Please Break My Heart

Chapter 11

Staying away from Lake proved to be difficult.

He somehow found a way to keep in contact with Ayanna all throughout the week. He would send her to class. Sometimes, he would eat lunch with her. Other times, he would drive to her dormitory after his training just to give her something to eat or to drink. He was acting like a dreamy boyfriend that Ayanna wondered if she should be more invested in this short time relationship. But as quickly as she thought of it, she dismissed it. After all, she had no idea how invested she should be.

But overall, the rest of the week seemed quite uneventful for Ayanna. She was more focused on getting her homework and other academic requirements done.

It was a lazy Saturday evening—Ayanna did not have enough budget for another date and Lake was busy. Ayanna and Lilia were watching a Korean drama in Netflix, lazily sprawled on Ayanna’s bed. It was when Ayanna’s phone ring. She had to pause the drama and look at the caller’s ID.

“Is it Lake?” Lilia asked, taking a peek at Ayanna’s phone. “Answer it.”

Ayanna pursed her lips but did not argue. She casually answered her phone, “Hello?”

“Hello? Are you going to be busy tomorrow?” Lake asked from the other line.

“No, not really, why?” Ayanna furrowed her eyebrows even when she knew Lake was not going to see it.

“Do you like dogs?”

“You’re being weird but yes, I actually love dogs. Who does not like dogs?” Ayanna shrugged when Lilia gave her a questioning look.

“Great! So, can I pick you up tomorrow at around eight? Let’s volunteer for a dog shelter my uncle has started. That is, if it’s fine with you?”

Ayanna’s eyes widened in delight. “Of course that’s fine with me! I’ve always wanted to volunteer for a dog shelter, you know? Pick me up at eight, don’t be late.”

Lake chortled at that. “All right, I won’t. Go and sleep now, we have a long day ahead tomorrow. Good night, Ayanna.”

“Sleep now too. Good night, Lake.” Ayanna ignored Lilia’s teasing look.

Anyway, that was the reason why Ayanna and Lake were both standing in front of the shelter the next morning. Both of them were wearing the white shirt as uniform and a pair of jeans. In front of them was a middle aged muscular man.

“It feels good to finally meet this bastard’s girlfriend. I haven’t met any of his ex-girlfriends. His mom would surely envy me,” the old man said. “I’m Anthony by the way. I’m this jerk’s uncle.”

“Uncle, you should probably turn down the profanities. I don’t think my girlfriend appreciates it very much,” Lake told his uncle despite seeing Ayanna’s amused expression.

“Maybe it’s just me but she looks amused?” Anthony grinned teasingly, glancing at the bemused Ayanna.

Ayanna chuckled. “It’s funny seeing Lake being called in different profanities.”

Lake placed a hand on his chest dramatically. “You wound me.”

“Serves you right.” Ayanna stuck a tongue out at Lake before turning to Anthony. “So, what are we going to do now? Where do we start? It’s my first time being a volunteer,” she said, a bit too enthusiastic.

Anthony and Lake chuckled at her. “To start with, we need help in feeding the dogs then in giving them a shower. For the rest of the day, you’re just gonna play with them. Think you can do that?” the older man explained, offering Ayanna a kind grin.

“Of course! I love dogs so I don’t mind giving them a bath and playing with them,” Ayanna cheerfully said.

“That’s probably her most cheerful expression and tone I have seen from her,” Lake muttered his comment but it was loud enough for both Ayanna and Anthony to hear. This comment of the young man earned laughter from the other two.

*****

Laughter filled the air as Lake and Ayanna helped each other in bathing one of the dogs. They were chuckling and laughing and they were full of smiles. Anthony, seeing such a sight, could not help but to take a few pictures of the two.

“I think we’re done with bathing them. We’ll have to clean their crates afterwards,” Lake tiredly but gleefully mumbled to Ayanna as they both watched the dogs play with each other by the yard. He did not look too happy about the task but he did not look upset about it either.

“Yup, so what are we waiting for? We have to hurry up and clean,” Ayanna urged Lake. She was as excited as Lake was with the task but she wanted to just get it over with for the dogs.

“Kids!” Anthony called them all of a sudden when he was finally satisfied with the photos he took secretly. “Rest first. Both of you are wet. I prepared some extra clothes and some juice and bread as well.”

“No, it’s okay, Uncle,” Ayanna said. “We’ll clean up the crates first before we rest.”

“But he did say it’s okay to rest now,” Lake whined a little, jutting out his lower lip in an attempt to act cute and pitiful.

Ayanna laughed. “Don’t act cute with me, Lake Dylan. That won’t work on me.” She shook her head. “We have to finish what we’ve started. And it’s not good to rest in the middle of it either. That way, we’ll have less stuff to worry about later.”

“I didn’t know you’re that stern,” Lake sighed. “Maybe I should have though twice before bringing you here.”

“Are you regretting dragging me along with you?” Ayanna playfully narrowed her eyes at Lake. She meant it as a joke. She wanted to tease him. To her surprise, he replied sincerely.

“I won’t regret dragging you along with me. Ever. And you should know that.”

Ayanna did not have the time to react because Anthony was laughing out loud the next second. He was commenting something about “young love” and how he wished he were in love.

For some reason, Ayanna felt embarrassed that her face grew red.

*****

It was a day full of belly rubs and head massages. Ayanna wished it would never end. But of course, all good things must come to an end. She was sitting on the floor then while giving one dog its well-deserved belly rubs. Lake was beside her, also patting a dog. But then, that basketball player decided to break the good atmosphere.

“”It’s almost five pm, we’ve been here for hours. Don’t you think it’s time to go home soon? The dogs should rest as well,” he said.

What he said earned a frown from Ayanna. She was sad. She did not want to go home yet. She wanted to stay with the dogs because it was much more fun than staying at home. But deep inside, she was well aware that she could not stay any longer. That would be imposing so much on Lake’s uncle.

Sensing Ayanna’s sadness, Lake chuckled. “It’s okay, we’re going to come here next time again, okay?”

“You promise?”

Lake laughed. “I promise.” He stood up. “Let’s go, let’s say goodbye to my uncle.”

Ayanna nodded, standing up as well with a smile on her face. Maybe Lake was not as bad as she thought he was. After all, he loved dogs. And one could never go wrong with people who loved dogs.