Chapter 40

It"s already 6:00 p.m. and we are currently making our way to the gate of the. We came from the soccier field and we went to the cafeteria for a snack so it took us a while to go home. I was with Ivan and Aly came home first; she no longer went to the canteen because her service had already called her. The sky was also a bit dark, the atmosphere was calm, and we only met a few people. The other soccer player was walking first laughing and Ivan and I were in the last as they followed quietly.
I don"t know where Baki went after when I saw her earlier in the field. She didn"t go with the players to eat in the cafeteria and I never saw her again. Maybe she went straight home when she came out on the field earlier. I can"t help not to feel irritated with her earlier especially when she smiled at me as if she meant to annoy me. She"s so calm and mysterious at the same time. I don"t know why I feel she has a connection to me other than both of us is Jas' friend. I don't know why but I feel like she knows everything about my personality and this is not the first time I have felt this with Baki because I also noticed her words and actions when our paths crossed when Jas got attack by his allergy.
When we already reached the gate, we went in our respective directions but Ivan and I were still together. Even though he is rich, he rides the bus when he goes home and he rides their service when he goes to campus. I want to know if he makes ride the bus when he doesn't know me yet because I don't know if my suspicion is correct that he commutes because he wants to accompany me home and if my suspicion is true, it is not a problem for me.
"El, come here," Ivan said as he pulled my bag pack towards him. I have no idea why he would have pulled me and when he said the reason, I couldn't speak and just agreed to what he wanted. He used to fix my hair and whenever he does that thing, I can feel how caring and gentleman he is. I was so lucky and he liked me but I don"t know why I couldn"t afford to like him back. I wish I wasn"t just the woman he liked because he didn"t deserve me; he doesn"t deserve to be hurt so I"m still trying to like him too. Ivan deserved a softhearted girl, and as famous as he was and I have no idea why he found in me the trait of the girl he wanted.
It"s only been a month and I can"t give up right away. I just have to believe in the process that the time will also come when Jas will be erased from my heart and Ivan will be what I like. Maybe a month isn't enough for me to like Ivanso I'll just continue what I started. This time, we will be together more often so that I can forget about the things I should forget and focus on what is happening around me.
"Ivan, I'm sorry if I came late earlier," I apologized. "I didn't see you practicing."
He already fixed my hair and he held me on the shoulder before he turned me to him.
We stare each other and he said, "Don"t worry, it"s okay with me. I"m so happy with your effort earlier, thank you for the towel and mineral water," he said and he raised his hand holding the empty bottle while he also had my pink towel on his shoulder.
I didn"t response anything to him and I just smiled at him before I left in front of him and moved to his side. There was a bus coming and he signaled the bus to stop and when it stopped in front of us, he let me in first. I immediately searched for our seat and chose the dual seat. I sat next to the bus window and Ivan sit next to me before the bus started to accelerate.
The sky was dark so the air coming from the window was also cold while accompanied by the gentle melody of the song from the bus speaker. It"s so relaxing to sit and I don"t want to get to my place because I feel rested. It is so relaxing to lean my back on the seat while I inhale the fresh air. Ivan did not speak either and when I looked at him, his eyes were closed. I"m not sure if he"s asleep but I haven"t talked to him anymore and he also seems to like the tranquility that envelops us. This is how he is when he is tired; quiet and did not bother to irritate me.
As time goes on, the distance to my apartment gets closer and I feel even more tired and drowsy because I lacked sleep last night. I closed my eyes because of the weight of my eye lid until I was no longer aware of what was going on around me. I fell asleep and woke up because of someone shaking my shoulder. I immediately opened my eyes and heard the voice of a man.
"Wake up, we're at the terminal." I gulped as I realized what he said.
I immediately looked where I was and when I looked at Ivan next to me, he was also newly awake and currently can"t believe where we are. He stood up and slightly bowed to the driver before he hold my wrist so I stood up as well.
"T-thank you," I said stuttered to the driver.
We no longer waited for what the driver response and we immediately left the bus. We were already at the bus terminal and we were too far from where we had to get off. I don't know what this place is so I just follow Ivan while he is holding my wrist. His steps were fast and because his legs were long, I was almost running.
We got to the front of a mall and when he stopped walking, I stopped too. I immediately took my phone which was placed in my pocket and when I opened it to check the time, I sighed because the phone had shutdown.
