Not Giving Up On Love BOOK 1

Does it ever cross your mind how can some people easily give up on their love? Is it wrong to give up when the expected result is good?

Loving is always taking a risk but it's not just about love. Everything we do has no assurance. Every day, we are taking a risk.

I must say that there are different kinds of bravery in terms of love. There is no such thing as a weak person. Most of us can feel the tiredness so we have the right to pause for a while and recharge our strength but recharging doesn't mean you are weak . . . meaning to say there is no such thing as a weak person.

You are not weak. You can definitely take a rest. It's also up to you when will you come back. Just promise that will you be back, okay?

Taking a break is not a sign that you are a loser because you can always come back. But the thing is . . . you also have no assurance that something or someone is still waiting for you when you come back.

It's messy, right? That's how our life is complicated.

I have a question. How will you know if you need to give up and let go of your love for someone?

Is it you who gave up or is it them who gave up on you?

---

Lauren's POV

I was alone in my apartment. No work today. No school stuff to do. No Kelly being noisy, I'm pretty sure that she's enjoying his boyfriend's company. I rolled my eyes by just thinking about it since she is now prioritizing his boyfriend over me. That's me being a jealous best friend.

But today is my rest day and me time. It's just me! I was bored in my apartment so I decided to take a walk around the park which is near in my apartment just to overcome my boredom. I knew that there were a lot of kids playing around and I enjoy watching them because I simply love kids. It came across my mind that being a kid is actually a nice experience to look back. A kid only thinks about being happy while playing with friends. A kid would be so happy with the simple things.

I was happy when I was a kid. Why is it hard for me to be happy right now? It feels like my problems are endless.

Being an adult makes you think about everything. Even someone's problem can affect you as a person. It's hard to be an adult especially if you are affected by those problems. I wished I am still a kid. I wish I can be a kid forever and it makes me naive to think about something that is obviously impossible. That I why I love watching kids, they can easily make you happy with their smile and innocence.

But today is not my lucky day because there are only few kids in the park so I arranged my cell phone and earphones so I can happily listened to a lively music to forget my boredom while watching those few kids playing around the park.

I remember that park is my favorite place when I was young, we are always complete whenever we visit this kind of place. My parents would take a day off just to be with me and my brother and to have a bonding moment. That was definitely the best and happiest days of my life.

Maybe I look stupid here because I'm smiling while looking around. As I'm scanning the people in the park I've noticed a guy and he is smiling while looking at me. Oh, great! I thought it would be relaxing even just a little to be with my favorite place but seeing him made it hard for me to feel relax. He is my annoying schoolmate and it's more annoying that is he smiling at me!

I don't like him being near with me that's why I always try my best to avoid him but it seems that destiny always find its own way for us to cross our paths. When I mentioned destiny, it is not in a romantic way!

He was distracted by the girls surrounding him but I have a bad feeling about his smile. As I watch him flirting with those girls, all of them suddenly turned their heads to look at me and he is still smiling . . . but that smile is a naughty smile. Meaning to say, he is planning about something bad . . . bad for me ! After that, all of the girls flirting with him disappeared.

I turned off the music because he was close and he would definitely make a noise again.

"What did you say to your girls? Why those girls left?" I greeted him with that question.

"I introduced you as my girlfriend and told them that you hate seeing me with someone and you are chasing the woman talking to me," he answered while sitting comfortably beside me. Why does he need to be fragrant? "You know, you are effective at scaring them, huh? You actually scared them so they left without saying a word," he added, being proud of himself that he used me again as his shield to avoid those girls.

"You're such a user," I commented.

"But you are not complaining," he said while smiling.

"Excuse me? How many times I've told you to stay away from me? They might really think that I'm really your girlfriend!"

He laughed. "And do you think it will be your disadvantage between the two of us if they really think that you are my girlfriend?" That's him being a proud arrogant. I rolled my eyes on him and he smoothly changed the topic. "Why are you alone? Where is my sister? Why aren't you with her?" He is referring to Kianna, his sister who happened to be my friend. Kelly is my best friend and her boyfriend is Dan who happened to be Ezekiel's best friend who happened to be Kianna's brother. Is it cool? We are all connected.

Everyone is calling him Kiel but I'm calling him Ezekiel because he is calling me Lauren while everyone is calling me Renren. It's another cool stuff, right? That's how we annoyed each other.

