Chapter 12: Chapter 12

My friends and I looked at one another. It’s not that I am nervous to ride such big bike since my brothers also have one and I know how to ride one, but it’s where he’ll take me that I feel uneasy. Sure, I can fight him but if he knows more martial arts than me? Or maybe he’ll take me somewhere, where the guys he was with last time are there and they’ll bury me?

“Just tell me where it is and I’ll go on my own. Or better yet, let me drive,” I said and he can’t force me on that.

A playful smile hit his lips. He then raised his hand then gave me his key.

“Your call then,” he said. I grabbed the key from him then roared the engine to life.

“Hold on to me,” I told him. Instantly, he wrapped his arms around my waist tightly, I could even feel his chest at my back. My friends started to tease us too.

Damn. I should’ve not said that.

I was expecting that he’ll bring me to an abandoned warehouse or a shady place but surprisingly, we stopped in front of a high-end café.

“Are you serious right now? We just ate, didn’t we?” I asked though I am up for a cake if he’ll offer.

“I want you to meet someone,” he said tonelessly as he moved away a streak of hair from my forehead and retrieved his key. He then grabbed my hand and entwined our fingers together. The gesture surprised me but I did not protest. We walked hand in hand, entering the café.

“Rafael!” I looked at the girl who said that who’s waving to us. I mean to Blaise.

Oh. Blaise Rafaelo. Rafael..

“Act like a sweet girlfriend,” he furtively whispered to me as we walked our way towards the girl.

I plastered a fake smile at her. “I’m his girlfriend. Nice to meet you, the name’s Arya. How about you?” I said without missing a beat.

The girl was surprised upon hearing that. Her eyes widened then looked at Blaise.

Blaise put his arms around me then kissed me on the forehead. Damn this, opportunist bastard. He’s done it twice already today! But then, I just played along with it, I even inched closer to him. After all, a deal is a deal.

“I want you to meet my girlfriend formally. She’s the one I was telling you about that I’ve been pursuing for quite some time now. Baby, this is Maoi, my ex-girlfriend. Maoi, this is my present and future. The one I can’t live without. Arya Astrid Fonacier.”

***

I saw how Maoi’s eyes widened when Blaise formally introduced me to her. And it surprised her more when Blaise slid his arms to my hands then entwined them together.

I am not stupid. For whatever reason he has, I know that he’s purposely doing this to show her ex our sweetness. So, even though this really pisses me off big time, I just let him do what he wants. Anyway, this is my punishment for trusting my ex too much. I should just think of it this way since this is just for a month and I’m sure, that we’re not going to see each other everyday since we are not a true couple in the first place.

“Do you want anything?” he asked sweetly to me and we even read the menu together although I can’t really focus on the words because I am distracted by the way his skin is brushing against mine.

Eventually, I was able to order a slice of blueberry cheesecake and Blaise did order the same. Maoi on the other hand is just looking intently at us so I smiled at her.

“So, since when did the two of you become official? Quite fast huh, Blaise,” Maoi started. Blaise just smirked slightly at that.

“She said yes to me, yesterday,” he then answered. At first, I was wondering why he said yesterday until it hit me. Well, I just found out yesterday that Maven is cheating on me so technically if we are to follow the deal, we really started yesterday too, officially.

What a good fucking start.

“Blaise here told me a lot of things about you, Arya,” Maoi then told me. I was about to answer that but our order just arrived on time so my attention was averted to it.

Once I have made sure that Blaise and I both have our cakes, I looked back at Maoi

“I wonder what did he say about me?” I asked with genuine curiousity.

“He said that he fell in love with you the first time he has seen you play volleyball.”

I looked at Blaise upon hearing that. I know deep down in my heart that it isn’t true but I don’t know why I feel bizarrely happy at that although I am not really sure if he has already indeed watched me play or he just used the fact that I am a volleyball player for his benefit?

“Oh, haha. Yes, he also told me that before,” I answered getting back at the game.

“Maybe some other time, we can play?” she asked afterwards. I raised a brow at that.

“Oh, you play too?” I asked curiously while I urge myself to remember if I have seen her somewhere already playing for a school.

She shook her head. “Uhm, no. But I have friends who do. Maybe we can meet you and Blaise there.”

I looked at Blaise again whose face is just neutral. I am not an expert in guessing a person’s mood but I know for a certain that he doesn’t like the way this conversation is going.

“I want to thank you for that, Maoi however I guess it would be much better to ask Blaise here about that because he’s a bit territorial when it comes to my attention. And I don’t know maybe he’s planning something for the two of us since we just became a thing yesterday,” I said playing it safe.