chapter 6

 I heard the front doorbell ringing. It was only six am in the morning. I just finished putting my makeup on. My stuff was already set, and Josh was already downstairs preparing breakfast.

        “Josh!” I shouted, “Could you please open the door and let the driver in!” I asked him. The driver seemed early today, but I didn’t mind, it might take us about an hour or two to the airport. I haven’t checked my phone to see my plane ticket. Miles must have a copy.

        New York to California would take about five long hours of flight. Checking myself in the mirror for one last time. I glanced at how I perfectly matched the light blue sleeveless top and faded black jeans. Partnered with flat black shoes.

        I took my luggage bag and my personal suitcase from the bed. I went ahead downstairs and found Josh in the kitchen wearing nothing but his boxers while washing the dishes he used for making breakfast. He turned around, and I gulped.

         “Wow, Josh, you do not lack in that department” I pointed to his flat stomach with six-pack abs. Even for a gay man like him, aside from being handsome, he doesn’t look skinny or bulky. His figure was just fine, muscular, but just okay.

        “Like what you’re seeing?” he joked

        “Uhm..” I shook my head sideways “I love it” as I winked then laughed.

        “Bitch.” he walked towards me and shook the water from his hand to my face.

        “Joshua!” I screamed. Wiping off the droplets of water from my face.

        “Your Driver is waiting for you in the living room. He’s hot just so you know,” Josh whispered.

        I rolled my eyes at him and lifted my bags as I went ahead to the living room. It must be Julius, I agreed he was    handsome, and I don’t blame Josh for saying that.

        I gasped when I saw the man who was going to be my driver, it wasn’t Julius.

        What the hell was he doing here? He called me last night to tell the driver was going to pick me up to send me to the airport, but why his gorgeous face was here?

        “Hi!” Miles greeted as he stood up.  I was speechless. ‘Speak, Kathy!’ My mind said

        “Oh, Hey!” I smiled, I can feel my self-blushing and drooling.

         “Good morning, I didn’t expect  to see you here, I mean I was expecting the driver, not you,” I said

        “Well, just to let you know, I’m the driver,” Miles said, smirking. His dimples were showing. I rolled my eyes at him

        “Well, then let us go ahead. Mr. Driver” I sniggered

        He smiled, “Yes, ma'am,” walking closer to me to get my stuff.

        “Let me help you,” he said and grabbed the handle of my traveling bag that I was still holding. I jolted as he accidentally touched my skin. I swore to the heavens and earth, I felt intensifying electricity ran to my body. I felt my body heated up, and my face turned crimson.

        “Are you okay?’ Miles asked me. I must have looked petrified.

        “I’m okay, thank you,” unclutching the handle and let Miles carry it. I turned around and followed Miles.

        Miles opened the door for us while carrying the bag. I was about to tell Miles to go ahead as I have to bid goodbye to Josh when I heard his voice coming from the dining hall. “Babe!” Josh called out on his sexy voice. ‘Shit! This is bad.’

        Miles and I turned our heads back. Josh appeared from the Kitchen door with his boxers and a paper bag.

        “Babe, you forgot your breakfast.” Josh in his sexy voice.

        I made an ‘are you serious?’ look to Josh. This man will be a death of me. I glared at him enough to see him the fire in my eyes. I heard a humph sound behind me. I looked back and noticed Miles’ face was blank. I grinned at him, and death glared back to Josh.

        Josh walked towards me, handed me the paper bag. He leaned over to my ear and whispered, “For you and the hot Guy,” then backed away and winked. I turned around to check if Miles had heard what Josh’ said. He wasn’t there anymore. I slapped Josh on the arm and took the paper bag.  He just laughed at me

        “I will kill you when I come back!” I stumped and shut the door behind me. 

        It was such an embarrassing moment for me. Josh had no idea about my feelings for Miles, I haven’t open it up to him, but someday I will have to. I don’t know if he still remembered Miles, but I wonder how Miles reacted when Josh opened the door for him.

        I headed to a black SUV car parked outside. I didn’t see Miles, so he must be already inside. I opened the passenger side door and got in. Miles didn’t even look at me, and he hasn’t started the car yet.

        “Seatbelt,” he murmured. Still was not looking at me

        I looked down and realized I hadn’t put my seatbelt on. I pulled the belt and buckled it, and mumbled, “Sorry.”

