Love is a Trap

Chapter 5

It's almost 6 in the evening, and only the lamp posts serve as lights in the parking lot. I searched for my car until I saw white Audi with flat tires! I slowly walked to check if that's really my car. The plate number is correct.

I shouted when I confirmed that all 4 of tires are flat. I left it in perfect condition, so this is impossible unless someone who detest me plotted this.

"What happened?" Alfonso's husky voice caused a jolt in my system. He almost ran the distance between us when he saw my face.

"Is this part of your damn game, Alfonso?" His lips twitched as if he was thwarting a smile. I slowly walked to get closer to the devil. This might be really his doing. No doubt, he can do something like this effortlessly.

"Why would I do that to you? Are you suspecting anyone who can do this to you?" His tone became serious as he started checking the tires. The way he talks scares me. What if someone is really after me? Did I offend someone recently or even long time ago? I cannot think of anyone capable of doing such thing in daylight.

"I do remember a lot of instances wherein I hurt somebody's feelings, but this is too much!" They should tell in my face if they hate me that much.

"I won't let this slid. Let me handle this, Yllana. We will have it investigated as soon as tomorrow. For now, let me take you home." I look around to see if there's anyone around. The one who did this must be watching somewhere nearby to see my expression.

"Why do we have to wait until tomorrow? I will call our family lawyer to send police..."

"At your state? You look like you haven't gotten any sleep for days. Let me take you home for now." When he said that, I felt sleepy again. The culprit had a great timing. S/he must know that I'm quite busy passing this hell of a sem.

He turned from checking the tire to me and our nose touched accidentally. I was not able to adjust because it was too sudden, and my mind could not think of the proper way to react. He playfully smiled as he pushed me a little to make way to him. My jaw dropped when he chuckled. Damn. I hate everyone's chuckle today!

"Why do you have to take me home? I will take a taxi, Alfonso. Save your concern." I was about to get my phone from my bag when I remembered that its battery is dead. I bit my lower lip and contemplated for a while if I will go back inside to ask my friends for a ride or I will really go with Alfonso.

He stared blankly at me while waiting for my reply. His adam's apple moved when my answer got delayed then I remember that he hates waiting.

"I will prepare the car. What is there to think about a free ride, Yllana? I will take you home." He glared at the jacket that I am holding in my left hand. I was not able to return that to Steve because he's nowhere to be found after the assembly. I was about to say something when he walked away. Rude bastard.

He parked the car just right in front of me. The tinted window in driver's seat went down as he opened the door in the shotgun seat from the inside. I am left with no choice. What he's offering is really convenient to me. How can I decline?

I gave my car a final look before I went in Alfonso's car. He is still reckless on the road, but I am too tired to mind that. It is not my first time to be here, but it's the first time that I feel at ease to be with him privately. The smell of his luxurious manly perfume dominated the whole car and that's all I can think about as I close my eyes to get some sleep. Right after that, he turned on the audio system and played an acoustic song by Boyce Avenue.

"I don't know the type of songs you like, so..." He said softly that it almost made me smile in surprise. But thank goodness I held that smile because he might think I'm thinking silly of him when he just wants to be nice NOW.

"I love old love songs. Michael Bolton, Kenny Rogers, Walter Murphy, Phil Collins...Michael Learns to Rock."

It took almost a minute, but he did not say anything. He might find me weird then, and he didn't want to say it.

"I may not look like it but I love old school. Movies, romance and fashion. Do you find me weird?" He didn't reply again. I am darn offended with his silence. I opened one of my eyes to see his expression, but it's the same blank.

It's a question why I became suddenly talkative now with him. I'm tired, and I should be sleeping but something urges me to tell him more.

"Hedrin and I are complete opposite. He's liberated and always on trend, but treats me right. He takes me to classic inspired restaurants and even watch old movies with me even that bores him a lot. Please don't be too harsh to your brother." My last sentence was almost a whisper.

"You find that sweet? You deserve more." I almost didn't hear that, but I managed to smile. That isn't so bad afterall.

We were caught in the traffic in the highway so I tried to sleep, but I couldn't so I just pretended to be sleeping while he's driving. He made a lot of phone calls that are business related along the way. I didn't know he's already taking in-charge of their company. He took engineering and ended up as a businessman.

I was aware when he stopped the car. I just waited for him to wake me up but it has almost been 5 minutes since the car stopped and he's not making any noise. My last resort is to pretend that I just woke up, so I stretched my arms and legs as I yawned.

"Are we here already?" My eyes flicked through the place to confirm that I'm home. He took me to my condo unit, and I didn't have to ask how he knew the address. He can find out about something if he wants.

"Thank you for driving me home. And about my car, you don't have to bother make arrangements with your connections because our family lawyer can work on it. Good night." I was about to open the door when he locked it again. I looked at him with brows furrowed.

