos chuckled at the cold reply of his friend, “just asking, it’s tiring to hear stupid rumors that someone is dating you when they aren’t, it’s free to delude” he shrugs before turning to me with a smile. “What can I get you, pretty?” he grinned at me. From looking at him, I turned to look at the menu above us, then turned my head to Brye, “is there something?” he asks with a frown. “Any recommendations?” I raised both my brows at him, waiting for his answer.