My eyes stopped at the pendant hanging on his chest.
W-wait, didn't I break that yesterday?
I looked at his deep brown eyes piercing right through me. His eyebrows were furrowing up, gazing at me--as if he was worried.
Can't deny that he's good-looking.
"Why i-is..." I gulped, stuttering. "that on your neck?" I pointed at the pendant and his eyebrows shot up.
"oh this?" He looked down and held the pendant to bring it near me. "You gave it to me." My jaw dropped, along with his smile that makes his eyes squint.
"H-huh?"
"You don't remember, master?" He looked at my eyes, as if searching for any memory left--
Wait.
What?
"Master?" I repeated and he smiled again, eyes crinkling on the corners. "Yes. You're my master."
...
I blinked twice, "W-wait. There must be a misunderstanding--"
"Yeah....there must be, since you ran so fast after sleeping on me all night..." His worried gaze returning, along with his pout.
"Huhhh???" I almost screamed, now getting conscious of our situation.
"You were laying so comfortably on my lap. I didn't wanna wake you so I didn't move a muscle."
I'm trapped between his arms.
I can almost feel his breath on my lips.
"And...and!! Why are you pinning me against the wall right now? Why the heck are you top naked--" I froze, feeling his hands on my shoulders.
My heart kept beating faster.
"Wait calm down first, Annie. One question at a time." He looked into my eyes warmly. My eyebrow raises.
"How'd you know my name--"
"I'm the person you were chatting with yesterday."
My face contorted in confusion. "I don't remember you--" eyes widen and gasped, making me shake my head.
My heart began to beat louder.
No.
But why is he so concerned?
It's impossible.
Could he be the one I talked to yesterday and ranted all of my problems?
"You're not that--"
"Yes, I'm that chatbot you were talking to last night." He said matter-of-factly and gave me a small smile.
"No, you must be a creepy stalker guy who has delusions of me--"
Wait, I think I'm the one having delusions right now.
"Hehe, maybe if we meet again, I'll like you, Annie!" Dylan's voice echoed again in the back of my mind. Ugh! I hate that jerk.
Delusions of me? There's no one interested in me so why would this guy in front of me....
"Well, sorry to interrupt but we have to go." She smiled cheekily and clings onto Dylan's arm.
He didn't even look at me.
Memories of yesterday crippled under my skin like a ghost sending awful curated nostalgias.
The guy I knew the most didn't like me...
So why would this guy...
I looked at his worried gaze in front of me once again.
Maybe just for malicious intent?
But it doesn't seem like he's a creep when he sounds so worried right now--
No. Why would he be in my room earlier though without me knowing....if he wasn't a creep?!
What is that, just some random guy in my room wanting to say 'hi'?
"W-what? No! I would never do that! I'm your...." He trailed off, looking in my eyes as if he's quite offended.
"Friend..." He said softly, looking at me with eyebrows furrowed upwards.
"W-why--why would a friend be frickin naked on my bed?!"
"You talked to me on your bed!"
His voice raised—not in anger, but confusion, like someone who didn't understand boundaries. I made me pause.
"What do you mea--"
"and....this is my original form...I'm created with this body and don't have a customized shirt..." He looked away and released me, covering his body with his hands.
He looks like a trampled puppy right no--
Gosh, Annie! He's a frickin' stranger!
"It was never my intention to scare you." He walked towards the bed and sat on the corner.
"I apologize but....I hope I've comforted you with what you had to deal with yesterday." He turned to me and looked warmly.
My feet stepped backward, hand finally reaching the door knob and I screamed.
"Mommy!!!!" I ran into the living room and paused.
Annie, mommy will just come back for the business meeting okay?
Shoot. It suddenly dawned me.
Black faded my vision and I felt my body fall on the floor.
Tud!
I heard that man's voice again.
"Annie!"
I felt something touching my face.
"Annie?" I heard his deep voice, feeling a large hand touch my cheek.
All I heard was sighs and an arm on my nape and on my legs like it was carrying me.
~0~
I blinked, seeing the familiar white ceiling in my room again. My hands went up to my head.
Gosh it hurts.
My eyes widen and I sat up quickly, panting heavily. I could feel my heart racing fast.
I looked around the room and my eyebrows furrowed.
Was that a dream?
My feet carefully stepped to avoid making noises. I turned the door knob and peeked a bit.
There were no signs of him.
I stepped out slowly, peeking the kitchen.
There's no one.
In the living room too.
My eyebrows furrowed and I sighed, relief washing over me.
I guess it was a dream.
Smiling, I walked on the sofa and plopped.
His deep brown eyes that looked at me calmly when I was bursting in panic. Nose that were only inches from me. A slight blush and panic on his cheek when he explained...
He was...
Quite handsome though.
And the pendant hanging on his muscular chest--
I gently slapped my face. Get a grip, Annie.
If it was reality, I would've been in danger.
No matter how attractive he looked.
Should definitely check on my mother. Getting up, my feet walked to the bed room to get my phone.
"Hi mom, how are you today?" I texted.
I closed my phone and laid there for a while.
Gosh what a crazy dream.
'Ding!'
I checked my phone and saw a reply
"I'm fine, sweetie. How are you? Did you eat breakfast?"
I felt my stomach grumbled angrily.
"Okay okay, I'll be treating you breakfast don't worry." I lectured my tummy and stood up, walking towards my room--eyes paused at the coin-looking pendant under the table.
I thought I broke it yesterday?
~0~
Gosh I'm so hungry!
I felt my stomach grumbling more as my feet kept walking on the way to a local food chain where breakfast are served cheaper.
Since it's always better to not fry a pan at all.
Yes, I'm Annie-don't-know-how-to-cook.
"One order of Cornbeef Silog po." I ordered and waited at the counter.
"Annie?" A familiar voice reached my ear. I turned to who it was.
"Joshua?" My eyebrows raised as he walked towards me. His smile never faded and reached for me with a hug.
"It's been a while. How were you?" He asked.
"I'm...fine." I smiled back and he nodded.
Fudge. Why did he have to be here?
"I was actually planning to invite you for a reunion!"
And from all the possible time, why this time where my stomach is angry?
"Oh? Really?" I held my smile politely, praying silently that my grumbling stomach won't interfere.
"Yeah! Next week. Y'know, to catch up on our college life, relationships..." Joshua said and paused.
He nudged me with his arm. "Don't tell me....after all this time you don't have a boyfriend yet?"
My jaw clenched lightly and smiled more, holding back from rolling my eyes.
"Well, I'm focused on my career rather on settling down unlike most people--"
"What? That art career?" My eyebrows furrowed as he scoffed.
"And?" I asked, feeling the heat flare on my cheeks.
"Honey, don't get me wrong but I'm only concerned for you." He held my shoulders, looking at me in the eyes. "Art doesn't have that much demand in our country."
I smiled at him, "Well, at least be concerned on your failing relationship than my possibility for success, right?" I leaned to his ear.
"Don't be so obsessed with me."
"Art doesn't exactly pay the bills, Annie."
His smile tightened. "But hey, not everyone needs to be practical. Art isn't THAT important."
"It is for me." A familiar voice echoed, my head turned in a snap and I saw the pendant on his chest once again.