FORGOTTEN

Chapter 2

Faye figures that Errol can be quite delightful when he wants to yet she sometimes thinks that he is an asshole under those layers of charm he surrounds himself with.

"This is my stop," Faye says.

She notices how his lips form a thin line before he finally lets out what he wants to say. "Can I see you again?"

She definitely does not know how to respond to that. Thinking back, it has been a long time since she has been in contact with someone from the opposite sex. She finds it unbelievable that somebody is actually interested in getting to know her, that is if getting to know each other is what he really wants with her.

"Hey, you're overthinking. I can hear your thoughts from here." He says jokingly.

"Why?" Faye asks.

"Why not?" He throws back.

"It's just..." she pauses to gather her wits. "This is just so cliche, you know?"

She  points at him then to herself a couple of times before she continues, "This is something I read in my romance novels."

Errol gapes at her before he roars in laughter. As much as she wants to smack him on the face, she stops herself with the thoughts of avoiding trouble in mind. He pretends to wipe the fake tears in his eyes after laughing his heart out.

"I'm glad that you find this hilarious." Faye comments sardonically.

"So am I."

"Nice to meet you." She says before turning her back at him.

Before she even takes a step, he grasps her arm which turns her around.

"Did you forget what I have just said?" He now sounds much sincere in comparison to his previous demeanor.

She is absolutely lost for words with the sudden turn of events. This is not something she has ever expected to happen to her. She has always behaved in an unassuming way because of how much she dislikes being the center of attention.

"Honestly, I don't know how to respond to you right now."

"I'm not asking you out on a date."

"Is that supposed to make me feel better?"

"You are affronted again. I don't understand you."

"Well, have you taken the hint yet?" Faye mutters as she makes another attempt to walk away from him.

However, he moves faster to block her path. He stands there between her and the door of the building. He tilts his head down to look at her straight in the eyes.

She realizes how much taller he is than her and how much she likes it when men are taller than her. Given her height, her preference leans towards the taller side. Looking up to meet his gaze, she feels another fluttering somewhere in her gut. As much as she wants to deny it, she is attracted to him. And as much as she is attracted to him, suspicious rears its ugly head to warn her against him.

"Look, I don't have many friends in the city and you seem to be on the same boat as I am." He starts, catching Faye's full attention.

"I'll give you my number. If you want to hang out, give me a ring. If you don't, then I'll understand."

Faye crosses her arms over her chest at what he has just said. "So you still don't get the message at this moment?"

He stares intently into her eyes which suddenly makes her feel a bit uneasy. Working as a teacher has never helped her feel comfortable with prolonged eye contact, particularly eye contact with attractive men like him.

"You know, the way you are looking at me seems to be different from the words coming out of your mouth. You want me to keep going?" He says in a matter-of-fact tone.

"Has anyone told you how infuriating you are?"

"Has anyone told you how much of a sore loser you are?" He responds playfully.

The situation is getting out of hand. She does not know what is going on in that mind of his. He says things that make her feel light-headed yet vexing words leave the same flowery mouth. She has decided that he is dangerous and being unable to keep up with him is already risky.

He takes out what appears to be a receipt from his back pocket. He asks if she has a pen and she digs into her bag for one.

"Here," he says while handing her the slip of paper. "It's up to you. Message me if you feel like going out. If not, then..."

She hesitantly reaches out for the receipt despite the fact that her mind is willing her against it. She has already decided not to give him a call and just take the paper just so he leaves her alone. However, there is a little part of her mind that wants to experiment on this.

It has been five years since her ex-boyfriend broke up with her and she has not been with any men after that. She has focused so much on working and making a living that she has forgotten what it is like to live.

Looking at the sheet of paper in her hand, she recounts the number of times she has ever gone out with other people aside from her family. The moments are so few that she can count them with her fingers.

She finally lifts her head to face him with honesty. "I'll think about it."

"I will await your call, Faye."

The way he says her name is swoon-worthy. She is sure that there's nothing different from the way other people calls her yet his way of uttering her name sounds totally remarkable.

"Don't keep your hopes up." She then moves past him to enter the building.

With the paper clutched in her hand, she climbed the stairs with a small smile on her lips. She prays silently that nothing bad comes out of this chance meeting with him. Everything feels surreal and that's even more frightening for her.

Faye is not a risk-taker and she does not want to start now that she is in her late 20s. Thinking about the way she interacted with Errol, she sees how inexperienced she is when it comes to dealing with men. She suddenly feels crestfallen at the thought that she has nobody confide in about this.

Her mother is just another story altogether. She is sure that her mother will be against her meeting the guy again. She can hear her mother telling her that the guy is just interested in bedding her. She can also clearly hear her mother's mantra when it concerns men and relationships.

Now, she is totally lost.