02

MAVERICK.

"BEFORE YOU. . . what? Are you on drugs?"

Her thin brows crumpled as she flinched.

I weakly pinned my hand on the door jamb and fixated my eyes at her. She seems to be nervous but she's good at playing pretend up 'till now.

I let out a deep sigh and uttered, "Can you, u-uh. . ." I looked down for a moment.

Why am I stuttering?

As she walked forward and opened the door wide, I glanced back at her face.

"Where have you been at this hour, Maverick? And what are you doing outside with this weather?" her voice pitched like a worried girlfriend.

I was about to explain but she accompanied me to walk inside her house. Wait, she lived here? Alone?

I roamed around my eyes and her flat is pretty crowded. Her crimson couch is occupying the space on the left corner.

The only furniture she had were the six-feet size of varnished divider -- Where a flat-back television was placed on its center, while each space was occupied with books. A lot of books. Beside it is a white dura-box.

Then there's a mini table made up of painted dark brown coco lumber at the center part of the house.

I also had a glimpse of the sink and stove at the right side and then I realised, there's no bathroom?

I need to pee.

The woman approached me. She then handed me some dry clothes and a towel. "Clean up yourself." she bit her lower lip as she looked at me with furious eyes. "You could catch a cold with your soaked body!"

"U-uh." I gulped and I'm starting to shiver, "Where's your washroom, Eve?" I shyly asked without looking straight into her face.

She smiled and scratched her right earlobe. "Apparently, I don't have one." hands in her sweaters' pocket, she breathed and pouted. "You may change your clothes at your spot."

"N-no!" I trailed off.

"I won't peep at you. Come on Maverick! Stop those malicious thoughts."

I gulped but my throat seemed to be drying like the drought in Africa. "I just, I just. . . fine." I groaned and watched her move.

I'll hold this for a while.

"Take your time." Eve added.

She sat on the carpet ground near the mini table facing the divider. Eve grabbed the remote from the table and put on the appliance in front of us.

I took the time to wear out my drenched clothes and quickly changed them to warm and comfortable ones.

As soon as I'm done with the changing. I was startled by Eve when she stood up close to me.

Our faces were only just the span of an arm. I tried to step back but my system isn't cooperating with me.

"W-why are you giving me that look?" Finally, I was able to speak.

"You're not telling me something."

"You didn't know, yet?" I queried.

She looks away and she starts putting the television on high volume. I followed her sight.

I am on the news and Eve only knows the reason why I'm walking out in the dark just now.

My sleep deprived face was being flashed from the screen and I was labelled below as WANTED.

I can't believe that they chose that photo of mine attached from my national I.D!

My thoughts got disrupted when Eve snapped out on me.

"You're not troubled aren't you?" her eyes went cautious.

I blinked and stopped for about seconds. "I'm afraid that I have to say yes."