"Kianna is not with me because it's obvious, she's with his boyfriend." Of course, that statement is just a joke to piss him off. I can also mess around, thanks to him! The expression on his face changed immediately. He is serious when I'm talking about Kianna having a boyfriend so I told him that I was just messing with him. "I was just kidding. Why do you have to ask about it? We don't always need to be with each other. Duh, should we always be together?"

"The intensity of your resentment is unreachable." He laughed after saying that statement. Our conversation is done so I stand up and started leaving the park but he still follows me. He likes annoying me and little by little I would think that this guy actually likes me. He is popular with the ladies and I don't understand why he is wasting his time introducing me to them that I'm his girlfriend to make an excuse for others to stay away when he can say if he didn't like someone directly to them. I remembered hearing his reasons with them like I'm his girlfriend, we have a date so he's not allowed to be with them and we are arguing because I'm possessive with him! How annoying is that? But it's more annoying that they were convinced with those nonsense reasons! I am sometimes rude with Ezekiel but not with other people.

I looked at him and asked, "Aren't you and your friends going anywhere? Why are you here and making yourself busy teasing me?"

"Would you be happy if I tell you that I chose to be with you?" I stopped after hearing what he said. I had goose bumps! I blankly stared at him which made him laughed. He thought I was being affected by those pick-up lines that he is obviously using on other women!

"I can't be carried away by that, Ezekiel. Aren't you tired of annoying me?"

"No, you are fun to watch," he admitted and laughed. He is happy when he is with me especially when he succeeds in ruining my day.

I can no longer control him so I let him do what he wants to do. I will just get tired of explaining and talking to him to stop annoying me.

Shit! I stopped walking when I suddenly feel dizzy, my vision darkened and I don't clearly hear the sounds around me. Until I felt like I had lost my balance.

WHEN I OPENED MY EYES I had a headache but I managed to scan the room and this is definitely not my room. This room is clean, well organized and the color of the background is color black that made this room looked classy. Upon getting up I suddenly felt dizzy and saw Ezekiel as he enters the room while carrying some foods.

I stood up to walk but I had lost my balance again since I'm still too weak to walk and I still feel a little bit dizzy but Ezekiel was there to support me to maintain my balance.

"What are you doing? Can you be more careful? I'm not yet asking you to leave. Are you okay? You still look pale." He asked one after another so how am I able to answer it?

I sat on the bed. I was wondering why he brought me here. I can lay down anywhere. I scanned the room again, it must be his room. When my eyes saw the food he was carrying a while ago, I remembered that I had not yet eaten lunch. What the heck, right? How can I forget that? Wait, no, maybe I ate but I ate a little just to tell myself that I ate already. It's kind of hobby as I do this often.

He must have noticed that I'm intensely looking at the food so he prepared it for me. It's quite embarrassing but upon seeing the food I'm suddenly hungry. He's watching while I'm eating.

"Are you that hungry?" he asked.

"Sorry, I forgot to eat." What a lame excuse!

"What kind of reason is that? It only means that you are not taking care of yourself."

"Stop acting like my big brother, I'm not Kianna so don't treat me that way."

"You are welcome," he replied sarcastically. Even though he annoys me all the time, he knew how to be a good brother with Kianna and sometimes he applies it in me, that is why Kianna is teasing me that we belong to each other because Ezekiel didn't act this way with his girls and I don't believe her because what I see is different from what Kianna sees. Just like her brother, she likes teasing me.

Ezekiel excused himself to go to the rest room of his room so I took the chance to eat fast because I was already embarrassed with this situation. Ezekiel said that Kianna was not here so I need to leave before she arrives but when I thought about Kianna, it is her queue to open the door for her to see me comfortably eating on his brother's room.

"Ate Renren?" She was surprised but also confused. She looks around and saw his brother just happened to come out of the rest room. She entered and closed the door. She calls me Ate since I'm older than her and it's a Filipino word to show some respect to someone even if you are not related to that person.

"Wait . . . what are you doing here?" she whispered. She is not mad that she saw me inside the room but she is just surprised and innocently wondering what am I doing on their house – on his brother's room to be specific. I'm also wondering why she is whispering right now.

