Chapter 4 – No boundaries

Lauren's POV

I finished everything I had to do on campus. Fortunately, I brought my uniform so I can go straight to work after my class. I am a working student. I'm a scholar at Top-Field University (ToFU) so I was able to continue with my study but once I have failed grades, I will be removed from being a scholar. This will be my last year so I need to do my best. Sir Gerald's, the president of ToFU, scholar has no maintaining grades, you can be a scholar if you pass the exam and you can be their scholar as long as there are no failing grades.

I just come out of the campus gate but a car blocked my way. Is it Angelo? What does he want now? I had a bad mood this morning because I can't remember where I left my watch. That watch is very important to me because an important person in my life gave it to me. I asked Kianna if I left it in their house or his brother's room but my watch was not there. Where could I have left that? I wasn't able to think where I could possibly misplace it. I hope I can still find that watch.

Earlier today, Ezekiel was asking why Angelo and I were talking as if it was forbidden for us to talk. I also don't know why he's interested to know about it when it's possible to know if he will ask that directly to his friend, Angelo. I don't have to explain it to them, do I? I get tired of explaining everything to other people.

"What's your problem?" I asked him. I think he wants us to hurt each other again before he leave me alone. He came out of his car and approached me.

"I will bring you to your work."

"Leave me alone, I can be alone." I am calm when I talk to him because I don't want to see his facial expression when he is hurt by my words.

"Did I say no? I will just help you to go to your work, Renren. There's nothing wrong with that. You don't want me to help you but you are allowing Kiel to do this for you and you are wondering why I think he likes you?" Why Ezekiel got into the conversation again!?

"There's something wrong with that, Angelo. I'm not your responsibility. Please remind me why we are talking again." He just shook his head at me. I'm sure he's mad with the tone of my voice and the way I talked to him.

"I've notice that your closeness with Kiel is different. I will hold on to what you said that he wasn't courting you. And about Vince, you've already rejected him but why he keeps on talking to you?" I want to ask what is it with him that I need to answer all of his questions. Why do I need to explain everything to him? I want to answer that to Angelo but I'm sure we will just argue for a long time. I rolled my eyes, I did it obviously for him to see it so he would know that I was not happy with what he is doing and saying to me.

"Who else did you see me talking to? What is this, Angelo? Let's end this conversation." He shook his head again out of frustration. He got in the car and drive fast. I immediately called him. It's irritating!

"You knew I'm driving. What do you want?" He knows my weakness so asking me this kind of question is so brave of him.

"Be careful! Watch your speed when driving!"

"It's none of your business, Renren. Right?" I guess he is proving something here. If I don't want him meddling in my life, I should do the same. Is that what he wants to say now?

"Okay!" After that, I ended the call. I continued to search for the vehicle so I can peacefully go to work. I'll just let him go. He knows what he's doing!

My life is so boring. Campus then apartment (or Kelly's house) then work then sometimes bar, park or somewhere that I can relax are the places I often visit. That's where my world revolves. It's not easy especially when I will go home with no one else but me. I want to see and be with my family but I don't want to get close to them because something is happening when they are with me. They say that having me as part of their family is unfortunate for them. Yes, it is 21st century but I believe in that because that's what they want me to believe. Even though I have work at night, I can still focus on studying and doing school activities. I even want to be busy with work and school activities so I don't have time to think and over think. Once I think about how I miss being with them, especially when I'm alone, I can't control my emotions anymore. Life is hard but manageable. It is difficult to combine work with study but I still need to do it because I don't have someone to ask for a help if I get tired of my life. It's hard to rely on others especially when you really don't have one that you can rely on. I like to go to the bar and drink but it's still limited and it should be within my budget. It is hard to earn money. I can still pay for the apartment and I managed to eat.

I work immediately upon arrival at the work place. There is no special treatment for anyone. I have a strict boss and we are not allowed to be seen by him standing or just sitting, we must be doing something. I prefer working in the kitchen than I go out to serve for customers. But since I wasn't lucky tonight, I was scheduled to serve outside.

It is really not my lucky day because when I came out, I saw Angelo entering to the restaurant with his friends. I'm sure he chose this restaurant. I don't like the way they look at me because based on their looks, they made me feel like it is not a good idea to work with this place. It's irritating. I really don't like seeing those three because I kind of jealous with the relationship they have with their families. I have seen them here before and they often eat with their families. I was wondering what it feels like to eat with family. Of course, the main reason why I don't like their group is because they are womanizer.

"Hello there, girlfriend!" Ezekiel greeted me. Angelo looked up immediately upon hearing it from Ezekiel. I already told him to stop calling me with that. He's sorry, isn't he? But his teasing only got worse. He teases me by calling me girlfriend. It's up to me if what girlfriend am I for him, if it is as a friend who is girl or if it is as special someone.

"You are crazy, dude! You are now calling her like that? Your progress is too fast, huh?" Dan jokingly answered to him.

"Good evening, Sirs," I greeted them calmly then someone assisted to point out if where is their table. Angelo was left behind so he approached me when his friends were gone.

"What are you doing here?" I asked.

