My Second Lead

Chapter 1

She looked at the calendar again. What to do?

An idea suddenly hit her head. Ole!

She got up from her bed and walked out from her room.

She then found herself ringing the doorbell of the house in front of theirs. When nobody opened the gate, she rang the doorbell again and again until someone finally opened it. She was greeted with the most handsome face she had ever seen. She was mesmerized again with his blue eyes so she didn't mind the frown on his face when he saw her.

She greeted him with her most beautiful smile. "Hi, Zeek!" she even waved her hands to him.

Zeek was just wearing pajama and a rugged shirt. It seemed that he had just got up from his bed because his hair was a little messy. 

So sexy! Lord, I thank you for this wonderful day---

"Do you know what time is it now, Shiz?" he asked her. He really looked annoyed as he brushed his hair with his right hand. She kept smiling. She liked the way he called her "Shiz". Her family and friends called her "Shizu" or "Shi", but he was the only one to call her "Shiz". She thought it was kinda sweet.

An endearment perhaps? Harhar!

She innocently looked at her wristwatch. It was a good thing she had it. "It's 2 o'clock in the morning," she told him sheepishly.

She heard him cursed silently. "And why are you playing with my doorbell at this hour when you're supposed to be sleeping and letting your neighbors rest?" He looked more annoyed. But still handsome!

"I need to ask you a favor." She clasped her hands and looked intently at him. She blinked her eyes three times and smiled widely.

He Face-palmed. "Oh no. I know that look, Shiz. The answer is no." He tried to avoid her eyes. He was about to close the gate but she immediately got inside before he had even closed it.

"Come on, Zeke. Aren't you my best friend?" She innocently walked inside the house and sat on the sofa. She felt him following her.

"Since when did you become my best friend?" He is now standing in front of her. She needed to stretch her neck to look at him since he was really tall.

"Since the beginning." She smiled while looking straight at his eyes. "Anyway, as I was saying, I need your help. I heard from my brother that you're going to have a business trip to Baguio tomorrow---"

"You mean later." He interrupted her. He crossed is arms.

"Later? Oh yes, later. So can I come with you?"

"No. And I need you to go home now and let me sleep before I drive later to Baguio." He walked towards the door as he ordered her to go out.

She remained sitting. She got a pillow and hugged it as she leaned her back. "Please, Zeek. I just need you to let me ride in your car, then I'll be on my own when we get to Baguio." She blinked her eyes again while smiling.

"Why don't you go there on your own?" He avoided her eyes again. He perfectly knew that it was her way to make him fall for her charms.

"You know I can't drive," she said. 

"Rent a driver."

"I won't be comfortable with a stranger."

"What are you going to do in Baguio anyway?"

"I just need a new environment for my next novel."

"Where are you going to stay there?"

"Aunt Cecile lives there. Are you allowing me to ride in your car now?" Her eyes sparkles, hoping for him to agree.

"No. Kate will come with me."

Urgh! The girlfriend! I really thought they finally broke up.

She showed him a fake smile. "It's ok. I'll be in the backseat." Yeah, in the back seat, while praying for your break up.

Sorry, Lord! It was just a joke! Hehe!

"Still no. Did you eat your dinner last night?"

She paused for a moment. "I did?" Didn't I? 

"Your brother told me you didn't come out of your room since yesterday morning."

"Oh. I was reading. Wait! Don't change the topic. I'm asking you a favor here."

"I'm not changing the topic. I already answered no. Now go home and eat... and sleep."

"I'm not hungry and sleepy."

"Really? You already look like a zombie."

"What? I'm not!" She threw the pillow to him. He just caught it.

He yawned. "Go home now. I also need to rest."

"Let me ride with you to Baguio first."

"No." He started walking towards the stairs.

"Hey. Where are you going?" she asked.

"Bed. I'm going to sleep. Lock the door when you go home." He continued walking to his room upstairs. "Eat first," he said before she heard him locked the door in his room.

"Urgh! Zeke no baka! I won't go home!". She laid down on the sofa. "I'm going to sleep here."

See you later, my Zeek! 

*"Zeke no baka" means "Zeek is stupid" in Japanese.