Chapter 7

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∞ L A U R E N ∞

"Good morning Drey! Isn't the weather perfect to start a nice day?"

I giggled as I open the curtains on the living room and watch rain drops hit the window pane.

"You love rain?"

I was startled as I felt Cloud's presence behind that I gasp for air as I stared at him.

"Goodness stop sneaking around like that and yup, I love rain"

He shrug his shoulders before he sit on the couch with his eyes close and his head leaning on it.

"What's for breakfast?"

He ask, a smile form in my lips as I place my hand on both sides of his head since I was standing behind the couch.

"So we're not eating fast food today? You want me to prepare breakfast for you."

He scoff as he open his eyes and stared at me.

"It doesn't mean I enjoy the food you're making alright?"

I rolled my eyes as I head straight towards the kitchen to prepare some breakfast. He's so sassy he won't admit he enjoyed his breakfast yesterday.

I Prepared the ingredients and started chopping some garlic and onion. A chuckle escape my lips as I look at Cloud who's patiently waiting for his meal.

"Tadaa!"

He raise his brows as he stared at the food I set in front of him.

"What is this?"

"It's chicken adobo. It's a famous asian dish which originated in the Philippines."

He cross his arms and lean on the chair without taking his eyes off the dish.

"Never heard of that before."

That is so sad. Adobo is one of the best asian dishes for me. After praying I secretly watch Cloud's reaction as he take his first bite. I see him raise his brows and I know he likes it, I could tell. He's even unconsciously tapping his feet together with the rhythm of the music that I'm playing.

♩♪ Well open up your mind and see like me
Open up your plans and damn you're free
Look into your heart and you'll find love love love love ♪♩

The music wasn't published in my year but I discovered it while surfing the net which says classical music in late 2000s.

After breakfast Cloud did the same thing and that is to sit on the living room while watching TV. I would love to go out for a walk again but it's still raining hard outside.

"What should I do Drey? I'm so bored."

I scan my eyes around the kitchen and there's nothing to do in here since the dishes are already clean.

"What do you love to do?"

I smiled at the answer of Drey. I remember reading with Casper on a weather like this with a cup of coffee and blanket wrap around us as we sit together on the couch.

I walk towards Cloud who's sitting on the couch while constantly changing the channel.

"Hey can I borrow some of your books?"

He stared at me for a second then pointed the pile of rectangular glasses on a shelf.

"No,  I mean real books with papers and covers."

"I don't have one."

I groan as I sit on the carpeted floor and lean my head on the table. Where can I read real books? Ugh I miss the scent of coffee and books on a rainy day like this. 

※ C L O U D ※

It's still raining hard outside and Lauren is still leaning her head on the table while sighing repeatedly. A smile form in my lips as I came up with an idea. I quietly stand up and head straight to the kitchen to open my fridge.

"It must be here somewhere...aha, found it."

I went back to the living room and drop the pack of candies on the table.

"What is this?"

She ask while poking the candy pack.

"Candies, go on try it."

She smiled as she insert her hand in the pack, pulling out a red candy then tossing it into her mouth like a child.

"So, do you like it?"

She nod her head while eating the candy.

"Yes."

Pft! Hahaha! She covered her mouth as soon as she heard the sound of her voice with a horrified expression written all over her face.

"What happened to my voice?!"

Hahaha! She sounds like a little chipmunk. I was laughing so hard that I end up rolling on the floor while holding my tummy. She immediately got the candy pack and read the label.

"Voice changer candy?! Cloud!"

The more she talks the harder it is for me to stop myself from laughing.

"Ooh you sound so threatening. Hahaha!"

She got up and grab a pillow and before she could hit me with it I sprinted towards the elevator.

"Comeback here you slimy fox!"

I raise my brows and poke my tongue out before completely closing the elevator.

"You'll pay for this!"

I heard her scream with her little voice as the elevator pop open leading me to my room. Damn I'm enjoying her ignorance so much.

I drop my body on my bed as I stared at my ceiling. I'm so bored I don't know what to do. I lazily get my phone on my side table and surf the net looking for something interesting to do.

"Movie marathon."

I whispered as I a movie poster flash on my phone screen. I search for the latest movie and went out of my room.

The living room is quiet, I scan my eyes around and saw Lauren laying down quietly on the couch. The effect of the candy will last up to 30 minutes and there's still about remaining 10 minutes for her voice to change back to normal.

She quickly sit down and eyed me sharply as soon as she noticed my presence. I can't help but laugh at her stupidity.

"What? I want to watch a film ok?"

"What film?"

Pfft! Hahaha! Her voice is really funny. I look away as I tried to stop my laughter.

"The Bride of Zeus."
 

I connected my phone on the screen and played the movie. I snap my fingers twice to switch the lights off and sat on the floor with my back leaning on the couch.

"What is this movie all about?"

Lauren ask as she drop on the couch with her head close to mine.

"I dunno, shush ok?"

She rolled her eyes at me and place her hands on her cheek as she fix her gaze on the screen. The movie started with a girl in a red night dress slowly walking towards an endless pool, she slowly take her dress off exposing her naked body. I stared at Lauren to watch her reactions and she's currently covering  her left eye with her right eye half close. Is it her first time watching this kind of film?

