Her Memories

CHAPTER 2. Afternoon Ride

But she didn't move a bit. She just can't. Her body suddenly froze as her heartbeat becomes faster. She doesn't know what is happening to her, while she also can't help keep staring at the man towering in front of her, who looks like a different person from the one she always saw in their class.

"Annastasia." He wakes her up from her thoughts. 

"Oh! Joaquin, I'm so sorry." She apologizes while blinking her eyes unbelievably.

"Come on, get in the car. We are both getting wet here." He said while he abruptly grabbed her wrist and pulled her without permission towards his car.

"Joaquin, you don't have to; I can just call a taxi." She said, trying to refuse the good gesture, but he didn't listen. Instead, he opened the passenger's door and guided her to get inside. He also took her umbrella and closed it before he walked around to the driver's seat.

Asia was stunned and didn't know what to do. She pulled her skirt up to her knees and put her bag above it for not feeling comfortable with the strange classmate beside her.

"I'll take you to your house. You can't get a taxi that easily in this situation. Just look at how many people are waiting for one. Just give me the directions." He said, handing Asia his phone to put in her address on a navigation app and a gray hoodie jacket which she also received immediately without a doubt.

"Yeah, I guess you're right, thank you." She mumbled in a low shyly voice.

She put on the hoodie after typing her address as she was feeling too cold already while Joaquin smirked, looking at her, then started the engine.

The ride to Asia's address is quiet since no one of them tried to open up a conversation. Asia feels so awkward with the moment and doesn't know what to talk about or to ask.

'Maybe I can ask him if he has a girlfriend? Wait, No! Of course, you can't! What if he has or not? You can't just ask someone's privacy because you don't have the right to, and besides, what is it to you anyway?' She shook her head at that silly thoughts.

"What were you thinking?" He suddenly asked, breaking the silence.

She was surprised by his sudden question and realized that she might have shaken her head obviously for him to notice it. Well, she really did.

"Uhm, nothing." She said, stammering while looking down.

"Okay? You know what, I always recognized you as one of the most cheerful students in our class. I always saw how you giggle with your friends and laugh madly with them. I can't believe you're this quiet now. Am I scary or something?" He asked, smiling warmly while his eyes were focused ahead of the road.

She felt embarrassed by the words he said, not sure if he was complimenting her or what, but at the same time, she felt her cheeks getting hot every time he showed his smile to her, which he did several times already just in a few minutes.

"Oh no! It's just that I can't believe that the rain didn't calm down a bit up to now, but thank God you offered me a ride, so thank you so much." She tried to explain, smiling, and he smiled back again.

For sure, the poor Stephy and Maggie will be jealous if they learn about it. Unfortunately, they will not because Asia is planning not to tell them about this afternoon ride.

After a few more minutes, they have arrived at Asia's apartment.

"We're here!" He announced.

"Yeah, thank you again for the ride. I owe you one." She said, smiling, and for some reason, she didn't feel the awkwardness anymore.

He gets out of the car first and opens her side of the door like a true gentleman. She immediately steps out, and luckily, the rain has stopped already.

"Thanks!"

"Asia" "Joaquin" together, they both called each other's names, and a soft giggle followed.

"Alright, you go first." He told her.

"Thanks! Um, maybe we can just keep this thing between us. I mean the ride; I don't want to get threatened by the girl squad on the campus. I hope you know what I mean." She said in a low voice, and he chuckles.

"Yeah, actually, that is what I wanted to say as well. I just don't want to give them the wrong impression." He also explained.

"Of course! We don't want that." She added, smiling at him with her eyes.

"Anyways, I have to go now. See you at school, Annastasia."

"Yeah, but you can just call me Asia. Thank you so much again."

"Don't mention it." He replied, and with that, they already waved goodbye.

Asia kept her gaze on his moving car until it disappeared from her sight, but she was frozen on her spot, smiling and cupping her face with her both hands as she felt her cheeks getting hot because of an unfamiliar feeling she suddenly had.

"Well, I guess that's normal for anyone who just had a ride with a handsome man like that." She heard Lucy mocking at her from behind.

"Ahh... Lucy! It's nothing like that!" She cried shyly and started running to get inside.

"Of course! It's just nothing." Lucy said while copying her cupped face.

Lucy is their trusted housekeeping; she's been with their family since she was a little, and now, she's like a family with them.

"Stop it! What are you doing here, by the way?" Asia asked her to divert the topic.

"Your dad asks me to get in here to bring you that and to check your situation here." She explained, smiling and pointing the shopping bag on the couch while looking around her apartment.

"Come on! Did he buy me a new dress again? But I have lots of dresses that I have only worn just once." Asia complained unbelievably while checking the bag with the dress.

"Just let him dearly. Besides, he's happy doing that to his only child," Lucy told her with so much joy.

"I know, but"

"No but's, come on, go to your room and take your clothes off already you might get cold," Lucy warned her then suddenly she remembered the jacket, she is still wearing it and forgot to return it to Joaquin.

'Well, it's a shame if I return it just like that without washing it first.' She thought while grinning and blushing.

She quickly went inside her room and took off her clothes, while she couldn't help to smell Joaquin's jacket. It smells so good with a gentle masculine woody smell,

"I can smell it all day," she commented while sniffing and not letting the fabric away from her nose.

'What if I just buy him a new one and keep this one with me?' Her ridiculous mind suggests.

'You're acting like a pervert now, Asia.' She stopped herself and went to the bathroom to take a warm relaxing bath.

She can't believe what just happened this afternoon. When Joaquin is smiling at her, she makes herself believe that maybe he's not that stubborn after all. Just as he said, he just doesn't want to give a false impression to anyone.

'And besides, if I was him and currently in that situation, I'm sure I am already pissed off at those annoying girls, even if it includes Stephanie and Margaret.' She smiled at that thought while she started to soak her body inside the bathtub.