Chapter 3 – Weird gestures

Lauren's POV

It's late at night but I just came home from work. I feel strangely tired right now. All I want now is to lay down on my bed. I think I can immediately fall asleep once my body feels the softness of my bed. I was going to change my clothes when I heard knock on the door. Who is in the right mind person that will visit me at this time, right? Insert sarcasm here.

I just opened it. I get that. He is not in the right mind after all. "Ezekiel, do you know what time it is?" He checked his watch and smile even more.

"Of course."

"So? What are you doing here?" I irritably asked.

"I thought you were going to watch the game?"

"What game?" Is that all he came here for?

"I thought you are going to watch the game of the man you talked to earlier, didn't you?"

"Ah, are you referring to Vince? I can't because I have a job to attend. How about you? What are you doing here?" I asked again. How did he know what Vince and I were talking about? He peeked inside my apartment.

"Are you not really going to let me in?" I went out and closed the door.

"I told you, you're not welcome here, right? My apartment is messy and there's no food inside so if you want us to continue this, let's just continue outside."

He nodded and we sat in the chair near in my apartment. It's really late and I don't understand why he comes here so often at night. Maybe he often goes here to annoy me. He really likes to tease so I don't know what he wants right now. If you look at Ezekiel, he looks like a model so a lot of girls are chasing after him because he is quite attractive. It would have been okay but only if he didn't become a womanizer. Is it really required to be flirt when they are handsome and being chased by a woman? If face is the only basis, I wouldn't be surprised why many girls like him. There is no reason for a woman not to be attracted in his face. If a woman didn't like Ezekiel, he would still probably get her attention. He is so handsome.

I was wondering why he just stares at me. He was just staring at my face and I kind of feel awkward with those stare. What the heck? Did he come here just to stare at me? Maybe he had a reason for going here at this hour, right?

I snapped my fingers on his face. "Ezekiel, what do you want?" I asked. I'm tired and I have to rest now.

"We're friends, aren't we?" I can't tell if what we have is friendship.

"Why?" I asked without answering his question. He seems problematic. I don't know what he wants.

"I just want to be with you." I looked at him because of what he said. He did not laugh. His face maintained to be serious. I waited for him to retract what he said because that's how we both are. Nothing happened, he just stared at me. Is he really serious?

"What's your problem?" I trembled.

"Nothing. I just want to be with you," he repeated without breaking an eye contact. What's with him? He is not like this when he comes to visit me. Only now has he become serious.

"Why?" I asked again.

"I feel like a normal guy when I am with you, Lauren. I just like this kind of friendship with a lady. You know, it's been a while since I had a friend who didn't ask for more."

"For more?" I asked him again as I was confused with that statement. I'm disgusted. He's too lazy to speak!

"Yes, for more. Everyone is asking for more. When I offer for a friendship with a lady, some will not be satisfied and will ask for more," he whined. I can sense that he has a problem but I don't have the courage to ask since we are not that close. All I know is to shout and feel annoyed by his presence.

"Sorry. I don't get it."

"It's okay. Just let me stay for a while." Then we both became silent. I suddenly remembered something. Did he drink? I came close to smell Ezekiel and I confirmed that he was drunk. I can smell an alcohol. Crap! I thought he was serious, he was just carried away because of alcohol. He was shocked when I approached him so I quickly make a huge space between us.

"You've been drinking," I muttered.

"Just a little. You should know how dangerous for a lady to be so close to a drunk guy. Don't do it again, okay?" I was in the mood to annoy him, I approached him again just to mess around but this time I stuck his lips with my ear because I got too close to him. I was surprised so he stays away from me. You've got to be kidding me! It was my mistake! It was as if all the blood in my body had gone to my face. It feels like my face heats up. Am I blushing? "Lauren!" I was shocked when he shouted. "Stop teasing me when I'm drunk!" he added then got in the car and pulled it over quickly. He was drunk but he still drives carelessly!

I touched my ear where his lips landed. He basically kissed my ear. What am I thinking? Why am I smiling like an idiot? I went upstairs and lay down. When I lay down, Ezekiel called. Is he home already?

"Why did you call? Are you home?" I'm not worried about him. I just want to know!

"Don't do that again, Lauren. You have no idea how dangerous I am when I'm drunk," he repeated. He said that before, didn't he? I think he was drunk because he repeated what he said. Maybe he came home safely.

"Dangerous?" I'm a bit slow now so I can't follow what he said. Why is he dangerous?

"I could kiss you!" Why would he kiss me? He doesn't look so drunk. I mean, he didn't lose his sanity and there's no way that he wants to kiss me. "You're the only woman who can do that to me. You don't have to say anything. Sleep. Just don't end the call." He's the only one I know who teased and being bossy at the same time!

