Illicit Attraction

Chapter Four

Our last period professor couldn't make it today. Something came up on their house—an emergency. He needs to be home. When my classmates heard about it they celebrated as if today; our country has been finally freed from foreign conquerors.

I am not classmate with Uiji in this class. Looks like I'm gonna have to wait for her for an hour. I took my phone from the pocket of my bag and press her name on the phone list to send her a text message.

To: Uiji

Don't have class anymore. Where should I wait?

I was about to hook the strap of my bag on my shoulder when she replied.

From: Uiji

I want to skip this class. Damn boring!

I could hear her high-pitch voice inside of my head because of what she said. If only we're talking face to face. I'm sure she has a lot to say about the boring subjet or the lifeless teacher that makes the subject boring or maybe both.

To: Uiji

I'll wait for you in our spot. Study well, you little wild girl.

By our spot. I meant the bleacher on the quadrangle placed steps away from a hundred years old Narra tree. I stop by at the school café to grab a snack that'll keep me entertained as I listen to my playlist while I patiently waits for Uiji to finish her last subject.

"Large fries... cheese and sourcream plus the terra size of honey lemon juice," I said and handed the bill to the cashier. I had to wait in one of the tables in the café for my food.

"That's impossible. Those happens only in some cliche romance movie, Kim. This is real life and not a Nicholas Sparks inspired romantic movie!" The familiar voice of Betty is too loud that everyone else in this space heard what she and Kim are arguing about.

I didn't want to waste my time by looking at them. Instead I darted it back on the corner where I saw the cashier already packing my fries in a box for take out.

I stood up from my seat and walk to her after she pointed my orders.

"Why don't we ask, Adi?" with the box of fries on my hand and my terra-sized honey lemon juice. I went searching for Kim and Betty. They are already walking to me.

"Is he here for you?" she asked. I don't know who is the he that they're talking about so I was confused. My eyebrows shot up.

"Is Nicodemus here for you, I said!" She repeated with a thinner patience on her voice.

I froze. Roots grow over my foot and all over my body. Even though I wanted to turn my head or even run to look for Nico. My body doesn't allow me too.

Betty crosses her arms and rested it against her chest. "She doesn't even know that he's here." She give me her taunting smile before she turn her back on me. It didn't take long when her little minion, I mean Kim follow her steps away from me.

"Nico is here?" I whispered to myself before I walk fast and try my luck if I could see him if he's still around.

"OH MY... I'm sorry!" I mindlessly wipe the spilled juice on the black coat of the man I accidentally bump with on my way out of the café. My eyes remained pasted on that part of his coat, still trying to dry it with my hand until the owner of the fancy coat grabs my hand and let it down. I look at his veiny, musculine and warm hands. That touch and the warmth of it feels familiar on my skin. It is because my body is reacting to it. My heart is starting to beat faster—it's coming to life after its long rest in the dark cave where I left it after Damon died.

I panick more when our eyes locked in and I realize that I cause him trouble again.

"Nico..." I trail of his name. For a fleeting moment. The darkness leave his eyes for a reason that I still don't know. That gleams on his eyes is something I could compare to ephemeral sun rays in the middle of a cloudy day.

"Nico?" he smiled smugly.

"Y-Your name is quite... l-long," I faltered as excuse for calling him Nico because if I were to base on his expression. I don't think he's pleased to be address with that as a nickname.

He look down on his soaking black coat. "I have two more meeting after this schedule. How can I now when I smell like lemon and is soaking wet?" he said in between gritted teeth. Completely irritated.

"I..." I heaved a sigh and gather around every strength that my body and soul could offer so I can continue to talking to him. "Let me just buy you another coat. I'm done with my class. If we leave now then maybe you can still catch up with your meeting." I grab him by his hand and pull him to run in the parking lot. I'm sure he has his expensive car with him.

"Where's your---"

"Red BMW on your left," he answered my unsaid question. My lips rounded when I saw it. His car is the closest one to us. If it's a venomous snake. Maybe I'm dead by now.

When I let go of Nico's hand that's when I realize too that I'm holding it for the last five minutes or more.

When we get in. He remove his coat and is on the act of throwing it on the passenger seat on the back when I grab it out of his hand.

"What are you doing?" he asked confusedly.

"It's an Ermenegildo Zegna," I whispered to myself. If I buy him a coat with the same brand. I'm sure that the single item will max out my credit card.

