A familiar voice intervened.
My eyebrows furrowed, turning my head in a snap and saw that dangling pendant on his chest once again.
"It is for me." He uttered and our eyes met.
Those eyes...
My eyebrows furrowed as he gazed sharply at Joshua who's in front of me.
"Oh my, look who it is." Joshua huffed and crossed his arms. "It's been a while, Dylan." Joshua greeted and smiled cheerfully.
This two-faced prick!
As if he didn't mock me earlier for my art career. Argh! I just want to be decent because we're in public! And plus--
Does this guy have to show up now?!
My veins are gonna frickin' pop out due to anger....I clenched my jaw and caressed my neck to ease the tension inside of me somehow.
"What are you doing here, Dylan?" I asked, looking at his face. Trying to read his intent on the situation.
But why....
I thought he didn't know what it was...
My gaze dropped to the pendant on his chest. Its circular-coin shaped with bolts around, hinting its modernity.
"Why are you wearing that pendant?" I asked.
I'm the only one who knows that pendant, right?
Why does it look identical to the one I saw...
Under the table and on that stranger's neck?
Dylan's eyes lingered at Joshua, making me gulp. I can feel the tension between their silent glares at each other.
But that tension still doesn't compare to what my brain arteries feel right now.
"Dylan, answer me. Why do you have that pendant?" I asked louder and he just continued to sharply stare at Joshua.
He ignored my question, as if he didn't hear it at all.
Took a deep breath and closed my eyes. "Dylan--"
"I'm just spitting facts, Dylan. Don't mind us." Joshua broke the silent tension with a smile and looked at me.
"Joshua, cut the act." Dylan uttered firmly, making Joshua shift his gaze back at him. "And stop mocking others for doing what they want. Go mind your own business."
I felt my brain's circuit snap a bit at his words.
He just left me hanging a few days ago....
Why is he suddenly defending me right now?
Joshua huffed and turned to me, "If ever you ever changed your mind in doing that art stuff, you can contact my company." He flicked his business card in front of me, glaring at Dylan.
"And I am minding my own business." Joshua said firmly in declaration.
My eyes fixed on the card he's holding between fingers, slightly furrowing my brows.
Shua Choo Corporation
"Isn't this the company known for workers suing them?" I paused, eyes stopped and went up slowly to Joshua.
Gosh....did I said that out loud?
Joshua mouth hanged and brows contort, a hand on his chest screaming 'offended'.
Dylan grabbed my hand, still glaring at Joshua, "Let's go Annie—"
"Ma'am here's your..."
The restaurant vendor said paused, blinking in confusion. Dylan is holding my hand while Joshua is flicking his damn business card.
"Cornbeef....Silog...." The vendor gulped.
~0~
"I'll pay for that meal, Annie." Dylan said as I continued eating the rice platter, taking large bites on my spoon.
"Nah, I alweby pay pud.." I mumbled, mouth still full of my meal. I know it's bad manners to talk while your mouth is full but--
Gosh, I didn't know being angry plus hungry is equals to finishing your meal faster and aggressively.
"Don't talk while stuffing food in your mouth, you'll choke." Dylan said blandly which made me pause my chewing.
I glanced at him. He's now looking at me with his cheek resting on the palm of his hand.
My brows furrowed as I chewed slowly and blinked twice. Why...is he looking at me like that?
After all these years....does he?...
I shook my head. Nah, he must be thinking I look like a pig or something.
Icontinued to dig in my food, leaning closer to the plate and scooping another piece of rice with sliced beef.
We're currently sitting on a quiet table in the restaurant, facing each other.
I finally finished eating, placing my spoon and fork at the side and looking at him eye-to-eye.
"Dylan." I called in a serious manner.
"Mhm?" He raised his eyebrows, a glint of light in his eyes hovered still at mine. Still, his chin on his palm.
I sighed. Annie, don't get the wrong idea.
"Why did you defend me earlier?" I asked bluntly. Dylan adjusted his position, placing a thigh on his knee cap.
"Well, I wouldn't be a good friend if I didn't." He uttered calmly, grabbing the water jug and leaned it against the glass beside me, pouring water.
"I was actually on the way to buy something...then I overheard that prick's voice like he's insulting someone."