There are nights when he will really call me just to tease me. Sometimes I even think that maybe he called so he could hear my voice. What do I look when I got mad that he likes seeing me got mad at him? He seems to enjoy it so much. It's not my fault when he misses this "face".

"You're weird. Are you going to tell me something?" I asked because he didn't want me to end the call. He might hear me talking while sleeping!

"Nothing!"

"Do you really have to shout?" I asked.

"No, just go to sleep." I really don't get him. He must be the one not joking about kissing me. He doesn't know how dangerous I am either! I should have warned him. I didn't end the call but I went to sleep. I'm really tired.

I PREPARED MY FOOD EARLY, I only know how to cook fried because I don't have any time to study another dish. When I'm not happy with my dish anymore, I just buy outside. I cleaned up my apartment a bit and went out. When I came out, I immediately saw a car which belongs to Ezekiel. He leaned against his car. It's the same style of a man who still looks cool while waiting for a woman. He was just like that but I just passed him and walked. He's cool but I'm not affected by that!

"Lauren!" he shouted.

"What?"

"I'm here to pick you up!"

I went back approached him. "We never agreed with this. We never talk about this. And I don't believe that you came here to pick me up."

"Do I have another woman here?" Because of what he said I even went closer to him and stepped on him hard! I am not one of his girls! I guess I should remind him of that.

"What's wrong with you?" What's wrong with him? I'm really pissed at him. He changes his mood quickly and I don't understand why he needs to pick me up!

"You think I'm your woman, huh? For your information, Ezekiel, I seriously don't like what you were saying right now. It's too early to get angry. If you picked me up to annoy, okay . . . you succeeded!"

Suddenly he looked serious. Is it still my fault now? "Sorry," he whispered, I barely heard it! For the first time! I just heard that he actually apologized. With all the teasing he does, he only apologizes now! "You are too sensitive when it comes to that. I just noticed now. I'm sorry, I'm really here to pick you up." I would seem merciless if I just ignored his apology.

"Why did you pick me up?"

"I just want to," he answered casually.

"I will let you do this today since you apologize but . . . don't do this again. I don't like someone who picks me up since you have no obligation with me."

"I can't promise. Let's go." There are also times that he forced me to ride in his car. I only agree so that we don't argue anymore. I don't want to always see us fighting because they might think that we are really into each other. I'm sure someone will get angry when they find out that Ezekiel is lying! I don't want to be involved since there is not romantic relationship between us.

I went inside the car and opened the window then he just looked at me. "What's up?" I asked. I hate when he stares at me. My face still blushed quickly especially when he is looking at me.

"I made sure I didn't use any perfume today because I'm going to see you. Why did you take that window down again?" But honestly, I appreciated what he did and he said. I just didn't let him noticed.

"I can still smell you."

"Unbelievable." He didn't ask any more questions and just drove. When we were on campus, I forgot that he was famous so they really turn around to see who is with Ezekiel, which is me. It's the same reason why I don't want anyone to pick me up or follow me because all eyes are looking at us like I've done something wrong.

"Ezekiel, I'm okay here. Let me come down, I can walk from here."

"Why? Let's go to the parking lot together." He still didn't want to take me down after we arrived at the parking lot so after he parked his car, I went down. I didn't let him open the door because I knew he wasn't like that. And I understand because we are not dating! I didn't ask for an explanation but he just volunteered.

"Lauren, wait for me!"

I turned to him. "What now?"

"What's wrong? I'm not teasing you anymore but you're still mad."

"The crowd is just as looking at us," I admitted.

"And . . . are you affected by that?" he asked while walking to my direction.

"Yes, I am. They will think that I'm really your girlfriend since we arrived together."

"I don't see any problems with that." I just looked at him then we met Angelo who is also at the parking lot. We can meet a lot of people here but why it has to be Angelo? He looked intently to Ezekiel. What is this again?

He touched me. "We need to talk," he demanded while still holding me. He no longer waited for me who replied because he had already pulled me away from Ezekiel. I even heard Ezekiel called Angelo but he ignored.

I'm scared that people might notice something because of what he is doing. "Are you two dating?" He is obviously mad. Is this really how he greeted me?

"No," I answered quickly.

"Lauren, I saw him last night at your apartment. Why is he coming there to visit you? And I saw you almost kissed him!" I was surprised that he saw my naughtiness. I mean, that was just a misunderstanding! I didn't kiss Ezekiel!

"Angelo, we were just talking last night and I didn't kiss him. We are also not dating! You know what kind of woman he likes!" Why am I explaining? I really shouldn't care what he thinks. He shouldn't care what's going on either to me and to the people who approached me. What does he wants? Ezekiel and I talked and I told him to stay away to me but he never listened. And now, it seems like I have an obligation to explain to him while he is not the one who is ruined when someone sees us together.

"I hope what you're saying is true. I saw his expression when you approached him."

"And?" I don't know what makes him angry.

"And I think, he's starting to like you." That's unbelievable.