I just hope I will never regret my decisions. Maybe I can just settle for what is happening in the present and...worry for the future.
It's not like love can make things harder, right?
I will have someone to talk to every time I will have a hard time, I will have someone to eat with when I don't feel like eating by myself. I can call someone whenever there is a storm and the thunder won't stop.
Maybe Auton can be my new family.
That was what I thought before I said those words to him.
"Really?" His eyes, from the usual dark pairs, slowly transformed into something expressive, and gentle.
He put his hands on his lips, rested his back, and shifted his gaze back on the screen.
"If only I knew that those things will make you fall, then I should have done that earlier." He laughed and pulled me closer.
"Tss, don't even think about it anymore. It's not like being in a relationship is that easy," I uttered and sighed.
"What time will you go home? I want to sleep. The whole day is tiring." I made up an alibi to make him leave. The room was large, but sitting beside him made it smaller.
My heart kept on beating so fast, and my legs are trembling. Auton Smith can make me this nervous and I'm afraid he'll notice it.
"Alright, then." He stood up and walk towards the door. I followed behind him, he even insisted on cooking dinner first before he leaves but I said he doesn't need to.
I heaved a deep breath and leaned my back on the door. That was the moment when I felt all the embarrassment coming out. I slapped my forehead multiple times, thinking about everything that has happened earlier.
First, I kissed the man whom I pertained to as a stranger but now...he is already my boyfriend.
--
"Tayla!" Ella's hand waved at me the moment I opened the door of Talk and Chill.
"You are a bit early...today." Her eyes dropped at the man beside me and then shifted it back to me.
We just got out of school. Though I want to go alone in my work, Auton insisted to carry my bag and some of my books to lessen the burden that I have.
Ella slowly walk towards me and crawled her eyes in my arm...where Auton's fingers and mine were intertwined. She cleared her throat, moving her head to the side to prevent a smile from forming.
I bit the insides of my cheeks and wagged my hands to remove it from Auton's hold. I heard him grunt.
"I didn't know you have much time to accompany Tayla, Sir Auton. Looks like..." with her teasing eyes and wide smile, Ella continued to speak. "You are getting along really well."
"Ah, I was able to tame Tayla just yesterday," Auton smirked at me. What the hell?
My cheeks burned. His hands reached for mine again, but I slapped it off and got my books from him.
"You can now go home, you don't have to wait for me," I said. My eyes refusing to stare at him. He let out a small chuckle.
Ella cleared her throat again and said her excuses before leaving us alone. When Ella finally vanished from my sight, I glared at the man in front of me.
"You shouldn't have said those! And you shouldn't have to go with me here!" I slapped his arm lightly and put the books on the table behind me. He went towards it and put the laptop bag down before showing me his sheepish smile.
"Shy?" He laughed and took a step forward. He touched my waist and tilted his head. His eyes were staring at me.
"You don't actually need to work here anymore. I can provide everything you need and–"
"Don't start with me, Auton. I'm doing this for myself." I screwed my face into a grimace and release his hands away from my body.
"Just saying. Working here can make you knackered. You study every morning to afternoon and work here every night..." he licked his lips. "And a bit worried."
And again, a wave of rapid heartbeats entered. The side of his lips rose as he stood up straight and tucked my hair behind my ear. He reached for my hand and put my black, gartered scrunchie in my palms, and covered it with my fingers.
"Keep this for now, but you have to give it back to me! I will go now." He smiled and walk past me.
My eyes darted at my hand. As if I was a teenager, my lips started to form into a wide smile.
"Ah!" I turned my head when I heard his voice. He ambulated back to me with a snicker plastered on his face.
"I forgot something," he said and leaned forward. My eyes bulged. He crouched a bit and kissed my cheek.
"Call me when you are done, I'll pick you up."
--
As soon as I opened the door of the kitchen, Ella's shriek was the first thing that I heard. She hurriedly paced towards me and shake my shoulders.
"You and Sir Auton is now a thing? Omg, Girl!" And again, in her most annoying tone of voice, she shouted.
I shut my eyes close and scrunched up my face.
"And you even said you don't like him! Ha! Were your words delicious?" She jeered.
I took a deep breath and started to wipe the plates. Planning to take a blind eye to her next words.
"So, what happened? I saw him kissing you earlier on your cheeks! What? How did it feel like?" I felt my cheeks turning crimson. Another image of what happened last night made my face flustered.
"O my gosh, are you blushing?" She leaned her face forward and scanned my face. I shook my head and cleared my throat before looking away.
"What? It was just a kiss!"
"NA-ah! That's not just a kiss! I don't believe you. So, tell me. Is he a good kisser?" She interrogated as she stood beside me.