"Can you please stop bothering me and just hand me the leash?" He ignores me and jogs away with Nana.

Why do I always end up with this guy? My plan was to avoid him, but we crossed paths all the time. He could just ignore me and go on with his life, but he keeps on bothering me. I was behind them; I couldn’t help but keep an eye on him. He’s wearing a plain white sleeveless shirt, running shorts, and his running shoes. He acts and talks with elegance, but he doesn’t like those who are boasting about their luxuries.

In just a few days of seeing him around, I observed that he’s not discriminating against others who differ from him. He respects them whenever their social class is And I can’t deny the fact that I respect him for that.

"Why in a rush? I bet you walked with Nana for a short time. Aunty Sarah brings Nana before eight o’clock and it is only past seven o’clock." I glared at his back before syncing into their phase.

I should have asked Aunt Sarah for some private information about the people she encountered here. I guess it is right that he is living here, but why does it have to be in this area where my work is?

"Then let me walk with Nana and you can go wherever you want." I attempted to grab the leash on his hand, but I failed again.

"Why would I go somewhere? When I am already with the person I want to be with” I rolled my eyes at him. I don’t like it when he jokes like that. It feels like he’s a player, but I think he’s far from that.

"Stop your nonsense, I’m getting goosebumps." I tried to smack his arms, but he avoided it.

He was laughing at me, but he suddenly stopped and halted his steps. He looks nervous. I didn’t expect to see him like this.

"I think we should turn back and walk on that way." I was confused by what he said, "Come on, Nana." He picks up Nana and hugs it with his arms.

Nana starts barking. Travis tried to sooth Nana, but the dog kept on barking. I looked at where she was looking while barking. My eyes widen when I see a big dog heading our way with a death glare. It's a black dog, and I think he’s in a bad mood.

"I think this is going to be bad." I said while looking at the angry dog.

"You’re definitely right; that’s why we need to run!" I was surprised when he grabbed my hand and started dragging me.

We ran as fast as we could while the black dog was tailing us. My heart is pounding very fast. I don’t know if it is because of the dog or the sudden rush. Or it could be the fact that a man is holding my rough hand, but that’s impossible. I would not be affected by that. They are just being dramatic when they feel electrified when their crush holds them.

"Why are we being chased by that dog?" I said, between my breaths.

"That’s a stray dog. The animal control is having a hard time catching him and he’s been attacking every dog in this village."

“You are the one who’s holding Nana. He probably won’t attack me. Why did you drag me with you? " He’s getting on my nerves.

"Because this will be fun. We looked like a couple proving our vows, ‘til death do us part."

"Let go of me! You’re crazy. " I yelled at him.

"No way! I will not let you be hurt.” He acted like he was in some drama on television. I want to punch his face and kick his ass.

"Huh? I bet you’re the one who will hurt me instead. " I jokingly tell him

"That’s not going to happen, I swear." I didn’t hear what he said clearly because Nana looked over his shoulder and started barking again.

“So, are we going to run until he’s tired? I don’t think that it is the smartest solution.”

"Yeah, I think we need to stop." He suddenly stops and it makes it hard for me to stop also. Luckily, I stop myself from bumping into him. He faced me with a smirk on his face.

"You are really an idiot! Why did you stop? " But before he answered my question, something hit my back. My face hit his hard chest. I tried to regain my balance, but it was too late. We both fell to the ground with a loud thud.

We were both in an awkward position. I tried to get up, but he linked his arms on my back. I sent a death glare to him, but he just shrugs it off and smiles at me.

"You know what? I’m pissed off right now and I want to rip that sweet smile of yours off." I tried to get up but he used his hands to stop me. I felt something moving on between us and then I remembered Nana. She wriggled between us and successfully freed herself from us.

I tried to get her leash but she dashed off quickly. And there I saw the big black dog, who I think was the one who pushed me, licking Nana’s face, and they started playing like they knew each other.

"What’s the meaning of this?" He just acted innocently and enjoyed the result of what he did.

