Zoey's POV
He drives silently.
"Are you going to tell me where are we going?"
"No."
"Okay."
Actually, I don't really care where he is driving to. He wouldn't possibly drive us off a cliff or something, right? I know that he is going to drive us somewhere nice and - this is like a surprise date, I guess?
Chris continues to drive for another, let's say, fifteen minutes. We drive past shophouses and people on the streets. My mind drifts.
I'm going to see my father tomorrow. I don't know what he is trying to prove. After all these years, he suddenly reappears and decides to see me. I can't figure out his motives. To apologize? To show how happy his life is without me and mother?
I don't know why, but my focus on the people on the streets zooms in - on the kids with their Dads. It was like a tunnel vision.
Letting out a sigh, I wallow in self pity. Isn't this depressing? The one that should be protecting and doting me isn't here with me. I'm so confused about everything.
I feel a flick on my nose followed by a hand trailing down the length of my arm, to my hand. I turn to see Chris' attention on the road, but his hand interlocked with mine.
"It doesn't mean you have to think when there's a silence. Stop thinking. We're almost there."
I look at the beautiful boy beside me. Gosh, he is so divine.
After a few more minutes or so, we pull over in a parking lot. In a flash, Chris exits and jogs over to my side of the car.
He opens the door with grace. I step out with a foolish smile on my face.
"So, why are we here?"
I look around our surrounding. The parking lot is surrounded by trees. Spruce trees, I think. The place is empty except for the few vehicles parked a distance away from us.
I wrap my hand around Chris' as he leads me to the shopping mall in front of us. The lights in the mall are almost all out, except for the one in the convenience store.
We continue walking, until we've reached the entrance of the mall.
"Why are we here?"
"You'll see."
He leads me into the building, which is barely lit. Our only source of light are the little display lights from the jewelry shop.
As we advance deeper into the building, I start to see a faint glow in front of us.
The glow grows brighter as we move and - a bookstore?
I can spot a few people in there, a few of them browsing through the books and a girl on her tip-toes, trying to reach for top shelf.
I pull Chris down on his shoulder so that he is around the same height as me.
"Why is the bookstore still open?"
He grins cheekily at me.
"I have a mission for you."
"Yeah. . . ?"
"I want you, to look for something in the bookstore that you think I'll like."
"I can do that. What will you do then?"
"I'll do the same, for you."
Excitement rushes through me. I grin and clap my hands together as I bounce on both feet.
"Okay, let's go now!"
I drag Chris along with me as I scurry to the store.
"I'll see you here, at the entrance, after an hour. Okay?"
"Okay."
-
Ah. It's been too long since I've been to a bookstore. The last time I've been to one was before I moved here, and that's like ages ago. I used to visit the bookstore almost every single day, since, there wasn't anything else for me to do at home once I've finished my homework. There's tranquility in there, which is a huge plus. It just feels so homelike.
I venture from one aisle to another. Chris don't exactly read in his free times, how am I going to do this?
-
My lips are in a full-blown grin as I exit the place. It's nice to know of a bookstore that's opened for 24 hours. I lean against the glass, fiddling with the 'open' tag hanging on the doors as I wait for Chris.
My phone buzzes in my pocket. Oh, a message from mother.
*Zoey. Your father will be meeting us at the restaurant that's a mile away from our home. See you tomorrow at 10. Be there punctually.*
A frown of puzzlement and disdain dons my face. She sounds so formal and . . . unhappy.
Quickly, I text back.
*Wait, you're tagging along tomorrow?*
She was so angry this morning when we had the conversation. And you can clearly tell that she dislikes, or even abhors him, by the way she spoke of him. So, why is she joining us?
My phone screen lights up.
*I'm not 'tagging along'. I'm going with you to see what he is up to. I'm not going to let him brainwash you into doing something stupid.*
I gasp inaudibly in disbelief. Is that how she sees this? That's not going to happen. And I always thought she's a lucid person most of the times.
*Mom, please. He's not going to do anything. Please.*
My heart trembles a little as I send the message. I let out a sigh before shoving the phone back into my pocket. At this very precise moment, Chris steps out of the store, looking all happy and carefree.
