CHAPTER 004 - Suddenly, Van

Demani had just stepped outside when she was greeted by a heavy downpour. The weather had worsened, and it looked like she was going to have an even harder time finding a taxi.

She retrieved the umbrella she had hung on the rack earlier and opened it. Across the street, she saw several taxis and UV Express vans passing by. That was where she decided to wait. Carefully, she began to cross the road. Because traffic was heavy, it wasn’t too difficult for her to make her way through. She squeezed between cars until she reached the other side.

She was racing against time. She needed to get home before her grandmother, Gran Valentina, arrived.

Two taxis passed right in front of her, but both were already occupied. She didn’t mind the dirty rainwater splashing onto her pants as she competed with other people trying to flag down a ride.

She had lost count of how long she had been standing there, struggling under the rain while carrying the cake box. It was large and heavy, so she had to hold it carefully and steadily. She didn’t care if she got drenched, as long as the cake box stayed dry.

When she spotted an available taxi in the distance, she quickly raised her hand to hail it. But just before it reached her, some other passengers who were ahead managed to get to it first.

She muttered a curse under her breath.

Of all days, why did it have to rain today? And it was supposed to be summer!

While she grumbled quietly to herself, a car suddenly stopped right in front of her. It was one of those luxury cars she had only ever seen in men’s magazines or on television.

She frowned. And when the passenger door opened, her eyes widened in disbelief.

It was the V. Dominic from the bakeshop. He was peering out from the window with a smirk.

“You’re soaking wet.”

She couldn’t find any words to respond.

“Come on, get in. I’ll drive you home.”

She instinctively stepped back, wincing as she accidentally stepped into a pothole filled with rainwater.

Irritated, she didn’t hold back from venting her annoyance toward the man in the fancy car.

“Do I look like someone who rides with strangers?”

He shrugged, completely unfazed. “But you already know my name. Doesn’t that disqualify me from being a stranger?”

“Yes,” she said sharply. "You’re still a stranger. Just because I know your name doesn’t mean I suddenly trust you. I also know the names of America’s most infamous serial killers; doesn’t mean I’d hop into a car with them, either."

She rolled her eyes for good measure.

You’re good-looking, sure. And yes, you make my heart race. But that doesn’t mean I should trust you immediately. I’m not that easy, Mr. V. Dominic!

She looked away when she noticed him smiling widely.

I’m not stuck-up. But after embarrassing myself earlier, I need to at least pretend I’m annoyed. God, why am I feeling like this?

“Hey!”

She snapped her head back toward him, frowning. He was still seated inside his car, holding something out toward her; an ID card she didn’t recognize.

It was an International Driver’s License.

Van Dominic Loudd.

That was all she could read before the rain suddenly poured harder, soaking her white blouse even more. She prioritized shielding the cake box instead of herself. She simply couldn’t risk ruining her grandmother’s birthday cake.

But she also knew that if she stayed under the rain much longer, her thin blouse would become completely transparent. People might end up seeing more than she intended to show.

“I’ll take you home. You’ll have a hard time finding a taxi in this weather.”

Damn it.

She clenched her jaw in frustration. She didn’t really have a choice. She needed to get home quickly, and she absolutely couldn’t let the rain ruin the cake box. Otherwise, all her effort would have been for nothing.

Annoyed, she opened the car door and climbed into the front seat beside the man she had just called a stranger moments ago.

She had to eat her own words real quick.

You are hopeless, Demani, she silently scolded herself.

Before she could even settle into her seat properly, the man gently took the cake box from her. She flinched when their fingers accidentally brushed, feeling a jolt of inexplicable electricity.

Electricity? Stop romanticizing everything, Demani! she warned herself again.

He placed her cake box in the backseat beside another cake box—the one he had bought earlier. Once he returned to his seat, he smiled at her.

“Don’t worry, I’m not a serial killer. I’ll get you home safe and sound.”

She didn’t say anything more as he started the car. She gave him her address in Sucat, and he used the car’s GPS to find the way.

As they drove, she felt an uncomfortable tightness in her chest; not from fear, but from sheer unease.