My brows went up as my gaze fixed on his large pale hands holding the jug, filling the glass up to the brim.
So you're pouring water for me now?
Guess...you're nicer than I thought—
He took the glass and drank it up.
"Wait that's my glass!"
"It's untouched so it's mine." He said with those green orbs glancing at me blankly, lids lowered in a slight sharp stare.
I sighed. Why do I still believe that people can change?
Because he defended me earlier?
Shaking my head, My gaze dropped to the pendant on his chest.
"By the way, I thought you didn't know that thing...." I pointed at his chest, and he turned his head down to look at it.
"Melissa gave it to me."
My eyebrows rose up as a soft smile crept on his lips.
The kind of grin he wouldn't dare to have if it's because of me.
I felt an ache on my chest, a lump on my throat. "I-is....that necklace popular?"
"I don't know...but it looks pretty unique, right?" Dylan's eyes crinkled on its corners, holding the pendant and caressing it with his thumb.
Like a treasure.
"Oh." the only thing that came out of my mouth and I forced a smile, but underneath the table, my fists were clenched.
Damn, is it thia hard to be happy...
For a friend?
A friend.
Yeah.
And I guess that pendant is common and has nothing extraordinary with it at all.
~0~
"Hey..." I typed again and plopped on the bed.
What am I doing with this chatbot again?
Am I that pathetic?
Rubbing my face, I looked up at the ceiling.
Why do I feel pathetic whenever I meet Dylan...
I turned to my phone, seeing the reply.
"What's up, Annie?"
"I dunno, the ceiling?"
I closed my phone as well as my eyes, sighing.
"Hic." A sob came out of me.
I sniffed. Tears well up my eyes as I bit my lip.
I typed, "I hate him. Just wanna stay home so that I can't see Dylan anymore."
Staring at the ceiling again, thoughts flooded me like the tears that once again blurried my view.
"But I can't cook!" I sobbed harder, roughly weeping the tears off my face. My feet kicked the pillows.
"I'm going to starve if I can't go outside!" Sniffing, my hands covered my face and letting tears fall on my palms.
Suddenly a hand brushed over mine, as if it's pulling me closer--sitting me up in a warm embrace.
"It's alright. I'm here." A deep voice spoke to me, making my sadness flow faster than before.
I sobbed harder, his hand caressing away the tears from my eyes. My vision was clearer and the first thing I saw is that pendant hanging on his chest.
Damn it, why do I have to see that thing again....
Closing my eyes, tears continued blocking my vision. I felt fingers brush my hair, massaging my scalp as if it's making me sleep.
I felt another touch on my back, caressing me slowly in a calm slumber and humming melodies to me.
"Hmm...hmm..."
I opened my eyes and saw his dark brown eyes, grazing over mine.
"You're back..." I muffled, sniffing. Wrapping my arms around him, I layed a cheek on his chest.
"Were....you waiting for me?" His calm breath echoed over my ear. I felt his hands cradle my hair gently with a smile never leaving mine.
My lips pushed in a pout, "Yeah—hic. I....I thought you wouldn't..." I rubbed my eyes, tears wouldn't stop falling.
Wait.
My eyes snapped open.
What the heck?!
"AHHH!" I squeeled and stood up on the mattress, leaving his arms frozen in position he's holding me earlier.
Oh wait....isn't this a dream like the last time?
He turned to me with furrowed brows and twinkling eyes.That worried gaze from again.
I blinked twice.
If this is a dream....I guess it isn't that...bad?
Yeah. Maybe this is just a dream.
Slowly, I leaned towards him. Lowering my body and my finger reached for his cheek. The tip of my nail softly dug his skin.
It felt soft—
I gasped.
Wait, it felt something.
My eyes widen and walked backwards on the mattress, feet quickly scattering away. Suddenly I bumped my heel, the weight of gravity felt crashing over me as I bent back wards.
Shoot I'm falling!
I closed my eyes and felt his hand on my back--
This isn't a dream?!
"Annie! You'll fall!" He panicked, holding my hand and my waist. My gaze paused in his eyes, those dark brown orbs shakily looked over mine.
"I....feel dizz..."
"No! Not again--"
Black faded my vision and a warm breath ghosted my ear.
"Don't worry,"
His breath almost a whisper.
"I'll cook for you."