"Nico." If I had all the guts to pull him to his car earlier and offer to buy another coat to replace the one that I mess up. Now he's the one dragging me towards the boutique store of Ernenegildo Zegna Suits here in Shopping District.

We're almost on the fancy glass door of the boutique when I managed to escape from his hold of me.

I touch my wrist. It's hurting a bit 'cause he held me quite tight. When I look up to him. He's eyeing my wrist with clench jaw. I hide it from his eyes immediately by placing my hand on my back.

"Look," I said, buying myself more time while I still try to figure out what I need to say. "I don't have enough money to replace your coat with the exact brand and style will it be okay if we purchase a cheaper but decent one then I'll have dry clean your Zegna coat," I added while playing with my fingers.

"A cheaper one?" He shakes his head. "That's not going to happen." When he pulled me inside of the boutique. It felt like I've been getting drag in hell and when the female staff of the store starts flocking to Nico. I was left standing behind and watch them take out different coats that they think will look good on him.

My phone vibrated on the pocket of my skirt.

From: Uiji

I'm in our spot. Where are you?

I muttered curses under my breath.

I tore my eyes off the screen of my phone. Nico already pick a new coat for himself. Thinking that we'll be done any moment now. I texted Uiji to wait a little longer. She asked where am I but I didn't reply anymore.

"How much is it?" I asked while taking out my credit card. Nico with his poker face on is standing near my back.

The lady in the counter smiled. "Two thousand and five hundred eleven dollars, Ma'am." When her finger touch my credit card. I didn't want to let it go. My credit card will be max out with just this item and this month has just began!

"Here." I look at the man towering me. The lady let go of my card to take Nico's black card.

"NICODEMUS?" a carefree voice called him the moment our feet meet the outside floor of the boutique.

Pharrel Quintin walk to us excitedly. Not only that, he's smiling mischievously too and I think he's having a wrong idea.

"I thought you're on a meeting?" I don't like the way Pharrel's eyes dance with us.

"I am," Nico said that widens the rascality of his cousin's smile.

"Yeah, meeting."

"Why are you here? Aren't you supposed to be in?" Nico asked. On my observation they are on the same ground that even if Nico didn't name the place or maybe the event that his cousin should be in. Pharrel already knows what Nico is talking about.

"I'm on my way but I got hungry that's why," Pharrel answered still smiling. Is the reason why Uiji find him charming and all... was it because he's like a ball of sunshine for he always radiates happiness with his smiles?

"Do you want to join me? My treat." Pharrel's eyes are glued on me as if he intends the question only for me.

"I need to go back in SU immediately. Uiji is waiting for me." Pharrel nodded his head. His expression didn't even change after hearing her name. I wonder does he even know who is the girl he dated and laid last night or he can't for he already did it with tons of woman that remembering their name is a hard task?

"I'll drive you there." Nico and I are on the parking of the shopping district. "You don't have to. You have your meetings remember? You can't be late," I said. He closed the door of his BMW and walk to me while taking his phone from the pocket of his slacks. He gave it to me without saying anything that made me look back and forth to him and his phone.

"You're the one who is suppose to pay for the coat that I bought. Let me have your number so I can contact you when I want you to pay for your debt." My eyes double it sizes.

"Debt?"

Nico smiled flatly. "You're indebted to me Adalira Ymozhen." He lifted the paper bag of the coat that he bought and everything made senses. I end up typing my number on his phone before we parted.

"GOD WHERE HAVE you been?" Uiji is worried and irritated to me all at the same time. I sat on the bench. The soccer team of SU are practicing so there's still a lot of people around.

"I have a debt to a business tycoon." Uiji moves her head closer to my face. "Debt to a business tycoon? Why? How did it happened?"

I turn to her direction. "Nico is here earlier. We bump at each other in the cafeteria's entrance, I spilled a honey lemon juice on his coat and now I'm in debted to him and he has my number." Uiji grab my hand aggressively.

"Adi it's weird. It's getting weirder."

"Huh?" My forehead knotted.

"Have you forgotten how you and Damon started?" what she said made me travel back on the memory lane.

First day of my senior high school year when I accidentally hit Damon's motorbike with the baseball bat that I take from Fallon to play it with Uiji during our physical education subject. The bat made a huge dent on the tank of his Ducati. Damon is enrage after seeing it that he almost hit me if it weren't for his sister I'm sure he'll kill me.

"You were in debted with Damon too and he asked for your number because he wanted to contact you for the settlement of the damage... later on you two fell in love."

I sighed and shove the idea away. I laugh at that non-sense. "It's just a coincidence."