"It's not what you think, Kianna. She fainted and it turns out that she forgot to have a lunch," Ezekiel answered for me. What is she thinking? Don't tell me he's bringing a woman to their house? Is Ezekiel bringing a girl inside his room? Well, I don't think Aunt Mads will allow that unless it's Ezekiel's girlfriend. Since Kianna and I are friends, I'm calling their mother Aunt to also show some respect.

"Again? You're really weird, Ate Ren." Sometimes, she talks to me as if she is older than me.

"What do you mean by again? Meaning to say, it's normal for her to forget to eat her lunch?" He was talking to Kianna as if I'm not sitting right in front of them. These two loves me that much, don't they?

"Yes, that's why I always invite her to eat with me so she couldn't forget it. She didn't like eating alone," Kianna answered. Well, that's true. It's hard to eat alone. I'm not used to and I don't want to get used to it.

I got up. "I'm sorry for the inconvenience. I'm going home. I'm really sorry, it's embarrassing."

"Let me take you home," he offered.

"I can go home alone."

"Didn't you hear me? I said I'll take you home, right?" Geez! He is annoying! I'm planning to walk but he insisted to take me home so I need to get in the car. I said goodbye to Kianna. Fortunately, Aunt Madison is not here yet. I immediately got into his car. I put down the window just a little and he looks at me like he is questioning me with what I did.

"What are you doing? We're air-conditioned." I turned off the aircon so he wouldn't talk to me again.

"I don't like your perfume, my nose didn't like the scent. If you want, I will just walk."

"You don't like my . . . what?" He even smelled himself after asking me. "You have a problem with your nose." But he let me lower his car's window a little.

He was talking to me but it was about Kianna so we didn't argue about it. I was just looking outside while talking to him. He is not an arrogant driver. He is actually a careful driver which I didn't expect from him. Kianna suddenly called. I knew about it since his phone was connected on the car's blue tooth. I even saw what he registered on his phone with Kianna's number, Lil Sis. That's cute.

"What?" he greeted her sister as he answered the phone.

"Kiel!" I don't know but when we heard her voice, we suddenly look at each other. We are both wondering why she needs to shout.

"What happened?" he asked.

"I have a monthly period! Buy me a sandwich! I forgot it!" I laughed. This girl! We are thinking about a real emergency with the tone of her voice.

"You said you have a monthly period, right? Why do you want a sandwich then?" Oh, boy. I burst out laughing with his answer.

"You know it! It's the-" She was embarrassed, I can clearly hear that. I was laughing with their conversation that is why I speak up. "Kianna, I will help Ezekiel to buy it for you." Then we talked for a while. She is glad that I'm still with Ezekiel then she mentioned again that she is looking for a woman who will help his brother to change so Ezekiel ended the call. She reads a lot of books which makes her believe in such things.

The truth is this guy was approached with a lot of girls. My name is often used on campus when he wants to avoid those girls. I don't know what he says to women that they really got scared of me. I just let him do that because I told him a lot of times to stop using my name but he never listened.

"Why didn't she just say it directly?"

I smiled and answered, "She was embarrassed to you. Your little sister is still a woman."

"Whatever. Where are we going to buy it?" I pointed out to him the way to the nearest store.

AS I CHOOSE A brand, he is checking the other brands so the other shoppers are looking at him. Most of them still seem to be thrilled and some women approached us to talk to him.

He turned to me and looked at my hand. "What's with the pad with wings?" he asked, referring to the pad that I'm holding.

"Sshh! Just ask her. That's what you will buy for her when Kianna asked you to buy sandwich again." This is kind of awkward. He is asking too many questions!

"What size does she need?" I chuckled. Is he naive or what? I can't stop laughing out loud. The heck? What size? Is he serious?

"Why are you laughing?" he asked in astonishment.

"Just pick this kind of pad." I may not have stopped laughing if I will still entertaining the questions from him.

"I see." He said goodbye to get in the car first. I can still hear women talking about him. A woman even approached me to ask for his phone number which I didn't know so I can't give it to her. I just came out but I could clearly see what they were doing. The lady is leaning on Ezekiel's car and they are talking. It looks like they are almost kissing in extreme closeness to each other. By just looking at them, I knew that Ezekiel has a plan for that lady. I can't watch that so I just put what we bought in the car and left.

