The Price of being Pretentious

Chapter Twenty-three: Orange Sky

After he whispered those words, I was stupefied like I was hit by a freeze gun. While he was staring at me in amusement like he was not devastated a while ago. I blinked twice as he talked.

'What did you say?' I managed to say.

He smiled, then started to lose his balance. I screamed his name with a curse in surprise as I tried to catch him, but his weight pulled us down. Both of us fell to the ground. At that moment, Lloyd entered the workshop.

'Oh my goodness! London, what happened?!' He asked as he helped me heave Paris and carry him towards a small bed.

'He passed out.' I answered, feeling the throbbing ache on my head.

When Paris was placed on the bed, I surveyed his face, then wondered how handsomely he looked when he was asleep. He was sweating so I took a dry towel to wipe them. Lloyd came back with a bowl of water. I let him attend Paris.

'Mamita, can I stay here for the night?' I asked as I stood up.

Lloyd tilted his head. 'Where? Here? Here in this shop?'

I nodded to say "yes".

'If you feel that it was the only way to keep yourself safe. Besides after what I heard from you earlier I won't let you come back to that house. But how about this guy? Do you know where he lives?'

'Yeah, but I don't think his dad would want me to come back to their mansion.'

'Why?'

'His dad was probably mad at me. Paris and I fought during dinner at their house.'

Lloyd shook his head as he clicked his tongue. 'Tch. Tch. Tch. You may lose the father's vote then.'

I snorted. 'Tss. As if I would want anyone's vote. It's not that we have a relationship or something special going on between us.'

'Ms. Denial. Again and again. Stop pretending, London. I know you're pretentious. But the fact that you like him was clear as the sky of an unclouded day.'

'I'm pretending for his good. Though, he might have an idea about my feelings. But I don't want to confess them. I don't want to involve him in the complications I had in life.'

'I'm afraid you have failed to do that, because of seeing him like this, London. He's already involved and entwined with your complications in life or even with your fate. I have to leave you, I need to take care of the store.' Lloyd left and went down to his shop.

I sighed at the ceiling thinking about how to make Paris stop snooping around. His head was harder than a rock. He won't listen to whatever I tell him not to do. I sat on the floor beside the bed. I leaned my elbows on the edge of the bed while staring at his face. I didn't realize that I fell asleep. When I woke up, I was already lying down on the bed where Paris was asleep beforehand. I observed the surroundings, I realized it was already noon and the sun was setting. I saw Paris at the terrace leaning on the railings. He didn't notice I was there not until I spoke. He must be drowned deep in his thoughts.

'What a nice sunset!' I commented, then turned to him.

'Yeah, didn't know it was a nice view.' Then he looked at me meaningfully.

I turned my attention to the setting sun, ignoring what he said. He was still staring at me. I made a fake cough. He chuckled then looked at the orange sky again.

'How are you feeling?' I asked, fidgeting my finger.

'I guess, I can manage. I had a recharge earlier.' He pouted his lips like smooching.

He was talking about the kiss.

I rolled my eyes. 'Stop that.' I said as I palmed his face pushing it away.