Episode 5: Bookstore

"There's also a cafe at the end of the corner. Would you like to go there after finding what you are looking for?"

"Yes!" I exclaimed. Since I've never come here as you have to be a member to enter it, I have Max lead the way.

As soon as I entered the store, my jaw dropped. No wonder they didn't want ordinary people to come. This bookstore is only for rich people. The store is spacious and grandeur than what I would think. I can't believe I got to come.

Max was still holding my hand as he walked straight to the front desk. He took a card out of his pocket and show it to the women. She took a look and slightly nodded her head of approval.

We walked aisle to aisle to find the book I was looking for and realize Max was still holding my hand as he is following me.

"Why are you following me? Don't you have any books you want to check out?" I asked.

"No, I'm only here to take you."

"Then you will get boring. Even my two friends never go with me to the library or bookstore. If you get bored later, don't say I didn't warn you." I said as I took my hand out of his hand.

I scan though the books and one caught my eyes. I took it and out of the shelf and flipped it. I slammed the book close and Max leaned in.

"Love?"

He read the tittle out loud and I can feel his hot breath. My heart pounding so hard as if it going to explode. I quickly took a step back away from him. He looked at me with a questionable look.

"Let's go to the other aisle." Before he could ask me anything I grabbed his hand.

I walked around and skim through another aisle as I look at the shelves full of book. I already have what I was looking for but I keep looking because there might be some book that will caught my eyes. Max followed behind and didn't say anything. I stopped in front of a book and pull it to check. He lean his shoulder on the shelve close to me.

"You like reading so much?" He crossed his arms still leaning on the shelve.

"Yes, reading is the only thing that keep my mind busy. I would have an imagination whenever I read." I flipped through the book.

"What about your friends? Spending time with them can keep your mind busy."

He's right but it's not like they have time to spend with me everyday or night. They have their own life. I'm not a kid who want too much of their attendtion.

"Yes, they kept my mind busy when I was with them but it's not like they don't have anything to do to be with me."

"True." He nodded his head as he pulled back fromt the shelve.

"Okay! I'm done looking. Should we go the the cafe?"

I grabbed his hand and pulled him to the door where we entered.

"I thought we are going to the cafe. But why are we here?"

"Hum? We are going to the cafe."

"The door is inside."

"Really? I don't see any door, so I thought we have to exit and enter in a different side. That's why I told you to lead the way."

"You didn't tell me that and beside you pulled me before I could do that."

"But you have the time to tell me. You could have said or stopped when I pulled you along with me. And beside you know it's my first time here."

"Max?"

We were busy arguing with each other that we didn't notice someone was there. We both stopped what we were doing and looked at the person who called Max.

"Jayden? Why are you here?"

"You know I can also come here, right?"

Jayden scoff and Max left out a small cough. He looked at me and back to Jayden and I realized I still holding his hand. I let go of his hand and clear my throat.

"Good morning." I greeted him and he smile while nodding his head with respect.

"So, you two are on a date now?" He asked.

"Yes, we are on our way to the cafe." Max said and Jyaden looked around as if he was searching for something.

"Which cafe? The one they have here?"

"Yes." I answered.

"But the door is insid---"

Before he could finish his sentence Max cut him off by asking if he would like to join us to have a cup of coffee.

"You don't mind, do you?" Jayden looked at me and asked.

"No, I don't mind." I replied.

"Let's go."

The three of us walked to the back of the bookstore. As we walked, I notice that not too many people come.

'So those who come here are all rich, huh.'

We walked far from the entrance and stop in front of the white wall. There is only one book with a lock on the wall.

'Is that where the door is?'

I watched Max pulls out his card from his wallet and tap it on the lock and suddenly I hear the sound of a wall shake. I watch the door open with an awe. Amazing is all I could think. I followed Max and Jayden inside. I looked around and the cafe also has some books.

"What do you want to drink?" Max asked me.

"Anything is fine." I said and he nodded his head.

There are not many people here either. Max and Jayden ordered what they like.

"Can I sit close to the window?" I leaned to Max and whisper in his ear.

"Yes." He replied and I walked to the table beside the window. Having coffee while sitting by the window is my kind of thing.

"Here is your drink." Max took a seat next to me while Jayden pulled the chair to sit across us. I took my drink and take a sip as it's still hot.

"I've been meaning to asked you two. Was it the first time you meet at that restaurant?" Jayden asked.

"Yes." I answer him as I took another sip of coffee. I placed the cup back to the table and look at Max. He took a quick glance at me and turn to look at Jayden.