I didn't know he followed me. He grabbed me by the arm so I stopped and was forced to look at him. "Where are you going? You acted like a jealous girlfriend," he said and smirked.

"Why are you stopping me? You acted like a defensive boyfriend," I replied with a matching smirk too.

"Where are you going?"

"I can just walk from here. I guess you're a bit busy. My apartment is near here so I'll just walk. If you will kiss your girl, give her some respect."

He released me. "How can I respect someone who doesn't respect herself? Look at her . . . does she respect herself with what she's wearing? Besides, why are you angry?"

"Nothing! I'm leaving!"

"Go. I won't stop you!" I never heard "sorry" from him and I realized that some time of my life was also wasted because of this worthless person.

Renren, it's none of your business! Get back on your senses!

I don't see anything wrong with what she is wearing. It was short but that's how she expresses herself. You know that, don't you? They just have a weird brain and mindset and it is not the girl's mistake to wear what she wants! That's also how my best friend dressed herself. She likes wearing sexy dresses so if Ezekiel sees her, will he also think that she has no self-respect? He's irritating!

Ezekiel's POV

I am chatting with my friends while waiting for Lauren and Kelly in the canteen, it will be her first time to eat with us. Maybe Kelly insisted so she agreed. Obviously, she doesn't like me and my friends because of our reputation in this campus. My friends were asking me why I didn't drink with them yesterday. Honestly, I was really going to meet them but I saw Lauren so I approached her, but many women talked to me before I got closer and approached her.

"Why you didn't go to drink with us yesterday?" Angelo asked. We've been talking about it and they don't want to believe with my answers.

"Is that still being asked? Your question should be who was with him yesterday. Who exactly is with you?" Dan added.

"You guys have dirty brains! Lauren was with me yesterday!"

"Lauren? Is it Renren?" They ask at the same time. They still didn't used to us calling each other uniquely.

"Yes. I'm with Lauren yesterday," I repeated.

"Why are you with her?" Angelo asked seriously so Dan looked at him. It's normal that Dan was shocked because Angelo has no interest with women we met. This is new to Dan and I and just like Dan, I also know the reason why he seems to be interested right now.

"We just met yesterday and then I was too lazy to leave so I couldn't go to drink with you."

"You're crazy, Kiel. I will just remind you that Renren is Kelly's friend. She's not one of your girls." Why does Dan need to give such reminder? He didn't have to tell me that. She is not my type. She is too kind for me. Also, she is a friend of my sister, Kianna. I just find her really cute and funny.

"I also don't believe that you were just lazy yesterday. You weren't lazy to drink, Kiel," Angelo said. My friends are really supportive, aren't they? Later on, Lauren and Kelly came so we eat our lunch. I still can't say if Dan is serious in having a relationship with Kelly because he is like this with every girl he dated. Dan has many ex-girlfriends and we won't be shock if Kelly has a lot of haters already. Kelly is a forceful person so we won't be surprised if she answers and fights with Dan's ex-girlfriends. Lauren also doesn't hide that she hasn't voted for Dan for her friend.

She is kind of judgmental because of that. She got angry with me the other day because of that woman that I no longer to remember the name. I'm not allowed to judge the woman but she can judge us easily.

"Will you quit staring?" she snapped. I was surprised because she suddenly got mad at me.

Dan laughed. "Don't make it so obvious!"

"I'm not looking at you. I'm looking at the one behind you."

"Do you think I'll believe it? You're not looking because you're staring. There's a difference!" She loves to win so she wants to beat me.

"Here we go again," Kelly said. It's true, her friend was arguing with me again. As we ate, I noticed that Kelly was handing her vegetables to Lauren and she is smiling. I also put the vegetables on her plate so they all looked at me.

"What?" I asked. Then Lauren looked at me badly. "Maybe you lack of that, you might-" I couldn't continue what I was saying because she covered my mouth and even said, "Thank you, Ezekiel! Okay, thank you, ah." I guess she doesn't want our friends to know that she sometimes forgot to eat. Who can forget to eat?

Dan looked at us. I can tell that he is suspicious with our closeness. "Are you too that close? Since when?"

"You know what, Dan , Lauren and I are really close. She's just really snobbish," I replied.

