Chapter 5 – Remember Me

(Blake's POV)

 I watched Tara as she glued her forehead on the glass window while watching the heavy rain. Her lips pouting and her fingers tapping the glass softly. She would sometimes glance at her watch. I can't believe myself standing a bit far from her, just contented looking at her.

"I don't want a rich guy... most especially filthy rich guy!" It echoed my mind over and over again, and I remember how she laughed when she saw my flabbergasted face.

What is wrong with having money? No, what is wrong with being very rich?

I recalled our conversation a while ago.

"Do I look rich to you?" I narrowed my eyes as I asked, and she surprised me by holding my hand and feeling my palm, then she cackled.

"Your hands are smoother than mine. I can tell by just looking at you, you're rich," she rolled her eyes. "Have you ever done any chores before?"

"I've just cooked," I defended myself.

She released my hand. "Yeah, you just did," she said in a resigned voice. "I don't know. You can't hide it, Blake. Look at you..."

I understand what she was trying to say.

"I'm an executive secretary, Tara. I have to look presentable." The first one is a lie, but the second isn't. She should see Samantha. She had to look her best all the time.

"Okay," she shrugged, but I wasn't satisfied with her answer.

I wanted to ask more but my five questions were up, and I didn't want to force her.  

"I can take you home," I offered as I stand behind her. I also glued my forehead on the glass but my eyes were on her. She has a perfect jawline. I balled my fist to stop my hands from cupping her face. I wanted to trail her cheeks, jawline, and neck with my fingers.

Where did this woman come from?

She shook her head. "I don't want to bother you. You already fed me," she answered in a lazy tone. Then she tilted her neck to look at me. "Don't mind me. I'm just sad I couldn't drop by at the shop today because of this stupid weather. I plan to buy some crayons... just don't mind me,"

"Crayons?" My forehead furrowed.

"Yeah," she grinned, showing her perfect teeth again, "You know, the stick colored wax used for drawing,"

I laughed. "I know what a crayon is, Tara,"

Crayons? I own a manufacturing company of art supplies for goodness sake! I can give her a lot of that, even the world if she says, and yet, I couldn't bring that up.

Last week, I met Jodie-the-model, and Samantha got mad at me for giving her roundtrip tickets, including accommodation and money, to Paris. Let's just say, she satisfied me, but I didn't want to see her again. That was my parting gift.

I feel paralyzed with all these lies.

I caught her staring at me. Her cheeks flushed red as she looked away. I knew she likes me but I don't know what's stopping her. This is actually frustrating because what we feel right now seems mutual but I am afraid she might run away. I don't want to scare Tara.

"I like you," I told her, sounding like a schoolboy and an idiot. I didn't mean to say it out loud.

She looked at me and smiled. "I like you too,"

I smirked. The way she said it was the same as telling 'I don't have feelings for you in that way.'

She looked at Samantha's table. "Go! Your work awaits, Blake," teased Tara as she pointed to folders.

I twitch my lips. "I was actually on leave. I just came here to wait for Stella," Another lie. "Just like you, I couldn't go home because of the weather,"

Good heaven, please don't stop this rain. I would be happy if it would continue like this for days or months.

"Terrible weather," she commented. "Rain, rain, go away, come again another day," she recites in a monotonous voice. It was obvious she's bored.

 "We could watch a movie," I offered again. I was cheating because I saw it in her 'To Do List'. I was imagining of my dark and cold theater room while we watch horror films.

"Really?" beamed Tara that surprised me.  "Do you have Coco? I really hope you have it," she was as excited as a little child.

"Coco?" I repeated. I squinted my eyes. "The one with a child entering the Land of the Dead?"

She was all-smiling as she nodded. "Yeah, that one. I was hoping to watch it today, but again I'm stuck here..." She pouted. "With you..." she utters as if it was a bad thing.

 "Of course," I nodded, the thoughts of enjoying the movie inside my penthouse vanished. "I haven't watched it yet so..." I took my iPad and downloaded the movie. I gave it to her.

She smiled excitedly at me as she took the tablet. She reminds me of Sean, Samantha's five-year-old son, whenever I give him something he likes. I watch her dash to the L-shaped sofa in the lounge area, then as the movie was about to start, she looked at me.

"What are you doing there?" Tara taps the seat next to her. "Let's watch it together."

As soon as I was seated, she pressed the play button. I have watched this movie already, but I pretended to watch it. My eyes feasted on someone much more interesting. Her hair smells strawberry and she smells sweet. I watched her laugh and cry in the movie. She is so adorable that I would never get tired of looking at her.

When the movie ended, she was still crying as she hands me the iPad.

"It's... it's... very touching," she said, still sniffling after crying. "I had to have faith in my dream. No one was going to hand it to me. It was up to me to reach for that dream. Grab it tight and make it come true." She utters, quoting the exact lines of Ernesto from the movie.

My eyebrows raise as I glance at her. How could she remember those exact lines?

She tilts her head to check on the weather. "Finally! Thank you, Blake. I really had a great time today." She stands up and grabs her bag.

I turn my direction to the glass window. The rain has stopped.

Why? Why did it stop? I almost groaned.

"When will I see you again?" I asked, quickly holding her hand. I think of other ways of making her stay, but I couldn't think of any. 

She looked at my hand. I released her hand right away.

"Why would you see me again, Blake?" Her question was guileless.

Why? I don't know.

I look at her like an imbecile that I couldn't think of any good reason.

"Maybe never..." she answered like she ended a good beginning. "There's no point of seeing each other, Blake."

No point? I never accepted that kind of reason. There must be a purpose. For the first time, I lost for words. Samantha and Matthew would surely love to see this moment. It took me a while to say something.

"But I want to see you again," It came out from my mouth like a whisper.

I watch her raising her eyebrows then shrugging.

"Why?" She asked, her face looks really clueless.

It was making me insane. Right now, I imagine many ways of making her happy in my arms, in my bed, but I could hardly give her a good reason to stay. I gazed at her lips, then to her eyes.

"I don't know. Maybe I wanted to know about the dancing umbrellas?" It was the dumbest thing I've ever said in my life.

"Oh, okay," says Tara, like mentally taking note of what I said.

"Okay?" There is a glimmer of hope after all, but there was her tone again.

She nods, and walks in the direction of the elevator, while I was stuck on the floor, hands on my pants' pockets, as I listen to her hum the 'Remember Me' song.

When the elevator opened, she steps inside but presses the hold button. "Blake!" she calls.

My eyebrows raise.

She shakes her head, "Thank you for today but I really don't find any good reasons for us to see each other again," she said.

My heart, for the first time, stopped beating. Her winsome smile was telling me the truth. 

"But let me thank you with a song," she grinned, then she started singing. "Remember me, though I have to say goodbye, remember me... Don't let it make you cry... For even if I'm far away I hold you in my heart... I sing a secret song to you each night we are apart,"

She chuckled as she releases her finger from the button, and then the elevator closes.

I pressed my lips to stop myself from laughing. I can't believe in meeting a childlike, naive, and spontaneous beautiful woman today. This has been an interesting day after all.

Before I realize it, she was gone. I scrambled to my feet as I ran after her. But when I was in front of the elevator, as I was about to press the button, I stopped myself.

It's not my thing to chase women, they run after me.