Remember That Day

Chapter 16

Damek was still locked inside the room 715 with Jayda. He couldn’t say goodbye for he was a little worried than afraid that there might something bad that would happen to her again.

“You should go to your room. I can handle this myself.”

“I’m cleaning the mess you’ve made. I’m just helping.”

The clock fall at twelve-twenty and Damek was holding a pile of books that Jayda tossed to her just a while ago. He was moving at every corner to collect the books on the floor while Jayda was cleaning the mess in the kitchen.

Meanwhile, Damek sat at the swivel chair, patiently waiting for Jayda to finish washing in the kitchen sink when he asked, “Are you okay now?”

After putting the last plate in the cupboard, she was done there. Jayda was wiping her hands with the cloth when she looked at him.

She answered, “I’m okay. Thanks.”

“Are you sure you cooled down?”

“I guess. I’m definitely...”

Damek was already standing in front of her in which she hadn’t noticed. Jayda was a little stunned, but she still managed not to get affected. The guy was touching her forehead with his palm, checking her temperature.

“Glad you’re fine now.”

Again, his smile, made Jayda stare at him. It was as if his smile had something like magic that would attract her.

Jayda avoided him when she got a grip of herself then walked straight to her bed and tried to put her attention on her blanket.

“Get some rest. I’m sure you still need that.”

She suddenly heard him from behind, so she turned to him. He was near the door, hand on the knob, probably waiting for her to say that he could already go.

But Jayda just nodded her head as an answer.

“Okay. Um well, if I’m still not off the hook yet, I promise I won’t leave this hotel. Don’t worry, I’ll still be just right in my room,” he said, smiling from ear to ear.

Another nod from Jayda was all he got. After that, Damek left the room as he waved his hand.

The moment Jayda heard the door shut, her knees buckled, but the bed supported her fall as she clutched her chest, eyes widened.

“Why the hell am I feeling nervous when he smiles?” she complained to herself and buried her face to the pillow.

The city air was fresh this day, almost sweet and floral that soothes every noses. It was not usual for Jayda to run and do exercises early in the morning, but she did so. She was fine and her fever subsided. 

It was a city of wide avenues and small places to sit and eat, to relax as people went about their day. She had so much to appreciate around now that she decided to go out as early as she could. There were sky towers at the center, parks and wild spaces to walk among the nature or enjoy the trails on bicycles.

The sun was shining brightly and its rays landed on everything under. Unlike yesterday with heavy rainfall, it was a great day to start with. 

Jayda was on a fitted shirt, leggings, and white rubber shoes as she jogged around the park just few minutes away from the hotel. After a half hour, she stopped to drink her water.

“Nice to see you early in the morning.”

His voice startled her. She even almost spit the water on him out of surprise as she was oblivious to his sudden appearance.

“You crazy! You startled me!” Jayda exclaimed as she wiped her mouth with a face towel around her neck.

“I’m sorry, my bad.”

Damek just chuckled as he made some arm stretches in front of her. He was on a red hood, sweat pants, and a white running shoes. His sweat that almost wet his black hair was an evidence that he was running around for a quite long time. It was his daily routine at 6.

“You okay?” Damek asked.

Jayda looked at him cheesed off. She replied, “I told you already. I’m fine.”

But before he could speak again, Jayda went away, started to run and do more laps. She had still twenty minutes before the clock would strike at eight.

Damek was not surprised anymore about how Jayda would always treat him like she was always mad. He just smiled with the thought of it and tried to run with her.

“Are you alone?” he asked when he finally drew beside her.

“No. It’s a city. There’s a lot of people around us here, so basically, I’m not alone at all,” Jayda answered, an obvious sarcastic respond.

“Do you hate me?”

Last two steps and Jayda halted. She had breathed when she heard him asked it. When she turned to see him, she saw him holding his knees and gasping for air.

“What?” Jayda asked, forehead creased.

Damek tilted his head and repeated himself, “Do you hate me? You’re always cranky around me as if I made something wrong with you.”

Jayda stood straight as Damek inched closer to her. He even received a serious face from her.

“No, I don’t hate you,” Jayda answered.

“Does that mean...”

“Look, Damek. I don’t have anything about you. We’re... we’re not just close.”

Damek didn’t know that it would cause his heart a little pain. He wished that he was just overreacting, but he was not.

“Why don’t you try to know me? Be friends with me?” he asked, wondering. He even smiled, trying to please her.

“I got a friend already and I’m fine.”

Damek slowly nodded his head. He said, “You got a friend, fine. But last night, you had no companion or anyone to look after you. You only had yourself only. Luckily, I was there...”

Jayda didn’t know what to react nor what to say to him. She just stare at him, waiting for her mouth to say something. Initially, she was wondering at the back of her mind why were they arguing

Damek bit his lip. “Jayda—”

“Damek,” Jayda interrupted him, “what’s with the so much concern that you are offering me?”

The two didn’t mind if they were in the middle of the city and fighting over something that Jayda couldn’t understand.

“I just want to be friends with you,” he replied, face almost begging.

Jayda let out a sigh. “Thank you, but I’m really fine. I’m okay. Thank you for the concern, really. I have to go—”

Jayda was about to turn her back to him when Damek held her arm. Her eyes automatically landed on his hand holding her then to him.

“Jayda...”

“Damek, I have a boyfriend. I wouldn’t want to worry him or to get him upset. Please, I really have to go.”

It was said to him politely, but he couldn’t deny that it was like a sharp knife that stabbed his chest. Slowly after realizing how she really wanted to go, he finally let go of her arm.

“Thank you.”

It was the last thing he heard before Jayda walked away and lost from his sight. Damek breathed and kicked the leaves under his shoes. He was heartbroken.

“What the hell? I know she have a boyfriend, but I didn’t expect that she would slap it to my face,” he whispered to himself. “I was dumped without even telling her that I like her. Am I too obvious? Oh, my poor heart.”

If Damek was a kid, he would surely sit on the ground and cry all he wanted. But he was a grown-up man, so he would just probably do it later in his room.