"Maybe next time, both of you will just surprise us to the news that you guys were together," Angelo added while looking at Lauren. I don't like his tone when he made that statement. Why do I feel like he is protecting Lauren from me? Kelly immediately changed the subject so the ambiance between all of us also changed. What's wrong with him? He seems to be getting more serious now.

After we ate, we separate ways to go to our respective classes. I just followed Lauren. The girls in her classroom were looking at me so she noticed me following her.

"Hey! Why are you here?" she asked.

"What do you think?" I asked too.

"Why would I ask you if I know?"

"Come with me," I changed the subject.

"Why?" She can't talk to me without arguing with everything that I'm saying. Sometimes, she even complains! I didn't answer because I pulled her to hug me. I know she was shocked at what I did so she tried to get out of my embrace so I talked to her. "Wait just for a few seconds. The woman I've been avoiding was here. She won't stop pestering me so I need this hug for her to see us. Just a moment, Lauren."

I waited for the woman to leave because I knew she would see us. "Ezekiel, is she still there? I can't breathe anymore," she complained. I saw that she was gone already but I still lingered in my embrace with her. She broke the embrace and saw my smile so she got mad and stepped on my foot and was hit by her bag when she found out that the woman had left.

"You bastard! Why are you using me when you're avoiding a woman!? Stay away from me, Ezekiel. I'm not really okay with this! I don't agree to be your shield in the first place! If you don't like them, say it directly! Do not lie just to avoid saying it. They don't stop lingering around you because they don't know that you don't want them!"

After what she said, she entered the room without glancing at me. She didn't look anymore to me so I left. She is mad but I still find her cute. Why so?

While walking towards my classroom, I met Patricia. Here we go again. I think she enjoyed it so much so she is still approaching me but once I'm done, I'm really done. Is it necessary to be called playboy if I'm just giving what the women like?

"Hi, Kiel." Clearly, she's flirting with me.

"Hello, Patricia."

"Do you have something to do later? Can I visit you?" she asked while touching my shoulder.

"As much as I want you to visit me, I can't make it tonight. I have a dinner with my family."

"Sounds great. Just let me know if you want me to visit you, okay?" Didn't she think that I just don't want to be with her?

"Of course, Patricia." She kissed me before leaving. I don't like women like that but we also have to give in to them from time to time or maybe just sometimes to enjoy the moment.

But I'm glad to meet someone that is different from everyone and I'm staring at her as she talks to other guys. I was surprised because Dan suddenly spoke next to me. Has he been there before?

"You are doomed, Kiel. I thought are you just happy when you are teasing Renren. Why do you look at her like that?"

"Are you an addict? Look at that beautiful woman behind her!"

"I will believe in you if you don't drive Patricia away. Family dinner, huh? Should I welcome back my lover boy best friend?" I jokingly punched him and walked to the classroom. What is he thinking?

He still follows me. "I would also believe if you didn't use that reason earlier. You should think of a new excuse." "

"Just shut up."

I JUST HAVE TWO SUBJECTS that Lauren and I are classmates and we are here in the first subject. And guess what? She doesn't talk to me. She's not even looking at my direction! Don't tell me, was she really angry earlier? I stepped aside from her so that she would notice me but she was still avoiding me so I talk to her first.

"Lauren?" I called to get her attention.

"Oh?" Is she really annoyed with me?

"Are you mad?" I asked.

"What do you think?" she replied.

"Why are you angry?" I'm still asking her. She looked at me and she was obviously irritated.

"Just think if I was that woman approaching you but you keep on avoiding me because you can't tell me that you don't like me. If I were your women, I'd rather face a rejection than you continuously ignoring me for unknown reason. You won't be able to understand because you don't know the feeling of being rejected. How hard it is to say that you don't want her anymore?" She was right except for one. I knew how it felt to be rejected too. "I'd rather prefer if you say it straight to my face than guessing what you are thinking with the gestures you are showing to get away from me. If you don't want to hurt them, tell them right away that you don't want them. And don't include me with this mess, Ezekiel, especially when you tell them that I'm your girlfriend," she added.

I was suddenly curious. Has she been rejected? As far as I know, she's the one who is not accepting her suitor's feeling. She rejected many guys!

"How did you know the feeling of being rejected? You are the one who rejects them without second thoughts."

