# # # # # Chapter 45

Aiden's Point of View

What was that? Appearing in front of me so suddenly. Fuck. I can't calm my heart down. I can feel my cheeks burning while I'm walking to the parking lot.

I stopped walking for a moment to slap my cheeks and take a deep breath. Damn, please calm down, my heart. He's not even in front of me anymore. Goodness, how did I act earlier? I'm not obvious, right? Aish!

He was clearly lying, so why did I agree to come and even give him my phone number? Argh! Stupid feelings, doing whatever it wants to satisfy itself. I want to go home already and lock myself in the bedroom. Oh, shit. I almost forgot about the things Luca and I bought. Argh, I still need to arrange them later, when we get home. So exhausting.

When I spotted the car, I walked faster. I knocked on the window when I got there. Luca turned to my side and put down his cellphone, then opened the door for me. I went to the shotgun seat and fastened my seatbelt. I sighed as soon as I finished, then I leaned my head on the chair and closed my eyes.

We just went shopping, but why did I feel so tired? I want to sleep already.

"What happened to you? Are you okay? Did that man do something to you?" Luca asked one question after another.

I opened my eyes and looked at him. I shook my head at his question and answered, "I'm just tired."

"Are you sure?" He assured.

I nodded again before turning outside. "Yeah, start the engine already; I want to go home."

"Okay," he said, and he followed what I said.

During the trip, we were silent. He felt that I wanted silence, so he didn't speak. Well, I don't want to open my mouth either, because I'm lazy. I knew he wanted to ask me about Wyatt because he kept glancing at me in the rearview mirror. He just couldn't ask me because I had a poker face.

Seriously, what was Wyatt doing at the mall earlier? He still has rice on the side of his lips. I want to laugh, but I don't want him to think I'm crazy. I also want to tell him about the rice on the side of his lips, but I don't know how to insert that into our conversation. I didn't want to offend him, so I immediately ended our conversation. We were in front of the mirror earlier; maybe he saw that after I left. Well, I hope so. So he doesn't look like a fool walking around the mall with rice on the side of his lips.

Sigh... Why am I worried about that man? Whether he has rice on the side of his lips or not, it's none of my concern. Let's let him look like a fool, since he made me look like a fool before. But why is that? Even though I felt so much pain when he pushed me away, I still love him? Why is it that every time I see him, my heart beats like a fool? I feel like a teenager who was approached by his crush. Damn. How do you stop caring about someone? I want to move on already.

I don't know why he approached me when he saw me at the mall. I don't even know what his real purpose is in lying to me. I don't want to assume, but I feel like there's something. But I won't know all that if I don't ask. Right, I need to ask him. Once he calls or texts me about when I will go to their mansion, I will ask him. I will ask, what is his problem with me: Why did he appear in front of me again? Why did he talk to me? If we also go to the topic where Agleen is included, I will ask why he did that to me.

I can see through his eyes that he was not happy whenever he was with Agleen. I can see the difference in his smile whenever he is with me. I already knew the answer to why he did that—to save his face for the crowd—but I still want to ask and hear it come out of his mouth. If that happens, I might really move on.

My heart tightened when I remembered the hurtful words Wyatt threw at me. I swallowed all that shit and still chased him because I loved him. Right now, I feel like, when he said that he still loves me, I might forgive him right away. I don't know; just thinking that he approached me because he still has feelings for me makes my heart jump for joy. My heart softens when I'm with him, but I want to act tough and pretend that I don't have any feelings left for him. I want to see how he will chase me, if he still loves me. I'm curious to see how desperate he is to get me back in his arms.

I closed my eyes and took a deep breath. Damn, I've missed him already. I just saw him earlier, but why am I feeling like this? Bullshit. Please, hurry! I want to take a rest. I don't like to think about him anymore. Argh!

When I got to the unit, I immediately went into the room to avoid Luca's question; I knew he was just waiting for the right time to ask. I left the things we bought in the living room, and I also told Luca to rest before I entered the room earlier. Before he could even answer, I immediately shut the door on him. I know I was being a jerk, but can you blame me? I just want to have a peaceful hour for a while. Let's just talk to him later, once I feel okay. Sorry, my dear Luca, please bear with it for an hour. I will come out later. I will just take a nap.

I said I was only going to take a nap for an hour, but when I looked at my cellphone to see the time, it was already 5 p.m. I immediately got up to check on Luca's condition—has he eaten? He still doesn't know how to cook. 

"Have you eaten?" I asked, leaving the room. He was just sitting on the couch watching anime.

He turned to me. "Not yet. Good thing you woke up; go cook for me," he ordered before returning his eyes to the TV.

Wow, I can't believe this man. Can I punch his face?

"Yes, sir." I said, sarcastically. I just sighed and went to the kitchen to cook. Since we already bought things earlier, I now have something to use for cooking, so we don't need to eat out anymore. There are also things we can cook in the refrigerator.