"Ivan, where are we? What time is it?" I asked as he stare at the mall. The mall is closed and I don't see anyone anymore and I'm sure our trip is too long. The sky was clear because the stars were clearly visible and the half moon at 10 o"clock came out last night. Ivan look at me and he gulped before answering me.
"El, we've been on the trip for five hours."
"What!" I exclaimed, and could not believe from what he said. "Are you sure?" I asked to confirm, but he nodded.
I gulped and then I think what the possible time was in the present. If we"re five hours into the trip, it"s already 11:00 p.m. now and there"s something immediately it entered my mind about what Jas said we were going to Nanay Lao"s café. I'm sure he's still in class and he's going to fetch me from home this midnight because we're going to the café together and no matter what I do, I won't be able to reach him and I'm also not sure if there's still a bus at these times.
Jas will be waiting for me and he will look for me. I know that he will text me and he will ask why I am no longer in the apartment but I can't tell him where I am because my phone is shut down.
Why did I sleep? I knew I was about to go down but I cannot hold my sleep. And why when I need my phone, then it shuts down? In my whole existence, this has only just happened to me and if I wasn"t with Ivan I don"t know if I would have been able to go home.
"El, I"m sorry because I fell asleep but why are you asleep too? I'm not familiar with this place because it's far from us so I don't know where to find a ride home," he stated and when he remembered his phone, he took it out of his pocket. I am thankful and his phone did not shut down because at least we could search the map of where we are now and how we can get home. I didn"t see a tricycle so we couldn"t ride anything to take us to the terminal back to us. Ivan's parents must be worried because it's close to mid-night but he's not at their house yet.
"Ivan, call your mom. She"s worries about you," I stated while he was typing on his phone. The breeze was cold but I could see the sweat dripping down his face. I know he is tense and I also feel nervous because I know someone will wait and someone will worry about us.
"What the hell!" he exclaimed looking at his phone. "Ivan, why? W-what happened?" I asked stuttered.
He looked at me and his expression calmed down slightly. "My phone is shutdown, El. I didn"t send my text message to my mom so can I borrow your phone?" I gulped and I sighed because of what he said. "My phone is shut down too," I responded.
He averted his eyes from me before he bit his lower lip. He combed his hair using his finger and looked at me again. He put his hand on my shoulder and he slightly bowed his head to line our eyes.
"I'm sorry," he said and I could see in his eyes the concern, the sadness, and the apology.
I could do nothing but nod and smile at him. We"re both at fault and he doesn"t have to blame everything on himself. We both had our phones shut down so we had no choice but to wait until morning. I won't think about what explanation I can give to Jas and I hope he doesn't come to my apartment because he hasn't received a reply from me now. If he still goes to the apartment, I know he will be melancholy because this is the second time he will not see me. I just hope it doesn't enter his mind that I don't want to see him anymore and I'm just making an excuse.
"Where are we going?" I asked him. He removed his hand that was resting on my shoulder and looked for a place for us. I no longer feel drowsy because of what happened to us, but now I just realize that there is a possibility that we will not be able to enter the class tomorrow because the drive home is five hours and another, we will definitely be drowsy in the whole class because we have nothing to sleep now.
Ivan stare at me and I tilted my head to indicate why he was staring at me. He gulped and said, "Let's find a hotel."
"What!" I exclaimed and gulped at the same time.
He laughs at my reaction and asks, "Why? What"s surprising if we sleep in a hotel? I have money and it's more surprising if we sleep on the high way."
Is he crazy? It never entered my mind that we would sleep in the hotel so how did he think of that? I don't know if I'm the only one who thinks it's weird if we go to the hotel together but that's how I feel and think. I know we have nothing to do but it still feels weird to spend the night at a hotel with a guy.
"It's already midnight so let's not go to the hotel. Your money will be wasted because we won't have a long stay," I said, stuttered but I forced myself to be calm.
His smile widened and asked again, "Why? Do you want us to stay at the hotel for 24 hours?" I gulped as I shook my head in response.
What is he thinking? He misunderstood what I was talking about and I just felt even more embarrassed.
"W-what are you talking about? All I want is for us to be here. Soon, there will be cars so we can go home," I explained. He nodded while smiling that"s why I asked him. "Why are you smiling in this kind of situation? Did you plan this?"
He looked shocked and he immediately shook his head in succession. "Of course not!"