"You're kidding, right?" I almost choked as I saw how he started to place the food in front of me.
The smell of the Filipino foods served is enticing, but the playful smirk plastered on his face told me that it shouldn't be trusted.
He crossed his arms and shook his head.
"You shouldn't be playing with me like this, Auton. It'll never be funny." I hissed and then pulled myself up, planning to walk out of the small kitchen and shut him off.
He immediately went in front of me and held onto my waist, making me stop and hold my breath for a moment.
His warm hands were wrapped around the small of my back, moving my body back to the seat as he glanced at me with his lopsided smile, revealing his dimple on his right cheek.
"You...you don't know what you are doing." I averted my gaze as I felt his hand tighten the grip.
"Sit, you don't need to escape." He pushed me towards the chair and pulled another one to sit beside me.
He extended his hand and put an empty plate in front of me, moved sidewards to face me, and put pieces of food on it.
I furrowed my brows.
Auton Smith is now here in front of me, telling me that this would be our day one and I don't even get it.
"Stop thinking and just eat, " he uttered and lifted a spoon and leveled it on my mouth.
"Why would I stop thinking when I don't even get it?" I rolled my eyes and pushed myself sidewards, maintaining a gap between us.
"You are rude. You don't just tell a woman you'll date her without asking for approval." I frowned.
"Yeah?" He absentmindedly nodded, his eyes darted at the spoon in front of me.
"But do you even ask a girl if you will court her?"
What he said made my eyes grew big. What the hell?
"You're courting me?" He moved his hand closer, motioning me to open my mouth but I moved my head away and scowled.
"You've got to be kidding me, Auton. We just met and you are courting me? Without asking me whether I would approve or not?"
"Courting doesn't need approval, Tayla. Stop overreacting, " he said like as if it was a small thing, better if disregarded but it was making me want to just punch him.
I stood up and showed him how infuriated I was.
"It is. What if a girl doesn't like you but you kept on showing her blurry things and not confirm that you will court her? Imagine how horrible it could be."
Disappointed, I turned my heels and started to strode the way to my room.
"I told you to give me ten dates, that was my way of telling you that I'm gonna start pursuing you." I heard his low voice speaking as I felt his heavy steps behind me.
"But time will come that you will like me, Tayla." I closed the door and leaned behind it, closing my eyes as I felt the fast heartbeats I never wanted to feel.
Accepting help from him is never a good idea.
"We will start our classes next meeting. For now, you can roam around the hallways or talk with your block mates. Class dismissed."
The sound of the chairs started to boom in my ears as my classmates started to stand up while murmuring words to their friends.
It was the second day of this sem, and I can tell that it would be as boring as what it is last year, only with harder subjects and hectic schedules.
I sighed and immediately packed my things and hurriedly walked out of the room. This was one of those days where I need to act fast. I just thank that professor that he dismissed the class early. I was able to gather much time to escape from–
"Tayla!" I shook my head and closed my eyes for a second then made my steps faster than earlier.
I kept on hearing Auton's voice calling my name, students from the sides of the corridors are now glancing at me and the man behind me as he chased me.
"Tayla!" My feet stopped walking when I felt him holding my bag, pulling me backward as he stood beside me.
"What again? Stop annoying me! It's not funny!" I angrily hissed and tried to remove his hands from my bag but he put it on my head.
"What the hell, stop pestering me!"
He chuckled and brushed his hand on my hair, ruining my bun completely.
"Chill out, you badly want to escape from me, eh?" He laughed.
I rolled my eyes and removed his heavy hand on my head. Ever since that day, he kept on coming to my unit and follows wherever I go.
It was annoying the hell out of me. I swear.
In the first three days, he was able to come inside my place even when the door is locked. The reason behind it? He has keys.
Though he comes there every lunch or when he knows I am awake, it was still not tolerable so I decided to put double locks which he doesn't have a duplicate so he ended up following me around the schoolyards for two days.
"I will go home late, " he uttered. My eyes were now in front of him, on the space between his neck, staring straight at the stairs.
"Like I care." I shook my head and crossed my arms.
"Rude. I'm gonna go to my parent's place. Is it okay if I will not give you a ride home just for today?" He raised his arm and shown his watch.
"I have a class approaching at 4 pm." He scratched his nape and put his hand to his waist.
He looked problematic. But I don't really care. I don't even like going home with him but he pulls me every time so now is the best time to be alone and I will surely love it.
"Sure, " I answered and plastered a small, fake smile on my face.
"If only I don't need to be with my parents..." the awkward smile on his face was transformed into sourness. Something about mentioning his parents made his face a bit contorted, but I just shrugged it off and bid my goodbye when he called me again.
"Tayla, it was windy at night. Can I borrow your scrunchie?"
"You didn't even return the first one. You cannot be trusted." I rolled my eyes.
"Please?" He crossed his fingers and smiled at me.
"Come on, it was windy, I pay for about a couple of thousand peso bill for it to be healthy and it would be blown by the air?"
What he said made me kind of offended.
"If your hair would be blown, what would happen to me? Will I lose anything?" I sarcastically smirked but he just pulled the scrunchie out of my hand.
"What the hell?"
I shook my head when he started to jog away from me.
That man is rich but couldn't even afford a scrunchie. Hell.
That afternoon, I went home with a smile on my face as I throw my bag on the coffee table and leaned my back against the sofa.
"A day with no much encounter from Auton!" I laughed and glanced at the ceiling.
Minutes after, I decided to go to my room and sleep. I was not even closing my eyes when I heard my phone ringing on its full volume, making me frown and reach for it on the bedside table.
Auton Smith really knows the right timing to annoy the hell out of me.
I rejected it, but he called again.
"What now?" I almost huffed as I answered his call with impatience.
"I swear Auton, I am about to sleep and you are infu–"
"Can you...go with me?" His shaking voice stopped my words midway.
"I need you."