MY GAZE flew to Rexon who walked straight and bowed to the railings before lighting a cigarette.
I could barely breathe as I watched him hit and puff the smoke into the air.
"Are you done talking to your Dad?" He turned to look at me. With the same intensity that he wore earlier today.
I nodded and glanced down at my feet on the floor. I can't stand his stares, which is not normal to me.
He turned his gaze to the other side. So I mustered up the courage to say something.
"How was your feeling? Didn't you have a fever?" I timidly asked.
"I have colds and cough, but I'm okay." The answer was that I didn't look away.
The silence went over, the air still and heavy and thick clouds already blotted out the stars.
"Thanks for taking care of me." He broke our silence. He faced me and leaned against the railings. His arm folded tightly across his broad chest.
Again I tried to avoid his gaze before nodding, "You're welcome, It's my job anyway."
I even heard him sigh before we straightened up and stepped inside. But he stopped in front of me for a moment and bowed slightly.
I took a small step backward and trying to avoid his presence and gulp down my nervousness.
"Come in, it's getting colder here, you might get sick," he whispers closer to me.
I thought it was going to leave in front of me but he quickly raised his arms over my head and pressed against the wall so I quickly made a bow.
I heard a deep sigh coming from his damn breath. This is not what I expected him to do. This scene is very infrequent, it shouldn't be like this.
"Ah – I'm coming in." I utter.
"Why did you come out here? You haven't finished eating your pizza." He then lifts my chin slowly, so there is no reason to avoid his gaze.
I want to protest what he did. What does he want to do? Isn't that enough of an explanation that I talked to Dad?
But my words are to stick to my throat and I haven't had the power to explain myself right now.
His lips parted and slowly biting his piercing in a sexy way, Oh fuck! I can't stand this anymore, I slightly bend down and blink emphatically.
"Please, I want to go inside." I insisted.
I felt he move away and chose to just mumble in front of me. I heard him grin at my reaction so I clenched my fist tightly.
"Okay..." That's all he said so I started to step in.
My two knees were almost weakened from the extreme nervousness. He hasn't done anything yet but it's as if I've fought with ten thousand soldiers because of my sweat.
"Hey, Cherry are you alright?" Jeff approached me with his eyes wet on my forehead.
"Y-yes, I'm fine." I smiled slightly at him. I noticed Rexon following me and sitting straight on the couch as if nothing had happened.
****
After that happened he seemed to change his dealings with me. He is getting cold and civil. He will only call me when he needed me. He will talk when there is a question. We are also together almost every day because of the out-of-town Mall shows of their band. Even adjusting I choose to be comfortable with my new job.
I won't have to worry about my Dad anymore because I talked to Aunt Melva to come here with us first, after all, Andrew will be going to study here and he agreed instead of renting a house, I offered them to just stay with us.
"Cherry, let's have lunch?" Jeff waved at me from another table. Rexon and the whole band were also there.
"Thank you, I still have work to do." I slightly lifted the few posters I was carrying. This is because it is one of the things they will sign later when they finish their production number with the album.
I barely glanced at Rexon without even glancing at me. I just smiled at them and directed the people to the stage where the long table was.
"Cherry!" I turned to the voice that called to me.
"Devon! How are you?" I smiled as he came closer to me. A few days ago I also saw him from the distance just because of the hectic work. It's not a joke because of the number of fans who flock to the band so he's almost always in the crowd.
"Here, the wrestler fans are a bit rested." He made me laugh a little so I shook.
"Aren't you used to it?" I said that the focus was on the posters that were rearranged.
"You, it looks comfortable right with them?" He barely even glanced at Rexon's table which I also followed with my gaze.
"Yeah, well, I can't help but love this job," I answered before turning my attention to Rexon who was busy eating.
"Everyone has a choice, it's up to you what you want to choose."
My forehead furrowed as I turned my lips.
"The question is do I have a choice? We can't choose all the time. There are things in the world that you can't refuse when destiny chooses you." I declared.
He smiled at me, "Looks like you're going through something, right?"
"Nothing," I smiled in reply.
"Did you have lunch? Eat with us!"
I glanced at Rexon's table for a moment and I finally glanced at Devon and me before shrugging to go back to eating.
"All right..." I accepted the offer, maybe I'll continue arranging the posters later.
"Guys, this is Cherry Mae. The P. A of Rexon." He introduced me to his fellow Marshall, there was also some staff of events that I already knew in the face.
"Hi!" Almost at the same time, they greeted me which I gladly reciprocated with a smile.
"I'm Lorelei." The woman introduced herself to me.
"Cherry," I held out my hand to her.
"And this is, Zoila and Yvette." She Introduce them to the two women who smiled at me.
Devon pulled me a chair next to him and immediately handed me a plate.
"You just ate a lot, huh? We've been a bit haggard these past few days." Lorelei said.
I lightly caressed my cheek after hearing that. She seems to be right, I've been lacking sleep for a few nights because of the early call time.
"Let it be that you're still looking fresh and beautiful, not like we face lotion with a lot of work." Zoila's cousin in the conversation.
"You know, the first time we saw you, we thought you were Rexon's girlfriend because you do not look like his P. A. You should work in the Office, oh maybe a model or beauty queen, right?" He even asked for the consent of the Marshall men who nodded.
My two cheeks immediately blushed at the compliments I received. Especially Rexon's the ignorant girlfriend? My heart blushed slightly at that but I quickly rebuked myself. No! I shouldn’t feel this for him.
"Thank you," I said shyly.
"Don't be shy. Devon was right you are truly beautiful." Lorelei teased me with Devon next to me now.
I barely glanced at him as he shook his head in embarrassment as they teased Devon.
I just smiled at them, maybe I should have trained myself on their jokes.
"I'm sorry for them, they are just joking," Devon whispered to me.
"It's okay, I understand."
The conversation didn't last any longer because later they had their topic while eating. Lorelei is still purely the question for me.
"Sir Rex. Let's join us?" Yvette asked the newcomer. I looked up at the man who approached us.
He was smiling a little, a deep curve on his lips makes the world stop around me and I realize I have held my gaze too long.
"Cherry he's asking you." Yvette's elbow me.
"Ah-ha?" I blink my eyes here and return to realization.
I noticed my companions muttering because Rexon didn’t like what I answered.
"He's asking if you've finished the posters?" Devon spoke.
"I'm sorry I'm not done yet."
He didn't say a word but glanced at Devon and then at me. I hold my breath for a while and trying to compose myself.
"I need you in the dressing room now." Low but there is where he commands me.
I looked down at the plate almost without any reduction, it would be a pity if I didn't consume it.
"I'll be there, " I said in reply.
"I said, now!" He ordered and glared at me as if I was doing something really bad.
There was a glum silence in the room after he left. I bowed because of the emotion I felt even some staff were stuck in their story. I can’t help but get angry for it.
I quickly stood up and said goodbye to those in front of me. "Hey, finish your meal first." Devon stopped me.
"I'm sorry but I need to get back to work."