Lethner's Service

Chapter 04 - Lightning Strikes

. . .

My subconscious and I are battling between staying still, wave hello to Jabes or just pretend like I’m not interested.

The moment I realize that that guy was actually no other than Jabes, it seems like everything turns into slow motion. Like how he smiled and how that cute dimple from his left cheek showed off.

Stunned by his presence, I never notice there are tiny droplets of waters showering my head from somewhere up the sky. I quickly glance above and realize that the clouds are actually turning really ebony dark and it’s starting to rain.

Briella Quinn! Move! Move! Move! Move!

My subconscious suddenly turns into someone who’s doing military exercises. And without further ado, looking at the nearest place to protect myself from being soaked by the rain and breaking my promises, I quickly ran inside the coffee shop.

I promised and I swore to myself I’ll never enter Bruce’s Brews again. But it’s raining, I got no choice.

Goodness gracious! This is so embarrassing!

I grab my handkerchief from my bag and wipe the tiny droplets of rain from my uniform and arms.

“Hey Quinn!”

There goes the only living being who calls me by my second name. I feel like my heart skips a beat the moment I heard that baritone voice of him. I bring my hanky back to my bag and with full nonchalance, I turn to him.

“Oh, Hi.”

“I’m really right, it’s really you.” He seems to be very happy seeing me.

Like really, really. He mentioned it twice.

“Yeah?”

I don’t know what to say. I can’t even make an eye contact with him. It feels like his eyes are like lasers that whenever I stare at him, I’ll be cut into pieces. His eyes are just intimidating that they look so hot and I feel like I'm an ice melting.

“Do you mind joining me?” he asks me referring to that table where I had a very bad experience. The woman sitting there smiles at me like she wants to make friends.

“No. It’s okay. I’m fine here. I’ll just wait for the rain to stop.”

And I’m not planning to be a third wheel.

“Don’t worry, she’s actually leaving.” He probably noticed that I’m having second thoughts of his offer because I saw his new girl.

Guys really, when will they be contented to loving one woman? Not all guys. I’m not stereotyping. I mean, guys like Frazer and this one in front of me.

The woman grabs her pouch, smiles at Jabes, and quickly walks outside. I follow her with my eyes. She enters a black Porsche parked outside the space and drives it away from the café.

As soon as the woman’s car disappeared from my sight, I turn to Jabes and give him a questioning look.

“She doesn’t have to leave. I mean...why?”

“We’re done discussing some business and she’s actually planning to leave earlier.” he pulls out a chair from the same table.

I don’t want to stand like an i***t for like an hour to wait for the mad rain to stop so I decided to sit on the chair –this cursed chair.

“But it’s raining hard outside. Isn’t it rude for you to let your girlfriend leave?”

He chuckles while waving his hand to a waiter who wears black pants and a neatly ironed white polo shirt with a yellow and white-polka dot bow tie.

“What do you want?” he asks me not giving interest to my question.

He’s avoiding my question because he’s afraid that I might be spilling out his dirty little secret to Emery.

“A hot frap and a slice of blueberry cheesecake please.”

“Got that. Just a moment.” the waiter then leaves us and heads the counter area.

“I’ll be paying for it.” I quickly utter.

“No. My treat.”

I give him an “okay” look.

Shameless Quinny!

I am suddenly hearing my subconscious protesting.

What?

I'm hungry. I want to eat. I think there’s nothing wrong to ordering something that’ll stop my little demons inside my stomach from churning.

I put all of my dearest attention to the pattering of the rain outside. While staring at the water in the portholes which shimmers by the glow of the bright yellow street lamps, I can’t help but feel curious and bothered right now.

Who’s that woman he was with a while ago? I thought this guy’s girlfriend is Emery. And why did he let that woman leave when I came into this place? Is he hiding something? I’m really right. I know my gut feel never fails me.

This guy in front of me is definitely a manwhore. But he doesn’t look like one. I mean, yeah? He looks so hot and sexy and cute at the same time and his smile can pull anyone’s panties off but he looks nice too.

