Chapter 24: Six Years Ago pt. 18

"It's okay Xander." I called him. "They won't probably attack here when there's so much people around."

"No, this place is perfect for assassination. The place is crowded and they can easily hide when a chaos starts to rise." He replied without bothering to look at me as he continued to inspect the place from his seat.

I sighed, "Xander," I told him while patting his shoulder, "Let's take this opportunity to relax ourselves a bit okay?" I looked at him in the eye and he looked back.

"You know this thing intuition that women call?" I asked him.

"Yeah, and what about that?"

"You see, my intuition tells ma that nothing bad is gonna happen this day." I smiled.

He then looked away and breathed letting himself loose.

"I'm just afraid something might happen to you because of my negligence." He confessed.

"Nah, nothing'a going to happen." I assured him as I looked in front to watch Aunt Yula dancing.

"I don't want anything bad to happen to you Rian." He slowly said.

I was stunned by his words. What in the world!? What was that? W—why would he say that? It's making my heart race.

I was flustered and pretended not to hear him due to the loud music. I then started to hum with and glued my sight in front acting like I am so engrossed at Aunt Yula's dance.

He must have said that because his worried. Yeah, that's it. He'll get the blame if something happens to me after all. That should be it. I shouldn't get any funny ideas.

I calmed myself as I saw at the corner of my eye that Xander was also staring at presentation.

I hope my cheeks didn't turn red earlier. I hope he didn't notice it.

After that, the food was served. After giving my gifts and chatting with Aunt Yula, I finally bid my goodbye and headed home with Xander.

It was already past five in the afternoon and we haven't reached home yet because we made a stop at a department store. I suddenly recalled that we're running out of food.

We headed to the grocery section. We took what we needed and I also addes a bunch of sweet snacks while we're at it. He glared at those as I put them on the shopping cart one by one as if warning me that I'm taking too much sweets with me. He was making a really funny expression on his face and I'm enjoying looking at it so I took more of the snacks. I even added a whole box of chocolates.

"I'll get it." He said as he reached for a bag of chips that I was having a hard to get because it was sitting at the top of the shelf.

I didn't even realize he already was behind me. His came onto me like a gust of wind nor did I heard his footsteps.

He extended his arms above my head while the back of my head was getting pressed at his bumpy and broad chest.

I held my breath at that moment feeling embarrassed. I felt my cheeks getting hot. As soon as he dropped the bag of chips at the shopping cart, I immediately walked away going to the beverage section where he followed me shortly.

After paying at the counter we then walked to the parking lot.

"Give me those, I'll carry them." He then took the shopping bags from my hand even without my reply.

"I can do it." I insisted while snatching them back from his hand.

"Leave this to me. They're heavy."

"No they're not."

"Don't be so stubborn." He said and we reached the back of the car. He then put the everything we bought at the car's trunk.

I shrugged. What's with him? He's acting quite different for the past few days.

Getting worried, I palmed his forehead while he's driving.

"What are you doing." He gasped as he remained his sight on the road ahead.

"I'm just checking if you have a fever." I said as I compared his temperature to mine. "You've been weird lately."

"Stop that." He flinched his head away from my hand. "I am alright and I don't have a fever." I saw his lower lip twitch, "Also don't startle me like that specially when I'm driving. It's dangerous."

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"Are you laughing right now?" I asked annoyed as I look at her giggling from the front passenger seat.

"No I'm just—it's nothing" She said calming herself. "Don't remove your eyes from the road." She told me while pointing her hands in front.

I shook my head. How many times will she catch me off guard like this. She touched me without warning that really taken me a back. I didn't even noticed that her hands was near my face already until it touched my skin. This girl really is dangerous.

"Sorry, I won't do it again. So please don't be mad." She apologized thinking that I was angry at her. I kinda raised my voice at her a moment ago.

"I'm not mad," I explained "I'm just—

"Aaaaahh" Rian screamed as a something bumped us from the back.

We almost fell face down into the dashboard of the car. Our car went off the road due to the force of the impact. When I looked in the rear mirror, I saw a van with a flattened bumper. That was the vehicle that hit us. Who could have sent it this time?

I turned to Rian and saw the fear on her face as she tightly gripped the handlebar. Shee looked at me with questioning eyes. I gave her a deep look and drove the car back into the lane.

The van continued to pursue us in the road trying to catch up to us.

And for the second time, the van and our car collided again causing us to be thrusted forward.

Rian stopped herself from shouting in fright and she closed her eyes tightly

Right after our vehicle gained its momentum, I stepped on the gas pedal driving faster than before.

I looked at the side mirror but can't see the person driving the van behind us for it has tinted windows.

"They better not have guns." I prayed silently.

The distance between us was closing again. I should think of an idea to shake them off.

Unfortunately, I'm not very familiar with this area. Rian might be but I don't think she's in the state to give directions.

What should I do? What should we do? We'll get crushed by them at this rate.