Please Break My Heart

Chapter 10

Ayanna wished things would not end soon.

She already did all of her homework over the weekend and she studied then too. That was why she had nothing to do but to laze on her bed while Lilia slaved away on her desk—apparently her friend could not last a day without reviewing her readings. Ayanna loved lazy days like this one, it made her relax and drift away from the things that were happening around her—aka Lake and his fangirls and ex-girlfriends. She did not even tell anyone else about it especially not Lilia who would seriously worry about her.

So there she was, swallowing her tears and pretending she was just relaxing. Six days in a relationship and she had cried more than she cried for a year—and it was not even because she was broken hearted! That fact was the downside of being in this relationship. She got insulted and all but she was not broken hearted because she was not in love.

While she was dwelling on her thoughts, her phone rang. It startled both her and Lilia. She mouthed an apology to her friend before she stared at her screen. It was Lake who was calling.

“Hello?” she answered the phone, confused as to why Lake decided to call her. She had completely forgotten that he did say he would call her.

“Are you busy?” Lake asked from the other line.

“Actually, yes, I’m pretty busy.” Ayanna paused. “But I think I’ll make time for you. Do you need something?”

“I’m outside your dorm. I brought you something to drink,” the male said over the phone, chuckling a little.

Ayanna deadpanned at that. Who would come over someone’s dormitory at nine in the evening just to give drinks? Lake Dylan apparently. Dismissing his weirdness, the girl decided to agree. “Right. I’ll be there in five. That drink better be good,” she muttered the last sentence and it earned her a laughter from Lake.

Hanging up, Ayanna stood up from her bed and ran to the bathroom to fix her hair.

“Are you going out?” Lilia asked, peering curiously at Ayanna.

“Yup, Lake’s outside. He decided it’ll be nice to drink something at nine. I swear, that guy is a bit weird,” Ayanna said, tying her hair in a messy ponytail. “I’ll be back as soon as I get rid of him.”

“You know, at this rate, he might fall for you first,” Lilia commented, making Ayanna laugh out loud.

“What do you mean by that? That’s just weird. He has got plenty of pretty ex-girlfriends. Plus, he’s a player. There’s no way he’ll settle for me.” The latter pointed at her face, chuckling. “Before you let your imagination run wild, I have to go first. See you later!” she immediately bid when she saw that Lilia was about to open her mouth again. Ayanna just did not want to deal with that ridiculousness so she had to escape. There was no way that Lake would choose her.

Taking her time, she headed outside of the dorm building.

When she arrived, Lake walked out of his car. Two cups of blueberry cheesecake crème Frappuccino were in his hands. He handed one to Ayanna.

“Okay, I forgive you for ruining my relaxation time,” Ayana murmured as she grabbed one of the Frappuccino. She tasted it and her eyes widened along with her smile. “This is really good! Where did you buy this? I should buy one often.”

“At the coffee shop near the school. Ethan’s the barista today because his brother is busy,” Lake explained.

“Oh, his brother works there?”

“Actually, his brother owns that place.” Lake nodded his head once.

“Anyway, why are you here exactly?” Ayanna tried not to look too annoyed at Lake because he ruined her relaxation time.

“You did say you’re going to make me fall for you in three months, right?” Lake sounded like he was hesitating when he asked. As if he was unsure.

“In three months and three days, yes.” Ayanna nodded her head, wondering where the conversation would take them.

Lake smiled just a bit. “I thought it will be a great idea to get to know each other. So, let’s play a game.”

Ayanna deadpanned. “Really? Outside my dorm? At nine in the evening?” She gave him a look that said it was the most ridiculous thing she had ever heard.

“It’s just a simple game. And if you like, we can stay inside my car,” Lake insisted. “Plus, it’s going to be fun getting to know each other, right?”

“Fine,” Ayanna gave in. “Let’s stay inside your car. It seems more comfortable that way.”

Lake smiled then nodded his head. “Your wish is my command.” He unlocked his car and the two of them entered it. Lake was on the driver’s seat while Ayanna was on the shotgun seat beside him. The former started the car so that they could turn on the aircon.

“So, what are we playing?” Ayanna asked after taking a sip from her Frappuccino.

“Have you heard of 20 questions?”

“Oh, yeah, of course. I see, you do read a lot of clichés,” Ayanna could not stop herself from commenting.

Lake chuckled in embarrassment at that but decided not to rebut. Ayanna did have a point that it was too cliché. He took a sip from his own Frappuccino. “So, we should start. What is your favorite color?”

Ayanna cringed. “This is too cliché. But whatever. I like pink. You?”

Lake shrugged. “People say I look good in white.” He paused, chuckling at the fact that Ayanna just rolled her eyes at him. “What? I’m just echoing what they say.”

“Yeah, but it does not mean you have to make that your favorite color,” Ayanna said.

The boy simply let out a soft laugh. “How old are you? When is your birthday?”

“I don’t think the game works this way.” Ayanna chuckled just a little. “I’m 19, almost 20. Let’s say my birthday is exactly three months and three days since the day I asked you out.”

“And you want us to break up on your birthday? You’re weird.”

“So I’ve been told.” Ayanna shrugged. She was about to ask a random question when she remembered something she was curious about. “My turn! Why did you upload our picture together? Do you usually do that with all your girlfriends? Isn’t it too much of a hassle?”

“I thought you said this game does not work this way?” Lake mumbled. “Well, to answer your questions, no, I don’t upload my pictures with my ex-girlfriends. It’s the first time I did so it’s not much of a hassle. I uploaded our picture together because…” he trailed off, looking everywhere but at her. It was as if he was trying to hide something from her.

“Fine,” Ayanna huffed. “If you don’t want to tell me, then don’t. It’s not like I am desperate to know.” Oh, but she was. She was curious as to why Lake was reacting the way he did. She was curious as to why she, of all people, was the first one he posted. Was it because he thought she looked ugly and it would be too hilarious to post it? Maybe he wanted her to get in trouble with his fans and pretty ex-girlfriends?

“I will tell you,” Lake breathed after a few seconds of silence as if he mustered all his courage to say it. “I did come up with this game after all.” Then he turned to her, looking at her straight in the eyes. “I just think you looked very pretty smiling like that. It’s not something I want to deprive the world of.”

Ayanna felt a teeny tiny hammering of her heart. It was not enough to be called love but it was something. Dang it, Lake sure did know how to make a girl’s heart flatter.

Somehow, despite it being her goal, Ayanna felt herself being just a little scared. After all, Lake was only into superficial stuff like himself. Ayanna should stay away from him.