Chapter 36

DREAM CATCHER

Diane’s P.O.V.

That made me blush and choke my food. Liam was respondent enough to give me some water before standing and approaching me. He then gently rubbed his palm on my back to stop me from coughing. It took me a while before I cleared my throat. It was my last spoon of blueberry cheesecake, and it was a good thing that I didn’t barf my food.

“Are you alright now?” he worriedly asked me.

I just nodded before my eyes gazed at him intently, almost raking his whole body.

Why would he tell me such a thing? My heart was beating so fast again.

“I’m sorry if I made you feel uneasy, Diane. I might have expressed my feelings over a pick-up line, but I just want you to know that I wasn’t kidding. I like you, and that’s the truth,” Liam said casually.

“Hmm, o-kay. I—I’m flattered?” I stuttered and questioned my remarks because the atmosphere suddenly got too awkward between us that I didn’t know how to react.

My throat suddenly went dry, so I had to sip on my mango juice. Too many sweets for tonight would drown me, including Liam’s sweetness that sank through my whole system. My eyes were blinking as those couldn’t stay still. But above all, my heart was hammering with glee, and out-of-control ecstasy was flickering within me.

“Don’t act so cute.” Liam smiled as he stroked my hair with his fingers before taking his seat again.

Even though I was with him, I couldn’t help but eat a lot. I guessed this was the first time my stomach swelled up a little with what I ate. Getting full to the brim, I was afraid I could no longer stand from my seat. Even if I would not eat tomorrow, I would probably still full, and it was all Liam’s doing.

Liam ordered more types of food for me to take home. I couldn’t help but feel amazed because what he gave me were all freshly cooked. Mom would be very happy because we had lots of food for tomorrow, so she could sleep more and just go for a check-up without cooking in the morning. Ever since the death of Dad, we had never experienced eating in such expensive restaurants.

By part-time working in the club, I could only earn enough for all of us. I needed to have a tight budget for a living. Sometimes, money was quick to be spent getting it to be too deficient.

Aside from being a night club dancer, I used to sideline too by doing not only my schoolmate’s assignments but those from students who were studying at the prestigious university in front of us. They were all capable in life, and their stars were destined to be born with a silver spoon. I must admit that they were quite good payers too, but damn lazy and non-assiduous.

I did not bring home some buttered shrimps because Denise had an allergy there. She would immediately have skin rashes by only smelling them, so Liam told me that he would take those home instead.

It was quite funny because Liam remembered how my baby sister loved potatoes. As such, he instructed the chef itself to add lots of potatoes to the caldereta that I would take home. He even ordered a family-sized bowl of potato mojos.

We were able to get to our subdivision safely. Fortunately, Liam’s car does not run out of gas anymore. It looked like after what happened last night, he was more than ready. I guessed that everything for our tonight’s date had been immensely prepared. But just in case the bad luck happens again, I would be willing to get stranded with him anywhere.

The guard-on-duty was not Uncle Greco because he was working on day shift, so I got surprised because he just allowed us to enter the gate without further inspection. Liam’s car already had a subdivision sticker that I wasn’t able to notice earlier before we went out for dinner.

I didn’t know how it happened, but I couldn’t help but smile because he was engrossed in making ways. How about completely making his way to my heart?

The thought made my full lips to smile even further. When the engine of his car stopped, there was a moment of silence between the two of us. I was currently removing my seatbelt when he finally spoke.

“By the way, I have something for you aside from the bouquet… wait!” He turned his head and took a paper bag from the backseat. He handed it to me and said, “Open it.”

“Huh? What is this?” I eagerly opened the paper bag and was flabbergasted to see a red circular framed net with a hole in the center. It had three dangles made up of colorful beads and feathers. I couldn’t see my own eyes, but I was sure that it was glistening with pleasure.

Wow, a dream catcher!

Stunned, I didn’t know what to say. Its full length was half of my height, and my lips even parted while still looking at it. I had been wanting to have a dream catcher all my life, but I couldn’t have the opportunity to buy one because I preferred Mom’s maintenance drugs and our tuition fees first as my priorities. I almost cried while holding it.

“I-Is this really for me?” Unblinking, I still couldn’t believe it when I asked him. While looking at his present for me, I couldn’t contain the delight and it was all melting me.

“Of course, it’s all yours. It will surely help block your bad dreams and catch the good ones. I hope you like it, Diane.” Liam used his forefinger under my chin to look at him straight in the eyes.

“I so much love it, thank you!” I exclaimed with all my heart out. I suddenly crossed the distance between the two of us and wrapped my arms around his neck because of the adrenaline rush. Then, I felt that his broad shoulders somewhat stiffened with what I did. “Oops… sorry, Liam! I could get so happy over little things,” I said as I faced him, with my arms still on his neck.

Quite astonished with what I impulsively did to him, Liam just stared at me… until his eyes got stuck on my lips. A deafening silence soon came after. I sat properly on the passenger seat and found that the whole situation was much more uneasy, compared to earlier in the restaurant where he referred to me as his next girlfriend.

Swallowing several times, I couldn’t distinguish what to do next. Thinking about whether to get out of the car or not, I decided to stay beside him. It felt like I spoiled myself enough because I was already used to Liam’s gesture of always opening the door for me. An ear-splitting silence was reigning here, but my heart was pounding so loud it was driving me crazy.

Not letting myself to be completely drawn to this strange feeling, I had decided to break the silence that seemed to be prevailing between the two of us. “Thank you for making this day special, huh? You didn’t know how much you’ve made me happy, Liam.” That was all I could say while scrunching my fingernails on the ripped jeans covering my lap.

But Liam remained silent. I looked at him, and only then I realized that he was also looking at me. His eyes were expressing something, even though his lips were not telling me anything.

Oops, awkward!

Every time he stared at me like that, I just couldn’t take my eyes off him. It was as if he was looking through my soul and interpreting what was on my mind. Liam slowly approached me and removed some hair strands on my face. He ran his right fingers through my left cheek, making me close my eyes for a while. It tingled me more than I could bear as shivers immediately streamed down my spine.

“Diane,” Liam hoarsely muttered, making me forget about the rest of the world and just focused on us.

He continued to lean closer until he finally cupped my jaws and crossed the remaining distance in between our faces. The moment his slightly quivering yet warm lips pressed into mine, I already lost my mind.