        He turned on the ignition, and we drove away.

        Our drive to the airport seemed to take forever. Miles and I were not talking, the silence between was awkwardly uncomfortable.

        He must be thinking about what occurred this morning with Josh. It was fucking awkward, but he should know Josh, wait? Does he even know Josh?” He should! It had only been 8 years! Shit!, Josh seemed no idea who Miles was too!

         ‘Hot guy,’ I remember, he said.  Don’t tell me, Josh didn’t remember Miles? I told myself. Maybe Miles thought the Josh was my..was my… ‘Shit! Shit!’ Josh was wearing only boxers and looked like a beautiful mess this morning. My inner battle was killing me? Oh my God, Miles might be thinking I slept with him last night. Damn!!!

        I slapped my hand over my forehead, “shit” I mumbled

        “Are you okay?” I heard Miles asking

        “Oh yeah, I'm sorry I’m okay, I just remembered something.” I lied. I was not.

        “Did you forget something from home?” He scowled, looking at me.

        “No, No, it's okay, it doesn’t matter.” I looked at him and smiled. He shrugged his shoulder and focused his eyes on the road.

        I calmed myself and thought of maybe I should tell Josh about everything. I sighed deeply and decided to turn the switch of the car stereo on. Perhaps the music would ease the tension between us. The song of Carpenters- close to you played. Miles looked at me and smirked. I liked the music, but that doesn’t seem a good music play to right now. I clicked the channel switch, and the music changed to Some Nights –by Fun. It was more lively and upbeat music, so I let it play all around the car.

        It soothed me and decided to close my eyes, the way to the airport has started to get congested, it was only seven in the morning, we still have more time before we depart from New York.

I opened my eyes when I felt the car stopped. I looked around and recognized that we were not somewhere that viewed like an airport entrance. I gawked at Miles, “We are here,” he said, unbuckling his seatbelt and exited the car. I automatically undid mine as well. I opened the door and got out of the vehicle. I inhaled, we were now in tarmac, and when I turned, behind me was an airplane. Miles stood next to me. Then I saw three men approaching our way, two of them unloaded our bags from the car, the other one moved toward us.

“Good morning, Sir and Maám,” the man wearing a white uniform, greeted Miles and smiled at me. He must be the pilot.

“Good Morning, Patrick, Are we ready?” He asked

“Yes,” he nodded, “Your Mom and Dad are already aboard.”  He turned and led our way.

Oh damn! I realized, so we were using a private plane then, I was all along thinking that we’d be taking commercial flights. He was a Carlson, and I was a Roberts, both of our family was well-loaded enough to afford this kind of luxury and privileges.

However, I remain humbled on my own. I’d rather live satisfied and straightforward. I didn’t ask for it, but I was born this way.

“Let's go” Miles took my hand and followed the pilot. I couldn't believe he was holding my hand. His hand was so soft I started imagining how it would touch my whole body! ‘Stop!’ Shutting my thoughts away.

I followed him like a child.

We climbed up to the plane and was greeted by the Flight steward. I spotted Belinda and Jack were sitting to a very comfortable looking cabin chair, Jack saw me first

“Miles!, Kathy!” he greeted us. Miles's hand was still encasing mine.

Miles and I approached them, Belinda was also standing now gawking down at our interlocking hands. We both hugged the couple and settled ourselves on the cabin chair opposite to them. I sat down next to the window view and while Miles on the other side.

The flight steward announced that we will be departing soon.

I saw Belinda looked at me and then moved her eyes to Miles, who was typing something on his phone. Belinda smiled at me. I still felt sad about what was happening with her, she hasn’t told Miles. She already spoke about it to her husband. Jack urged her to do the treatment soon, but she declined; she wanted to talk to Miles first about her conditions.

As a medically trained person, I knew we don’t have so much time, but it was the owner of the body can only decide what she wanted to do with it. I hoped Miles would easily accept his mom’s situation, not Belinda’s ridiculous proposal but her conditions right now.

I heard the pilot spoke from the cabin microphone and asked us to fasten our seatbelt as we would be departing in a minute.

I fastened my seatbelt and fished-out my sunglasses, I still feel exhausted and sleepy. I put on my sunglass and closed my eyes. I hope they won’t mind me, snoozing.