Chapter 23: 22

Chapter 22

"Can I help you?" was the question she blurted out—automatically.

"I… I…" The guy turned beet red for being unable to finish whatever he had to say.

Amber's eyebrows furrowed together in wonder. "Is there a problem?"

Without prior permission, he caught her hand in his, eyes filled with passion. "Please go out with me!"

Amber glanced at their hands, then looked back at him, befuddled.

Is this what she thinks it is?

The guy sucked in a huge breath, and puffed out his chest. He's clearly agitated—it's written all over his face. He's trying to overcome the embarrassment he feels for stepping up, and doing this… thing. "My name is Jay. I'm seventeen years old, but I-I'm a responsible person! I promise you won't regret dating me, Amber."

'That escalated quickly. Why am I being hit on…?'

Amber didn't try to pull away her hand from his grasp. "What, then?"

He stilled, and blinked at her. "H-huh?"

"Give me three reasons why I should go out with you."

His expression visibly lit up. He took her response as a positive sign. "I don't neglect my studies. I don't play the field. I don't doubt my commitment to this."

Amber stole a glance at his back, and was relieved that the twins still weren't there. Then, slowly, she slipped her hand out of his, and stood up. "Those are a lot of don'ts."

Panic crossed Jay's features. "But it doesn't mean they're a bad thing, aren't they? Should I rephrase them?" He was watching her facial features desperately, calculating her possible reaction.

But, Amber was weirded out.

'I find it amusing that he doesn't know what he's saying…'

Those are reasons…?

She lowered her head, and murmured her half-hearted apologies. She shouldn't have indulged the guy in this meaningless chatter to begin with.

She must be bored out of her mind.

"I will have to refuse. I hope you understand…" she spoke slowly.

"What? Are my reasons not satisfactory enough? I've admired you from afar, Amber. For so long! The idea that you might achieve more things than myself doesn't bother me at all. I'm not some man with a fragile sense of masculinity. You're… beautiful—and no words can ever describe how dazzling you are while playing kickboxing—"

Amber immediately felt the urge to correct him. "I don't play kickboxing," she interjected. "I do kickboxing." There's a difference.

"You… you shouldn't pay attention to a minor lapse like that! I know that you know what I meant!" For some reason, he was certainly acting as if this confession was his lifeline. She'd admit she could tell he was being true to himself right now, but… this was way over the top. "We don't have to be boyfriend-girlfriends today. At least, let me prove to you that I deserve a chance?"

A small frown graced her gentle features. "Please do yourself a favor, and don't make me reject you twice…"

"Give me three valid reasons, then."

"Pardon?"

"You made me enumerate stuff I had never imagined myself speaking of. I wish to know the same thing—but this time, the reasons for your refusal are what I'm after."

It was only then that Amber took a notice of the guy's ID.

Also, he made a valid point.

So, she'd entertain that request.

Amber looked at him worriedly, though. "I don't know you. You don't know me. Even if I come to know you better, a year isn't going to be enough."

"Why a year…?" He seemed confused.

When it should already be obvious…

"Your mate," she replied tersely.

Jay's mouth formed an 'O' before he released an amused chuckle. "Amber, please don't worry about that. Just because I'm turning eighteen, doesn't mean she will be presented right before my eyes by the moon goddess. I don't think it works that way, and even if it is…" He smiled warmly at her. "I don't believe in love at first sight. I'd rather pine over a girl whom I have real feelings for—rather than get manipulated by the stupid mate's bond."

Stupid mate bond?

Why would he say that?

"That's it," Amber spoke in a whisper, still having difficulties to wrap her head around this hopeless conversation. "You said it yourself."

"What do you mean?"

This time, she failed to hide her distaste. "The discussion is over. You don't believe in mates. I do. That's all I need to reason with you after all, huh?" Again, she apologized before excusing herself.

What was that?

She wasn't even mad.

The whole thing was absurd from the get-go.

She was sitting by herself in peace when the guy suddenly went to approach her, bringing a ridiculous offer with him.

Who does that?

The interaction was far from normal.

A person with that kind of belief really exists…?

