Chapter 12: Chapter 12

Chapter eleven

Zack's pov.

As the person walks under the light, it turns out to be Rebecca. I walk over, but then momentarily stops at the sight of Pug beside her. She has the dog's leash tied to a clip she's holding.

"Hey, Zack."

"Hi," I'm wary of animals, especially specie she's with.

"What?" She cracks up laughing, noticing my distress. I don't near her anymore. She stops in her track we well.

"You have a Pug. That's what." I cock a smile too, but the worry in my face is clearly shown.

"He doesn't bite."

"I..." I furrow my brows, still unsure and I don't even know what to say. She will definitely see me as a dog freak, if there's anything like that. She glances past my shoulders to my back.

From behind me, came James' voice. He calls for Rebecca to come over. She smiles and gives me a sharp nod, before walking over to James.

I turn to my back as well. James is in the barn, his body all darken from the night sky. There's no moon in the sky, little stars around, the lights from around are our aid.

I follow behind her, but create a distant space, for just in case anything happens. I know nothing will happen, her dog won't just got released like that and come to bite me, but then, what can a scared little guy do? I have to take caution.

"What's up?" Her feminine, fruity voice brings me back to the now. I look at James, really take a look at him. He looks dirty, and stained. "You've been working all day?"

She ask the question bothering my mind. He's definitely been working since morning till then, most certainly after I went to sleep. I thought I would be helping him out.

"Yeah, I've got no choice. Though it's fun. And those goats won't stop crashing the painting can. I should do something with the males. They just won't stop disturbing..." As he trails off, he burst into laughter, and Rebecca joins in.

I'm still walking behind her, she is nearing the barn now. James is now also packing some wooden cube package to a container at the end of the barn.

"Isn't that what you males do as well?" Instead of translating her words in the way she had meant — which is about human males not seizing to be disturbing the females — I take it as James is straight

I shake my head, still standing behind them as though I'm not one of their group, well maybe I'm not, but then, it seems like it, so I guess I am.

Expunging the thoughts from my mind, I watch as James coos his tone, coming for the dog. She waggles her tail, seemingly excited at the sight of James.

"How are you doing, Lil?" He grabs her paws, half-lifting her up, so he can ruffle the smooth hair around her chest.

She continues to waggle her hair, attempting to jump on him, but he is not letting her. I watch in fascination. He is nice to the dog...I mean Lil.

"Okay, so, um thanks for doing this again, James. I'll see you tomorrow. Bye, Lil." As Rebecca finishes, she lowers her frame, kneeling to hug her dog, Lil, point of correction. I should call her by name, actually.

The sides of her eyes wrinkles when she smiles as she stand in front of me, her hands on both my shoulders. I'm smiling back, not knowing what to say. Maybe after all, I'm not into their group, I don't feel as comfortable around them as I thought.

It's fine though, Zack. You just got here. You'll get the grip. I tell myself inside my head, and pull myself together.

"We'll see on Wednesday," then she whispers to my ears, making my eyes widen, "and I think Lil likes you. Just be nice. She doesn't bite." And with that, she leaves, heading out of the barn, leaving me to Lil, her dog, and James, my samaritan.

"Hey," I say after a short silence. There wasn't silence really, it's just me, wanting his attention. He was busy with with playing with Lil.

He looks up at me, "what's up?" Then, he frowns, "I didn't see you before...you were there the whole time?" He ask. He doesn't notice me. Another thought had to come to my mind that he doesn't like me, as I wished, or hoped for. This is all my brain's fault for making me overthink.

"Yeah, I guess so." I whisper the last part. "I thought I'd be helping you with the barn, didn't know you could do it all by yourself."

He laughs, "nah, I didn't do it by myself. I had help from a friend."

I don't ask about that friend, as I have assumed that if he wanted to let me know who it is that helped him, he would have mentioned...him?

"Oh," is all I say. He chuckles once more.

"Will you hold him for me?" He's not waiting for my reply, because he's already bringing Lil over to me.

I take as much step as needed backwards, "no, please," making him furrow his brows.

"What? You don't like dogs?"

"I've never breed one." That wasn't his question, I attack myself inwardly, and clear my throat. "I just don't think I'll ever be comfortable with one."

"Why?"

Wait, we are having a conversation that deals with dogs? I guess so.

