Chapter 10 - A Cold Night

It was already 10:00 in the evening. The Hot Spring House was quiet except for one room. This was which Claire and her co-workers were staying – staff room. The light was off but the girls were still awake, chattering quietly.

"Hey, girls!" called out someone. "What should I give my boyfriend this Christmas Eve?"

"The famous one is baking him a cake or cookies!" answered one.

"I've already thought about that but he doesn't like sweet foods."

"A t-shirt?" answered the same girl.

"I don't think he'll like it..."

"Hmm... Then give him a car, camera or brand new phone!" she answered, annoyed.

"But that's expensive!" she cried.

"I'm going to sleep already! Goodnight!" she growled.

"Huhuhu..." cried the girl who was asking.

Suddenly, a cell phone rang. It was Claire's. She took it.

"What about you, Claire?" the girl asked again. "What can you advice me?"

"Why not make a scarf?" Claire said. "A big one so both of you can wrap it around your necks while watching some movie or firework display on Christmas Day countdown."

The said seemed to like that idea. "Wow!" she said in excitement. "That's a very great idea! That will be very romantic. Thanks, Claire!"

"Welcome."

"I'll start doing it tomorrow!" she gleefully said. "Goodnight now!"

"Night."

Claire was still reading the text message she just received. "Thanks to this, I gave her an idea. I never imagine this could help. And this is kind of OA."

"A long time ago, there's a couple who waited for a wishing star to appear during Christmas Eve. It was believed that if two lover's wish upon the star when it came while wearing a scarf around their necks would make their relationship last through eternity :D " *grin*

Sender:

Lance

She also received another message from Clarence.

"Still awake? Hope you can come here to help decorate the Christmas tree. Goodnight, Claire. See you soon!"

>>>>>>>> <<<<<<<<

The next night, Claire went to the city. As she was walking, she noticed all the stores were open. All of them had Christmas decors outside and inside. Many people were buying in those stores.

"Christmas sure has been given time by all people..." she said.

She went inside a thread shop. She bought materials for crochet such as yarns and needle. After buying, she proceeded to go to Clarence's place, which was also the office of Argent Securities Agency.

She knocked on the door. It was Musica who opened it. "Oh," he said when he saw her. He smiled slightly. "Hi!"

"Good evening," she greeted back. "Is bro here?"

"Yeah," he nodded. "Come in."

Claire sat on the sofa while Musica proceeded to his bar (a counter over which liquor and food may be served). He poured wine into a goblet. He walked toward her place. "Want some?" he offered.

At the same time, Clarence came out from the kitchen. He was holding two glasses on both hands. "Hi, Claire!" he greeted, walking out. He gave a glass to her. "Here, for you."

She took it. "This?"

"MILK!"

"Milk? Sorry, but I don't drink milk."

He sat down. "You must! It will make your bones stronger!"

"But..."

"Come on! Taste it, it's delicious," he insisted, still smiling.

"Ok, then," she said. She then looked at Musica. "I'll be taking this instead of wine."

Musica nodded. "Sure."

>>>>>>> <<<<<<<<

It was Sunday so Claire just stayed in her house. She was crocheting all day long. It was a sky blue and green scarf. But she stopped when there weren't any yarns left.

She went back to the city to buy more yarns. She bought the same colors. She also added black, white and brown. She glanced at her watch as she left the store. It was 4:10 already.

As always, she took the FountainPark as shortcut. She happened to pass by the skating spot and coincidently saw a little girl slid down, facing in front. She cried. But there was a guy who helped her stood up. This guy was Lance.

Claire saw him. She said, "He sure likes helping children." She then resumed from walking. She went to a noodle stall.

"Ni hao ma!" greeted the Chinese vendor.

She nodded then sat down. "A bowl of chicken noodle soup with wonton and shu mai," she told him.

"Got it. Please wait for 5 to 10 minutes," he said.

She just nodded.

