Chapter 11 - The First Date

Ross climbed up to his car, busy wiping sweats from his forehead, I notice his towel is soaked wet, so I took my handkerchief and stroke it to his forehead. He looked at me with an eyebrow quirked. At the same time I pulled my hand immediately but he grabbed it.

His hand is so strong and warm, it makes me froze. I feel like don’t have the strength to take it back. His eyes caught mine. My heart starts to beat faster. All I can do is just staring at him. Ross finally let my hand go. Instead, he took my handkerchief and scoffed, teasing me.

I don’t understand why I feel butterfly migration through my insides. My heart just beats rapidly.

He was driving fast in the empty driveway, the sweat poured from his forehead, at some time he’d wipe them off with my handkerchief.

“Do you join Basketball or Tennis?” I finally got to ask him, after all I’m starting to get used to talk to him casually like this.

He answers me with “Yes” without looking at me. His eyes gaze straight forward. I think I should tell him about yesterday’s incident. I’ve made my choice, Ross need to know about this too.

“Ross”

He hummed, busy switching the gears.

“I think I have to tell you about it”

“About yesterday? Or are you going to talk about your Sunday date?” he talked sarcastically. I replied with a glare, how could he knew about it?

“Don’t worry, Kendrick told me he is going out with you, and I said YES” he added.

“Ah.. I was just about to talk to you.. hmm...about the..” still, I feel bad talking to him about how weak I am.

“Say it” he tilted his head towards me, “So is it about yesterday?”

I nod my head slowly, hesitate to continue, “What happen?” this time he sounds strict.

“J-just about the class..” I blew a harsh breath.

“Make a complete explanation. I am so confuse right now”

“Urgh… I just feel uncomfortable. I feel like became their worst enemy. I can barely talk inside the class” I dropped my shoulders to the driver seat.

“What extracurricular do you join?”

“Eh?”

“What is it? Say it out”

“DIY Class?” I sit up straight.

“Then, I’ll register too”

My eyes popped up wide “What? Why?”

Ross clicked his tongue, “Just don’t quit the class, you need the certificate right?”

“But you join..”

“It’s fine. Your DIY Class doesn’t crash with the Basketball’s schedule”

“But-but-but you can’t”

“Mind your own business, just accept what I am offering.. no, I am not offering. I’ve made my choice”

But what if the students start pranking me again? What if they think Ross is my boyfriend? What if mom knew about this? What if mom found out that I have plenties of enemies at school?

Ross lifted an eyebrow “Why with the long face? Is it because I am going to be with you? Are you going to reject the best offer I made?”

I gave him a death glare, “No! I didn’t say that!”

“Say it out! You seem like about to tell me something”

“How can you read my mind very well.. hahhh…” I muttered, “Well, please don’t tell my mom about it.. or your dad..” I said with a shrug.

“Give me the reason why I have to listen to you?”

This guy is torturing me if he did. In the next rising panic, I raised my voice “J-j-just don’t! okay? Cause-cause I don’t want to stress mom too much, plus she has been working hard to educate me in this school”

Ross scoffed, “HAH! This isn’t the best school though. Why would you ..”

I cut him off quickly, “JUST DON’T!”

“Alright, alright.. but you have to tell me whatever happened to you”

I moaned, “Yes…”

“So, about the date.. Sunday right?”

I nod my head.

“Just… have fun.. and.. don’t come home late. Cause you will be.. and... bu” Ross rubbed his face and raises his voice “Aishhh! Just don’t come home too late okay? 7 the latest! I’ll cook for you! Plus I am not your babysitter!”

I clicked my tongue, sniggering “Fussy!”

Ross was a cold icy dude the first time I knew him. But as time goes by, I guess we’re slowly getting along. He becomes so fussy and... he sounds like a grandpa while blabbering. I still feel a little bit uncomfortable staying in a house alone with Ross, I mean I feel annoyed by his presence because I have some embarrassing habits.

But at least mom will be home by tomorrow. Her phone is unreachable since she doesn’t buy any SIM card that suits the country. I don’t even know where she is right now. I thought she could at least make a call or else but she’s only contacting Ross through Mr.Park. Of course I’m happy that she is living her life joyfully while honestly I really miss having a little quality time my mom. I don’t want to be childish, but maybe it happens because I was too clingy to my mom.

“Anyway”

Ross was so busy reading his phone, then he put his phone back to his pocket.

“Mom and dad found the cheapest ticket to Bali.. So.. they’ll expand another holiday, for a week”

“WHAT?”

I sigh, jutted my bottom lip out, softly deflating, it was as if a tension had lifted yet left me with a melancholy instead of relief as if my brain needed that time to process what just he said.

Ross smiles, the first time he smiles like that to me, I’d like to admit he has a very sweet smile that give every girls a heart stroke. His strong hand stroking my hair “And your mom said she loves you” he added. By then, I feel the heat start to coming over my face. I feel like exploding. My heart won’t stop thumping. I threw my face away, watching the trees passing from the window.