She glared at me. "Every day I get rejections. And what do you want me to do with those suitors? I have someone in my mind and if I don't like them . . . why would I prolong it?"

"You're not used to giving a second chance, are you?" I am just curious. She is actually answering my questions.

She smirked. "You don't really know me. I can give you countless chances if I want. But I can't force to love someone if he is not in my heart." Then she laughs. "Are we really talking about this?" She smiled again and said, "I didn't know we can actually talk without arguing."

"Who's always starting the arguments with me?" I teased.

"Who knows nothing to do but to tease me?" she replied as she rolls her eyes. Then one of our classmates approached us to talk to Lauren. Someone is looking for her so she went out. I followed to see who is looking for her. It's a guy! As far as I know, this guy is a varsity player. Why is he talking to Lauren?

"Vincent? Why?" I heard Lauren asked.

"Can you come later? Watch our game." He is not even attractive. Why are they talking?

"You know I really watch your game when I have nothing to do but I still have work."

"I can pick you up after our game," he insisted. Dude, you can't understand that she doesn't want to watch your game!

"Oh, no thanks. For sure, you're tired after the game and we've already talked about this, haven't we?" Lauren was talking about someone she like, is Lauren referring to him? Are they having an argument? Wait . . . what am I doing?

"Don't I really have a chance with you?" I was about to leave but I heard Vincent's question. Did Lauren reject him already? I knew it! He can't be the guy Lauren likes!

"I'm sorry, Vincent. We can be friends but you know that's all I can offer. I'm really sorry."

He smiled at Lauren. "You don't need to be sorry. The guy you want is lucky because you are too loyal to him."

"Crazy. He doesn't even see me as a woman. I'll just watch your game when I don't have a work." The guy she likes didn't see her as a woman? And who is that blind?

"You promise?" Vincent asked, acting like a child! Why other women like him? There is nothing to like about him except for being popular because he is part of the team!

"Of course. Go back to the practice, your fan girls might come here again. Thank you!" He even gave her something. Lauren didn't speak again as the guy left. I was back in the chair before she knew that I was listening to them. She sat beside me. "Cool, is that your lover? Did you reject him?" I asked. Nothing really works with her.

"Shut up!"

"But seriously, aren't you happy with him? What do you look for a guy?" Just like what I've said, I'm just curious!

"Why are you asking so many questions today?" She is immediately irritated when I was just asking!

"You're being rude at me again."

"You're teasing me again. I don't have something to say except for all of you are just the same." There is bitterness on her tone. What does it mean?

"Wow. Your answer seems to be based on experience." She rolled her eyes and didn't talk to me anymore because our professor had arrived. Even if I try to talk to her while on class, she still doesn't pay attention to me. She is just listening so I just let her listen to our professor. She might get angry with me if I don't stop.

After class, she immediately grabs her things to go outside.

"Lauren! I'm going to your apartment later!" She heard me so she turned to me.

"You're not welcome there!" she shouted and said goodbye. She's different, isn't she? It feels like I am a normal person when I am with her. I mean, she doesn't looked at me as a famous good-looking guy that most of the people looked at us. She sees me as "Ezekiel". It's nothing special but I like it.

Lauren's POV

It's late at night but I just came home from work. I feel strangely tired right now. All I want now is to lay down on my bed. I think I can immediately fall asleep once my body feels the softness of my bed. I was going to change my clothes when I heard knock on the door. Who is in the right mind person that will visit me at this time, right? Insert sarcasm here.

I just opened it. I get that. He is not in the right mind after all. "Ezekiel, do you know what time it is?" He checked his watch and smile even more.

"Of course."

"So? What are you doing here?" I irritably asked.

"I thought you were going to watch the game?"

"What game?" Is that all he came here for?

"I thought you are going to watch the game of the man you talked to earlier, didn't you?"

"Ah, are you referring to Vince? I can't because I have a job to attend. How about you? What are you doing here?" I asked again. How did he know what Vince and I were talking about? He peeked inside my apartment.

"Are you not really going to let me in?" I went out and closed the door.

"I told you, you're not welcome here, right? My apartment is messy and there's no food inside so if you want us to continue this, let's just continue outside."

