Chapter 21

GETTING INFATUATED

Diane’s P.O.V.

I woke up to the intensity of the sunlight hitting my face, making me rub my hazy eyes in the process. It was almost blinding me, but I had to open my eyes to see how it seeped into the room. The sun relentlessly poured through the balcony glass door. Another day had dawned, bringing new hopes and aspirations.

But wait, why do I seem to be somewhere else? I wondered before I scanned the whole place.

Only then, everything that happened last night sank into my brain—that I ended up with Liam while avoiding Leandro. Liam does not want me to commute on my way home, but his sports car runs out of gas in the middle of the road, so we had to check-in, then spend the rest of the night in this budget inn.

Left with no other choice, I agreed to share a room with him since there was only one room available. He was a gentleman enough to sleep on the couch, but I pitied his position. I suggested that he should sleep beside me with some pillows in between us.

Speaking of Liam?

He was still sleeping soundly. His mouth was slightly open, but he still looked so handsome—that I couldn’t get enough but stare at his gentle face. I somehow felt guilty because Liam must have slept late because of me. He might have fulfilled his promise not to leave me alone and just guarded me until dawn.

It was because until now, I still could not get rid of my severe phobia in the dark that I didn’t even know where it came from. As far as I could remember, I did not have it when I was young.

As thoughts began to occupy my mind, it was too late for me to realize our positions. The pillows between us that were supposed barriers last night were all gone and scattered into the floor.

We were now cuddling each other, and my left thigh was actually on top of his lower body. I was even more surprised when I noticed that his left arm served as the pillow where my head was freely lying.

As my eyes began to explore his face and upper body, I could tell that he still looked stunning even though he was only wearing a fitted white T-shirt. Now, his hard biceps were naturally showing, and I didn’t have to look at the back of his arms to see his triceps. I was already expecting that he had a muscular-body built, although it was not obvious from his tuxedo last night when we first met inside his car until we got here.

It was my first time to sleep with a man. But why does it feel okay with me as long as it would be Liam? I guessed he was right all along. I wouldn’t want to share a bed with anyone else aside from him. And with what he did—spending the night without doing anything aside from not leaving me, I trusted him already.

Argh! What’s with your thoughts, Diane? Are you alright? Will you please fix yourself? It was only last night that you met Liam, remember that! The little voice inside my head warily barked.

But how can I fix myself when I know I’m still thinking straight? That getting infatuated with him was just fine, and there was nothing wrong with it! My brain contended.

The truth could no longer be changed, and it was screaming that I only met Liam last night. But even though the fact was slapping me so hard, I must admit that I easily got comfortable with him. There was something in him that captured my heart. There was something in him that made me want to fall in love. He respected me so much, and that was the main reason why he fully got my trust.

Because of that, I looked at his face even more, but my eyes could not get enough no matter what. Time could run a little bit fast when you were enjoying every bit of it, and if we would spend one more night here, I could never get tired of just staring at his oozing sex appeal.

Something was drawing me near to him, most especially when I looked at his red and kissable lips. I didn’t want to deny and be confused with my thoughts and feelings. It was the first time I ever felt this kind of strange thing.

I like him.

Things went too fast that it rather scared me, but it would never change the fact that I liked him. Maybe it was true that when you liked a person, it doesn’t matter anymore how you met him or her.

But just like the pillows that seemed to be the boundaries between the two of us last night, there was also a boundary between us in real life. As far as I knew, I was a strong-willed person, but this was the first time I felt so insecure. Liam was born with a golden spoon in his mouth, and I was born poor.

He was a famous businessman, but I was only a club dancer. He would never be proud of me in front of other people. He might never want to introduce me to his business partners. The two worlds we used to live in were entirely different from each other, and those would never meet no matter what. It was like Liam was in heaven, and I was here on the ground.

I could never reach him.

Liam could only fit in with those rich and high-profile women, the same thing that I told Leandro before. He could date the highest-paid celebrities and unbeatable lawyers, but not just a club dancer. I didn’t expect to think like this, but I got suddenly dismayed by these thoughts. It made my breathing shallow. I felt a pang of pain in my chest because I could never change the truth.

Staying by his side for a few more minutes, and even though I wanted us to stay much longer in this kind of position, I had no other choice. I slowly removed his right arm away from my waist. It was as if letting him go too, although he didn’t become mine at all. It was a good thing that he didn’t wake up because he needed to sleep more.

Dragging myself from the bed, I looked at my wristwatch to know what time it was, and I found that it was already seven o’clock. I adjusted the comforter on top of Liam before I glanced at him again. I could hear his few snores out of his parted lips, but it only made me smile while staring at him. Those snorts were not even a turn-off. I just found myself being fascinated by him even more.

Browsing my cellular phone, I received a message that David was already in the training camp at about five o’clock and he would only stay there for three hours. I put the cell phone back inside my bag then I fixed myself. I put on my white blazer, wore my faded pants that hugged my curvy thighs and legs, brushed my teeth, and washed my face. I combed my wavy hair, and with my bare face that didn’t feel the touch of makeup today, I left the room.

It was a good thing that I saw Marky right away. Also, it felt great that the only room available last night that Liam and I occupied was only located on the second floor of the hotel. Because apart from the fear of the dark, I also had this fear of heights. However, unlike my severe fear of the dark, I was already afraid of heights ever since I was a child.

“Hi, ma’am. Good morning, what can I do for you?” he greeted me with a smile on his face.

“Hello, Marky! Hmm, I just want to ask about what happened last night? Oh, I guessed it’s already dawn. Particularly, around two in the morning?” I knitted my eyebrows.

“Right, are you referring to the brownout? I’m sorry for the inconvenience, ma’am. A power cable was accidentally cut off, but it was immediately repaired around four in the morning. The power was restored after that,” he replied.

Could that mean—Liam fell asleep past four o’clock?

“Oh, no worries! You don’t have to say sorry, Marky. I’m only interested to know, but I understand that incidents happen out of our control.” I waved my hands in front of him. “Thanks for the info. Anyway, can you join me at the restaurant of this hotel? Can we avail of any free breakfast?” I curiously asked him.

I didn’t know much about traveling since last night was only my first time to check-in at a hotel, but I guessed Liam and I deserved to avail of something here. Like strolling around and buying in the market, I always asked for a cheaper price of goods and commodities. As much as things would cost, people like me, who were so tight with budgeting, would prefer something free.

“Sure, ma’am… this way please,” he motioned me to come with him, and we went down the stairs. “Your husband paid too much last night. You can take whatever breakfast you would like,” he commented with joy while ushering me inside the restaurant located on the ground floor.

The restaurant was small, but I could tell that it was clean. Anyway, it was not about how small the place was. The most important thing was it had lots of delicious and mouth-watering foods that would make me want to go back.

Oh, but I did not have enough money to come back here, so I guessed I have to make the most of my time eating here.

“Ah, thanks for accompanying me… but he’s not my husband,” I meekly told him.