Chapter 7

“Is it okay if I ask you a question?” I sat down beside Lanie. I moved closer to her so my brother and Tyler won’t hear our conversation. She looked at me with curious eyes as she also moved closer to me.

“Is there someone, I mean, a guy who is working at the hotel who is, uhm…. How can I say this…” I was biting my nails as I found the right words that would describe him. 

“He is tall, snobbish, and handsome. He is always wearing a hoodie.” I said. When I saw how her eyes changed, I knew that she knew who the guy I am talking about was.  

“Oh, I think you are talking about Mark?” she answered. “Why? What about him?” 

My mouth slightly parted after I heard and knew his name. So he is Mark, huh? 

“Nothing. I just got my condo and he’s my neighbor.” I said to her and she only nodded at me and smiled. I wanted to ask her about Mark, anything about him, but I am so shy to do that, like why do I have the guts to ask her about him when she only met me today? 

After that, I joined my brother and Tyler in the falls while Lanie insisted on staying at the cottage. We swam towards Tyler who was looking at Lanie. He was so obvious. I only shook my head. Since when did he pay this kind of attention to girls? For all I know, he is just flirting but I didn’t see him this serious about a girl. 

"So, you disturbed us just to go here because of her?" I looked at my brother and smirked.

"Yes, Lil sis. Althea said that Lanie will spend her day offs here. So, our Mr. Lancaster also dragged us here when I was supposed to have an important meeting today." Kieffer said to me and I laughed because I didn’t know if he was grateful or being sarcastic to Tyler.

“Who is she by the way?” I asked, now getting curious about the woman who caught Tyler’s attention. 

“Just someone.” Tyler plainly answered. I couldn’t help but smile. Something for sure is going on between them. 

I slept in the car while we were on our way home. They drove me home to my condo. I invited them to come over even for a minute to rest since Tyler still didn’t see my place but they refused because they were also tired. 

“Be careful. We’re going.” Kieffer said before he closed the window of the car. I waved at them and waited for them to leave before I went inside the building. I went straight to my room to sleep as soon as I arrived at my place. 

I woke up around eight-thirty in the evening because of hunger. I am too lazy to cook so I decided to just go outside and look for something to eat. I am just wearing denim shorts, a pink hoodie, and black strap sandals. I bought my phone and my wallet. 

I am looking at my phone while waiting for the elevator. Since I am busy looking at my phone, I entered the elevator without looking in front and I just pressed the button. 

“They went to Paris…” I whispered when I saw my friends post on their social media. I only stopped using my phone when the elevator opened. 

I smiled at the guard at the entrance before I looked around. When I saw Nikki standing and watching from afar, I slightly nodded my head. Nikki raised his hand to give me a go signal. He was just around the corner, watching me. I told him not to always come to me and just watch me from afar so I can feel my freedom somehow. 

When I saw the food in the street that looked delicious, the thought of eating in a restaurant suddenly disappeared in my head. I stopped in front of a stall that was selling squid balls, fish balls, and that quail egg coated in flour. I enjoyed eating it. There are a few people that are also buying and eating together with me. After that, I moved to another stall that was selling different fruits that were coated in melted sugar and chocolate. I bought two of those and ate them while roaming around the street. 

Then, I signaled Nikki to go closer to me. “Have you eaten?” I asked. I don’t know when he came to guard me outside since I didn’t receive any notice that he was there to watch me. 

“Yes, Ma’am,” he answered. 

“Are you here alone?” 

“No, Ma’am. Jaime is with me.” I nodded at him while still looking at the stores. When Nikki was about to keep his distance from me, I looked at him and raised my eyebrow. He stopped and looked at me. 

“Just come with me. You are wearing normal clothing anyway.” I said to him. He only nodded at me and continued to walk with me. 

“Just say if you want anything. It’s my treat. Ah, also ask Jaime.” I said to him before I stopped at one of the stalls to buy corn dogs. I know that Nikki would not tell me anything so I also bought corn dogs for them. 

“Here,” I said as I gave him two corn dogs. “Call Jaime,” I said to him before I went to one of the empty benches near us. Nikki quickly got his phone to call Jaime. Jaime is also the same age as him so I am comfortable since our gap to each other was not big. It was like I had another Kieffer beside me. We saw Jaime coming while holding three drinks. I instructed them to sit beside me since the bench was enough for three. They were sitting beside me and I felt bad because I knew they were standing there outside for too long. 

“This is nice,” I said after I drank my coke while looking at the people around us. “I feel like I’m a normal person now.” I chuckled. I felt them looking at me. I didn’t bother to look at them because I didn’t want to see how they looked at me. Among all the close people around me, they were the ones who knew and saw how desperate I am to live freely because they were with me the whole time, guarding me. I remember the time when I sneaked out late at night when I was in America just to have fun with my friends but ended up caught by Nikki. 

“Have you also done this before?” I asked them. “Roaming outside, eating outside, walking outside freely without thinking about anything. Just having fun.” 

I heard Jaime clear his throat and Nikki sighed. 

“We do this if we have time or if we don’t have work,” Nikki answered. Then, he got the plastics in my hands as well as the empty bottle of drink in my hand and threw it in the trash can near us. They knew that I don’t like having formal conversations even if they were working because I don’t like that feeling. I just want them to be comfortable with me, just like a friend. But of course, they were both aware of their job so they answered me with respect and they knew their limit. 

Jaime whispered something to Nikki and Nikki nodded. I sighed before I took out the strawberry that was coated with chocolate that I bought earlier. 

“Let him,” I said. They both look at me. They were now serious. “I know him. He’s my neighbor.” I added it before I ate one of the strawberries. I nodded, satisfied with the taste. 

“He has been following you since you left the building,” Jaime said. 

“I know. He was inside the elevator when I got in. I don’t know if he is a hotelier or a bodyguard just like you two.” I said. My eyes remained on the dessert that I was eating. 

“He should have at least changed his clothes before following me,” I whispered.