He nodded and we sat in the chair near in my apartment. It's really late and I don't understand why he comes here so often at night. Maybe he often goes here to annoy me. He really likes to tease so I don't know what he wants right now. If you look at Ezekiel, he looks like a model so a lot of girls are chasing after him because he is quite attractive. It would have been okay but only if he didn't become a womanizer. Is it really required to be flirt when they are handsome and being chased by a woman? If face is the only basis, I wouldn't be surprised why many girls like him. There is no reason for a woman not to be attracted in his face. If a woman didn't like Ezekiel, he would still probably get her attention. He is so handsome.

I was wondering why he just stares at me. He was just staring at my face and I kind of feel awkward with those stare. What the heck? Did he come here just to stare at me? Maybe he had a reason for going here at this hour, right?

I snapped my fingers on his face. "Ezekiel, what do you want?" I asked. I'm tired and I have to rest now.

"We're friends, aren't we?" I can't tell if what we have is friendship.

"Why?" I asked without answering his question. He seems problematic. I don't know what he wants.

"I just want to be with you." I looked at him because of what he said. He did not laugh. His face maintained to be serious. I waited for him to retract what he said because that's how we both are. Nothing happened, he just stared at me. Is he really serious?

"What's your problem?" I trembled.

"Nothing. I just want to be with you," he repeated without breaking an eye contact. What's with him? He is not like this when he comes to visit me. Only now has he become serious.

"Why?" I asked again.

"I feel like a normal guy when I am with you, Lauren. I just like this kind of friendship with a lady. You know, it's been a while since I had a friend who didn't ask for more."

"For more?" I asked him again as I was confused with that statement. I'm disgusted. He's too lazy to speak!

"Yes, for more. Everyone is asking for more. When I offer for a friendship with a lady, some will not be satisfied and will ask for more," he whined. I can sense that he has a problem but I don't have the courage to ask since we are not that close. All I know is to shout and feel annoyed by his presence.

"Sorry. I don't get it."

"It's okay. Just let me stay for a while." Then we both became silent. I suddenly remembered something. Did he drink? I came close to smell Ezekiel and I confirmed that he was drunk. I can smell an alcohol. Crap! I thought he was serious, he was just carried away because of alcohol. He was shocked when I approached him so I quickly make a huge space between us.

"You've been drinking," I muttered.

"Just a little. You should know how dangerous for a lady to be so close to a drunk guy. Don't do it again, okay?" I was in the mood to annoy him, I approached him again just to mess around but this time I stuck his lips with my ear because I got too close to him. I was surprised so he stays away from me. You've got to be kidding me! It was my mistake! It was as if all the blood in my body had gone to my face. It feels like my face heats up. Am I blushing? "Lauren!" I was shocked when he shouted. "Stop teasing me when I'm drunk!" he added then got in the car and pulled it over quickly. He was drunk but he still drives carelessly!

I touched my ear where his lips landed. He basically kissed my ear. What am I thinking? Why am I smiling like an idiot? I went upstairs and lay down. When I lay down, Ezekiel called. Is he home already?

"Why did you call? Are you home?" I'm not worried about him. I just want to know!

"Don't do that again, Lauren. You have no idea how dangerous I am when I'm drunk," he repeated. He said that before, didn't he? I think he was drunk because he repeated what he said. Maybe he came home safely.

"Dangerous?" I'm a bit slow now so I can't follow what he said. Why is he dangerous?

"I could kiss you!" Why would he kiss me? He doesn't look so drunk. I mean, he didn't lose his sanity and there's no way that he wants to kiss me. "You're the only woman who can do that to me. You don't have to say anything. Sleep. Just don't end the call." He's the only one I know who teased and being bossy at the same time!

There are nights when he will really call me just to tease me. Sometimes I even think that maybe he called so he could hear my voice. What do I look when I got mad that he likes seeing me got mad at him? He seems to enjoy it so much. It's not my fault when he misses this "face".

"You're weird. Are you going to tell me something?" I asked because he didn't want me to end the call. He might hear me talking while sleeping!

"Nothing!"

"Do you really have to shout?" I asked.

"No, just go to sleep." I really don't get him. He must be the one not joking about kissing me. He doesn't know how dangerous I am either! I should have warned him. I didn't end the call but I went to sleep. I'm really tired.

