Chapter 4: The Spark Between Us

At exactly eight I arrived at the hospital and saw Desmond in the reception area sitting on the bench. He looked like a visitor with a cast on his right leg waiting for someone while his eyes roamed around. When he glanced at the entrance, he waved at me and tried to get up while holding his crutches.

I immediately ran towards him and held his shoulder. "What are you doing here? Why aren't you in your room? Why aren't you in your hospital clothes?" I shot him a series of questions making his beaming eyes squint at me.

"What do you mean? I told you yesterday, I'm going to bring you to my favorite place today!" he uttered while chuckling at my shocked expression. "You think I was kidding?!"

"Well, your accident may not be serious but if you're going to force your leg to walk, it will get worse!" I rebutted with my hands showing a quote sign in the air. "C'mon, let's go back to your bed!"

I was about to help him walk when he held my hand. I felt the spark clothed over me, my cheeks blushing red when I gazed at him. I couldn't fathom what was on that stare but it made me conscious.

Did he feel that tingling sensation, too? I hoped not!

"Don't worry about me, señorita. I am used to getting hurt. This is nothing to me. Also, my friend Adam will be with us!" his smile could wash all of my worries away. I felt a little disconnected from the present for all of my senses were being drowned in him. "He's going to drive us!"

"What?! Adam?" I was startled a bit, blinking my eyes as my soul went back to my body. "Who is Adam?" I asked, caught red-handed that I wasn't paying attention to him earlier. I earned a more narrowed stare from him after.

"He's my friend and he's at the entrance now!" he smiled back while raising his hand in a gesture to call his friend's attention.

I saw a good-looking guy, taller than Desmond and with a well-built body, I could guess he was an avid fan of the gym. His long hair was ponytailed down on his back. A strong arm that was raised in the air and a long hand busy waving at us. His voice was manly as he called his friend beside me.

"Yow, Des, bro!" he had long legs visible to his strides. "Goodness, dude. Valerie just told me yesterday. Damn, if I were you I would report that asshole haciendero that hit you!" okay, those overwhelming descriptions I said earlier, I took them all back. I narrowed my stare at this guy who was now staring back at me.

"Adam, dude...calm down!" Desmond whispered.

His side glance in my direction displayed anxiety while he bit his lower lip giving his friend a sign to shut up.

I crossed my hands over my chest and raised my chin while my vision was fixed on his 'friend' in front of us.

"Your girlfriend? Bro, she's cute!" hmm! A player I should say but I liked what he said. Either of the two, his fluttering made me blush. "Hello, Miss. I'm Adam. Desmond's life saver!"

I angled my eyebrow while staring at his smirk. Leaving his hand hanging in the air, I shifted my gaze to Desmond whose cheeks were beet red at the moment.

"Cut it, bro!" his voice was getting smaller and smaller. "She's not my girl...yet. Do not jinx me here!" and commented in between his gritted teeth. I heard a gasp from Adam and also saw a wink.

"Des?!" I called out when I could barely hear his voice. Obviously, these two were speaking about me. The two stood straight and glanced at me...wearing sheepish smiles.

"Adam, this is Señorita Amy Leah. Daughter of Don Miguel~"

"The asshole haciendero that hit him yesterday. Hi! It's nice to meet you" I cut Desmond off while my eyes were fixed on his now getting-pale friend.

"Ow! My bad. But it's also nice to meet you, Señorita!" Adam uttered in a not-sorry-way for I saw a slight sneer on his face. "So, I'm going to be your driver today. Des, did you already fix everything here?"

"Yes! I already had my discharge papers. I am free now!" Desmond smiled. He was about to take a step when I stopped him.

"The nurses here won't just give you a discharge paper without your guardian. How did you do that?" I questioned... sternly!

"I may have used my uncle's name!" he twitched his lips while glancing around.

"And your uncle's name is...!" it was Adam wearing his annoying grin.

"The ha~cien~dero!" he whispered while stuttering.

"Seriously, huh?!" instead of getting mad, I laughed at his boldness to use my father's name. Adam burst out upon hearing his lie.

"All right!" Adam cut off. "You sure you can walk? Do you want me to give you a piggyback ride?" he was teasing Desmond and the latter glared at him instantly.

"Just take my backpack and drive later!" he slightly pushed his friend who just laughed louder. When Adam left, he glanced at me shyly. "I'm sorry about that. My friend is~"

"He's funny, don't worry!" I tapped his arm and gleamed at him. "So, let's go. Show me this favorite place of yours!"

With Adam's help, Desmond managed to make things easy. I also found out that he asked Adam to prepare some food and drinks. He also brought a picnic mat and a thin blanket. I couldn't help but feel fascinated watching a big guy like Adam obey Desmond's commands.

"Why are you smiling?" his voice brought me out of my trance and glanced at him. "You've been staring at my friend for quite a while now, señorita!" maybe I was just imagining stuff but I heard a tinge of jealousy in his tone.

"Huh?! Well, it's not like what you think but...!" I saw him raise his eyebrow at me, wondering maybe. "I mean, how can you have the power to command him? He brought all of these because you told him so?!" my eyes widened as my shoulders bounced up.

At first, he was stunned and just gawking at me. Then he chuckled while adjusting his crutches. We were both sitting on the bench while waiting for Adam set the picnic mat. We were by the lake under a maple tree. Only a few people were here. Some were couples, others were people just strolling with their dogs.

"Adam is my best buddy since our daycare days. We help each other a lot. He's like a brother to me!" he explained well. I just nodded as I fixed my orbs on him.