"Did you really forget what the special occasion today is?" I even thought about what he was saying. Maybe he intentionally invited his friends to eat here so he can see me. But I knew what he was talking about . . . and I won't forget this day. Never. "Renren, it's my birthday." I averted my eyes him. Why are his friends with him? He should eat with his family instead of celebrating his birthday with his friends.

"I know." I'm still not looking at him. "Happy birthday, Angelo . . . I can't go on your birthday party, you know the reason why so don't force me anymore. All right, I still have a job to do." I've seen a smiled on his face and he thanked me for not forgetting his birthday. I know it's his birthday but he shouldn't be here to eat with his friends.

Fortunately, they allowed me to stay in the kitchen so I won't be obliged to entertain them. Even if I am scheduled outside to serve, I can stay inside the kitchen as long as I'm doing something. While we are busy working in the kitchen, I heard Dani and Yen having a conversation. "Those groups of friends with good looks are there again. They come here often!" Dani said, she is obviously thrilled by mentioning those good looking guys outside. I will not argue with them. They are really handsome and they come here often.

"So what?" Yen protested.

"Of course, there's an inspiration at work!" Dani said happily.

"Inspiration? Be careful with that. Those guys are Renren's friends." When Yen answered that, Dani approached me. I didn't know that Yen noticed that they were talking to me when they were eating here. She must have assumed that they are my friends because of that. "You're on the same campus, Renren. And your best friend's boyfriend is one of them, right? Is your boyfriend one of those guys too?"

"Oh, I don't have a boyfriend," I replied quickly.

"Really? You'll have to serve them food first because Dani is already admiring them from a far. I'm afraid that she will act cute in front of those guys," Yen ordered.

"I don't act cute! It's what you called natural beauty," Dani replied with a smile. Yen gave me their order list so I asked Brian to assist me with their orders because there were too many and I might have a hard time carrying all of that. I have no choice because Yen ordered me to serve this. She has a higher position so I must obey. I'm nervous though.

I went out to serve them. "Should those who serve look like that? You don't seem happy to serve us." Who else would it be? Ezekiel was teasing me again so I smiled but it was obviously a forced smile. I'm professional at work but I just don't really understand why they are with Angelo tonight. I hope his father won't see them here to avoid trouble.

I never went out again when I finished serving them their orders. I just help others on the work inside the kitchen. I know they will go to the bar after they eat so I waited for them to leave before going home.

I received a message from Angelo. I just didn't reply with his message.

Angelo: You're not going to show up, we're leaving so you can go home early. Take care!

I IMMEDIATELY SAW EZEKIEL when I came out from the kitchen. Wait a minute, I thought he was with Angelo? What else is he doing here? He might be waiting for someone before going to the bar. He didn't notice me came out so I was going to walk but he called my name. I thought he didn't see me but he saw me.

"Lauren!" he called over and over again. I was acting as if I didn't hear anything so I just walked straight but he came closer to me and pulled me. Seriously, sometimes he forgets that I'm a woman because it's a hard pull!

"Lauren, I know you can hear me."

"What's up?" He was still wondering why I'm always mad at him when he actually lives to ruin my day.

"I will take you home."

"Did you wait for me?" I am just pointing something here. He didn't wait for me, so why did he want to take me home?

"No. I just forgot something at the restaurant and then I saw you leaving at work. Your apartment is near and it's the same way so come along. Let's go."

"It's clear that you are not here for me so I will just go home alone." I insisted. I'm tired and not in the mood make fun of him. I don't want to become friends with him especially now that Angelo is mad at me for being close to one of his friends.

"Yes. I've been waiting for you," he suddenly admitted. "Will you come with me now?" Why did I seem to like what I heard? I didn't want to argue anymore so I agreed.

"Okay, all right." I got in his car. I am surrounded with rich friends because they all have a car. As usual, I opened the window again so he looked up. I'm still not used to his eyes focusing only on me. If he doesn't like what I'm doing, he shouldn't ask me to ride in his car!

"You really don't like my perfume, don't you?"

"I told you, the scent of your perfume hurts my nose," I lied.

"Give me a perfume that goes into your sense of smell so you don't have to open the window of my car. Your standard is so weird because others love my scent."

"Here we go again. You are such a womanizer."

"Are you jealous? Don't be jealous. You're my girlfriend, aren't you?" He was still teasing me.

"Ezekiel, you idiot! You just waited for me to fight again."

He looked at me. "But what if I'm serious that I want you to be my girl?" And that moment, I could almost believe he was serious with what he said but I saw the mischief on his smile so I hit him but he continues teasing me again. I don't seem to be tired at work because I hit him too hard.

"Just shut up!" He didn't bother me anymore when he noticed that I adjusted his car seat for I can rest somehow. He also has consideration at least once because he noticed I was tired and he stopped teasing me. Do I have to look like I'm exhausted for him to be quiet?

I got out of the car when we got to the apartment and said goodbye to him. I didn't turn around to look at him because my heart was beating so fast. I only feel this towards him. While I was getting closer to him, I knew it would be dangerous for me to totally fall for him. I think Angelo is right, our closeness is different which is weird since I don't let other guys to be close with me.

Do I remove my boundaries when he's with me? Why am I letting this happen?