I Like You
1275 Words
Clara
I should’ve refused.
Again.
But apparently saying no to Reig Miller was becoming increasingly impossible.
Maybe because he looked too calm whenever he insisted on something, like he already knew the answer before I even spoke.
Or maybe because some embarrassing part of me liked spending time with him.
Either way, ten minutes later, I found myself standing beside him inside the elevator of his condo building trying very hard not to combust from awkwardness.
Meanwhile, Reig looked suspiciously relaxed.
Actually no.
Happy.
The i***t was literally humming softly.
I glanced at him suspiciously. “Why do you look so pleased with yourself?”
His mouth curved slightly. “Do I?”
“You’re humming.”
“That’s evidence?”
“You only hum when people are emotionally annoying.”
He laughed quietly.
God.
Even his laugh sounded attractive.
The elevator doors opened to the parking area, and Reig casually led me toward his car.
Then I stopped walking.
“Oh.”
Black.
Massive.
Terrifyingly expensive.
A Rolls-Royce Cullinan.
Of course.
Of course Reig drove something that looked like it belonged to a billionaire in a crime movie.
The car looked sleek beneath the parking lights, polished black paint reflecting everything around it.
Elegant.
Controlled.
Exactly like him.
Then suddenly a horrifying realization hit me.
“…I didn’t throw up in your car last night, right?”
Reig looked personally offended.
“Rabbit.”
“That’s not an answer.”
“You survived with dignity.”
“Oh thank God.”
He laughed softly before opening the passenger door for me.
“Your ride, ma’am.”
“You sound like a chauffeur.”
“You wound me.”
I climbed inside carefully while trying not to touch anything too aggressively.
Everything smelled like leather and expensive cologne.
Even the seats felt richer than me.
I touched the seatbelt awkwardly.
Then paused.
Why were luxury seatbelts complicated?
“You struggling there?” Reig asked.
“No.”
“You’ve been staring at it for thirty seconds.”
“I’m analyzing.”
“You said that earlier too.”
I frowned at the seatbelt.
Then suddenly Reig leaned closer.
And immediately my brain stopped functioning.
His arm brushed lightly against my waist while reaching for the seatbelt. His cologne wrapped around me instantly—clean, warm, masculine.
Too close.
Way too close.
My breath caught.
Again.
My eyes lifted slowly toward him.
And unfortunately
Reig was already looking at me.
His gaze dropped briefly to my lips.
My heartbeat completely malfunctioned.
He leaned closer.
Closer.
Then
Click.
The seatbelt locked into place.
Reig pulled back slowly, still watching me carefully.
“I like it,” he said quietly.
My brain short-circuited.
“…What?”
“The smell.”
I blinked rapidly.
“What smell?”
“You smell like me.”
Heat exploded across my face instantly.
Oh my God.
The body wash.
“You should’ve told me earlier you bought me my own!” I accused.
“You already looked comfortable.”
“I hate you.”
“No, you don’t.”
Unfortunately
True.
I looked away dramatically while Reig started the engine with entirely too much satisfaction on his face.
After a few moments, guilt crept into me.
“…I’ll pay you back.”
Reig glanced at me briefly. “For what?”
“The clothes. The toiletries. Everything.”
“No.”
“Yes.”
“No.”
I frowned. “Why not?”
“Because I said so.”
“That’s not valid.”
His lips twitched slightly.
“If you really want to pay me back…”
I narrowed my eyes suspiciously.
“Buy me coffee.”
I blinked.
That was it?
“…Coffee?”
“Coffee.”
Well.
That sounded manageable.
“There’s a café near my apartment,” I admitted quietly. “I go there a lot.”
“Then take me there.”
And somehow thirty minutes later, we were walking into my favorite café together like this was completely normal.
The café smelled warmly of espresso and vanilla while soft music played quietly in the background.
Comfortable.
Familiar.
Safe.
“Clara!” Sara called from behind the counter.
I smiled automatically.
Then unfortunately
Her eyes landed on Reig beside me.
And her entire expression changed.
Oh no.
“Well,” Sara said slowly. “Who’s this?”
“Nobody.”
Reig looked offended.
Sara looked unconvinced.
“Mmhm.”
“He’s an acquaintance.”
“An acquaintance you brought here personally?”
I stared at her desperately.
Please stop talking.
Thankfully, she eventually spared me.
“You want the usual?”
I sighed in relief. “Please.”
“Sweet coffee and pastries again?”
“Don’t judge me.”
She laughed before turning toward Reig.
“And for you?”
“Black coffee.”
Of course.
Boring man.
Once we ordered, I led him toward my usual table near the window.
Before I could pull the chair
Reig already did it for me.
I paused slightly.
“…You do that naturally?”
“The chair thing?”
“Yes.”
“You hate it?”
“No,” I admitted quietly. “Just surprising.”
He waited until I sat before taking the seat across from me.
And somehow, even sitting casually, he still looked unfairly attractive.
“This place suits you,” he said while glancing around.
I frowned slightly. “What does that mean?”
“Warm.”
Something about the way he said it made my chest tighten softly.
Our drinks arrived shortly after.
I immediately pointed at his coffee.
“That looks miserable.”
“It’s coffee.”
“It looks like depression.”
“And yours looks diabetic.”
I gasped dramatically.
“My caramel macchiato has feelings.”
“Your caramel macchiato has sugar.”
“Which gives happiness.”
“Which gives cavities.”
I narrowed my eyes. “You became annoying in America.”
“And you stayed dramatic in the Philippines.”
Fair.
Very fair.
An hour passed too quickly after that.
We talked about New York.
About flying.
About random childhood memories.
And somehow, for the first time in months
I laughed without forcing it.
Really laughed.
By the time I checked the clock, sunlight had already softened outside.
“I should go home,” I said reluctantly.
Reig immediately grabbed his keys.
“You don’t need to drive me,” I protested quickly. “My apartment’s near.”
“I’ll walk you.”
“That’s unnecessary.”
“Hm.”
“That means yes.”
“It means I’m ignoring you.”
Hopeless.
Absolutely hopeless.
The walk toward my apartment felt oddly peaceful.
We talked the entire way.
Sometimes laughing.
Sometimes arguing.
Sometimes falling into comfortable silence.
And somehow
Without realizing it
We reached my apartment building.
I stopped walking slowly.
“Oh.”
“That fast?” he asked quietly.
“Apparently.”
For one strange second, neither of us moved.
The afternoon suddenly felt quieter.
More serious somehow.
I tightened my grip on my bag slightly.
“Well…” I smiled awkwardly. “Thanks.”
“For?”
“Everything.”
Reig looked at me carefully.
Too carefully.
And suddenly my heartbeat started acting stupid again.
I stepped backward slightly toward the entrance.
“Goodbye, Reig.”
Then I turned around.
One step.
Two
“Clara.”
I stopped immediately.
His voice sounded different.
Lower.
Quieter.
Dangerously serious.
Slowly, I turned back.
Reig stood there watching me.
Hands inside his pockets.
Expression unreadable.
Then softly
“I still like you.”
My breath caught.
And suddenly the entire world felt very, very still.
- Writer