She was restless, anxious, and on edge.

Why am I feeling this way? What do you call it when your heart starts pounding like crazy?

Lord, I’ve never been this close to a man before, especially not a stranger. A handsome stranger.

He had such a striking face, a strong build, and he was tall. He even looked wealthy.

There’s no way someone like him is still single… 

She discreetly glanced at his ring fingers. No wedding ring on either hand. That made her exhale in relief.

Safe to fantasize about. No attachments, she mused privately.

“So, who’s Valentina Dominico?”

She jolted at the sound of his deep, resonant voice. She kept her eyes focused on the window to hide her nervousness.

“My grandmother. It’s her eightieth birthday today. The cake is for her.”

“Hmm, I see,” he said, and didn’t ask any more questions after that.

She secretly peeked at his hands gripping the steering wheel. She swallowed hard. The fine hair on his long, strong fingers was making her uncomfortable. Her heart was pounding again, and she couldn’t understand why.

Her gaze traveled up his arm, covered by a rolled-up peach-colored polo shirt, stopping at the bend of his elbow.

Just his fingers and forearms already look like a full course meal, she thought.

She turned her gaze back to the window. She didn’t want to keep staring at him in case he noticed and she embarrassed herself even more.

She checked the rearview mirror to look at the two cake boxes in the backseat. They were both in identical containers.

She cleared her throat and mustered the courage to speak.

“Whose birthday is it?” she asked after a while.

He gave her a quick glance, then looked back at the road. “Sorry?”

Charming but deaf, she thought and chuckled silently.

Just as she smiled, he looked at her again and caught her expression. She froze. He smiled, and it took her breath away. She quickly looked away and bit her lip.

Relax, Demani. Relax.

“Were you asking about the cake?” His voice was amused.

“Y–Yes…”

“That’s for my parents. Today is their death anniversary.”

She was stunned and looked at him again. His eyes remained on the road.

Her heart softened. All her awkwardness suddenly disappeared. In a quiet voice, she asked,

“If you don’t mind me asking… how did they… pass away?”

She couldn’t imagine a life without her mom and dad. She suddenly felt sympathy for him.

And I’m just a human being with a heart. That doesn’t mean I’m falling for him, okay?

“Plane crash,” he replied in the same even tone. “I was twelve when it happened. They were headed to the States for business. I couldn’t go because I had exams. That was eighteen years ago. I grew up under the care of my parents’ lawyer. He was also my father’s best friend.”

“Oh,” she murmured, turning back to the road. “I’m sorry about your parents…”

Through the corner of her eye, she saw him glance at her with a soft smile. He didn’t say anything else, and she, too, remained quiet for a long time.

More than ten minutes passed before the car entered the gates of their subdivision. That was when he finally spoke again.

“Are you still scared of this stranger?”

“Huh?” She looked at him and saw the subtle smile on his lips, his eyes still focused on the road. She blinked.

Jesus Christ, I could just watch him smile all week…

When he turned to look at her, she flinched again. Their eyes met and she felt herself go stiff. She realized she was staring at him like a fool. And she no longer understood what was happening to her.

She wasn’t usually like this...

Van slowed the car as the GPS voice announced they had reached their destination.

He smiled sweetly at her. “I believe this is your house?”

She blinked again and reluctantly looked out the window. There was her home. A pang of disappointment hit her; it meant the ride was over.

She turned to him shyly. “Thank you.”

He gave her a grin that could only be described as sexy. She couldn’t help but smile back. And for a while, they just smiled at each other, caught in the moment.

Lord, will I be able to sleep tonight?

Will you let me see him again?

She quietly sighed to herself.

Keep dreaming, Demani...

She was the first to look away and reached for the cake in the backseat.

“I— I have to go. Nice meeting you, and thanks again for the ride.”

She quickly opened the door and was about to step out into the light drizzle when he called out to her.

“Hey, can I?”

She stopped and looked back at him, confused. The cool wind and drizzle were creeping into the car, brushing against her face.

“Can you what?”

Van’s smile widened.

“Can I get to know you more?”