"As for me, no. The first time I met her was at the library even though she might not remember."

I looked at Max to see if he was joking because I don't remember meeting him. He looked so serious as he took a sip of his drink.

"What's your first impression on her?" Jayden leaned his back to the chair as he placed his drink on the table. He crossed both his legs and arms. 'I wonder why he asked that?' Jayden and I meet couple of times after I asked Max out, but he didn't talk at all. All he did was minding his own business and gave a short answer when being asked but he is so talkative today.

"It's a secret." Max winked at me as I looked at him dumbfounded. He laughed as if he found something amusing. This is a first time I've see him laughing like this. I turned my head to the window and quickly took a zip of my drink to clear my throat.

"Anyway, this is the first time I see you talking a lot. I thought you are a man of a few words, but you are talkative than I thought."  I said.

"Come to think of it he does talk a lot today." Max leaned forward as he continued looking at Jayden face. Jayden turn his head as if he's embarrassed.

"I'm always this talkative." Jayden cleared his throat.

"Yeah, right. You talk a lot but only with us. I've never seen you talk a lot whenever we are with someone else."

"Oh really? He didn't talk much to other except for you and the guys?" I asked curiously. If that's true, then why did he talk a lot today even though it is our third time meeting.

"As you already know, he's very popular and always surrounded by girls. However, he never talks to them longer than 5 minutes." Max explained. I took a look at Jayden as he turned his head and look out to the window.

    `

"Anyway, I need to go to restroom. Jayden, don't leave until I come back okay. Make sure you keep Larset accompany." Max look back and forth from me to Jayden as if he's entrusted me with him.

Jayden nodded as he takes another sip of his drink and place it on the table and Max left to do his business. After Max left, Jayden and I looked at each other awkward. The whole place falls silent as if nobody here, and I Iook around the cafe and the barista who was there early can't be seen.

"So, how long have you been friends with the guys?"

I asked trying to break the silent. He paused trying to think of an answer as if he'd forgotten.

"I've known Max since the first year of high school since the school was only for noble kids. As for Jay and Kai, they were in a different school. There was one day when Max and I were skipping class to go to convivence store to buy ice cream. We met Jay and Kai when they were getting bullied, and we jumped in to help them. After that Jay and Kai would always come and wait for us to our school every day after school."

'How surprising'

I never know he could talk this much. I watch how he explained of how the four of them became friends. That must have been a very good time for them.

"(clear throat) What are you two talking about while I was gone?" Max took a seat as he asked.

"Just this and that." I replied. "Shall we get going?" I added.

"Yes, shall we?" Max answered.

"I will get going first." Jayden said as he walked away. We watched as he slipped further away.

Max turned his head and look at me as he's figured out something.

"Do I have something on my face?" I ask curiously as to why he stared at me while he squirted his eyes.

"No, I wonder what you and Jayden talked about. He looked different back there."

"How did he look?"

"He looks bright as if he's enjoyed talking about some old memories."

"Did he?"

"Let's get going. Where else should we go?"

"Can we just go home? I have some matters to sort out at home."

Max didn't mind and just drove me home. I sat in the car quietly thinking about her and 'what ifs'. I'm sure she wanted to live with her son too. I've been keeping her for so long. I should convince her.

For the whole ride all I was thinking about was how do I convivence her to move in with her son. It's not like I want to kick her out. She deserved to be happy with her real family.

"We are here." Max parked his car in front of apartment. I didn't realize we have arrived. I unclick my seatbelt and was about to get out of the car when I see her exit the building.

She walked in a hurried as if she's worried about something. I wonder where she was going. I closed the door and asked Max to follow her. She walked as fast as she could and bumped into someone on the sidewalk. She fell on her butt and keep on sitting there hanging her head. 'What is she doing stay still?' I thought to myself.

"Who are we following?" Max asked. He has no idea as to why I asked him to follow someone.

"My mom. Can you park your car here for a minute. I want to know where she is going." Max parked his car on the side. I quickly run toward her and grabbed her to stand up. She looked up to me and sobs.

"What happened? Where are you heading to?" I asked. She kept on crying. Her hands are shaking. 'What is happening that made her like this?'

"Hospital. Will--" She didn't finished her sentence and continued crying. I pulled her along with me as I walked back to where Max is. Thankfully, he was still there waiting. I open the passenger seat and have her get inside the car.

"Can you drop us at the hospital?" Max didn't ask any questions and drove to the hospital. While we were on our way, I comfort her. I don't know what happened, but something must have happened to William.  Right now, she must feel guilty of not seeing him for the past years.

And it's all because of me.

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