-CHAPTER 14-

He smiled. 

Ella is still processing and remained stilled as her eyes watch him grow smaller as their distance expands wider. She can't help but to speculate about his 'errands', his walking pace tells that he wasn't in a hurry.

Effortlessly, she get rid of thinking about u smile. It was simple, yet elegant and clean smile. Her mind insisted, she can't be bothered easily, especially when she's trying to type fast to keep up in today's discussion. 

Why don't we focus harder? Ella has no one to blame but herself, she complained. 

There is something satisfying about clicky keyboards everytime she press a key, the room was silent enough. Her focus was sloppy for the past hour, as well as her friends who's having a hard time fixing their posture. Turns out, all of them are trying to keep up with this lesson. 
 
From time to time, she would glace the bottom right of her laptop's display where the clock was placed. The subject is supposed to end in a span of an hour and half minute. As the clock says there are still eight minutes left, Ella's ankle geared up by twisting and stretching. 

Their class was delighted for having a no extended activities in the period, all of them find it annoying when it doesn't end in time. As if it was their cue, they immediately stretched their necks and arms from fatigue when the prof stepped out.  

"I wanna go home. Fuck this." Kath complained in the middle of her yawn. Too early to complain about their chosen course. 

Lynn scoffed. "Fuck college." She concluded while cracking her fingers as they wrapped up and closed their laptops. "Oh fuck you Brandon!" It was a loud curse from Lynn when Brandon slapped her forehead out of nowhere. Ella had been seeing more of them these days, from little slapfights and stealing items. What's up with them. 

"Stupid ass." Lynn was left behind from her roommates, she exited the classroom when she's done dealing with Brandon. 

"Brandon seems interested slapping your. . . forehead." Kath leaned closer as she schemed. 

"What's up with you guys?" Ella finally asked while gazing upon Kath's anticipated face. "The more we hate, the more we love. Just sayin." She added while looking away. 

"You guys are disgusting, I'll never date a smoker." Lynn defended herself while fixing her ponytail. "I don't have the luxury to date, even from the next department. I stopped doing shit."

"We will never know how the wind would blow." It sounded more like an insult for Lynn, Kath was bitching herself out. 

Cafeteria was filled with moderate crowd. Their subtle voice seamlessly blend to the sound of machines that produced quick food, a casual school environment. Quenching their thirst, they all agreed to grab two bottles of cold mineral for their consumption.  

And that leads them to falling in line in their quick counter, joining several Business Majored students in front of them. Especially Lynn, there were no words from their mouth as they carefully massaged their fingers while waiting. 

As soon as they acquired their water, the headed to the tile exit. That didn't end well, turns out, Flynn intentionally bumped in their group as if he was heading inside. 

"Ella." Flynn initiated and met her eyess. "Good to see you."  

"Flynn." 

His lips generated a smile, the neat one. "Good to see you here." The tone was obvious enough for him to sound nice and invested. 

Ella suspected his intentions of being here. "Also. Good to see you in a cafeteria two departments away from yours." She clapbacked with her smile, ignoring his friends that she might sound rude. 

"They said their water was nice here. I'd like to fetch some." Flynn spat a humor without breaking his composure and his innocent arch painted on his lips. 

"That was convincing from a firm believer of science. Is that how med students get the shit out of their boredom?" Ella was in the right state to exchange sarcasm. 

And Flynn is seriously digging it. 

He pursed his lips and flicked his eyelids to get a better grip on her gaze. "Yes, that's how I spend my boredom." As he was checking his apple wrist watch, his brows heightened. "I'm running out of minute, I have to fetch my water." 

"Are you sure you went here for water?" Ella bugged him, making Flynn halt from walking. 

After he turned back to look at her, Ella earned a smirk. "Of course, it's water." 

"Just water?" 

Just water." Flynn repeated while buying her humor. He can tell that she was also playing along, it hyped his senses. And it did not waste his time since he left his department on purpose. 

It leave him awed, Flynn can finally flirt after a months long heartbreak. And it felt amazing.  

Kath and Lynn sure has a lot to talk about on what they just witnessed. Successfully stepping out of the campus to hunt a spot for lunch, they decided to much a heavy metal lunch.

"Are you seriously challenging your wallet?" Lynn asked while placing the utensils after the waiter handed with tray. "We rarely eat lasagna for lunch, were you that hungry?" Lynn asked.