“Earth to Quinn!”

I immediately pull back all of my lost senses and shake my head to brush away all of my random thoughts when I heard Jabes say something that I didn’t understand. He flicks his fingers in front of me.

“What is it?”

“Are you okay?” he softly laughs and I swear to all the angels on earth, if Enid is here, she would probably collapse because of that smile.

Is that what they call the killer smile? I think it’s the kind of smile which can stop anyone from their tracks –and I guess, I just did. I thought these things only happen in movies and romance novels. This feels kind of gross but why does it feel like all the heat from my body rises up to my cheeks?

“No. I’m just enjoying the views of the portholes outside.” I answer.

What an excuse!

“Huh?”

“I mean...I really like how the waters shimmer by the yellow lights from the street lamps.”

He nods his head like he gets my point. He’s about to say something when the waiter returns to us, politely interrupts, and puts a tray with my order on the table. The blueberry cheese cake looks so salivating plus the aroma of the frap that lingers inside my nostrils. I’m feeling my little worms in my stomach celebrating.

“By the way, why are you standing outside a while ago? Correct me if my deductions are wrong but based on my peripheral view, you’re like staring at us. It’s been like more than a minute that you’re just standing there like a statue.”

I sip on my cup of frap before answering.

“I just love how the lights of this café flicker from outside. They got my attention. The lights reflect on the glass wall like a prism and I find it amazing.”

I’m such a beautiful liar. What do you think?

“Really? I thought you’re following me.” He then laughs like a child who hears a stomach-aching kind of joke.

“And why would I waste my time stalking someone I obviously don’t have any interest with?” I nonchalantly ask him.

“I’m kidding.” he smiles, grabs the fork on the table, takes a thin slice from his chocolate cake, and brings it to his mouth.

The way his tongue licks the icing from his lower lip sends goose bumps at the back of my neck. My throat automatically dries up that I found myself drinking every single drop of frap from my cup.

I’m just observing every single move he makes. I even notice him picking out the red cherry from his slice of chocolate cake and he puts it aside.

“You obviously don’t like cherries?”

He glances at me and darts me a very melting look. Is it really just me or is there something wrong with his brown eyes that I can't make an eye contact? His upper lip forms into a smile. He really is fond of smiling –the mysterious one.

“This cherry?” he picks up the red cherry and shows it to me.

While eating my slice of blueberry cheese cake, I nod my head for a response. He nonchalantly brings the cherry inside his mouth and happily munches it like he’s a child endorsing a cherry flavored sweet candy.

“I prefer eating the slice first before the cherry. So you’re wrong with your deductions because I eat cherries Quinn.”

My mouth instantly opens and my throat dries up again. I’d like to curse this man in front of me for drying my throat every time he looks at me like I’m a delicious piece of cake.

I don’t know why but the moment the line I eat cherries Quinn escaped from his mouth, it sent shivers all the way to my spine. I’m making some double meanings upon hearing that line like it’s coloring my mind with green and when I say green –it’s a shade of very dark green.

“Wow.”

I just don't know what to say. I suddenly ran out of words.

Damn that cherry!

“Where are you going by the way?” he changes the topic and I secretly thank him for that.

“I’m heading home.”

“By walking alone this late night?”

“Is there something wrong with strolling around the city at night? I’d like to enjoy the views of the city, the lights from the lamps and cars, everything. I find it a pleasure to look at.”

“You obviously like lights. You’ve been saying about lights since you had a seat here.”

“Yeah?” I said and immediately look away.

“Nothing wrong about seeing the views at night but strolling alone?” he emphasizes the last word, “I don’t think it’s safe for a woman to be alone especially this hour. The world outside is perilous Quinn, you better be careful.”

And hearing those lines from Jabes, I suddenly remember my Dad. He always gives me warnings about going home late –that there are strangers at night and they might do something wrong to me.

“Thanks for being concern if that’s what you’d like me to feel but I’m twenty four Jabes. I can manage. I have a pepper spray with me and my father taught me martial arts. I can break your arm right now if you’d like me to.” I boasted.