"Yow, Des, the picnic date is set!" we were startled when suddenly Adam spoke. "So, I'm gonna leave you both for a while and call me when you're finished dating!" he nested with a wink.

"Seriously, Adam! Señorita Amy Leah and I are just going to talk and eat. That's all!" Desmond defensively groaned cracking his voice in the between.

"Yeah! Whatever my boss!" he just shrugged off. Their banters were quite entertaining I couldn't help myself but giggle. "Buenos dias, señorita!" he also bent down and took my hand. It was too late for Desmond to stop him when Adam kissed the back of my palm.

Now, it was just the two of us smiling at each other. Till it was me who darted away for I could feel the heat on my cheeks and it was reaching my ears.

We let Adam drive away first before we went to the picnic mat spreading widely on the grass. I help Desmond sit and leaned his back on the foot of the tree trunk putting his crutches beside him. I sat in front of him and opened the basket with food. Its delicious aroma cringed my nose and the warm and nourishing smell of the soup hit my nostrils. I literally skipped breakfast at the resort for this and now I was starving.

"Wow! Don't tell me Adam cook all of these!" my eyes widened and my stomach grumbled at the sumptuous food inside the basket. Morning feast in delight. Bacon, hotdogs, egg sandwich with melted cheese, and mango float for dessert. In addition, there were also two plastic cups of milk bubble tea and a bottle of water.

"Nah! My mom cooked all of them. She also made the dessert for you. Adam doesn't know how to cook. They have maids to do that for them!" Desmond smilingly answered. So, Adam was rich. That explained the car, although it wasn't as expensive as ours.

"I see. How did you become best friends?" I asked while helping him stuff some food on the paper plates.

"I saved him from the bullies at our school once!" he simply uttered ignoring the impact of his answer.

"You saved him? Do you know some self-defense?" I asked.

I was caught in a trance when he suddenly stuffed a pinch of an egg sandwich in my mouth. I could feel my cheeks getting hot red and it reached my ears. When I stared at him, he was looking at the food on his plate.

"No, but I know how to punch with my fists and kick with my legs!" he smilingly answered. I chuckled at his funny reply and after a few moments of eerie silence, we just sat there staring straight at each other, like counting the time or waiting for who was going to speak again.

"Do you like the food?" he asked then...gently.

"Yeah! I love it. They're all yummy. Your mom is a very good cook!" I honestly responded. This meal was indeed the most delicious breakfast I had ever had in years. Not just because of its taste but because of the person I was eating with.

"I'm glad you like the food. I'm glad you agreed to come here with me!" I could hear some seriousness in his tone but tried not to think deeply about it. I just gave him a tiny smile as my response.

"This is the best breakfast I have had in years, Desmond. It's the truth!" I told him earning a gawk from him as if he wanted to ask why but chose not to say anything. For that, he earned my admiration for respecting my privacy.

After a couple of minutes of silence, he asked again and this time I almost couldn't breathe. "Señorita, would you come back here this winter holiday?"

"I don't know!" for some reason, I couldn't clarify, his face looked gloomy. "But maybe. I mean if dad and mom will visit the hacienda, I will come again!" I added making his glum expression bright. "Why did you ask?" I was anxious to ask that but I was also curious like thrilled to know his reason.

"Coz, I wanna see you again. I mean, I wanna tour you to my second favorite place!" his smile displayed a hue of joy and yearning, waiting for the holiday to come faster.

"How many places do you like?" I asked wondering. At the same time trying to channel our conversation into something else. If he would continue making me blush, I might have disappeared on my spot.

He then shifted his stare to the crystal lake, his side view showed an emotion thousands of words to describe. He placed his hands on both sides of his hips pinning his back on the tree trunk. His flickering long eyelashes mesmerized me, I could say I would kill someone to have those.

"All are my favorite places. For as long as I am with the person I like!"

Goodness, I couldn't stop blushing I shifted my glance immediately at the food avoiding his gaze at me. What was he trying to imply? I would like to ask that but a loud honk from Adam's car interrupted our moment...if that's how you called it.

"Adam is back!" I whispered and got up at once. I saw Adam striding in our direction while waving at us. His grin was from ear to ear and his eyes formed a teasing sight.

"Señorita, I wish to see you again!" he whispered after slowly getting up not letting Adam hear it. But even so, his bestfriend would still poke fun at him anyway.

"Bro, times up. I have to go to my classes now. Have a class this afternoon, you know!" Adam uttered in a hurry. That's the only time I realized we spent at least four hours with each other here by the lake. "Sorry, señorita. Still studying. But in case you wanna get in touch with lowlife humans like us, can I get your number?" he also told me while studying my reaction. Desmond was also quietly listening.

"Sure! Give me your phone!" I told Adam and saved my number on his phone. He tried to call me and my phone rang in my purse.

"It's working. It's not a made-up number!" Adam chuckled. He glanced at his friend who was still in silent mode. "I will just put these in the trunk!" Adam seemed to understand what Desmond was trying to say that he busied himself on something else.

"Thanks, bro! I owe you this one!" Desmond uttered patting Adam's shoulder. The latter just nodded. "Thank you for this wonderful morning, Señorita. I had a great time being with you!" he then told me, his whole facial expression and voice implying both sadness and delight.

"I also had fun, Desmond. Thanks!" I responded joyfully as I gave him a light hug.

Adam and Desmond brought me back to the resort. That whole day, I just stayed in my room pondering what Desmond and I had talked about in the lake. My heart was a mess. It was pounding really fast every time I recalled all of his words.

"Desmond!" I whispered before I hit wonderland.