>>>>>>> <<<<<<<

"I'm hungry," Lance said as he fixed his things. "I want something hot."

"What should I eat?" he asked himself, looking around. He then saw a stall named Ding Chow. "There!"

"Here's your bowl of hot chicken noodle soup with wonton and shu mai, Miss!" the vendor said, serving Claire's order.

She took chopsticks from its container then started to eat.

"Oh! Ni hao, young man!" greeted the vendor as a new costumer sat down.

"Ni hao, Mister!" Lance greeted back, sitting down. "A bowl of seafood noodle please!"

"Got it. Please wait for 5 to 10 minutes."

Lance and Claire didn't notice the presence of each other. She's busy eating while he's watching the vendor cooked.

"Mister!" Claire called. "A glass of iced tea, please."

This time, Lance subconsciously looked at the girl beside him. "Claire?"

She looked at the guy on her right. He smiled at her. "Hi!"

She smiled a little. "Hello."

"Long time no see," he said. "It's been three weeks since we last saw each other."

"Oh, is that right?" she said, putting a straw in her glass of iced tea.

"Are you getting my messages?"

"Yes?"

"But I haven't received any reply," he just thought but decided not to say it.

"Here's your order, young man!" said the vendor.

"Xie xie!" he gleefully replied.

While eating, Lance noticed her eco bag of yarns. "Is that for crochet?" he asked all of a sudden.

"Yes."

"For whom?"

"Hmmm."

"Someone special?"

"Yes."

He looked hesitant to ask, but he still continued, "For your, uhm, boyfriend?"

She sipped some juice. "Nope. I don't a boyfriend."

His eyes sparkled and he smiled big. "Really?" he asked excitedly.

"Don't have," she said, concentrating on drinking. "So that's why I dated you."

"Then," he said, grinning. "Can I be you boyfriend?"

She coughed upon hearing what he said.

"Are you okay?" Lance asked worriedly.

"Mister!" she called out. "Another glass please, quick!"

The vendor gave it to her and she drank it as fast as she could. She tapped her chest. She looked at Lance angrily, her brows curved up. "What is that?"

"Hey, hey, calm down," he said, with two hand gestures.

She snobbishly looked away.

"I said, can I be your boyfriend?" he said confidently with a big grin.

She narrowed her eyes on him. "Don't joke around."

"I'm not joking," he said. "I'm serious."

She finished the remaining juice. "No way," she said.

"But I thought we're already getting close since our first date."

As he said that in a confident tone, she felt the blood on head starting to boil but she suppressed it. "I'm surprised you can say that with brimming confidence."

"But, I really thought that's the start of our friendship."

"Listen," she calmly said, looking straight at him. "I kept my word, that's why I agreed and still went. Like I said, I did enjoyed that day, but that's just one day. Like they say, a one-night stand. You forget everything the next day."

When she said that, Lance looked shocked in disbelief and lowered his voice so the vendor will not hear them. "What!? That's so vulgar!"

She put her backpack on her lap that covered up to her chest as a defense and frowned, "Tell me, is that what you want with me?"

He shook his head as a protest. "No, I never about thought about that!"

"I don't believe you. Almost all guys think that."

"Not all!" he said with conviction.

"Yes."

"No. Not all!"

"Were you raised in the 16th century?"

"Of course not! That would make me hundreds of year already."

She removed the frown in her face and thought, "Come to think it, when we were together that day, he never touched me though he had a lot of opportunities."

Claire wanted to stop their argument already, so she said once more, "Alright, I believe you."

He smiled in relief. "So? Is it ok? If I become your - "

"No!" she immediately answered.

"Really, no. Give it up."

"I really know that's gonna be your answer," he said.

"If you knew, you should have not asked."

He turned to chibi. "I'm ready to do anything! We can compete again, like that cooking! Anything is fine with me!"

"This is my payment, Mister," Claire said, giving it to the vendor. She then stood up and started to walk normally.

