-CHAPTER 13-

Theodore saw his life flashed before his eyes. 

Everything flipped in just a question. And now, he has to depend in everything he has to say.Sweating bullets, he placed the last piece of tissue on the table, definitely afraid of putting some of his sweat in it. 

Ella was not in the right shape to lie, she blinked a few times and pretend to be composed like she was all the time. She gulped before opening her mouth to speak. Suddenly, a man cleared his throat behind the nervous Theodore. 

"Excuse me ladies, we don't say that out loud." Matthew suddenly exist in their conversation while holding his empty tray, serving and doing his job in the current time being. Smiling, Matthew pushed himself in beside Theodore and gave his best charming smile that his mom gave him. 

Well, Matthew put pride in his visuals. 

"My apologies, you've mistaken my friend from being someone you assume. And yes, bluntly, I'm the one who makes sex deals." Ella and Theodore's eyes widen their scope, they were taken aback from his sharp retort.

"Now do me a favor ladies." Matthew's head went closer by the means of lowering his voice. "Keep it down will you?" Theo knows when Matt gets serious, but he never thought that he could fake it.

Kath felt her mandarin collar tightened, she was getting aware that she crossed the line. These are the days that Kath would loath her mouth for being insensitive. Lynn was also taken aback and muted her self. They both nod and Ella was convinced to play her part and apologized. 

"Told you, I discarded that idea already." Ella muttered and gazed nicely at Matthew and show an apologetic gesture. Matt took it and smiled to her friends before resuming work.  

It was an impromptu play for another layer of lie just to cover Theodore and Ella. It nearly destroyed his 'hook-up' schemes. After inhaling some courage, he exited himself politely to the girls and smiled to her fake girlfriend. 

The two gentlemen arrived at the counter and returned their trays, one of them were huffing for some obvious reason. "I saved you Englishmen." Matt leaned on to him with an indoor voice. 

"Uhm. . . yeah." Theodore admitted awkwardly as his blue towel damped his neck. "Thanks Matt." It was short, but he took it anyway because that was his friend being genuine in short phrases. 

"Nah, no biggie. I got you." Matt arched his lips as they both refilling the syrup bottles in the kitchen out of initiative. That filled their time for good. 

+++

Theo was lucky enough to spare a moment with her in a separate table for two. Holding his Ipad and it's pencil that he bought months ago, he gestured Ella from far to seat with him for a moment. 

It wasn't meant for a romantic moment, Theodore already prepared her contract. Now she has to sign it. 

Ella and her intrigued friends saw him calling her over. "I'll seat there for a while, I gotta return his jacket." His jacket was an easy alibi so she grabbed the paper bag and moved to the next few tables away from her roommates. 

Theo watched her as he sat. "Your friends are still staring. Act nicely." His teeth immediately beamed as he smiled. Theodore was bit of an extra because hi also tucked her hair behind her ear. It was more than convincing on being pretentious, he just have to act natural. 

Ella played nice and offered him a paper bag with his sweater inside. His 'boyfriend' thanked him and pulled out his Ipad from a sling bag nearby. She thought it was someone else's belonging. 

Theo used the stylus to navigate his gadget and proceed contract that he prepared. His efforts was a bolt from the blue, Ella wasn't expecting a serious sex contract in a formal format. 

What she witnessed from the screen opposed her expectations. It says all the agreements they talked about after they feast on their morning sex, Ella broaden her shoulders when she saw her name under the elongated empty underline for her signature.

Theo was silent as he was letting her read everything for a moment. He offered the Apple Pencil when they finally met their gazes, telling her to sign. "Yes, I know what you are thinking. It's a bit too extra but I want to be precise about this deal. You can sign it." He gave it a grin after she laid her hands on the pencil. 

Serious. Ella was muted and serious. She's about to step into a serious deal in exchange her bucks. For this past few weeks, Ella trusted herself so much that she finally got into this. It felt weird for her that there were no urge of her to retreat herself, not even the slightest inch. 

And that's when she moved the pencil, signing the contract afterwards. Lets do this.  

Ella stared at her own siganture, which she only uses for important circumstances. Just like now. Her cold fingers maneuvered the tablet and pushed it back to Theo, glancing it for a while and earned a smirk from him. "Dauntless, very dauntless." 

Brave. That's what she is right now. She has no time for people to judge her choices. Ella once again felt thankful that he found such an amazing sex companion. 

Amazing. . . and unpredictable. They exchanged smiles and stared at the depths of their lenses, guessing what's on their mind at the moment. 

