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 looked at me with the same intensity that he wore earlier.
I nodded and glanced down on my feet on the floor. I can't stand his stares, which was 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 now."
The air became quiet and heavy, and thick clouds had already covered 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 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 tried to avoid his presence and gulp down my nervousness.
"Come in. It's getting colder here, you might get sick," he whispered closer to me.
I thought he would leave in front of me, but he quickly raised his arms over my head and pressed me against the wall, so I quickly bowed my head.
I heard a deep sigh coming from his damn breath. This is not what I expected him to do. This scene was very infrequent. It shouldn't be like this.
"Ah, I'm coming in," I uttered.
"Why did you come out here? You haven't finished eating your pizza." He lifted my chin slowly, so there was no reason for me to avoid his gaze.
I want to protest. What does he mean? Isn't the fact that I spoke to Dad enough of an explanation?
But my words were stuck to my throat, and I haven't had the power to explain myself right now.
His lips parted, and he slowly biting his piercing in a sexy way. Oh, fuck! I can't stand this anymore. I slightly bent down and blinked emphatically.
"Please, I want to go inside," I insisted.
I felt he move away and chose to just mumble in front of me. I saw 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 was as if I've fought with ten thousand soldiers because of my sweat.
"Hey, Cherry, are you alright?" Jeff approached me.
"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, his treatment of me changed. He was getting cold and civil. He will only call me when he needed me. He will talk when there was a question. We were also together almost every day because of the out-of-town mall shows of their band. I was still adjusting, but I was comfortable in my new job.
I won't have to worry about my Dad anymore because I talked to Aunt Melva to come here with us for a while. After all, Andrew would be studying here, and instead of renting a home, I offered them the opportunity to 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, but I still have work to do." I slightly lifted the few posters I was carrying. This was one of the things they will sign later when they finished their production number with the album.
I barely glanced at Rexon, who's not 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 which called me.
"Devon! How are you?" I smiled as he came closer to me. A few days ago, I just saw him from a distance just because of the hectic work. His job was not a joke. Because of the large number of fans that come to the band, he was usually constantly in the crowd.
"Here, the wrestling fans had kind of stopped so I was able to relax." He made me laugh a little.
"Aren't you used to it?" I said while my focus was on the posters that I was arranging.
"How about you? You look comfortable with them." He 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. "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.
"Did you have lunch? Eat with us!"
I glanced at Rexon's table for a moment. I found him looking at Devon and me. I saw him shrugged his shoulders before eating again.
"All right." I accepted Devon's offer. Maybe I'll continue arranging the posters later.
"Guys, this is Cherry Mae, Rexon's personal assistant," he introduced me to his fellow marshals. There was also some staff of events that I already knew in the face.
"Hi!" they greeted me almost simultaneously, 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 they are Zoila and Yvette." She introduced the two women who smiled at me.
Devon pulled a chair next to him for me to sit 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 lacked sleep for a few nights because of the early call time.
"Let it be. You still look fresh and beautiful," Zoila's cousin joined in the conversation.
"You know, the first time we saw you, we thought you were Rexon's girlfriend because you're not look like his P. A. You should work in the office, or maybe a model or a beauty queen, right?" He even asked for the consent of the marshals, who nodded.
My two cheeks immediately blushed at the compliments I received, especially when they said I looked like Rexon's 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.
I barely glanced at him as he shook his head in embarrassment.
I just smiled at them. Maybe I should have trained myself on their jokes.
"I'm sorry about them. They are just joking," Devon whispered to me.
"It's okay. I understand."
The conversation didn't last any longer because later on, they had their own topic while eating.
"Sir Rex, do you want to 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 made the world stopped around me, and I realized I have held my gaze too long.
"Cherry, he's asking you," Yvette elbowed me.
"H-ha?" I blinked my eyes and returned to reality.
I noticed my companions muttering because Rexon obviously 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 held my breath for a while and tried to compose myself.
"I need you in the dressing room now." His voice was low, but there's still a commanding tone.
I looked at my plate with almost no food left. It would be a pity if I didn't consume it.
"I'll be there," I replied.
"I said, now!" He glared at me as if I was doing something terrible.
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."