CHAPTER 2

Bus Fee

THIS is the first day of accomplishing my list. I was done preparing for school while Ivan already gave me a heads up about working in his café as a waiter and a barista.

I deeply sighed. The more I think about it, the more my stress hormones pick up.

Nevertheless, I am still waiting for Lea's call even though her brother threatened me to stay away from her. I won't do it. What is he? My father? Why should I obey him?

"I'm leaving now. You could just walk to the city or grab a taxi, whatever you want to. After all, the bus and train station's not that far." Ivan's eyebrows rose as he was waiting for me to respond.

Walk? I don't walk to school!

"Yeah, I-I will," I unsurely said and let out a lopsided smile.

He gave me a doubtful look for a few seconds that's why I avoided his gaze. It seems like he doesn't trust me that much about taking public transportation, huh? What does he think of me? I'm not going to use my car! I don't even have my key on me!

"Just make sure, Iris. You're not going to do anything stupid. I'm watching you. Don't even dare to call your friends to pick you up, I'm warning you. I believe you don't want to get in trouble about the deal, right?" He smirked arrogantly.

I swallowed hard and nodded silently like a slave. I waited for him to vanish before I hissed. This is frustrating me so much, like what in the hell? Am I really gonna walk and take a cab or a train? That's insane!

In the end, I became the loser who walked away from home to catch a fucking cab? I never thought that grabbing a taxi would be this hard. The hell is going on?! It has been almost half an hour since I waited and stood up here, yet there were a lot of people pushing me and stealing the cab I called their attention to, and they just ended up stopping and picking up the wrong passengers.

Damn. I don't think I can make it on time to school.

My anger issue is starting to build up as I saw other students looking at and gossiping about me. Maybe they were confuse why I am here, stupidly waiting for a taxi, though others were obviously admiring me from afar. But—I look so terrible right now.

I got the face of a celebrity, yet I don't even have a car!

My patience is getting weak from time to time. However, my forehead creased when I saw the black sports car, the one that always parks beside mine, passing by. The car's windows were not heavily tinted so I could tell that there were two people inside and the one on the front seat was quite familiar. The car then stopped not so far away from me.

In a spur of the moment, the image of it was covered by a big bus. I was still in panic and worried that I might not make it to the line while still thinking about what I saw earlier. I breathed a sigh of relief because I was finally on board.

I am on my way to school, riding this bus! Damn, who would have thought that I could do this?! My lips turned into a winning smirk while I was still standing. And that's when I realized every person is tapping their card onto something? I don't know! What are they doing?

"Aren't you going to tap your card, we are waiting for you, boy." I heard the lady's voice behind me.

Boy?

I turned my back and my eyes slightly widened when I saw several people waiting in line. My lips parted, while the lady in front of me frowned and overtook.

"Uhm. . ."

My gaze followed the lady's move and saw her tapping her card then the person behind me did the same thing. As all of them already sat down, I swallowed hard when I was the only one standing, holding onto the metal handle. I bet they were secretly judging me especially when almost all the passengers here are boomers.

I am doomed.

"Hey, boy, don't you have cash with you? You can pay with cash if you don't have a tap card," the driver eventually spoke in a kind voice.

Oh, thank God, he isn't that bad, strict, and annoying driver.

I nodded continuously and immediately took my wallet from my bag. Fortunately, the bus continued to stroll down the highway, leaving the passengers in silence. As I saw my pouch, I thought I was saved out of this predicament, but I was wrong because I don't even have a single penny. I only have cards with me.

"U-uh, sorry, but do you accept a debit card? I'm really sorry I don't have even a. . . dollar. . ."

It was like an airplane passed by in the sky and after a few seconds, I heard the restrained laughter of the passengers inside. Even the driver couldn't stop laughing. I understand them though, but I really don't have any petty cash with me.

"I'll pay."

From everything that I have encountered today. Someone familiar-- just like a fairy mushroom came out of nowhere. His wide shoulders covered the sight in front of me. My eyes turned up as my jaw tightened a bit looking at this 'beautiful man'. His scent entered my nose hole and I wanna close my eyes because he smells so damn good. It's a combination of sweet and strong scent.

It was addicting as hell and what am I even thinking?

"Are you sure?" asked the driver.

"Yes. Don't worry, we're in the same school, he can pay me when we get there."

Suddenly, the driver hit the brake so I almost fell and stumbled if not only by this man in front of me whose hands were all over my waist.