“Hey, Ross” but I still need to talk to him normally.

“Ya”

“Can I turn on the radio?” I pouted.

He didn’t even take a glance, in less than a second he replied me with a strict “No”

Always, he once told me he can’t concentrate if he drives with music on. Urghhh.

                                                                   ***

Sunday morning..

“Hey” I peep through his room, since his bedroom door is open.

Ross tilted his head, he’s still on bed with blanket cover until his stomach, busy playing with his phone. I heard machine gun shots, maybe he’s playing PUBG or Call of Duty -the current trending mobile games.

“Ya”

I walk in with a pink babydoll dress, I think this is the best outfit I had in my wardrobe.

“Do you think this is pretty?”

He took a short glance, “No”

This guy is so irritating.

“Whyy??” I walk into him, pouted in depression. I don’t think I have the other option.

“I said it’s ugly”

“Help me?” with hands begging on him.

Ross clicked his tongue, he leaves his phone on the bed and slid his legs down to the floor.

This is the first time he went inside my bedroom, and it was the first time of me going inside his bedroom too. Ross is really a neat freak. He has a very neat bedroom and wide space. The whole room is almost empty, different with mine. My bedroom became a mess once mom isn’t here. I ever thought of being independent like Ross, but sometimes I’m lazy and prefer waiting for my mom. Can somebody slap me now?

Ross’ eyes looking through my open wardrobe, with fingers on his chin, scanning through my messy wardrobe to find anything that suits my first date.

“Just wear this” but he took out a long black dress instead.

“Hey! I’m not going to a cem..”

“Just put this on. That skirt is too short for you!” he pointed to my thighs.

“But, urghh”

“Then why do you buy this dress? Plus black is on tren”

I stood still, then Ross clicks his tongue again and took out another knee length green dress “Then, this one”

“Ah this is better”

“Then I’ll get going” he walked away but then he paused, “Anyway what time will he come to pick you?”

“He said.. around 12?”

“Then I must prepare lunch for you” he’s about to close the door but he came back, “It’s still early 9 in the morning. Means it’s 3 hours ahead. Why in the world do you change so early?”

“Ah…” I lost my words, I was being too excited.

“Nevermind” he slammed the door close.

***

I took a glance at the digital clock again, 13:30 but Kendrick hasn’t show up. I sat on the couch, waiting.. I don’t feel excited anymore. What is wrong with him, really..

Ross took a seat beside me, staring, trying to read my mind thru my expression. I threw my face away and looked down, I don’t want to look pathetic to him.

“Gotta get change” he stood up and walked away.

“Ross?” but he’s not there anymore. By then I heard him clicking the bathroom door and starts showering.

About 15 minutes later Ross appeared from the hallway wearing a black longsleeves and jeans.

“Ross?”

Even that simple outfit could fit him perfectly. My heart beats faster again, is it because he is handsome?

I saw pink blushes on his cheeks, he scratched the back of his head, “You-you don’t like it? Do I need to change?”

“Ummm no no, it’s fine, you-you look handsome with that”

Ross eyes widened but then he turn around to find something by mumbling, “Key, key, key, my key” even though I can see his key was actually on the countertop beside me.

“Where is...umm.. my key..”

Ross walks towards the hallway so I quickly take the key before he goes too far, “Ross? It’s here!”

He immediately snatched it from me and rushed outside.

Inside the car, I feel something odd about him, like there’s something different.

“What are you looking at?” he gave me a death glance.

“I feel... hmmm something different.. but.. umm I don’t know what” still looking at him.

He blew a harsh breath, saying “I covered my mole”

“Oh”

The rest of the journey was in silence. Ross starts to clear his throat and stretched his hand to push the radio button. I lifted my head staring at him.

Is this the Ross I know?

He looked at me with the side of his eyes, hissing “Aishh, jinjja (really), just play whatever song that suits your ear”

He puts his hands back to the steering wheel as I am gleefully changing the song.

In a while, rain starts dropping from the sky, in a short time they drummed against the windscreen, and the hum of the car was a comforting familiar in the new world that Ross found himself in. I pushed the radio off, since I can no longer listen to the music. The click -click of the indicators, the dipping and rising of the lights as they met other cars, the swing of the air freshener as he negotiated corners.

Ross pulled into the parking lot and he turned off the lights but not the engine. The darkness of the sky was silent, apart from the sound of the rain on the car roof. Ross undid his seatbelt. From inside, I could see everyone running to the nearest shelter to avoid the sky drops soaking their body.

I tilted my head and found Ross looking at me intensely, “Irene”

***This work has been signed with NovelToon, and piracy such as reprinting without permission is strictly prohibited.***

***Download NovelToon to enjoy a better reading experience!***