EXACTLY at the time, Erik said when he came to pick her up. Ignoring her neighbors who were watching her, Mia got into the young man's car.
"So, I put my faith in you, okay?" Erik said as she fastened her seatbelt.
Mia's eyebrows met at Erik's words because of surprise. "W-What?" she asked confused.
Erik laughed softly. "You're the girl, so you know more than me about fixing and decorating a house. So please take care of everything when we get to the mall," he said and started the car engine afterward.
Mia couldn't understand what kind of emotion like a bird's wing caressed her heart because of Erik's words. But in spite of that, she couldn't stop smiling sweetly as well.
"Okay, if that's what you want," was all she replied.
"Maybe it's better if we eat first before we start shopping. What do you think?" it was Erik when they were in the parking lot of the mall.
Mia saw the young man glance at the watch he was wearing and then turned to her. "Where do you want to eat?" he asked her again.
Mia couldn't stop smiling for the second time because of that young man's question. "You decide. I'm fine," she answered.
When she said that, she saw that the young man sighed with amusement. Then he opened his mouth and spoke.
"Are you always like that? You don't make decisions for yourself?" the young man kindly asked her.
Surprised by Erik's question, Mia still managed to regain her composure. "Because I'm used to it," that's the truth so that's what came out of her mouth that she didn't regret.
Erik stared at her for a long time. After that, she saw his lips twitch to speak. But when he probably changed his mind, he didn't continue what he wanted to say and instead just nodded and smiled.
Mia thoroughly enjoyed her shopping with the young man. And just like he said before they even reached the mall. He let her decide everything. That was exactly what she did.
From the color of the curtains to the smallest details such as the bed coverings and cover for the center table, Erik made her decide.
Even if she didn't admit it, she knew that everything the young man did make her happy. Because she was with him.
Maybe for her, everything about her and Bernie is over. But that was just recently, less than a month ago. So she doesn't think it's right for her to make Erik a rebound.
That's true.
She admitted that over the years her secret love for Erik remained in her heart. And that's one of the reasons why she stuck with Bernie.
Because she thinks that she might deserve all the bad things that her former partner is doing to her because she was not loving him fully.
That's when Mia sighed. Then she faced the sales clerk with a smile who handed her the items that Erik had bought for her crocheting.
"Thank you for this," she said, referring to the paper bag she is now holding.
Erik nodded with a smile. "Isn't that your passion? Also, cross stitching?" he asked as they walked towards the parking lot.
"Yes, but I already stopped a long time ago. Bernie doesn’t like it," Mia couldn't stop her tone from being mixed with sadness.
The young man didn't say anything when she said that. Even though she really felt that he wanted to ask. Too shy to ask so he keeps quiet when she mentions personal things about herself.
"You're going to have dinner here, okay? I'll cook," said the young man when they finished cleaning his house after five in the afternoon.
Mia shrugged her shoulders and spoke. "Okay, if that’s what you want," she replied then continued arranging the artificial flowers in the vase that was among the ones they bought earlier at the mall.
"All right, just a moment," the young man headed to the kitchen to cook.
It was quarter to six when they finished dinner. She was very satisfied with Erik's Sinigang na Bangus. Add to that the fact that she was really hungry.
Mia presented herself to do the dishes, but Erik wouldn't let her. He sent her to the living room while he clean up the kitchen.
While sitting there, Mia glanced at the young man from time to time. She had the courage to do that because Erik do not know and can’t see her.
The TV was on but she couldn't understand the show because she had an old photo album in her lap where old pictures of Erik and his parents were placed. She was in that condition when the young man entered the living room.
"Ah, wait a minute," it was Erik whom Mia didn't realize approaching her.
"I'm sorry, I hope it’s okay," she said with a soft laugh.
Erik shook his head one after the other. "It's okay, I'll just show you something," he said, taking a blue photo album from among the many albums. "Look at this, you'll enjoy it more," the young man who sat next to her.
Mia quickly felt a strange flow of electricity due to the simple touching of her and Erik's hand.
She couldn't understand, since earlier her feelings seem to be gradually changing and she doesn't know why. Or maybe she knows but she just doesn't want to admit it to herself.
She started to open the album only to smile when on the first page she saw their class picture in grade one where she was sitting next to their adviser while Erik was standing in the middle and top of the row of boys.
"Because you're the tallest among the boys, it’s the same place that always occupied in all our class pictures," Mia said truthfully, then softly chuckles.
Erik's warm breath hit her cheek as he also laughed softly. And that was the reason why Mia turned to him. Only then did she notice that the young man's face was only a few inches away from her.
And because she looked at him. She noticed his lips are now only a few inches from hers.
Mia’s chest quickly felt sudden nervousness and she seemed to be out of her mind to swallow when she saw that Erik's gaze continued to rub her face down to her lips and they stayed there for a long time.
"And you're the most beautiful and smartest of all the girls, that's why our advisers always want you by their side," he said in an almost whispering voice that sent a strange but delicious shiver through her.
It was only a few moments and the young lady decided to look back. She expected Erik to turn his face away from her but that didn't happen. While on the other hand, she wonders why she doesn't have the courage to walk away from the young man even though her chest feels like she's getting hammered from the extreme nervousness she feels.