Note: I changed the name of the stalker because I realized na OA naman if lahat sila starts with the letter A.
Sorry din for the delay in the update! Busy this past weekend with the storm and getting the book ready. ICYMI, we already posted the pre-order form for The Ice Cream Shop Series, which contains all four stories of Anna, Elize, Aria and Melissa. Grab your copies! 💗
This is a short update but I will have another one later.
—-
Lexi
I was confused with what I saw.
Could I have made it up?
Hindi eh. Sure ako. He was emitting fire.
Should I be scared? I should be, but strangely... I'm more curious.
For the moment, I decided to push back the thought.
"Are you okay, Alexandra?"
"Hmmm? Uhm, yes."
"Did he frighten you?"
"A little but you handled it well so I'm good."
As I sat at the back of the car, stuck in traffic, I stared at Aki, waiting for the flames to appear again. But it had been over an hour already and nothing has happened.
"It is quite rude to be staring, Alexandra."
"Oh, sorry."
"Is there something bothering you?"
"I, well, uhm..." how do I tell him? Won't I sound crazy? "You were on fire!"
If he was surprised, he didn't let on. Instead, he gave me a smirk. "Figuratively, yes? I think I was good in handling the man, yes."
"No. I saw you! Fire was all around you!"
He chuckled.
"Sorry. I'm weird."
"No, you're not. For now, just trust me. I will tell you soon enough."
Since then, there has been no more episodes, but sometimes, I would catch him seemingly talking to the moon wistfully. One time, I even heard him say, "Mayari."
His seemingly extraordinary skills bothered me less and less. I was grateful that I felt safe.
He has also relaxed around me. "Good morning, Alexandra. Kumain ka na ba?"
"Oo naman. Ikaw?"
"Kumain na din. If you do not mind me saying, you look very pretty today."
I smiled. "I mind that you don't contract your 'do not' but I don't mind the compliment. I have a date."
"Oh, doon ba kita dadalhin pagkatapos ng trabaho?"
I nodded. "Sa restaurant lang kami malapit sa office, pero ayoko sana maglakad. Pahatid ha?"
"Oo naman. Pero kailangan kong tingnan yung lugar para alam ko saan ako magbabantay."
I agreed, as much as I was already open to going out, I still wanted to make sure I was safe.
During dinner, the guy I was with was nice enough but conversation was like pulling teeth. "May parang night market sa isang open area malapit dito and they have all sorts of street food! Have you ever been?"
"No."
"Parang I want to go."
He nodded. "Oo, punta ka with your friends."
When dinner was over, I called Aki to pick me up immediately. I sighed as I got in the car.
"Bad date?"
"No... just... no spark."
He nodded in understanding. "It is difficult to find someone."
"I bet hindi ka nahihirapan. You must have girls falling at your feet."
"Attraction is easy. Love is not."
"Oooowwwwwssssss! When was the last time you fell in love?"
"I've only loved once before. A long time ago... before Magellan and the Spaniards-"
I cut him off, laughing so hard. "Ang exagge naman nito. Panahon pa ni Magellan."
He stop at the traffic light, turned to me and asked, "Who says I'm exaggerating? Her name was Hiraya."