"Won't you even give me a coffee or a tea? It's still rush hour and the traffic is bad. Do you know how exhausting it is to drive at this hour?" But I think his condo is along the way. He won't have to suffer with the traffic in the same highway we passed by.

"You said it's a free ride. Am I being scammed right now?" His mischievous smile played along.

"Maybe that's the case. I'll have a glass of water then leave right after." He surprised me when he went out. I thought he's going to hold the door open for me, but that just disappointed me. I followed him who's already being questioned by the guard. I saw both of them looking at me before the guard let him in.

"This will be the first and last time you're going here, Alfonso." He didn't answer but rather press the button in the elevator.

"23rd floor." I said.

When the elevator opened, he gestured me to go out first. There are two units in this floor and mine is located at the left. I rarely see the person who's occupying the next unit, but I think he's a professor in Stallion University. One time, I bumped into him in the elevator and he's with a few college students from Stallion. They called him 'sir'.

Alfonso's eyes wander around the hallway and I can't help but give him a weird look, but he did not even turn to me. He's staring at the RFID machine when I typed my password. As the lights turned on, the mess of my place flashed in sight. I bit my lower lip in embarrassment.

He went in without me having to invite him. His observant eyes roamed in place as I tried to make sitting room a little more presentable. It has been ages since a visitor came here. Only Zey, Heirra and Sceeya were dropping by sometimes to hang out. When my eyes went to Alfonso again, his sexy back is facing me while he's staring in our family painting. It is the only painting in the house.

"Don't be too harsh to your mother, Yllana." That was the first thing he said after staring in the painting for so long. He must have really found a mother figure in mom for him to be acting this way.

"What do you want?" That cold question earned a grin from him. He took a few steps to sit in the sofa. It's a mystery how he made it look small as he occupied it. That was big enough for me to sleep.

"You might not be able to give what I want, Yllana." The way he sensually said that gave me goosebumps. I need to be distracted from these dirty thoughts. Things like these might be ordinary to Alfonso, so I don't give any meaning.

"I'll just change my clothes."

"And you need help?" His husky voice and frisky smile in his face were deceiving, but I am far beyond his easy standards in girls. I won't fall for that because before he says a thing or before he lifts a finger, I know it's a scam.

When I walked out of my room, I prepared the ingredients for carbonara. Instead of giving him water, I considered cooking for him because I don't think he would leave after a glass of water. The idea of us sitting in 1 table and talking about random things scared me.

"How many times has my brother gone here?" I slightly hurdled when he appeared in front of me. There's no sound of his footsteps because he turned on the television and increased the volume to the point when I can't even hear the sound of what I'm chopping.

"I lost count, Alfonso. Why?" But the truth is he has never been here. I don't allow boys in my private place; my brothers are the exemption of course.

He pulled a chair and sat there right in front of me. I glared at him, but the obviously does not affect him. I continued with what I was doing.

"Liar." I eyed him.

"What did you just call me?"

"I asked him yesterday about the address of your condo unit, but he doesn't know." Even his simple smile is insulting. When he combed his hair through his fingers, I knew he was trying to insult me. What? He wants to boast about his experiences?

"Yeah. I am not like you, Alfonso. I know where to stop." I said loathing.

"You are scared, Yllana. Why don't you admit that you are scared of responsibilities too? You love having flings because you are afraid to be in a serious relationship wherein you have to consistently give your time to other people. You are just a selfish introvert, playful chic my ass." My eyes grew dark on him. I pointed to him the knife that I am holding in my right.

He raised his two arms as if he surrendered but he has said enough to put me in a bad mood again. If he didn't walk out from the kitchen, I would have really chopped him into pieces. He remained silent for a few minutes in the sitting room while I'm cooking our dinner.

After I finished cooking, I served it to him in the living room. Being alone taught me to eat in front of the television. He stared at me while I'm putting the plate with pasta in front of him. '

"Let's have beer." He looks so comfortable in my house that it's him who volunteered to get it. When he went back, he's holding a glass of wine instead of beer. I am not alcoholic like him; I don't have that in here.

"I won't take responsibility when you get arrested for drunk driving." He nodded as if teasing me more. He even showed the wine opener in his right hand before doing the honor.

"That's right. Enjoy your stay because this will be the last."

We started eating, but I noticed how picky he is. He doesn't eat spinach and broccoli. Everytime he would set it aside in his plate, I would sigh in disappointment, but he doesn't seem to care.

"When someone cooks for you, it's necessary to give comment at least for the courtesy in their effort." He's filling his wine glass for the 2nd time and I haven't had a sip yet at all.

"Sorry. This is just an overwhelming experience for me." The side of his lips raised playfully. "Other girls would offer me something else to eat when I go to their house."

Astounded with what he said, my jaw dropped in what that is supposed to mean.

"Such a dirty jerk! Finish that and leave!" Damn. I should not have asked him anything, so he will remain silent. My ear still cannot believe what it just heard. How do I unhear that?