The girl in the movie submerged herself in the water and later on a naked guy, which I believe is Zeus, entered the scene. They started kissing each other in a torrid manner, then the guy started touching the girl's naked body when suddenly the screen went black.

"What the fuck?"

  I stared at Lauren who's holding a universal remote. She just turn the screen off.

"That is not a movie Cloud."

I groan as I run my fingers through my hair.

"If it's not a movie, what is it then?"

I can see her struggling with her words.

"That--that is porn!"

I furrowed my brows as I look at her cringing face.

"That is not porn. You want to see what a real porn is, here---"

I was about to stand to grab my phone and show her what real porn is when she suddenly grab the sleeves of my sweatshirt pulling me back on the couch.

"No!"

Her voice is now back to normal and she looked really flustered right now.  Her cheeks are bright red because of the movie we just watched. I let out a sigh as I rub my forehead.

"That is not porn Lauren they were just having sex in the pool."

She hold her cheeks and let out a sigh.

"Exactly, they're having sex! Sex is not something you do and show in front of millions of people. It's a bond, it's something special for married people ok?"

I scratch the nape of my neck as I inhaled sharply. Geez she's so old school I don't know what to do with her. I'm still thinking of how sensitive she is in almost everything when something inside struck me real hard.

"So you mean---you never fuck Casper?"

She gasp as she covered my mouth with her cheeks bright red while staring at Drey. I just want to laugh at her expression right now.

"Where are your manners Cloud? That's not a good way to talk to a lady."

I take her hands off my mouth and lean my head on my right as I stared at her.

"Wow, they should put you on display at the museum. You're the last virgin in this century."

She cleared her throat and press the wrinkles on her dress as she stand up.

"You're exaggerating. I'll just go buy some groceries for lunch."

She obviously feel awkward right now, she can't even look at me.

"Do you have some--uuh-- umbrella?"

I raise my brows without taking my eyes off her before standing to get an umbrella. I smirk as I stand in front of her with the umbrella in my hand, she's still staring at her feet with her right hand in front of her waiting for the umbrella. Instead of giving it to her, I grab her hand and pulled her closer. She gasp for air as her body touch mine. I'm having so much fun teasing her right now, I can even feel her shaking. Hahaha! Before I could laugh my heart out in front of her I place the umbrella in her hand and she stared at it for almost a second.

"What is this?"

Ugh she doesn't even know what an umbrella looks like. I got the four inches long metal stick in her hand and press the green button causing the umbrella to pop open. Her mouth form an "O" as she stared at the umbrella in my hand clearly amazed at the sight of it. I press the red button to put it back inside the metal and hand it to her again.

I look at the time it's only 9 in the morning.

"I'll be back before 10."

I nod my head at her as she head straight to the elevator. When she's no longer inside the house I switch the GPS on to track her since she's still wearing the bracelet. I need to do this alright? She's dumb and clueless about almost everything.

∞ L A U R E N ∞

It's raining but I can still feel my cheeks burning. I didn't know talking about sex in this century is just like talking about purchasing a candy. Cloud is clearly making fun of me, argh! That jerk! I touch my cheeks to cool it down while waiting for the bus to arrive.

I'm standing in the bus stop with two ladies and one guy and they're all too focused on their gadgets. I let out a sigh as I extended my arm to feel the rain on my right hand. They're missing the real beauty of the world, this is something money can't buy.  You'll actually know real happiness when you start appreciating little the around you. I let out a sigh and smiled to myself because it's odd that I find peace in a stormy weather like this.

The bus came and not like the first ride I had with Cloud the bus is spacious today. I made my way through the isle and there are still some who can't take their eyes off me probably wondering why I'm dressed this way. I tied my long hair into a bun and I'm wearing a cream dress with laces and a skirt that gently flows down my knees.

I sit on a chair near the bus window and watch the buildings outside get blurry with the swift motion of the bus.

After a few minutes the bus finally stop. It's still raining hard as I step down the bus with an umbrella above me. I can see the park from where I am standing and I can still remember the excitement inside me the first time I saw the colorful flowers and the feeling of disappointment when Cloud told me they're fake.

I went straight to the grocery store and started choosing items for lunch. I decided to make some mushroom soup later.

After buying the things that I need I decided to take a walk.  I just keep on walking with my right hand holding the umbrella and my left hand holding the grocery bag. My feet brought me to the city bridge, it's a wide bridge that connects the main city to the rest of the places. I stop for a moment when I saw a guy drench in the rain while standing beside the metal railings with his eyes close. What is he doing in this kind of weather? I almost drop my grocery bag when he went up the railings and spread his arms wide like a bird ready for flight. I look around to search for help but people just keep on walking without even bothering to stop him.

"No don't!"

I scream as he take another step forward towards the end. I drop everything in my hand and run towards him. I grip his pants tight and pulled him towards my direction causing him to lose balance and fall on top of me. My breathing is steady and slow with the rain still falling as I stare into his cold eyes.

"Don't do that again."