When I recovered, but still looking a bit stunned, I adjusted my phase and smoothed my ironed uniform. Now, I am annoyed. What's wrong with the driver? Did he really take driving lessons?

"Clumsy."

My heart automatically jumped and raced ten times than the usual when I heard him talk. Our eyes met and that's when I realized that I am all over his body. My ears get hot and it took me a couple of seconds before I could fix myself.

"Oh, sorry guys! I apologize."

I couldn't even appreciate the apology of the driver because of him. Why did he pay for me? Does he want anything from me? I didn't even see him there, now he's beside me. Whenever our skin touched, it sent me shivering moments especially when we accidentally looked at each other, yet those gazes were like knives, stabbing my eyes. It was dark and. . . scary. The fuck is wrong with him?

After a few more minutes of being uncomfortable, the bus finally stopped near the university. Leon went down before me and so I panicked a bit. I went down quickly and struggled walking to follow him because he is so fast.

I went through the first gate because I didn't have my car with me, so there is no reason for me to even go to the back gate. I don't know why my eyes immediately searched for Leon. My eyes flashed when I saw him walking straight to the Architecture building. I immediately ran to catch up with him.

"Hey!"

I was gasping for air when I blocked his way. This is the second time around that he helped me, the first one was when we had an exam and then he paid for my bus fee. I need to follow him because this is a good idea. I should make a move, so I can do my last and difficult list.

"Thank you for paying earlier. Anyway, do

you wanna grab lunch? My treat."

I wanna spew and cringe when I say that, but I need to be professional so I let out my deadly yet appealing smile. He has to say yes, there's no any reason for him to disagree when I am the one and only, Iris Rodríguez, inviting him for lunch—

"No need."

The bright smile on my face went dead. Did he just turn down my offer? I wet my lips and tried to light up the mood. My mood! He really knows to annoy me as hell! What a twat!

"Just consider it as my way of paying you back." I tried to play it cool.

He suddenly got cold towards me when he found out about my relationship with her sister. Like it was just a few days ago when he took my strawberry cheesecake away from me. I haven't forgotten that yet, and he wasn't like this when that happened.

"Just do what I told you," he uttered and was about to walk past me but I blocked his way again.

"I can't!" I quickly said.

He tilted his head on the right and folded his arms over his stomach. It looks like he's murdering me with his death glare. Why is he getting so mad at me? I mean— he should talk to his sister too! His sister flirts back with me and we don't even have a serious relationship, so why is he furious?

"I-I like your sister," I lied.

Of course, he sarcastically laughed. "Oh, don't joke around, kid."

My jaw tightened at what he said. Did he just call me a kid?! I never thought that he's got this harsh and trashy attitude! If it's not only because of that fucking list, I would never do this!

Hell! I need to calm down!

"I can prove it."

He shook his head. "You don't have to. I will never let you hurt my sister nor see her."

My hands are shaking. He's being so hard to tame. All I want is a kiss from him, yet I still need to get through his unmanageable treatment. I mean— I cannot just say that I wanna kiss him with consent! I can do everything on the list, but I have to save myself from embarrassment as well.

It's just a kiss, no malice and no hard feelings.

"Whatever you say, you're definitely wrong about me." My words may mean useless for him, but this is not just about his sister anymore, it's all for me now.

His baby blue deep eyes never left mine. It was like there was electricity flowing from our eyes. But I can never win, it's too distracting. His eyes are screaming words that I can't read.

"Hi, senior!"

The tension between us cut off when someone suddenly called his name. I avoided his gaze and looked behind him. A group of students are coming in our way. They looked so happy and excited walking towards us. I stepped back two steps in an unsafe manner.

"Hi, Leon!" the other boys greeted him.

"Hi, how are you guys?" He let out a big smile, hiding his true colors.

As I watched them getting so immersed by him, I cannot help but paste my eyes on him who's now reciprocating their vibes. Seriously, how could he change his expressions so steadfastly? As if he didn't look like a wild and mad Lion earlier when he's talking to me. He's definitely got favoritism right here. I am his junior too! This is unfair!

These people didn't even notice me because they were too busy chit-chatting with him. He turned his back on me without throwing me a look while I was still staring at them as if I am just a nobody. He's getting on my nerves. My hands clenched as it shivered because of rage inflaming within me. It looks like I'm going to have a really hard time with what's on my list.

I really hate him to the bones!

Tsk! I'll make sure that my time will come and he'll kiss me until he begs for it!