CHAPTER 3

“WHERE am I? I think I’m even more lost,” I said as I stood on the side of the road. The houses and shops around are less frequent, so I am nervous. It’s because I’m no longer familiar with the place I’m going through now and the nervousness in my chest is doubling. I looked up because I noticed that the sunlight was fading a bit.

‘It’s still shady. Please don’t let it rain.’

I was holding my stomach when it hurt. I ate a little earlier at the hotel before I left.

‘I haven’t eaten yet. Haist! What time is it!?’

I leaned on the car and forcefully turned on my useless cellphone now. Even the power bank I stocked in my car was low on battery as well.

‘Annoying!’

I almost jumped in my seat when someone blew a horn somewhere. I organized myself.

My eyebrow rose when I recognized the blue Mercedes Benz that was in front of me now. Moments later, Liam came downstairs.

‘He's still handsome. That's real talk! Nothing changed. Hey!’

“Need help?” he asked.

I folded my arms and raised my eyebrows even more. “Are you following me?”

“Yes.”

“What?” I can’t believe he answered that way.

“Look, it's bothering me seeing you leaving like what you did earlier. I’m following you and based on the slow speed of your car, I thought you were lost, and you didn’t know the right way. Is that right?”

I laughed, but it was fake. “Wow! You’re so good at that!” I say sarcastically.

“I know.”

“Hey, now what if I’m missing? You don’t have that problem anymore!” I’m going to drag him. I want to get rid of the beauty of this jerk in my system.

His smile flashed on his lips. Its evenly white teeth came out, so my heart became beat so fast even more.

“My problem is whatever my baby’s problem is.”

Something touched my heart when I heard that word. But I was even more annoyed with him.

“Yuck! Baby your ass. Could you please stop bothering me? Just step aside! I’m leaving.”

“I have food in the car. Do you want some?”

I was stunned by the proper ride in my car.

‘What is it? Don’t be tempted like this. I might give up because I'm starving.'

“No, thanks! I’m still full.”

“How come you’re full? You’ve been driving ever since early this morning, right?” He took something for a moment inside his car, then approached me again. “Come on, Ava. Eat these. Don’t worry, they don’t have any potion,” he said, then smiled again. He handed me a paper bag.

Ashamed as I was, I frowned even more and took the food he was giving me.

“Thanks!” I said as I got in the car and turned it on.

When I finally lost sight of Liam, with one hand, I looked at the paper bag. When I saw what was inside, I smiled. “You’re so annoying, Liam. You know exactly what my favorite is.” I picked up the cheeseburger and then smelled it. I even checked to see if it had a lot of cheese and I smiled with success when I saw this burger was full of cheese.

I started eating. It makes me feel so excited, with coke in-can and mineral water included inside the paper bag. When I ate what else was in it, there was a piece of paper folded. I picked it up and read it out of curiosity.

"Eat these, baby. Take care. I love you. Love, Liam."

There are some little things butterflies in my stomach. I hate this feeling. That's why I put the piece of paper in the passenger seat and then continue eating.

“I love you your face! Not because you gave me my favorite food. You can fool me again.” I focus my attention on eating my favorite cheeseburger. I was about to finish when I felt like it was raining outside.

‘Shit! It’s raining! How can I get it home?’

Desperately, I leaned back in my chair and tearfully looked out the window. The rain is getting heavier, and it doesn’t look like it will stop right away because of the lightning and thunder.

“I want to go home,” I whispered as my tears flowed. "I dislike this feeling. It will be late at night and it will still rain. I’m scared. I want to go home."

I tried to leave the place where I was. I kept driving but I could barely see outside, so I stopped again at the side of the road. I rummaged in my bag, scraped the inside, and looked for something that could keep my cell phone alive. “Why didn’t I charge last night?” I'm so irritated at the moment.

I focused on my car stereo and turned it on. The song is currently playing fast. To distract my mind, I accompanied this song. I suddenly looked at the back of the car when something shone from there. I stared intently and strained to see whose car was coming.

‘It's a Ford and color blue.’

“Liam?” I whispered when I saw him get out of the car with an umbrella. Just the one holding it and approaching me. As he got near my window, a song that was one of my favorite songs flew and reminded him of me. I turned off the stereo before he heard it. He knocked on the window, and I immediately opened it. “W-why?”

“Are you okay? Do you want to take shelter first? There’s a hotel nearby.”

I shook my head and tried to get serious. “Thanks. I can handle it. Maybe it’ll be over soon,” I said, even though I knew it was unlikely to happen.

“But it’s dangerous to be alone here, Ava. Come with me.” He insisted.

I feel furious. Maybe it’s also because of tiredness, hunger, and irritation. “Why you cannot understand what I am saying? I said it nicely as much as I could, didn’t I? Why you are always insisting on the things that I don't ask for? You’re so annoying, Liam!” I shouted at him. I could clearly see the pain on his face.

‘No. That’s not true. He’s just pretending to be that!'

