Chapter 03 Social Media

“W-what?”

“Just tell me if you want,” he says before he ate his foods again. I can’t take my eyes off of him because of shock.

Out of the blue, he’s going to ask me something like that?!

“I-I mean excuse me, don’t get me wrong, okay?” he says while laughing when he noticed that I’m still looking at him with my mouth open.

“I’m simply asking you if you want to help me get rid of the problem I’m facing,” he added that made me somehow breathe freely.

I was about to assume that he likes me!

“What’s the problem?” I asked out of curiousity.

“I actually went to our mansion last night to meet my Dad, unfortunately he just told me to get married. Well, I’m hundred percent against of it because I’m still not ready, and I wanna graduate first,” he explained, “That’s why I’m asking you if you want me to be your boyfriend for us to pretend in front of my Dad. I really hate to get married by someone I don’t love at all.”

“Your Dad really said that?” I asked with my shock face, he nodded.

“He’s the worst,” he says sarcastically.

I wonder why other parents are like that. They are the one who’s making a decision, but they aren’t aware that because of that, there’s a possibility that their child would abandon themselves.

And his situation is really hard! Marrying someone you don’t love? I don’t think marriage is worth it if the couple are not in love with each other.

“Do you want me to be your boyfriend?” he asked again.

Well, his reason is valid but…

“Take your medicine first, I’m going to get change,” I said as I stood up.

I took a deep breath when I closed the door of my room. A part of me is worried about him since it’s obvious that he doesn’t want to get married but at the same time, a part of me also think what if he’s lying?

Knowing he’s famous, he can ask someone who’s famous also, not somebody.

I shooked my head while my head is debating. I shouldn’t open that up to him. I don’t know what to answer on his question, I’m also considering my life! Once that we have a connection, I’m sure that everyone will gossip about it. I’m avoiding any mess in order to have a good life!

As I went out of my room, I saw him looking at the picture frame that I put beside the TV. I went straight to the kitchen, I raised my eyebrow when I saw that the plates he used isn’t there anymore. So he washed it. I went back to the living room and sat while he’s busy looking at the whole living room.

“You’re a book lover,” he commented while he’s looking at the small bookshelf that me and Shia bought.

Shia actually bought the bookshelf to put my books there, she knew that I love reading books especially when I have nothing to do or I have a writer’s block.

“What’s your grade level?” He asked as he sat on the couch.

“Third year,” I answered.

“What course?”

“Education.”

“Whoah, hi, prof,” he joked that made me laugh.

“What level are you planning to teach?” he asked again.

Is this an interview?

“It depends but I really like secondary,” I answered that made him nod.

Both of us looked at the door when someone knocked. My heart automatically beats fast because that might be Shia.

“Wait, I---” he was about to say something as he walked towards the door but I pulled him immediately.

“Hide!” I said while my heart is still beating so fast.

“Huh? Wha---”

I pulled him again to hide him in my room.

“Don’t go outside without my permission,” I said with my serious tone, I closed the door of my room before I opened the door to see who’s knocking.

But I suddenly froze when I saw the foods that the delivery man is holding.

“Hi, Ma’am, food delivery, is Sir Paul Hemingway here?” he asked with a big smile on his face.

I feel like somebody poured my whole body a cold water.

I smiled fakely on him, “Hold on, I’m going to call him.”

I went in my room to call him, I saw him looking at the picture that I have that made me grabbed the picture to him. It’s my picture together with my family.

“Your deliver is here,” I said, he went outside. I took a deep breath.

I thought it was Shia! She would probably kill me with her endless questions if ever!

I stared at the picture, I suddenly missed them. Are they fine now? I haven’t talked to them for almost a week because I was busy these days. I’m just thankful that I have a lot of time now compare to last time.

I went out from my room and I saw Paul arranging the orders.

“I ordered again, I’m still hungry,” he says while laughing that made me laugh.

I sat on the single sofa and opened the TV to watch.

“Aren’t you going to eat?” he asked that made me look at him.

“I ordered a lot for us to eat more. I owe you for taking care of me last night,” he said while smiling, I smiled back and got my foods to eat.

“Why do you want to be a teacher?” he asked out of the blue, I stopped eating.

“I don’t know, I just want to be a teacher ever since. Maybe because I want to be one of the reasons for the students to achieve their dreams,” I answered.

He smiled, “Your intention for wanting to be a teacher is valid,” he said.

***

We’re just talking until we both got tired of talking.

It’s currently 4:30 in the afternoon but it seems like he has no plan to go back to their house. I walked towards him and put my hand on his forehead that made him look at me.

“What?” he asked.

“You’re okay already, you should go. Your father is probably worried now, he haven’t seen you,” I said.

He shooked his head, “As if.”

“You still need to rest,” I added.

“Yeah, I’m going to call my friends first to fetch me,” he answered before he pulled his phone from his pocket. I nodded.

Shia will be here soon, he need to leave before Shia find out that he stayed here for the whole day.