"So, who was that man?" Luca asked, referring to Wyatt, I guess, while I was preparing the ingredients.

I looked at him and caught him looking at me. "Just someone I know."

His eyebrows twitched. "You said you didn't know him, yet now you're saying that he's just someone you know? Which exactly is the truth?"

I sighed. I didn't know that I should tell him about this. Do I really have to? Gosh. I don't want to think about Wyatt, but this guy... Aish!

"I know him, happy now?" I answered and turned my gaze to the ingredients. I might grab something that shouldn't be part of what I'm going to cook because of Luca.

"No, I'm not. You lied to me, Aiden." He spoke in a solemn tone.

"Fine. I'm sorry, okay? I don't want to talk about him, so can we drop the topic now? Just focus on the TV, and I will focus on cooking," I replied.

"No," he responded right away. When I looked at him, he was walking towards me. "Was he your ex you were talking about?"

My hands stopped moving. I was like a stone at that moment.

I actually told him that I had a boyfriend here in the country. Yeah, he knows about me; that's why he has the courage to hit on me. I also told him how our relationship ended. Gosh, now I'm regretting it.

I averted my gaze and said, "Yeah. It was him."

"Tch," he clicked his tongue. "He's not even half as handsome as me."

I elbowed him, chuckling. "Stupid. Just go back to the couch and wait for me to finish."

"Are things going well with you?" He asked, concerned.

I nodded. "Yep, you don't have to worry about me. What if you do what I tell you, huh? Go back to the couch."

He raised both his hands in the air as if surrendering to the police. "Okay, okay, sir," he said, then turned to go back to the living room.

I just shook my head and focused my attention on cooking.

Oh, I just remembered. Wyatt was the one who taught me how to cook. Okay, why am I suddenly thinking about him again? Argh!

[3 days later]

RING! RING! RING!

RING! RING! RING!

My brows furrowed when I heard the noise. I grabbed my other pillow and put it over my ear so I couldn't hear the sound coming from my phone.

RING! RING! RING!

Yes, I covered my ears, but I'm still hearing the goddamn ringtone. I know that I was the one who set that ringtone, but the sounds still irritate me.

"Argh, shit! Someone's calling in the morning!"

While my eyes were still closed, my left hand was trying to find my cellphone on the side table. Since I'm now on my back, my left arm is near the side table.

RING! RING! RING!

"Argh! Fuck! Stop ringing already! Where is my fucking cellphone?" Because of the annoyance, I was forced to get up from the bed to find my cell phone, which kept ringing.

Fuck, it fell; that's why I couldn't get it to the side table.

I took it, and I brushed my hair backwards while looking at the screen of my phone. My brows furrowed when I saw that the number was not in my contacts and was an unknown number.

RING! RING! RING!

I was about to decline it when I remembered that Wyatt had asked for my number. Could it be that... Oh, fuck!

I immediately answered the phone to find out who it really was. I didn't speak right after I answered the call; I waited for the other side to speak.

"Hello?"

Wow! It was... It was definitely him! damn His voice is so fucking sexy. I can now hear my heart beat. Shit, I refuse to admit it, but I'm head over heels for him.

I took a deep breath before answering. "Um, hello?"

"Aiden, good morning." He greeted me.

Wow, my mood suddenly changed, as well as my surroundings. I can even see the flowers around me. Damn, am I in a webtoon or something?

"Uh, yeah. Same to you," I responded. Every time I speak, I take a deep breath because I don't want him to hear the excitement in my voice.

I must be insane. Can't my heart play hard to get? Damn. 

"Do you remember what we talked about the other day? Uhm, about Grandpa inviting you here," he said.

Tch. If I remember correctly, it was you who wanted to invite me over.

I rolled my eyes as if he could see it. "Yeah. What about it?"

Pretend I don't know anything. I guess I didn't know that he would invite me to them now. Hee hee.

Let's just pretend.

"Are you free today? Grandpa set the date for today at 3 p.m. If you want, I can go and fetch you," he replied.

"I'm free. I guess. You don't have to pick me up; I know your address." I answered.

I might pass out in the car if Wyatt picks me up. It's better for me to be alone; I'm already a grownup. I can handle myself. #toughmodeon

"Okay, if that's what you want. See you later," he uttered.

"Sure, bye." I said, and hung up the phone.

What the heck? He didn't even insist on picking me up? Aish! So disappointing..

Wait, what's wrong with me? Why am I complaining about Wyatt's response to me when that's what I want to happen in the first place? Damn, I must have been really crazy!

I just remembered: How about Luca? Should I bring him with me? Grandpa won't be angry, right? Hmp, I hope not. I don't want to leave Luca alone here; apart from the fact that he doesn't know how to cook, he might just get bored being alone.

Let's talk to Luca now. Hee hee!