Ella took a quick glance on their table from afar, Lynn and Kath's eyes was scanning at them like a security camera. These bitches. Her eyes didn't hesitate to roll at them while smirking, transferring her focus to Theo's gaze and urge him to play a lil bit nicer. 

Ella have to ask something randomly. "By the way, are you still going to entertain girls for. . . sexual favors and stuff?" Her words are carefully completed, as she asked the curious guy in front of her. 

"Hmm." He raised one of his brows and drilled a deep thought. "I can still do it actually. I mean, that's what I do. No biggie, really." 

"And here I am not allowed to do it with other guy?" 

"Of course you are not allowed to honeybee." He scoffed. "You are mine for the time being." Theo confronted her with his reality. 

It was awkward earning an insulted stare from Ella.

His lungs relaxed to release a well thought sigh. "Okay, alight, fine." Surprisingly, the stars aligned and Theo was tamed for a split second, changing his plans.

"I'm yours. . . for the time being. Sexually." Theo clarified in between of his nods.

Her head slowly followed the nods in sync. "Great, I just want this to be fair for the both of us."

His mouth hummed in agreement, but she was more focus on his jade and almost grey eyes. "This simply means I'll be inhabiting your body for the next few months." 

Knowing that Theo is keen in his filthy word choices, she laughed. "Of course. Let's make that shit straight." Ella formed a smile in the corner of her lips and she added a question. "I almost forgot to ask."

"What is it?" 

"It seems that you are too wealthy for a barista." It was the most compelled thought that she could ask even though it sounds ridiculously awkward. "I know it's rude to ask financial situations, but what do you really do for a living? I mean, you have a good flat suite and the latest gadget releases of Apple. What are you hiding under your sleeves if I may ask?" 

Theo broke the eye contact. "Aren't you being pushy about my personal life?" He fixed his ruffled sleeve under the thick brown apron. "I can't tell you more, but rest assured. The money, is definitely clean don't worry." 

Ella plainly smiled when she realized. "I forgot my my afternoon drink somewhere but let's toast." Theo said with his low voice, raising his hand mid-air and pretend that they were holding glasses. 

"Let's toast. For Sex Partners " They met their knuckles in mid air as Ella volunteered to his silliness. 

"For my sugar daddy." She answered, earning an offended reaction from him. 

"I feel damn old. Fuck you."

"Oh, yes please." 

Theo was bewildered yet he still managed to smile and uncomfortably fixed his sitting position. "You'll regret if you keep saying that." Knowing it was serious when it was a told in low and intimidating remark, Ella just grinned. 

The pretending couple made team effort for their seamless and casual interaction. He took it to the next level and kissed her cheek. "I'll get back to work." 

Ella knows that her friends are watching, but he flet his hot breath with a brush on his newly shaved chin. Theo's kiss gained a serious reaction from her oh-so-called hormones. 

She just smiled and focused, her legs stood up and separate their ways with a sticky gaze. Kath and Lynn saw everything while exchanging gossips with her friend. 

It was too sweet and convincing. 

"He's too sweet today,  I don't know what's wrong with him?" As if she was truly complaining, she sat on her chair remembering the feel of his face near hers earlier. 

There's no way that she would be flustered for split-second. 

"I saw how he smiled earlier when he got his sweater back." Lynn couldn't tell more about it while she was trying to express how envious they were earlier for having a man like him. He just set the bar too high. 

The girls enjoyed their daily-dose of caffeine with a good amount of chat and gossiping. For hours, they also managed to shop from a vintage online fashion store, Ella was in an intimate need of adding clothes to her closet. 

They spotted some tops, pleated skirts, flare casual pants and they even fought over a khaki chelsea boots. As they were devoted for mediocre fashion especially Kath, they tend to shop for things once in a while with her savings.

What a great timing for Ella. Shopping it is. 

"You leaving already?" Matthew asked out table as the ladies wrapped up. Theodore followed and joined Matthew wiping some vacant tables with lavender scent liquid cleaner.  

Which oddly remind him of a summer in England where he usually spend time with her mom on a lavender field, munching apple pies. 

Mom. Theo randomly thought.

"Eventually, we decided to have our dinner earlier, and some few errands." Ella answered for the both of the gentlemen in apron. 

While wiping nearby and not breaking their eye-contact, he nodded as he observed the cerulean sky peaking between the tall buildings. "Too bad I couldn't take you to dinner then." It went out of his mouth naturally as they were pretending, earning a smile from each other. 