I PREPARED MY FOOD EARLY, I only know how to cook fried because I don't have any time to study another dish. When I'm not happy with my dish anymore, I just buy outside. I cleaned up my apartment a bit and went out. When I came out, I immediately saw a car which belongs to Ezekiel. He leaned against his car. It's the same style of a man who still looks cool while waiting for a woman. He was just like that but I just passed him and walked. He's cool but I'm not affected by that!

"Lauren!" he shouted.

"What?"

"I'm here to pick you up!"

I went back approached him. "We never agreed with this. We never talk about this. And I don't believe that you came here to pick me up."

"Do I have another woman here?" Because of what he said I even went closer to him and stepped on him hard! I am not one of his girls! I guess I should remind him of that.

"What's wrong with you?" What's wrong with him? I'm really pissed at him. He changes his mood quickly and I don't understand why he needs to pick me up!

"You think I'm your woman, huh? For your information, Ezekiel, I seriously don't like what you were saying right now. It's too early to get angry. If you picked me up to annoy, okay . . . you succeeded!"

Suddenly he looked serious. Is it still my fault now? "Sorry," he whispered, I barely heard it! For the first time! I just heard that he actually apologized. With all the teasing he does, he only apologizes now! "You are too sensitive when it comes to that. I just noticed now. I'm sorry, I'm really here to pick you up." I would seem merciless if I just ignored his apology.

"Why did you pick me up?"

"I just want to," he answered casually.

"I will let you do this today since you apologize but . . . don't do this again. I don't like someone who picks me up since you have no obligation with me."

"I can't promise. Let's go." There are also times that he forced me to ride in his car. I only agree so that we don't argue anymore. I don't want to always see us fighting because they might think that we are really into each other. I'm sure someone will get angry when they find out that Ezekiel is lying! I don't want to be involved since there is not romantic relationship between us.

I went inside the car and opened the window then he just looked at me. "What's up?" I asked. I hate when he stares at me. My face still blushed quickly especially when he is looking at me.

"I made sure I didn't use any perfume today because I'm going to see you. Why did you take that window down again?" But honestly, I appreciated what he did and he said. I just didn't let him noticed.

"I can still smell you."

"Unbelievable." He didn't ask any more questions and just drove. When we were on campus, I forgot that he was famous so they really turn around to see who is with Ezekiel, which is me. It's the same reason why I don't want anyone to pick me up or follow me because all eyes are looking at us like I've done something wrong.

"Ezekiel, I'm okay here. Let me come down, I can walk from here."

"Why? Let's go to the parking lot together." He still didn't want to take me down after we arrived at the parking lot so after he parked his car, I went down. I didn't let him open the door because I knew he wasn't like that. And I understand because we are not dating! I didn't ask for an explanation but he just volunteered.

"Lauren, wait for me!"

I turned to him. "What now?"

"What's wrong? I'm not teasing you anymore but you're still mad."

"The crowd is just as looking at us," I admitted.

"And . . . are you affected by that?" he asked while walking to my direction.

"Yes, I am. They will think that I'm really your girlfriend since we arrived together."

"I don't see any problems with that." I just looked at him then we met Angelo who is also at the parking lot. We can meet a lot of people here but why it has to be Angelo? He looked intently to Ezekiel. What is this again?

He touched me. "We need to talk," he demanded while still holding me. He no longer waited for me who replied because he had already pulled me away from Ezekiel. I even heard Ezekiel called Angelo but he ignored.

I'm scared that people might notice something because of what he is doing. "Are you two dating?" He is obviously mad. Is this really how he greeted me?

"No," I answered quickly.

"Lauren, I saw him last night at your apartment. Why is he coming there to visit you? And I saw you almost kissed him!" I was surprised that he saw my naughtiness. I mean, that was just a misunderstanding! I didn't kiss Ezekiel!

"Angelo, we were just talking last night and I didn't kiss him. We are also not dating! You know what kind of woman he likes!" Why am I explaining? I really shouldn't care what he thinks. He shouldn't care what's going on either to me and to the people who approached me. What does he wants? Ezekiel and I talked and I told him to stay away to me but he never listened. And now, it seems like I have an obligation to explain to him while he is not the one who is ruined when someone sees us together.

"I hope what you're saying is true. I saw his expression when you approached him."

"And?" I don't know what makes him angry.

"And I think, he's starting to like you." That's unbelievable.