Amber was so bewildered that she couldn't even form a coherent thought while making her way to the car park. She decided to wait there instead.

For someone who had been insistent, he sure let go of her so easily.

Amber had little expectations of men from the start—hence, she didn't harbor any hope from the guy. She couldn't care less even if there was no attempt of him going after her when she bailed out on him just like that.

Like she said, Jay seemed sincere when he confessed.

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Though a little frantic, she couldn't sense his ill will. She had never been caught off-guard like this before.

'You said you were in the pavilion…'

A mopey voice entered her mind.

Amber stopped in her tracks. 'Oh…'

'Don't 'oh' me! You're getting too caught up in ditching us, Amber!' Pepper whined.

Of course.

Her friend would bring up her actions from their first mission to guilt-trip her as much as possible, and have her way.

To be honest, it was quite… effective.

Salt and Pepper are entitled to their feelings, and she respects the grudge they hold for her—if there's any. Pepper has already denied this, but her actions always say otherwise. If Pepper is no longer bothered by what she did, then why does she keep reminding her of it over and over again?

As usual, Pepper isn't a good liar.

Unlike her brother whose poker face could hold millions of secrets.

'I wasn't originally planning on leaving.'

'What? Oh, no… did something happen?'

'You could say that.'

'Tell me…!'

'I'll tell you in person.'

'Hah…! I'll run to you…!'

Amber waited out near a sexy-looking Aventador, and the twins showed up a few minutes afterward. Pepper was breathless because she stayed true to her word, and literally ran as fast as she could. Meanwhile, Salt doesn't care about the world with his headphones on.

Amber shrugged, and greeted her friend with a hug. Then, she proceeded to disclosing the strange experience that she had just moments ago. Pepper would interrupt her story with a gasp from time to time, but she was used to it. In the end though, Pepper had an outburst of profanities, Salt had to hit flick her forehead in warning.

"Why did you hit me!? Didn't you hear what Amber just said!"

"I didn't hear it, but I doubt it was reasonable for you to spew curses while I'm here."

"KJ!"

"I'm telling Dad."

"Double KJ! This snitch!" Then, Pepper turned to her. "By the way, didn't you think that was so… random?"

Amber linked arms with her with a faint smile. "I know." That's what she thought, too.

How did that guy know where to find her? Did he just happen to stumble upon her, then muster up the courage to ask her out—suddenly?

If not, then what?

Had he been following her, then?

But that's… impossible.

Because she would have noticed it.

She would have felt it.

Still, something feels off.

Jay poured his honest feelings to that confession. There was no way he was just trying to put on a show, and faking it. After all, how would that benefit him?

And in what way?

What a mystery.

That.

And the name on his ID—which was George.

Not Jay.

As they arrived to the pack house, Amber took a quick shower, and change into her training gears—with Pepper hot on her tail the entire time, well, except for the instance where she had to go inside the bathroom, of course.

Obviously, Pepper has a reason for doing that.

While on their way home, Amber had a slip of the tongue.

She intends to the join them on the training today—which has never happened in history. And to get a confirmation, Salt even had to remove his headphones, and make her repeat what she said.

Their reaction wasn't surprising to Amber, though.

This wouldn't have come as much of a surprise had she attended all those 'mandatory' trainings facilitated by the pack in the first place. Amber had never been to one, and the Alpha was informed of her choices. They only let go of her case for her assurance that she wouldn't lag behind, and still train in other ways.

Alpha Severus had already done something to confirm that before, thus—no one dared question Amber's non-participation from then on. And having changed her mind today without giving the Gamma Chief prior notice, clearly, there's a driving factor behind her actions.

Amber won't deny it as well.

Amber isn't one to decide purely based on whims and caprices. At the very least, she doesn't do things just because she feels like it. The guy who came up to her was a pack member—without a doubt. And the chances of them two coming across each other at school again were slim, unless he was indeed following her everywhere.

But that's kind of too much for his intention.

Just by her initial impression alone, he didn't appear to be someone who would go that far. His nerves, and body language gave away almost everything about him.

Well, she could be wrong, too.

But who dwells on the negative possibility from the outset?

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