Lance quickly followed her. He placed his payment on the table. "Keep the change!" he said, running.

"Thanks, young man!" replied the vendor.

He finally kept up with her. "Hey, Claire! What can you say about my proposal?"

"No way," she said straightly. "I don't need a boyfriend."

He stopped walking but she didn't. "Ok, then," he said in a very low tone.

She waved her left hand. "Bye-bye!" she said without even facing back.

>>>>>>> <<<<<<<

Claire was at the bus stop. She was waiting for almost five minutes.

"Hi!" a familiar voice called.

She heard it. She looked at where it came. She crossed her arms when she saw that person. "It's you again," she said flatly. "Lance."

He smiled. "I have something to tell," he said.

She put her palms on both ears. "I'm not listening."

"Sorry..." he said sincerely, looking down. She slowly put down her hands.

He continued. "You must be hating me right now because I always cause you trouble, and pushing myself to you. I'm always so straightforward and selfish."

The bus finally came. She didn't say a word. Before stepping in, she stopped. "I don't hate you," she said with her back turned against him. He looked up when he heard those words.

She turned to face him. "You sure are straightforward and selfish. But that's ok. That's your personality, after all. About what you said back there... I'm sorry. I can't accept it. I'm just not interested in such things." She then gave him a weak smile. "Thanks for the proposal, anyway. Though I will forget it."

She finally went inside. "Good night," she added. Then the bus finally went off.

Claire suddenly remembered something. She looked at her hands. "I forgot the yarns!" she said to herself. She looked outside. "Oh, no. Guess I'll just wait for the next stop."

>>>>>>> <<<<<<<

She walked back at the FountainPark where the noodle stall was located. Luckily, it was still open so it just took her a minute.

While walking, her phone rang. "Hello?"

"Hi Claire. Are you in the city now?" the caller asked.

"Yes, Anne," she answered. It was Annie Madrigal.

"Could you do me a favor, please?"

"What is it?"

"Can you please get the watch I asked to repair from Mr. André."

It took her few seconds to answer. "Sure. But I don't have your receipt."

"Don't worry. I called him already that it's you who would be getting it instead of me. Please, Claire."

"Uhm... Ok."

"Thanks a lot. Anyway, you know where it is, right?"

"Yeah. On the Fifth Street."

"Thanks again! See you tomorrow. Good night."

"Yes. Good night."

Claire proceeded to the said place. "I have never thought this could really happen," she said to herself.

She glanced through the glass door. No one was in the receiving table or at the whole place. But still, she came in. "Good evening," she said. "Mr. André? Is anyone here?"

Suddenly, footsteps were heard. It came from the ladder. It was Lance who went down.

"Sorry for waiting," he said. He smiled naturally, like he always does. He just acted like himself, as if nothing had happened earlier. She acted naturally, too, as what she was known to.

"I came to get the watch of Annie Madrigal. She said she had already told your father about me getting it."

He proceeded to the receiving table and searched the watch in the glass cabinet. "Please wait," he said, searching. "I can't find her name here..." he said. He also searched the other cabinets but he couldn't find it. He looked at her. "Dad must have put it somewhere else. He didn't tell me about it."

"Where's you dad?" she asked.

"He went to a friend's house." He then gave him a reassuring smile. "He'll be back soon. Just wait for a while. Please sit down."

She nodded and sat on the sofa.

"Do you want something to drink? I'll prepare you a juice."

She shook her head. "No. No, thanks. I'm fine."

"Okay..."

After few minutes, a costumer came in.

"Good evening, sir!" Lance greeted.

"Good evening!" the man greeted back. "Can I see your new watches?"

"Of course, Mr. Josh!"

After looking carefully, he finally chose one. "I'll take this," Josh said, paying.

"Ok! Thank you! Come back again!" he said to the leaving costumer. "Good night!"

>>>>>>> <<<<<<<

"Hi, Dad!" Lance greeted his father who had just come in. "Good you finally came."