"I used to watch videos of the wild animals—dogs were included..." He didn't let me finish.

"Yeah, I know they can be dangerous, a killer machine, but Lil is not. She's nice. And matter-of-factly, I am here." The way he says that last part is as if he wants me to be relaxed whenever he's around, like he will be my hero. I do wish that is what he meant though.

James takes one step closer with Lil, purring, and when I don't back away, he takes another step, and another...and another. Now, he's standing in front of me with Lil, sniffling my sandals.

Oh, my goodness, my legs are out, she can bite it. Although, she isn't snarling, but then, one can't be so sure.

"She's going to bite off my toes, take her away, please." My tone is low, quivering. I'm static, shocked to the core. Oh, no. My pulse has risen, and my palms are beginning to sweat. It's like a Phobia.

"You're doing fine, Zack, and she is too. Don't be scared." He tells me. I want to calm, like seriously. I really want to.

I close my eyes. She takes her licking tongue off my toes, going for James' boot.

"Oh, you don't. They are dirty. You don't want to sick now, do you?" He ask her and uses the leash to move her away. He outstretches it to me, urging me to take.

"I..."

"I wasn't asking you to, I'm telling you to." If he was giving me examples of sentences in English, I can boldly say that I don't understand his just-said sentence.

"Okay." I take the leash, suddenly feeling comfortable. Especially with her already near me, and haven't threatened so far.

"You see..." My hands are still fidgeting, as he goes to outside, and I follow him with Lil.

She continues to bark every once in a while, if not she will purr, or just sniffle her surrounding.

There's a tap to the left of me that James is going for. There's a tall block at the area, hindering his frame from being seen by just anyone coming in. He rinses his hands first, then his head, before straightening up. Standing upright, he takes off his jacket, at the same time, pulling his shirt with it.

Oh-mi-gosh. I cannot think. My brain is in haywire. I can't stop looking at those muscles and pecs. He's a godly man, I'll say. Then, he shocks me the most when he takes off his pants as well, leaving him to only his boxers.

I blink, and blink over and over. The fact that I'm holding a dog doesn't concern me anymore. I don't care about that thought,. but the man in front of me. He is all dark from night, but thankfully, the lights provide such immaculate vista of his whole frame.

I can see the muscles at the back, compressing, pulling, relaxing, and releasing. His V-line is on point, showing vividly when he turns. His underpant is leaning against his body like a second skin. No, it is a second skin. I see the bulges as well.

When water rushes down to his body, that's when I notice what makes him far more hot...and that there's another tap above a tank, laid upon a square-shaped brick. His muscles shows me the perfect figure of my thoughts. He's that built, I am frankly speaking.

His hands walks down from his head, that is soaking, and raking into his hair, then down to his face to wipe it when he sees me.

"Oh, I thought you'd leave." I felt like he didn't complete that statement.

"Oh... sorry... I'm sorry." I scramble to say, and quickly leave with Lil, pulling her with me.

She doesn't get angry it, which is a plus for me tonight. I continue to marvel into the thoughts of what I just saw when after some minutes, James comes out.

I take stand from the steps before the porch, and smile a ghosty smile.

"Why are you looking at me like that?"

"Like what?" That was supposed to be a thought. Am I looking at him any differently than I used to?

He's confusing me, if he doesn't know.

"Like you are acting weird." He isn't sure of what he is saying. I take that as another plus, an escape to the embarrassment he might make me feel if he ventures into why I would look at him while bathing, and not excuse him instead.

"I don't know." I glance down. "I'm holding a dog."

"She's Lil."

"I'm holding Lil." I correct myself. She has a name, remember that stupid.

"Oh... okay." He is hesitant to talk.

He's changed into a nylon shirt, all buttons clipped except the two at the top, allowing his right chest showcase. His skin isn't that darken now that the light here is brighter. His skin naturally is more of golden-splash-honey, but now it's more of almond.

His short stops just above his knees, and in his hands are the cloths he took off earlier. He hangs them on the rail to the veranda, and comes to kneel, brushing Lil.

"Let's go."

"Excuse me?"

"We are taking Lil for a walk." He says as though he's told me before. Man, he's so bossy. I like the fact that we will be walking around this night, share exchange and such, but then, am I up to it?

"Okay, but... Nevermind, let's go." I say, and leave Lil to him, before walking ahead. James catches up with him without any problem.