He softly laughs at me.

What? Did I say something hilarious?

“Knowing martial arts and being alone at night are two different things Quinn. Evils lurk in humans. You’re old enough to understand what I mean.”

“So what do you call a guy that lets his girlfriend leave all by herself despite of the heavy rain pouring? I mean...what do you call yourself?”

I bring the topic back because I feel like there’s a need for me to know what’s his connection with that woman and Emery. I just don’t like them to feel what I felt months ago –cheated and fooled.

“She’s not my girlfriend and I don’t have one.”

“Seriously?!” my voice echoes all over the place. I even caught the attention of everyone.

I mouthed them sorry with a peace sign on my left hand. I turn to him and ask again.

“Are you serious? You don’t have one? So why are you with that lady a while ago? You seemed to be like a sweet couple having cups of drinks. How about Emery? You’re with her last night inside a room with a single bed and just this morning, Enid told me that you both had breakfast like you’re a couple and –“

I pause when I realize how interrogative I am and that I actually don’t have the right to ask such personal questions.

“I’m sorry.” I look down feeling ashamed of what I had just asked. “I’m just curious about you and Emery and that woman.”

His lips form into a smirk like he just heard something so insulting.

“Do you really want to know everything?” he asks as if it’s a question of a life and death situation.

It sounds like he’s asking me if I'm ready to be surprised by whatever he’s going to reveal. He looks someone who keeps a secret. Someone that makes me wants to do nothing but to ask –someone so fathomless.

My body jerks a little when he moves his chair closer and touches my left hand on the table. My heart suddenly beats so fast like there’s a group of triathlon athletes doing a 100km race inside.

“I find you so interesting. I feel like we’ve known each other for a couple of years even if I’ve only seen you twice. I’d like you to know me but I’m a hundred and one percent sure, you’ll just be like everybody when you get to know who I am Quinn.”

I fake a laugh and move my hand away from his touch. Something’s creeping inside my stomach when his soft palms touch my skin. I feel like there’s a bunch of insects huddling inside. There are also weird pulsations down my core. I am feeling a bit wet.

Damn! Why?

“I don’t...understand you.” my voice cracks, unsure of what I had just said.

“Hyacinth. She’s just a friend.”

“Hyacinth?” I ask, looking stupid.

Who the hell is Hyacinth?

“The woman with me a while ago.” He answers.

“Oh? Her? What about her?”

“Hyacinth and Emery aren’t my girlfriends. I don’t date women at a time. I don’t do cheating if that's what you’re thinking about me. They’re my customers.”

With furrowed eyebrows, I look at him with eyes questioning.

“Customers? What customers? Are you selling something illegal? Like drugs?" I try to c***k a joke to kill the serious vibe but it didn’t work. My lame joke falls into deaf ears.

“I’m selling something for a living.”

I take a quick glance outside and notice that it’s not raining anymore. I can go ahead and leave him right now but I’m more than willing to stay because I’m suddenly getting interested with his revelations.

“You’re selling something for a living? What do you mean?”

“It’s something that’ll surprise you.”

“You know what? I really don’t get your point.” I shake my head and place my hands on both sides of the table, readying myself to leave but the guy in front of me said something that shocked the life and hell out of me.

“I’m an escort.”

“An escort? You mean...someone that goes with a woman to a special event?” I’m trying to ask questions to change the awkward atmosphere but it’s not working.

“I know that you know what I mean Quinn. I’m an escort...a call boy.” He repeats.

Stunned by his confession, my jaw drops. An estimated fifteen seconds of silence roam around the spaces between us before words finally get a chance to escape from my mouth.

“C-callboy?” I stutter, “You’re a....callboy?” I repeated.

His eyes look at me intently like he has no plans to break his eye contact.

Without holding back, he answers. “Yes. I'm a call boy. A male prostitute.”

And right at the very moment when my ears heard his confession, I felt a thunderous lightning with an electrifying shock hit every nerve of my body and every fiber of my being.