Mr. Willard noticed Claire. He smiled at her. "It's been a while."

She smiled a little and nodded.

"I'll get the watch now. Please wait," he said, going upstairs.

"Here," he said, giving it to her.

"Thanks," she said while taking it. "Bye." She bade goodbye to them as she left the store.

"Take care!" they both said.

After she left and nobody else came in, Lance heavily threw himself down on the sofa. He let out a very deep sigh.

"What's the matter, son?"

"I was... I was rejected by a girl..." he said sadly.

"What? You're so famous with girls and now you're rejected?" he teased his son to cheer him up.

"She looks like the type of woman who's not interested in men..." he said, staring on the ceiling.

"Don't give up. If you really like her, then do anything to make her like you as well."

He shook his head. "I don't want her to hate me because of my annoying persistence."

"Won't you hate yourself more if you wouldn't even try?" He then smiled at his son. "But don't force her."

"Well, she already said no. So, no."

"No in what?"

"I asked her if I can be her boyfriend."

His father laughed a little. "That's too fast of you, son."

Lance pouted because he realized he really did it wrong.

"She might not like you now, she doesn't hate you either, right?"

Lance's mind seemed cleared about what his dad had just said. He remembered Claire's last words by the bus stop: "I don't hate you." "She said she doesn't hate me."

"Start with being friends," his Dad said.

Lance looked at him now with a determined face. "Is it okay I go out and chase her now?"

"Chase her now?" his dad asked.

Lance just nodded then hurriedly ran out.

And out there was he looking for her. But he couldn't find her. He took out his cell phone and called her. Luckily, she answered it.

"Can I meet you now, even for just a minute?" he straightly asked. His voice was a bit serious.

"You should know my answer."

"Then, can we be just friends now? With the intention of getting together someday?"

"That's just the same!" Claire blurted out on the line.

"But at least I'm not rushing now."

"Why won't you give up on me? Find another girl instead of me."

"Well... I don't think that's gonna be easy," he said in a lowered voice.

There was a long silence. On the phone, he heard her sighed.

"I give up with your persistence!" she said, annoyed. "Let's meet at the Bus Stop. I'll wait for you."

He heard her clear. He finally smiled. "OK!"

>>>>>> <<<<<<<

"I'm finally here!" Lance said catching his breath.

She looked at him in the eyes. "You don't know me yet," she said in an unusual friendly tone.

"I know that but we can know each other more as time goes by."

"What if... I tell you... I'm a killer, a murderer... Would you believe that?"

He shook his heard. "No. There's no proof," he laughed.

"Come with me," she said.

"Eh?"

The bus came and she went inside but Lance remained in his place. "Are you coming or not?" she asked.

He still didn't know what she meant but he just followed. "Yeah..." was all he could say.

Claire took her seat near the window sill while he sat beside her. He was hesitant first to say anything. "Where are we going?" he slowly asked.

She didn't look at him. "At my place."

"Huh?" He was confused. "At your place...? Why?"

"You'll know later."

Over 30 minutes of riding, they finally went off and saw another town. There were many people buying in the market and other stuffs. Both proceeded to walk. She was walking ahead of him. His face was unprintable. He was really wondering what she's thinking.

"Uhm..." he called. "Is your place here?"

"Nope," she replied. "We'll reach my place within an hour."

"Wow. It's so distant. How many buses to take?"

"None. We'll walk."

"Wha... What?! You mean, just walk for an hour?!"

"Yes."

"What are we going to do there, anyway?"

"Nothing really."

"Then... why?"

She stopped turned to him. "This is what I mean for killer," she said in her unusual friendly tone. "You'll have your death march starting here up to my place."

"What? Are you serious?"

She laughed devilishly. "Hahaha! But you can go home now if you don't want to."

He didn't recognize her funny attitude. "Hmm... I've started already. I'll continue it. But, don't leave me. You're my guide there, right?"