He looked away and took a deep breath. “I’m sorry if I’m making you feel that way. Ahm, I’m just really worried about you, Ava.”

I don’t know if I’ll be pleased or feel more annoyed with what he said. I can’t understand him.

“What do I have to do to make you let me go, Liam?” I asked while my eyes were on the steering wheel. I could not meet his gaze because I knew I would betray myself.

Liam sighed, then spoke. “Come with me now. You won’t be fine here in your car. We’ll be at the hotel first because it looks like there’s a storm. You can also charge there and you can call your mommy and siblings,” he said. I turned to him. “After tonight, I won’t bother you again, but please, come with me, Ava.”

Something squeezed my heart when I heard those words.

‘Well, isn’t that what’s even better? Will he let me go?’

I did nothing when I left my car on the road. He said that we would only use his car to go to the hotel. Carrying my sling bag, I took a little space in the umbrella he was using. It’s just a small and for a single person, so we almost scrambled to keep it from pouring rain.

“Shit!” I shouted as I passed a pothole and almost fell. Fortunately, Liam hugged me so I didn’t fall. That’s all. He also lost his balance due to shock. He let go of the umbrella he was holding. Now we’re both wet. As his skin quickly caressed me, it was as if a voltage of electricity had flowed through us, causing me to step back away from him.

“Are you okay?” he asked as he frantically picked up the umbrella. “Take this.” He pulled me by the hand. I couldn’t speak anymore because I was still shocked.

I was hesitant at first if I would get in Liam’s car because I was wet. I’m sure the seat will be wet too, and it’s embarrassing for him.

“Get in,” he said. He even opened the door for me.

“B-but my clothes are wet,” I said, causing her eyebrows to meet.

“I don’t care. You’d rather get sick. Hop in.” The tone of his voice was full of authority, which made me feel I need to obey him, no matter what.

When I got inside, there I felt shaking my whole body. Liam also got into the driver’s seat and he was even wetter than me. I hugged my arms around my body because I was so cold. The car’s air-con was still on, so I got even colder.

“Fuck! I’m sorry, Ava.” Liam turned off the air-con and then stretched to the back of the car. Moments later he was holding this t-shirt and wiping my hair. “You might get sick. You’ll still get sick.”

My expression softened because I could see the concern on his face. His eyes were full of emotion, but I could not determine what they were. His handsome face, his sharp nose, and his long eyelashes were just right for his puffy eyes. And her thin lips… I averted my gaze because something else was running through my brain.

“Are you still cold? We’re going to the hotel so you can rest,” he said after wiping me.

“I’m fine,” I said, though honestly, I could already feel my body chilling.

“I'M REALLY sorry, Ma’am and Sir, but we don’t have a vacant room.” I frowned when I heard the receptionist say that.

“What? As in? At least one?” I asked. They could hear the irritation in my voice, so the woman was obviously scared.

“A-are you Miss Ava Williams? One of The Alchemist Band?” another woman asked. She was holding a cell phone, and I knew its camera was rolling.

“Excuse me, if there is no free room, thank you,” Liam said, then hold my elbow.

‘It’s annoying people like that. Instead of taking care of the customers, they will ask for some pictures from it.'

“I’m sure it’s Miss Ava! I am a huge fan of here!” said the woman who asked me earlier.

“We’ll just find someone else—”

“Excuse me.” Liam and I both turned to the owner of the voice.

“Yes?”

"Ahm, are you Miss Ava?” I looked at him curiously. From head to toe and back to his face again. 

“Y-yes, do I know you?” Again, I asked. I felt Liam’s grip tighten on me, this time on that arm. I glanced at him and found his gaze on the man in front of us, whose eyes were still on me.

He held out his hand and then introduced himself. “Henry Liam Go, the owner of this hotel. I’m an avid fan of yours.”

Hesitantly, I accepted his handshake, but he immediately let go because Liam stepped in.

“Liam Brown, Ava’s boyfriend.”

“What?” Henry and I asked almost, but I, in a weaker voice. I widened her eyes, but it looked like she had no intention of correcting the introduction.

“Nice to finally meet you in person, Miss Ava and… Liam. Can I help you?”

“No, thanks. Your receptionist said all the rooms are taken so we’ll just find another hotel,” Liam’s voice was bitter and slightly frowning.

‘I don’t know, but why does he look so cute?’

“Really? Wait, let me check it first. Excuse me,” he said goodbye to us and left us for a moment.

That’s when I confronted Liam. “Why did you say you’re my boyfriend? Are you out of your mind? What would he think about us, huh?" I whispered in a low voice, but I cannot hide the irritation in my voice. This man, he's getting on my nerves!

“Why? Did you like him?” His face was dark and his eyes when our eyes met.

“What?”

He could no longer speak because Henry was in front of us again.

“There's only one vacant room. Is it okay for you to share a room?”

I was about to refuse but suddenly my nose itched and I just sneezed three times in a row.

“Okay, we’ll get it. My girlfriend needs to rest as much,” said Liam, then helped me closer to the reception area.