บท 19: Drawn to Each Other

Amanda looked at Christopher strangely as they ate. He did all the fish cleaning and cooking while flaunting his well-shaped body. She supposed he must have been doing it on purpose, just to get attention.

'This guy is just too overconfident,' she told herself. To her point of view, he had no sense of shame. He casually slept in her bed, made use of her kitchen like it was his and he did so, modeling the Calvin Klein waistband of his brief.

"I haven't seen fishermen anchor their boats around here. They usually dock by the bay," she said, completely troubled by how he got the fish. Still, it was a good fish, and she had no complaints, eating a white-meat reef fish early in the morning.

After he finished his meal, he went back outside and found his shirt and shoes. He returned already clothed.

When she glared at him for finally getting dressed, he teased, "What? Miss abs already?"

She flushed in both anger and disbelief. Once again his vanity exuded. "Whatever, Chris. I'm leaving for work."

"Okay, let me clean the dishes and I'll take US to work!" He swiftly announced while taking the dishes to Amanda's very small kitchen area.

As he promised, Christopher drove Amanda to work. He threw questions here and there, but Amanda only answered a few; those that did not give away her secret life.

Christopher only went home to get changed. He was gone for an hour and was back again, looking mighty sexier than his yesterday's attire.

He wore a beige tactical long-sleeved shirt that opened to expose a white slim fit undershirt, and the finest part was his striking smile.

From morning until evening, he practically stayed at the restaurant the entire day, just lounging or chatting with Andrew and the rest of the restaurant staff.

Everyone, from Tracy to Andrew and the kitchen staff, was giving Amanda the 'spill the beans look' while giving Christopher the 'boyfriend' material look. All she could do was deny everything, saying that Christopher was a bother.

However, may it be that Amanda considered him a nuisance; he was the only person she could touch. No matter how she tried to ignore it, she was drawn to him. She was completely curious about him.

Evening came and while Amanda was washing dishes, getting ready to close for the day, Andrew spoke to Christopher sincerely.

"Chris, we haven't seen each other for a long time. Even if I know you to be a good person, I just want to make sure that you aren't playing with Amanda," said Andrew. The two of them were having a beer. "I - I look after her like she is my sister."

Christopher fell silent for a second, just looking at the bottle of beer in his hand. He took a deep breath and said, "Andrew, I - I don't know what to make of this yet, but I tell you now. I haven't been interested in anyone in years - "

"You had a crush with that blond in twelve grade!" Andrew said, pointing his drink at him.

"Yes, but I'm telling you, man! I've changed... I've changed a lot since I was a teenager. It was about six years ago when I started feeling sick. I was studying back then. It was because I could not get a remedy from all the doctors I went to in the city - I had to return to my." Christopher paused thinking, how to say, he had another hometown. "To my father's home."

"Basically, I got sick. My father had to take me to a healer - it was something that the real doctors could not handle - long story," he explained and leaned back on his seat. "I was cured. After that, I - I lost interest in socializing and in women in general. I just focused myself to helping my father with - with his business."

Again he was left staring at his drink before he finally spoke again, "But it's different with Amanda. I - I am just drawn to her." Seeing the frown on Andrew's face, Christopher said, "Look. I don't know what this is called but, all I am saying is. I'm not here to play games. I get it. You care for her."

Andrew maintained the frown on his face and studied Christopher's words. Although he was relieved to hear Christopher say he did not plan on playing with Amanda's emotions, the illness he mentioned intrigued him. He asked, "You got sick, but are you better now?"

"I am better - yeah. I am," he awkwardly replied... because the truth was, he wasn't sure.

Cristopher was twenty years old when he started feeling excessively cold, to the point that he would turn white. After a year, more symptoms came about that his parents concluded that evil magic was behind the changes to his body.

His parents did everything to make him better, and that included turning to a powerful healer.

"Healer ha! A quack doctor?" Andrew asked. Considering how well off Christopher was, he did not expect his parents would resort to a faith healer or any similar kind.

"I suppose you could say that. I know it's an ancient method, but the point is, whatever it was that weakened me, I was healed," said Christopher before emptying his last bottle of beer.

He then turned to smile at the beauty walking towards him.

"I'm done. You seriously did not have to wait all day for me," said Amanda, already dressed in casual wear and prepared to leave.

"Of course, I have to," said Christopher while getting up. Redirected his gaze to Andrew, he said, "Andrew, thank you for the beer. I hope to see you again after Amanda's off. Obviously, I won't be here when she inst."

"Okay. Enough, Chris. Let's go," urged Amanda.

Andrew watched Amanda walked outside the restaurant with Christopher in silence. He felt his heart sank altogether. For months, he had grown to like Amanda, but she never let anyone get close to her. Yet, here was Christopher, one who came back in town, and in just days, they seem already in good terms.

"It's your fault, you know? You never asked Amanda out," said Tracy, Amanda's colleague at work.

Andrew only shook his head and said, "Chris - he. He isn't going to stay here for long. Just like when we were kids. He is going to his father's home - wherever that is. He used to tell me how he could only follow into his father's footsteps."

"He will leave Trinity Bay. I am sure of it."