Chapter 14

“You don’t seem to enjoy the party?” He asked me.

“I-I’m not fond of parties,” I stammered.

"Me neither, " He replied. To my surprise, he sat on the lounge chair next to me and that made my breath hitch.

Strange, I don't like him around but it gives me pleasure looking at his hatty face. My heart is continuously beating fast and I started to get conscious of myself. I don't understand but this is the first time a guy made me nervous in an unreasonable way. It gives me an awkward feeling but I like it though. Butterflies are running down through my stomach and I don't even know what's this for?

"Can I join you here? Hope you won't mind." He stated very coolly.

Even his voice gives a very different and strange feeling to me. This is crazy, I guess. I was uncomfortable and my heartbeat was getting wilder each and every second.

"N-No I don't." I politely replied.

"Thank you."

It made me secretly gasp when he flashed his smile to me. I hoped he wasn't aware of his effect on me.

"I never thought the daughter of uncle Robert was pretty and adorable? Dad was right when he said you're very beautiful," I felt my cheeks burn after hearing that from him. If not with the darkness, he will surely notice how red my face was because of his compliment.

I've received compliments on my appearance and have been called pretty before but they usually didn't register. Not that I don't believe them but I am not usually aware of that aspect of myself. However, hearing it from him felt different. For the first time, I truly appreciated the compliment and felt happy about it.

"Thank you." I shyly replied.

"My Dad and your father used to be good friends, you know. If we’d met sooner, we could have been friends too but it's not too late to befriend you right?"

"Don't you have friends?" My sharp tongue couldn't help to reply.

"I do but I want to be friends with you. You're pretty and I like to be friends with Uncle Robert's daughter." I then went silent for a moment because I don't know what to say next. I could guess he was naturally playful and a flirt.

"Come on, I'm only asking to be your friend, not your boyfriend yet lady." He said playfully.

My cheeks flushed after hearing that. I heard him chuckle and seemed amazed with my reaction. His laughter was… pleasant. It was like beautiful music that pleased my ears.

"You looked even prettier when you blushed... How old are you anyway?"

Oh god, she noticed me blushed! This is embarrassing...

“F-Fifteen,” I stammered.

"Shit! You're so young!" I heard him mutter a curse and pound his chest hard as if he got frustrated or heartbroken. I noticed him heaved a long sigh, exaggeratedly turned to me then looked straight into my eyes.

"Damn! To think I'm flirting with a girl six years younger than me? That was so stupid of me." I heard him pull out a frustrated laugh afterwards.

"I'm sorry about that Gav. Can I call you Gav for short?" He suddenly asked. "Hope you won't mind me calling you Gav?”

“It's okay, that's what they usually call me." I replied, jerking my eyes away from him.

"Tell me about yourself, Gav." My eyes went back to him and hesitated for a moment.

"Like what?"

"I don't know. Anything about yourself maybe? I just wanted to know anything about you." He said, looking persistent.

I hesitated a bit, but then I decided to tell him about school, my love of reading and sports, especially volleyball.

"Okay... Uh... I'm in first-year high school. I'm a bit boring because I love reading books. I'm not good at socializing and as you can see you found me here alone. I also love watching sports though, especially volleyball."

"That's amazing. Do you play volleyball?" He seemed amazed by the way he stared at me so I got very conscious of myself. I wonder what he thinks of me?

"I know how because I'm a big fan." I proudly replied.

"Why? Aren't you a part of a volleyball team at your school?"

“I’m planning to join the team. The initiation will start in the first week of this coming September." I answered truthfully. Though I didn't know if I would be accepted by the team after getting into trouble when we got caught smoking weeds with Trishia and Phyllis.

I couldn't understand but with this guy, I can easily say something about myself which I wasn't normally doing to a stranger. He might be very special or perhaps, I wanted to impress and let him know me better, I guess.

"Who's your favorite volleyball player?"

"Sheilla Castro. She was so amazing!" I exaggeratedly commented.

"Oh, the Brazilian brunette who have a pretty smile right? I watched her at the Summer Olympics and I must say she was fantastic." That amazed me. I couldn't understand but I suddenly felt glad he knew something in the field of volleyball. He seemed very smart and he’s interested in sports too.

"How about you? Tell me about yourself."

"What do you wanna know?" He asked.

"Anything. Tell me what you would like and be comfortable informing me about you." I replied. I saw him think for a moment and that made me smile a bit.

"Let's see... I'm a third-year college student of Business Administration. I'm a varsity football player and just like you, I love sports too. I also love basketball and I play with my friends sometimes."

He told me about his studies in London, his love of sports, and his varsity football career. He also told me about his plans on taking his masters there and I felt a pang of disappointment learning he was studying in London.

“So you’re going back to London?” I couldn't help but ask.

“Yes, but I’ll visit often. My family’s settling here.”

"I see. How is it like studying in London?" I suddenly got curious and got interested about the topic because I wanted to learn more from him.

"It's okay, though. I got a lot of friends. I actually spent half of my life there. Have you been there?"

“Yeah, once? It's just for a week's vacation with my Mom and Dad but that was like three years ago, I guess?" I replied.

"Just tell me if you will visit again. I'll be more than happy to tour you around."

"Yeah, sure." I replied.

“It was nice meeting you, Gav. From now on we are friends right?" He said smiling that hitched my breath.

I nodded sadly. I don't understand but I felt a strange sadness and a tinge of regret at the thought of not seeing him again. We just met for the first time but how come it saddened me that he will be flying back to London to continue his studies? It's not like we were close and knew each other for a long time right?

"You can treat me like a big brother then, okay?"

With that, my smile fades away. I couldn't understand but I suddenly felt disappointed when I heard that from him. I kinda felt like I don't want him to be just like a big brother or even just a friend. How do I like him to be? That's the question in my mind that left unanswered after we parted ways.

And... Why do I have a feeling that question will bother me for days?