I said almost like a whisper with my eyes starting to sting because of tears. It pains me so much to see people who wants to end their lives. I was surprise as a smile form at the corner of his lips.

"I wans't going to kill myself. I was just enjoying the rain."

It took me seconds to understand his words then my mouth form an "O" as he stand up and pulled me up.

"So--you were-- I thought--"

Argh! I let out a shaky sigh as I close my eyes. That is so embarrassing Lauren. I heard him chuckle as he pick my umbrella up together with my grocery bag.

"I used to stand in this bridge everytime it rains and you're the first person who did that."

I nod my head at him as I awkwardly scratch my forehead.

"Haha I really thought you were planning to hurt yourself, I'm sorry for interrupting your rain appreciation thingy. You can go on with what you're doing."

I was about to get my grocery bag from him but he wont let go.

"Let me take you home. Where do you live?"

I stared at this tall guy in front of me. His hair is black like Cloud's,  his eyes are chiseled and cold, his nose perfectly shape together with his thin lips that curves in its corner every time he smiles. He seems fine, I can definitely trust people who likes rain.

"I live in..."

Reality struck me real hard when I realized I don't know Cloud's address. 
"I don't know my address. "

He chuckled as water drip on his forehead down to his nose.

"Do you have your GPS pad?"

Oh right my GPS pad! I immediately pulled it out of my pouch and hand it to him. One good thing about gadgets today is that it's waterproof.  He click some buttons on my GPS pad then his eyes furrowed as he look at me. Why?

"You live with Cloud Madrigal?"

Oh he knows Cloud?

"You know him?"

He smiled as he run his fingers through his wet hair.

"Everyone knows him I guess? He's the youngest CEO of Cryonics hospital."

My mouth form an O with what he said.

"Let's go."

I nod my head as I followed him to his car. Argh I'm so stupid to pull him off that bridge. I search for the seatbelt as I sit on the passengers' seat. His car is different from Cloud's and I really can't find the seatbelt.

"Here, let me help you."

He went closer and pulled the seatbelt on my right side. He smells like flowers blooming in spring.

"Thanks."

He nod his head as he started the engine of his car. We were both quiet along the ride when he finally break the silence.

"So is he your boyfriend or something?"

Boyfriend? I raise my brows as I stared at him.

"Who Cloud?"

He nod his head as he made a left turn.

"Ah haha! No, he's not my boyfriend. It's a long story how did I end up living in his place but I absolutely have nothing to do with him."

He nod his head once more before clicking something in front of him and a music started playing.

♪♩ don't want another pretty face
I don't want just anyone to hold
I don't want my love to go to waste
I want you and your beautiful soul♪♩

He started tapping his fingers on his steering wheel and I started tapping my feet together with the rhythm of the music.

"I like this song, what's the title of this?"

He chuckled as he turn his car right.

"So you're like nineteen and you like classics?"

It's my time to chuckle as I lean my back on the car seat.

"I'm 200 years old."

The car suddenly stop in the middle of the road as he step the breaks. I can see the confusion and fascination in his eyes.

"No joke, really?"

I press my lips together as I nod my head. He open his mouth then close it again before fixing his gaze back on the road and continue driving.

"So that explains why you love classical music. What's your name by the way?"

I find this funny, he's a total stranger. I don't know his name and he doesn't know mine but here I am with him riding in his car.

"Lauren, Lauren Lopez. You?"

He chuckled as he shake his head.

"I can't believe it, I'm with Lauren Lopez. I was just reading your name in books before who would have thought that I can really meet you in person."

Wait, what? I was so confused with his statement.

"You know me?"

He stared at me for a moment and nod his head before stopping for a red light.

"I have a copy of Casper Garcia's journal and your name was mentioned in it like a hundred times."

I felt a lump in my throat as I heard Casper's name. I miss him so much.

"Can I see the journal?"

The red light turn green and the car starts moving.

"Sure, so you want to stop by my place?"

I can see Cloud's house a few blocks from where we are and I was hesitant for a moment to go with him just for the journal but I end up nodding my head, so instead of going straight we turn left.

It was another 10 minutes drive and we stop infront of a large white gate. It automatically open and he drive the car inside. I open my mouth in awe as I saw the red and white roses neatly arranged beside the road.

"Are they real?"

They might be like the fake flowers at the park.

"Yes, they are."

He stop the car in front of a white house that reminds me of houses built in Rome. He take my seatbelt off and got the umbrella in my hand before going out of his car. The car door pop open and he covered my head to help me out while holding the umbrella on his right hand. I get it, he's an old soul.
"Wow"

I whispered to myself as I enter his house. It's so clean and cozy, for the first time I've seen something real. I mean, it's like a piece of land away from the so called development of the world. Instead of a room heater he has a fireplace on his living room, instead of remote controlled lights he has chandeliers on top.

"Come."

He open a door with a stairs that leads down, I think it's the basement. I can feel a little bit of nervousness inside me as I walk down the dark and quiet room. What if he's a murderer luring girls down to his basement before skinning them alive! I shake my head trying to shrug that thought off me. At the end of the stairs is a switch, my eyes fluttered in delight as he switch the lights on showing hundreds of books. Real books with pages and

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