Of course she is. 

Although it was quite pricy for lunch, Ella decided to spoil herself. "I am spoiling myself, and I'm craving for this." Ella repeated her thoughts. While pouting, Kath nod and start digging in and met the delicious sauce in her tongue.

"You are being thrifty these days, what's up Ella." Lynn snickered as her mouth took a bite. 

Money. She has a lot of them, she took a pride of being thrifty. "Oh yes I am." And a subtle pause happened after that line when she thought of a reason. "I was actually saving a lot for mom, a little surprise for her." 

Ella had no idea why did she let her mouth pulled of an idea. Something for Mom. Of course that would be nice. Not a bad thought at all. 

"You are so sweet. My Mom had enough of my gifts." All of the released soft laugh while munching and appreciating the meaty sauce dissolved in their tongue. Never been so good.  

"So, who is he?" Sipping an iced-cold cola, Kath is making herself sure that what happened earlier must be discussed on a table. More like their etiquette during their lunch out. 

"Who?" 

"The med student. Ella." Lynn cooperated in engaging the conversation. "He is damn neat, smells like a baby powder with his cool tone clothes. I rarely interact with med students since they are two departments away. What the hell happened earlier?" The question was followed by a big serve in her mouth. Almost like a hot seat interview. 

Ella crossed her legs under the sturdy ivory table as she played her spoon in the sauce in the corner of her plate. "Yup he was actually flirty as you can tell. I met him at the party when I was upset with Theo, thinking that he wouldn't come. He suddenly appeared hours after I met Flynn." Spilling the tea, Ella's friends nod in unison. 

"So I think he knew that you have a boyfriend and he's still hitting on you?" Lynn made sense on her intuition after she took a gulp from her cola. 

"I think your life will be a spicy one in one of these days. You sure to entertain him?" Kath asked. 

"No. I think he will stop. Mom also told me to just ignore. I mean I told Mom everything." It was an easy lie. Ella are gathering up her sense on what Flynn is trying to do.

Is he seriously gonna flirt? The petty ones are everywhere.  

"Your mom has a good remark." Lynn complimented. "But imagine how fun it will be if you made them compete-

"Stop giving her ideas." Kath elbowed her. 

"Since we are getting a terrible sense of a love triangle. How's your boyfriend so far? How is he treating you?" Kath asked as her spoon finished the last few parts of her meal. 

Chewing gave her time to think. "Am I supposed to give you guys an update?" 

Lynn gestured her concern. "Oh c'mon, this is your first time, at least tell us what's going on so far. He was kind good to be true guy." 

Thrusting the condensing straw on her drink, Kath urged to nod. "Yup. And he looks fine in his youth like a married bachelor you can find on Tinder." That cracked the sudden humor. Ella didn't ask for his age yet. Married bachelor? Theo wasn't tie to a stuff like that, he likes to play a lot of vaginas. So far on what she knows. 

"Give us an update pumikin pie." Lynn sucked on the drink after saying it in a sing-song voice. Crackhead.  

Literally she has nothing to say. It'll probably all about sex if Ella is going to be honest. Ella is getting amateur in her white lies and alibis, it serves her like a pocket knife. Sure a bunch of secrets will pay soon, but she believed herself to manage. 

"Pretty good." What else? "He's sweet and. . ." Silence occupied between the girls. Ella rubbed her fingers as he think about Theo. 
 

Theo. How is he?  

"I am a starter. He probably knows how to handle girls, he's kind. And honest." Ella left the eye contact from her roommates gaze and stared somewhere. "A little bit chatty. He's clever, like he knows a lot of things."

"And I like his red crimson hair." She meant the last description. Was Ella finally admitting of her exotic taste in men? It was unexpected. His hair looks good when soaked in sweat while having sex.  

Kath flustered while covering her lips with the back of her fingers. "You may be ugly with your pjs and your elementary pageant dress, but you are adorable when it comes to men." 

"That's the meanest thing you said today." Ella complained and act attacked as they released a girls laughter, it sounds great and refreshing for her. But she could wrap her mind on her meal, neither both of them chatting in a causal lunch out. Ella had a subtle lose of focus. 

It keeps her remembering him, that red crimson hair. 

+++

Two days. Their communication vanished into thin air. 

No sex. No dirty talks. Nothing in between.  

Uni work went overload and kept her away from guilty pleasures. it wasn't upsetting, nor relieving.