After talking and brooding about the not-so-appealing topic about my parents, having Chris with me is like a whole new dimension that I've step into. Everything is just so much better because of him. I grin at him, as I deftly hide the book behind me.
"Hi."
"Hi."
We're both grinning like crazy and I think it's probably because we're both crazy about each other.
Just seeing him standing in front of me, makes me happy. We're not even touching or talking. If this isn't some sort of real life fairy-tale that's most probably wrongly bestowed to me, I don't know what is.
"What did you get for me?" I ask curiously. Chris shakes his head.
"Nuh uh, we'll do the exchange tomorrow. Let's head back home first. Are you hungry?"
"Yeah, a little."
"Alright. What do you want to eat?"
"I want egg benedicts."
"At this time of the day?"
"Yes."
"As you wish, then. Let's go to the supermarket to buy some ingredients."
"You're cooking?"
"Who else? You? I don't want our place to burn."
I scowl playfully at him. "Wow, aren't you just the nicest person I've ever taken a liking to?"
"I am, but then again, I'm the only person you've ever taken a liking to." He smirks, but there's a bit of hesitance in his voice.
Oh my gosh, how does he know? Did I mention this to him before? When?
"What?" I try to hide my blush.
"Isn't that the case?"
So he doesn't know.
"No. . . Yes. . . Yes."
"That's what I thought."
-
I swear to god, my boyfriend, is the most unbelievable person on the planet.
Please name one person that thinks that sweeping the sidewalk in the middle of the night is a good idea.
If you can't, I think I can help you with that.
Chris Martinez is one great example.
"It's almost 10 o'clock, Chris."
"And your point being?"
"My point being we shouldn't be doing this. We should be at home, eating our egg benedicts."
"We'll do that later." He grabs the rake and begin sweeping the sidewalk, making a rustling sound as he sweeps.
"Chris."
"Martinez."
I roll my eyes. "Seriously?"
"Yes."
"Can we do this in the morning instead?"
"Nah."
I huff petulantly. Resigning to my fate, I grab another rake that is just conveniently placed beside us, and begin to sweep.
At first, it started out really boring, we weren't talking, there was just the sound of the rake scraping against the ground. But everytime I glance up, I would see him looking at me, smiling. And, as usual, him smiling, results in me grinning back at him.
We talked and laughed. It took quite a while before we managed to finish sweeping.
I throw the rake to Chris. "Can we eat now?"
"Of course." He puts the rakes to the side. Grabbing my hand, he pulls me to his side and drapes his other hand onto my shoulders. We walk into the house, straight to the kitchen.
I take a seat at the counter while Chris opens the fridge to retrieve the ingredients we just bought. I take the time to admire his very attractive back even though it's clad in his black shirt and black jeans.
"When are you going to see your father?"
The question caught me off guard. I take a moment to process the words and then surprise takes over me.
"Huh?"
"When are you going to see your father?"
"Oh, um. Tomorrow. 10 in the morning."
"Can I come with you?"
"What?"
"Can I come with you, to see your father?"
"I don't think that's a good idea."
He frowns, "Why?"
"My mom is tagging along."
"What? Why would she want to do that? I thought she was against this?"
"Yes, she was, and she still is. But she wants to make sure that he doesn't do anything to me."
"The hell?"
"If you tag along, it'll just be weird and I don't think you'll want to be there if they start fighting, whatsoever."
"As much as I support your decision, I don't think it's safe for you to go alone with your mom. I want to be there, if something happens, I can protect you."
"Nothing will happen."
"Zoey, you haven't seen your dad in a long time, he might have changed. You don't know his motives to seeing you."
I don't know what to say to that, so I remain silent. It's true, I'm legitimately clueless about his motives.
He sighs, his voice soft. "Zoey, if you don't want me to come with you, will you at least text me to keep me updated?"
"Of course, I intend to do that anyway."
He smiles and moves in front of me. He grabs the back of my head, leans in, and kisses my forehead.
"That's my girl."