"Yeah, I know that. Ok, let's resume," she said, turning her back against him. Her face turned serious. "I'll really kill you once we arrive there," she said under her breath.

It's been an hour since then.

"Are we there yet?" he asked exhaustedly.

"Almost there."

"Don't you get tired?" he asked with awe.

"We're finally here."

They arrived on a woods but the path was very dark.

"I can't see a house there," he commented, looking eagerly in the dark path.

Claire pointed a finger at the top of the mountain. "There."

He looked up at it. "You stay there?"

"Yup. And that's my mansion. You'll be first one to see it."

>>>>>>>> <<<<<<<<

Lance, with his hands on thighs, was catching his breath. Claire opened the door. "Just stay there," she told him.

Her so-called mansion was a small yet big enough house for her, since she's the only one who stays here. Inside, there weren't many things. All she has were TV and a set of books arranged according on shelves. She has her bedroom, bathroom, living room and kitchen, which were very clean. Her house was very simple that shows her simplicity in life.

Claire went out, bringing him a glass of water to drink. After that, she brought out a chair. She placed it under the tree. "You stay here for 10 hours. From now, 8:00 PM until 6:00 AM. You can leave now but you know what that means."

"I understand," he eagerly replied.

"Don't blame me if you catch a cold," she said, getting the empty glass from him.

The snow finally poured down. Good thing he always had his jacket.

>>>>>> <<<<<<

She ate, bathed, watched TV programs and crochet. She looked on the clock, 9:00. She glanced outside through the window. She didn't saw Lance. No one was sitting on the chair anymore. She didn't care to move or go out. She just continued crocheting. "I guess he finally went home. Good."

10:00. She glanced again outside. Snow's still pouring down and there's no sign of him at all. After 30 minutes, 10:30, she did the same thing and still, no sign of him. She finally kept the materials, locked the door, turned off the light and went inside her bedroom. Right after she lounged on her bed, she heard many knocks coming from outside her house. She went out her room and opened the front door.

"Lance?!" She was surprised to see him. She really thought he's not there anymore. "Why are you still here?" she asked worriedly. "I thought you went home already."

He smiled yet his brows were curved down. "Can I use your bathroom?" he asked.

"Huh?" She agaped first. She then nodded. "Ok, come in."

>>>>>>> <<<<<<<

He was sneezing continuously when he went out of the toilet room.

"Are you ok?" she asked. Her eyes were full of concern. She was sitting on the sofa.

"Not rea-lly, a-a-chuu!" He hurriedly put back his handkerchief to cover his mouth and turned his back.

"I thought you already left," she said softly. "It's freezing out there."

He just shook his head. She stood up. "Come," she said. "I'll give you something to eat."

He was very hungry so he ate one after another. Claire sat opposite him. "Where were you out there?" she asked. "I didn't see you sitting on the chair."

"I was sitting on the doorstep."

She imagined him there. She didn't say anything anymore. She stood up and prepared him a warm drink. "It's milk chocolate drink," she said, placing the glass on the table.

He smiled at her. "Thanks."

>>>>>> <<<<<<

"Thanks for the food," he told her, holding the doorknob.

"Don't go out anymore," she said.

"Eh? But..."

"You have a fever, right?"

"Huh?" He then laughed. "I don't have! I'm fine!"

She then placed her palm on his forehead. "You have. Your temperature is hotter than mine," she said, putting her hand down. "Take a rest now. Is it ok if you sleep on the sofa?"

He blinked his eyes in awe. "OK..." he replied.

She gave him a thick blanket. "Rest well."

"You too," he smiled. "Thanks a lot and sorry for the trouble."

She suddenly said out of the blue. "You're just an ordinary human being..."

"Eh? What?"

She shook her head. "Oh, nothing. Good night."

He just nodded. "Ok... Good night."

She closed the door of her room and locked it. She sat down on her bed but looked again at the door. She walked toward it and unlocked the doorknob. Her eyes looked fierce and scary. She went to her bed and dozed off.