***

Paul’s POV

When I knew that she’s the one who helped me last night, I also know that she can help me to get rid of that f*cking marriage.

But I don’t think she will help me. It’s obvious on her face. Well if I were on her position, I won’t say yes as well.

“Here, keep this. After you eat your dinner later, take this one for you to be totally okay,” she reminded me as she gave me the medicine. I got it on her hand and nodded at her.

After a minutes, I can hear from here the voice of my friend named Josh, I opened the door.

“Hey, what are you doing here? Who are you with?” Josh asked with his loud voice before he looked inside.

I let them go inside to go to the living room where Bavina is busy reading.

“Don’t tell me…” He stopped on what he’s saying on purpose and looked at me and Bavina.

“Of course they had s*x,” Aeron said that made me punch his arm a little.

“Do you wanna die?”

“What’s your relationship?” Josh asked.

“We’re friends.”

“We just knew each other.”

Our eyes met when we both spoke at the same time.

“We’re friends,” I said. She didn’t speak and she avoided my eyes. That’s cute.

“What time are we going to leave? I still have to meet someone later,” Aeron said while he’s busy typing on his phone.

“We’re going now, Bavina,” I uttered that made her nod and smile.

“Are you sure there’s noth---” Aw! That hurts!” I glared at Josh. He’s really chatty!

I lead the way to go out of Bavina’s house first.

“Hey, you looked st*pid while smiling,” Josh commented as we went inside the car but I didn’t take a glance on him.

“Are you sure you don’t like her? It seems like there’s something going on!” Aeron teased me while he’s driving.

“We’re friends.”

“Yeah, maybe at first. You both will end up loving each other romantically,” Aeron said while laughing, “You know what? If you like her, just tell me. I can help you,” he added before he winked at me on the rear mirror.

“You’re a womanizer!”

Both of them laughed loud that made me shooked my head and sat properly.

I won’t deny the fact that she got my attention without her knowing it. She’s kinda interesting. We also have a similarities somehow.

We both love reading books especially romance. I just feel like I’m diving into another relationship while reading, that somehow helps me to be mature when it comes to relationship.

Tho I’m not dating anyone now. I wanna focus on creating music with Josh and Aeron.

“Our concert is coming, are we going to practice?” Josh changed the topic.

“Nah, we can do it without practicing,” Aeron answered, “I’m going to meet someone, she’s a jackpot,” he added that made me laugh.

Aeron is the womanizer among the three of us, I don’t know how he seduce girls. He has a good looks but I’m more handsome than him. No lie.

I put my hand on my pocket to get my phone but my mouth falls open when I realized that I don’t have my phone. I remember I put it on the sofa. Out of all the things I’m going to forget, why my phone?!

I leaned my head on the head rest and closed my eyes. I don’t know if we’re going to go back to get my phone or just let it there.

***

As the car stopped in front of my condo building, I left already since they have a business to do. While me, like what Bavina said, I should take a rest first.

I lied on my bed and stared at the ceiling, I laughed when I remember Bavina’s reaction when I asked her to be my girlfriend. That was so epic!

She looks a wife material, her house is neat and clean. I couldn’t see any dust even though her house isn’t that big. All the things she have are organize.

Flashback

I woke up when I felt the heaviness of my body. I closed my eyes many times when I realized that I’m not in my condo. I looked at around to know where I am and I suddenly get up.

I froze when I realized what happened earlier. I was driving, the night sky started to cry… then I ended up here. Yeah! I remember it, I saw someone helping me. Is this her house?

I took a peek on the window to look outside, it’s still dark and the road is wet but it’s not raining anymore. I looked at the room door, so I stood up and I slowly opened it.

I saw a girl sleeping peacefully. I recognized her, she’s the girl I met in our university’s garden. So she was the one who helped me. I slowly walked towards her, I noticed the picture she’s holding. It was her, I think it’s her sister who’s standing beside her on the picture.

End of Flashback

I can’t avoid but to smile while I’m thinking of her face.

This is making me crazy!

It feels like I wanna know her more. It seems like she’s the person you can read easily but you don’t know if you’re sure about what you’re thinking towards her.

I get up and opened my laptop. I opened my social media account and searched her name. I saw a lot of the same name, so I clicked every same name I see, but I didn’t see her.

Does she have an account?

I was about to log out my account when someone added me.

Bavina Gazelli requested a friend request.

I smiled when I saw her picture. She’s reading a book while she’s sitting beside the tree. She’s cute--- no, she’s hundred percent gorgeous in the picture--- no, even in the personal.

I raised my eyebrow, I didn’t expect that she wants us to be friend on social media.

I was about to message her but she sent me a message already.

Bavina:

Hi, you forgot your phone here. We can meet later to give the phone back to you. Don’t worry, I don’t gossip for me to look at your phone :)

I laughed when I read what she said on the last line.

Paul:

Okay, let’s meet later in the coffee shop near the university at 7pm.