Chapter 5 THE VOLUNTEER

FION'S POV

It has been two days since I last saw Ainsley, and there's still this question that kept popping in my noggin.

Why did I feel nothing when he talked to me that night? That's a good sign, right? It's a sign that I'm finally not feeling anything towards him.

But suddenly, my deep thoughts were interrupted when I heard men chuckling behind me. So, I put my arms in front of my chest without looking at them, and by them, I mean Luca and Jaime.

Note that I became closer to them since I started working here two weeks ago.

"Is zoning out one of your hobbies, Miss?" Jaime asked jokingly.

"Geez, Jaime! Why are you talking to a statue?" said the other man while laughing. With that voice, I didn't even have to look at him just to find out who he was.

But still, I turned to look at them and slapped Luca's arm with the script in my hand. Well, because he's the one nearer me. "Seriously? Statue? Do I look like a statue to you, guys?"

I saw how Jaime grinned at what I just did.

"Can you stop showing this single man your affection guys, please?" Jaime said, pointing at his face.

But Luca was quick to change the subject, "So how's the shoot?"

"You're embarrassed, aren't you?" said Jaime with a scrunched eyebrow. "Don't change the subject!" he added, still grinning.

Then he patted Luca's arm, "Okay, I'll leave you two alone, I need to see the next location." He turned around and winked at me.

I could feel the sudden change in the color of my face. And to avoid Luca's eyes, I took off my new pair of glasses and pretended to wipe them using the hem of my shirt.

He talked only when Jaime left. "I'm sorry he was just teasing --"

But I did not wait for him to finish his sentence, "It's fine, don't worry. And it's not right to tease a married man to an old maid."

And then I realized what I just said, I suddenly wanted to slap my face, right now. 'Really, self? An old maid?' I thought, 'Well, technically I'm old and I'm still a maiden; so yeah, I guess the phrase suits me.'

"No, I'm not." Luca blushed while saying that, then he put both of his hands inside his pants pockets, refusing eye contact.

'Wait, was he blushing? Oh, I would love to tease this man even more! It's refreshing to see him blush!' But it wasn't me who thought that. It was the demon inside me.

'Wait, what?! What the hell did I just think?' Now that's me talking.

"Can you not make faces?" he asked while blushing. And by faces, he meant my thinking face.

I chuckled and hastily shook my head to erase the idea. "Wait, you're not what? Married? Then why are you.." I didn't dare to finish my words 'Crap! Too late! I already said it!' I thought to myself.

He did not say anything but instead, he just gave me candy. It was the same candy I gave him that day, but with a smiley printed on the back wrapper.

"Uh, what's this?" I asked, looking at the candy in my palm; but when I looked up, he's already walking through the exit door.

'Huh? What was that?' I thought while looking at his back, leaving the studio. I sighed deeply and spoke quietly. "Yet again, another question left unanswered."

A few moments later, I left the studio just in time I felt my stomach growling. Then I realized that I haven't had a good meal since this morning.

As I was walking through the narrow hallway and about to go to the cafeteria, my phone rang. I stopped walking, stood by the door of the editing booth and I answered the call. "Frigg! 'Sup?"

My sister started to talk as if she was a voice prompt. "This is just to remind you about my wedding. Please spare that day for me and try not to steal my moment! Okay?"

I smiled and nodded as if she could see me from the other line. "Of course, I won't."

"You pinky promise?" she said with an excited tone from the other end.

"Yes." I sighed and apologized to her, "Hey, I'm sorry for what happened the other day. It wasn't my intention to ruin the rehearsal --"

I was about to say something more but then I heard her say, "If you're really sorry and wanted to make up for it, you should bring a date.."

"What? A date? My dear little sister, I may be single, but I am a strong-willed, independent, and very capable woman. I don't need someone, okay?" I put stress on every word.

As I was talking, I didn't notice that there would be someone listening. Of course, you and I both know who that person was.

I heard Frigg's giggle before she cut the call, "Alright. See you tomorrow. Love you! Bye!"

"Right. Love you too." I locked my phone and put it inside my back pant's pocket while smiling, then I heard the man's chortle.

"So, you're single yet independent, and a very capable woman, eh?" Luca said grinning.

"Eavesdropping, eh?" I replied, giving him a mocking smile without looking at him. Then I opened my wallet to check if I have cash.

Yes, just another excuse not to look at him.

He just gave me a devilish laugh and leaned towards my face, for me to look at him. "You going on a blind date?" he asked while wiggling his eyebrows.

I tried really hard not to laugh but this freak is testing my patience. "No, you idiot! That was my sister! She kept on insisting that I should bring a date on her wedding day."

"Oh, right. Your sister's wedding. You can have your day off on that day. When would that be?"

"Tomorrow, 5 p.m. but preparations will start by 3." But I unconsciously let out a deep sigh.

Confusion and curiosity flashed on his face, "What's up with that?" pertaining to my gesture.

"Nothing." I just shrugged my shoulders and started to walk away.

"You don't like the groom, do you?"

Hearing his response, I clicked my tongue. "No, it's not that." Then another deep sigh escaped my system. "Remember the owner of the old broken iPad?"

Luca nodded, "Yeah?"

"He's the best man. And I am the maid of honor, so yeah, we will be seeing each other again tomorrow." I added.

He walked past me and stopped in front of me.

"Tomorrow, huh? Well, I don't have anything else to do tomorrow." Then he started walking backward, matching my every step with his body still facing me. "I'll pick you up by 2 tomorrow. Just text me the address. Okay?"

But before I could speak, he just ran back to the editing bay. Just like that.

"What the hell was that?" I exclaimed, looking at his retrieving body. He just left me with my mouth half-open.

What on Earth just happened? Did he just volunteer himself as my date? This man and his attitude were a little annoying.