Didn't even bother to text and call, quizes are getting more complex as well as the hassle of long meeting from their chosen school organization. What more if she does the detailed meeting's minutes like Lynn does. 

The boyfriend, seems to be missing in action. She has nothing to pretend in front of her friends because they have lot on their plate anyway. 

Her long curtain bangs flew as the wind from the air conditioner sprawled on her face that woke her from reverie. Ella decided to pay her tuition expenses and clear her accounts, that explain how she was stucked by the queue of payees. 

Affirmatively, the money was well spent. Ella made sure to set the priorities straight and consume her money well. It made her breathe a clearer air now that her mother can spend extra on her maintenance. 

Thanks to him. He's one hell of a generous man.  

She's not going to deny it. Ella miss her family. That's what keeps her going. 

The transaction of their Finance was seamless. With the bank notifications on her phone popped out, she checked her phone as well. Ella unveiled the unread messages from their chat room. 

He invited me to a lunch date, I said yes to him to have me for the whole afternoon. Kath was the one who chatted first followed by her room blacked icon friend, Lynn. 

 I have some logos and graphic designs to finish, I can't say no to Ms. Amber. See you guys every period. Lynn was soft enough to sound worried even in chats. Ella just reacted their messages that signifies her approval. 

Cold tiles was slippery but it helped her walked faster from hallway to hallway, a time for Ella to think what's for lunch. Guess I am alone. 

"Ella." Flynn greeted after she took a turn. Wearing a cool tone flannel tucked in his pants, composed nicely in front of Ella. 

She was taken aback after she heard her name. "Hi Flynn, again." Her mouth emphasized the last word as she broke their eye contact and stared on his ID. 

Flynn Banker. A psychology major. 

"What brings you here again?" Ella asked before she can stare at his appearance more. 

Flynn smiled when her brows went narrow. "Ms. Amber didn't came to our class to draft some graphic stuff for the upcoming events last month and I saw your friend. And the other friend, I found her towards the exit, gate three with a guy." 

Sliding the phone in her ankle pant's pockets, ssh was petrified. 

Flynn scoffed and fixed his messenger bag. "Sounds like a coincidence huh? I am here to grab you a lunch." He offered in all seriousness and sincerity. 

"Are you being serious?" That was all that she could say after realazing how wise the timing it was for him. She even cursed under her breath. 

He cross his arms and grinned nonchalantly. "Oh 'cmon. Of course I am. Besides, we have almost two hours of break. I want to ask you out personally." Flynn smiled. 

Flynn can finally do it after a months long heartbreak. It was a painful marathon of self-questioning and ego depriving episode. He's finally done and ready to move forward. She easily got his interest and meticulous standards. 

That Ella absolutely posses. 

"I carefully gathered myself but I'm not forcing you. I just asking nicely. Ella?" Slightly, one of his brows rows. 

Ella sighed and pushed all of her brownish hair to her back. "You know that I have a boyfriend. He even punched you for dancing with me." 

"Should I also ask that we also danced to each other? I mean no harm for this, Ella." 

I can date guys.

But sexually his.  

Ridiculous. This is driving her insane, who could've thought that she would dare to date in the middle of a fuck buddy agreement. 

On what he experience with Theo, dating sounds kinda fun. Despite of being a mock girlfriend, she can real sense on what is going on in a relationship. So far. 

It won't cost any if I try. Ella considered her perks as she scanned Flynn from to head to toe as if she had all the time in the world despite of being in an awkward situation. 

"So what do you say?" Flynn asked while leaning on the nearest cream wall and patiently waiting. 

Gathering her non-existent courage, she puffed and blow an air. "The lunch sounds nice." FInally admitting that she would like to.  

Tilting his neck, Flynn couldn't believe it. "Seriously? Great. Thanks for saying yes, it'll be worth while." He responded nicely as the man he is. The smile on his face painted even more radiant, it was so uplifting. 

He took her to a decent Asian restaurant two blocks away. Ella was not ready for the idea of riding on his car, Ella was rubbing her fingers and avoid coversations.

Flynn doesn't like to show off except for the fact that he have to use his own car. Coming from a privileged family, he doens't like to contrast himself from others. Lucky enough to consider his preferences, Flynn's lifestyle is more like a normal student. 

He doesn' talk that much while driving, that explains his deep focus in maneuvering. It doesn't stop him to glance at Ella from time to time, feeding his ego that he finally asked a girl out. A straight forward process. 