"Sorry, I thought he was a stray dog and didn’t notice that he was actually our dog." I don’t know what to say to him.

"Pfft..." he tried not to laugh, but he was far from it.

"Idiot! Stupid! " I punched him, but I think it didn’t affect him that much because he just laughed. He loosens his hold on me, and that’s the time I get up and leave him, dying from laughter on the ground.

"Come on Nana, we need to go home before you catch a stupid virus from him." I pick Nana up from the ground because I think she doesn’t have a plan to stop playing with that dog.

"Wait, Alexa..." He’s still not recovered from laughing. He stands up with his right hand on his belly.

"I think you should go home too with your dog and consult a doctor." I rolled my eyes at him.

"But I think you need me to walk with you." I looked over my shoulder and just glared at him.

He ran towards me with his dog. If it is okay to hurt a dog, I will definitely kick this dog and his master.

“I’m sorry, okay? I just want to tease you a little. You’re the one who said that it was going to be bad. That’s why I got an idea to tease you.”

"You’re saying that it is my fault?"

"I’m not saying that it is your fault, but if that’s what you feel, it is fine with me." I punched him hard enough to make him wince.

"It hurts, you know."

"I don’t care!" I marched away from him. It is senseless to talk to him. What’s going on with him? When I saw him at the university, he was just serious. He barely talks to others if it isn’t his team members.

I saw him once laughing with others, but he just listened to them and was not the one who was telling jokes. But he’s far from that behavior right now. Is he really Travis? Or is he just a clone? Stop fooling yourself, Alexa.

"But that’s not the way to Andersons." I stop and breathe deeply. I don’t know which way I should take, and I guess he’s right; I need him.

“Okay, I will just forget about your stupidity. Just tell me the way.” His smile widens and he looks like he has won something.

"At your service, Ma’am." I rolled my eyes, "But before that, let us take this dog home first."

"Have you known Miss Denny for a long time?"

"Yes, actually she is my sister." I stared at him with wide eyes.

"Really?" I wanted to know the feeling of having a sibling.

"Yes, she treats me like her own brother." He receives a smack on me again.

"I thought she was really your biological sister." He laughs again, like there’s no tomorrow. I’ll be happy if he’s going to choke on his own saliva.

I looked at his dog. He looks scary from afar, but he looks so calm right now. He appears to be a well-mannered dog. Maybe it is the way he greets his friend, by gritting his teeth.

"And by the way, he’s Hachi." He likes to sneak out and roam outside.

"Stubborn just like you."

"Where are you going?! We’re not done talking! " There are two couples fighting in front of a house.

I don’t have any idea what you are talking about! I need to go to work.

We stopped our track. I looked at him and saw his eyes were full of emotions. I think he’s angry and hurt at the same time. And I can say that these two fighting in front of us are his parents. His dad was pushing his wife’s hands away from him. His mother is crying and begging for his husband to talk to him. I don’t know the feeling if your parents are arguing. That’s why I don’t know what he’s feeling right now.

"Sir, let me take Hachi. I’m sorry I let him sneak again." Said by the girl from their household.

"It’s okay." He answered.

He put his arm around me and turned me to the opposite side, "What are you doing? Aren’t you going to stop your parents?”

"Let them be, they wouldn’t listen anyway." He just pushes me to walk. He got Nana from me and he let her walk. I look around his house and see his parents still arguing and not caring about their loud voices.


We’re now just a few houses away from Miss Denny’s house. He’s been quiet since we left their house. I don’t know what to tell him. He is still holding Nana’s leash. I don’t know how I will get it from him. This is the first time I felt hesitant to talk.

I breathe deeply before talking, "Uhm…what are you up to? You fine?"

"I’m fine don’t worry about me." he tried to hide his sadness but it still shows on his face.

"I don’t know what to say and what to do but–" he enveloped me in an embraced.

"You don’t have to say anything, you don’t have to do something, all I need is you by my side."