Inside her room, just a feet away from the floor is a thin yet strong string, like a fishing line that connects to an arrow on the left side. It seemed like if you opened the door which is going inside, the fishing line will move, the arrow will be released and will shoot directly at a head level to whoever opens it.

>>>>>> <<<<<<

In the middle of that cold night, Lance who was sleeping soundly on the sofa was startled when felt a wind passed by above his ear. He just put a pillow over his face covering the exposed ear.

"Hey, you," Were the words he heard. He removed the pillow that was on his face. He slowly opened his eyes until it adjusted in the dark. He saw a dark figure shadowing over him. When his sight was fully adjusted, he saw Claire's face close to him. He felt his heart jumped in surprise but he didn't move.

"Do you want to sleep with me?" Her blue eyes were like glowing under that dark place. She looked longingly at his eyes and her voice was cold that seemed to make him froze.

He was not able to let out a single word but his heart was beating faster.

"That's why you came here, right?" Her voice, her eyes and her lips continued to tempt him with words.

He finally managed to speak, "No!" He believed he was saying it out loud but in reality it cracked. He then felt something cold touched his chest. It was her hand.

"You don't need to hold back."

Lance mustered all his strength to take control of his body. He immediately sat up, pushed the blanket covering him away which made her hand shoved away as well. "I'm not doing it unless in marriage!" he said out loud, not cracking his voice anymore. "I'm leaving." He pressed his feet against the floor, stood up and took a step, but he didn't realized he also stepped on the blanket that made tripped on it and fell face down the floor.

"Ouch..." he said as he opened his eyes. It was already morning. He found himself on the floor. He immediately sat up. "What? A dream?!" Then he covered his face with this palms and shook his head. He turned a little red. "Am I that obsessed with her that I got that kind of dream. No!" He then started to mumble to himself and turned chibi. "But even if I had that dream, I didn't give in. Right, Lord? I'm so glad I passed the temptation test! If ever this is a test. Hahaha!"

"Why are you laughing in that creepy tone early in the morning?" It was Claire from the kitchen. She looked coldly at him from that distance and from above, since Lance was still on the carpeted floor.

He turned to her, "Oh, nothing! Good morning!"

She turned her back against him and continued frying.

He let out a sigh. "There's no way that was Claire!" He thought. The "that" he was referring to was the version of unreal, unbelievable seductive Claire in his dream.

>>>>>>> <<<<<<

After eating together, they both left. She's going to Hot Spring House while he's going back to the city. While walking down the mountain, Lance looked at Claire's back since she was walking ahead of him. He stopped and called, "Claire, wait."

She stopped and turned her head sideward, not full facing him.

"Well, uhm..." he said but he couldn't look straightly at her in the eyes. Before saying another word, he took a deep breath and finally looked her in the eyes. "What's your answer?"

She turned around to also look at him in that distance. To his amazement, she didn't look coldly at him anymore.

He waited for her to answer but felt like it won't happen so broke the awkwardness between that moment. "Well?" he tried to smile.

"Just forget about me, okay?" she said in a concerned tone.

"Eh, but why?"

She gave him a darting and piercing look. "It's for your own good."

Lance felt like something struck his heart. He almost took a minute to recover and absorb what she said. It sounded to him the she meant a heavier "no", "back off", "enough".

She saw that slight pained expression of him and looked away as she held the two straps of her backpack in front of her." She shook her head and looked again at him. This time, she showed him a normal, warm look. She put down her hands, clasped it together and bowed. "But, thank you," she said. "Take care going home." For the last time, she smiled at him. Then she turned her back and started walking.

Lance was left standing in that place as he saw her moving farther and farther. He bit his lower lip and looked up at the bright sky and felt the chilly wind. He forced a smile though his heart was still heavy. "Well, if that's her answer, then I will be man to accept it. I guess I shouldn't bother her anymore."