He's got interested and simply dared to ask her out. Of course Flynn already gathered her wits, and hopes. The man is certain that it'll be a good path for him. Good riddance. 

Flynn just knows it. Very well. 

"Does your medical course made you famished?" Ella scanned the table as the waiter continue to land the dishes on the jade-colored marble table. The restaurant was well fixed and elegant, it wasn't overwhelming for her taste but it was decent.  

Little side dishes fills up the table and Flynn was more than happy to fix the ceramic bowls and helped a waiter. Tempura, White Jasmine Rice. Grilled Lobster in Special Sauce and two more dishes that Ella couldn't identify.

Especially that Mushroom Porridge, still not sure of what the hell it is.

"Are we pigging ourselves with these? Flynn these are carbs and-

"And stop trying to be a nutritionist. I'm rewarding myself since I topped my quiz yesterday." Flynn ditch her sentence and winked at her.

"Yup, I'm that good." He added a boast with such a gorgeous expression. His fingers fondled on the utensils and opted for the chopsticks. 

Cute.

"You're a narcissist." Ella scoffed and try to dig on what's delicious. She would lie if she didn't drool.

Their gap filled with silence as they delicately munch. The golden fried shrimp explodes in her taste buds, Ella is bad at hiding expressions when it comes to food. Her head would nod time to time.

Flynn was definitely hungry, but he won't miss a chance to observe her eaiting. "You seemed famished as well. Does your course put you into hell."

Ella made a soft laugh. "You're annoying."

He can tell how juicy the Lobster meat is when it was pinched by the chopstick. "You're trying all of them, you like the porridge."

"I'm fond of them. My mom and I loves to try porridges every restaurant. . . Oh I'm sorry." She was taken aback from her over-sharing mouth,

But Flynn insisted. "No, it's alright. I can definitely tell you love them, glad I ordered as well." Genuinely, his smile was followed by a chuckle, trying the soup afterwards.

Ella's eyelids sharpened and she spat a speculation. "You are trying to impress me." Unbothered, she dip a chunk of Lobster's meat on the jalapeño garlic soy.

"They said it's the best when you go through her stomach, looks like it's working."

"Give me a break. I'm just incredibly hungry."

"Whatever." The crunch of tempura seems louder than usual, Flynn was maintaining his steady and invested eye contact. "I'm a making a small progress here."

That made Ella defend herself. "So you don't actually mind that I have a boyfriend?" Hoping that would intimidate him this time around, the tone went serious and the conversation went humorless.

"I've heard about him. And I don't really care, to be honest." Chilling down his exasperation, he nod while admitting it. As if it was on cue, Taylor Swift's Archer played in the background on the restaurant's sound system. 

How in the world is he brazen? Her fork plunged a tempura and dipped in the sweet sauce. "What are you really up to, Flynn Banker?"

Cobalt eyes had been really consistent with long eye-contacts as he sipped on his iced tea. "I'm pretty straight forward here. Look, I'm interested in you and it's stupid to think that I met you in party, while grinding our private parts."

That wasn't even necessary to mention.

The included napkin was fancy enough to be left untouched, but Flynn used his anyways. His lips plumped by the cold drink was wiped by the napkin. Ella was observing that smiling lips for a quite a while now.

"Point is, I wan't to compete." He let go of his utensils and seriously leaned a bit closer across the table together with that piercing stare.

"Who gives a damn fuck about your crimson haired boyfriend? You will definitely love my consistency, I'll make sure to stifle your guards down until you fall in my amrs." Ella even catch his peeking lips to lick the lower lip.

It patched a silence between them, the tension leave them heating up and Ella still don't know what to say. She stilled and remain the stern gaze.

A part of her thinking was luring her to spice up things and to game on with this competitive love combat. But still, Ella was thinking more about the inconvenience that would fruit.

A grin escaped on the man's lips, full of tranquility. Flynn is optimistic for a reason, the only card that he didn't thought he would use.  

"I'll make your attention draw on me. Just wait for it."

"After all, Theo knows how to handle guys like you." She rose one of her eyebrow while eating. But it wasn't satisfying for a clap back, she added.

"You are self-possessed and brazen, like an adulterer." Ella snickered and gulp and ounce of tea, making him chuckle. Immensely challenged.

His innocent smile is remarkable. "Watch me."