"Maybe next time. I think I'll see you next week, we have loaded weekends." Ella explained with a gestured 'yes' from her friends. Matthew didn't bother. 

"I see, take care." Theo stepped forward and leaned for another kiss planted on her cheek, it was followed by a simple smile. Ella can tell the efforts, her flushed expression already served as her reaction. As well for her friends, they can actually tell that the couple has a gratifying progress. 

Lounging with caffeine, with a little bit of flirt. 

That moment remained on her memory as Ella was tasked to wash for tonight's dishes. Listening to the pouring liters of rain, she reminisced and appreciated how Theo carried out the trouble. She might give Matthew a credit after all. 

Their dinner went smoothly for her two. No more speculations and doubts for their relationship and less white lies.

Of course, their relationship. Keep it sexual.  

Lynn expressed how happy they were for her, it was genuine thought for a starter like her in taking relationships. Ella can really tell that her lies has it's own fruits, it's showing up right before her eyes. 

Relax, it's just months. No biggie.  

Wearing her smooth indoor slipper, she walked out of the kitchen leaving a single warm lamp open. Arrived at her bedroom, the flicks of the continuous notification from her phone beeped. 

It was from the city bank. Her sex-partner definitely wired bucks in her purse and it was a quite bonus. Her spirit bolted. Money. Ella get to save more and more from his generosity. 

Not so miles away from the bank transfer, a text message followed. You did well honeybee, gotta pay your bills and put them into good use 😉. She was perplexed to read it, Ella could definitely hear his low raspy voice when they had sex. 

He was good. Damn good.  

Adrenaline streamed her body like it was uncelebreated. The rain was pouring and it brings it's breeze, it was her cue to set the lights off. Ella can't believe that she's doing this again. 

It would hurt to end her day with a sex toy, Ella felt the intimate need of orgasm. I should really see him next week.  Sex it is. 

+++

"Aren't you gonna drop off and start this your week on the New York Grinds?" Lynn asked Ella comically from the rear view mirror, meeting my eyes directly. Lynn insisted on driving for today's service, she's kinda bit uplifted maneuvering the vehicle

Ella snickered and breaking her graze from the car's cold window. The morning is misty cold combined with the wind from the city's street. "Maybe later, we have an evening errands. We can lounge their in the afternoon." It was a no brainer idea, she explained it easily. 

"I just thought we might also get used to it." Lynn rebutted. "Visiting that big cafe will be more than just visiting for us. Who knows? We might get a discount card if they have any."  It was all that she wondered. 

Kath turned her head with curiosity. "Tell me, was it your first time seeing him there? I mean where exactly did you meet him?"

Ella's tongue slowly slid on her upper teeth, formulating her answer. "Uhm- I already told you the other day. It's a dating app we shared our sns and number and stuff. And he asked me to meet there." She emphasized with her hand gestures motivating them to chill. 

"Look, I can't stress this enough and I know it's a little bit fast as it seems. I just want you guys to put a little faith in me. Let's just see how this goes." Ella swallowed as she sealed it with a white lie as if it was real relationship. 

How far will these lies dig? Ella couldn't grasp the uncertainty of what lies ahead. Good luck to me.  

It was dry enough for them not to bring their umbrellas. After they parked the car, they set their shoes out from the vehicle. Once their heard the indistinct crowd of business, it's their official cue for a busy day head. 

The plague of giving up has been consistently rubbing them off ever since. College was rough practice of fortifying your walls and legs to avoid being cripple in the long run. It's all about igniting your flame amidst the darkest shards of trials and uncertain fogs of what lies ahead in your voyage. 

We are getting there mom. Ella's lips curved and continued to walk above the textured cobblestone pathway that leads them to the next three departments. Goldenwing students always find it as an easy walk since no one pitch a single complain for inconvenience. 

There was a glimpse of the university's field and the sky hiding from the trees with peeking rays of gloomy sunlight. Turn she fixed her eyes all along with the quite view that Ella didn't saw the shoulder coming, it bumped into hers.  

Ella was taken a back from the force, making her left behind from friends. She grunted in annoyance and saw Flynn fixing his stone blue flannel tucked in his grey corduroy pants. The white Balenciaga shoes caught her eyes for hot second. 

Flynn. She remembered the man who danced with her like crazy. She took a quick glance of his not-so-drunk-prone face. Definitely neat. Except for his healing bruise on his cheekbone. 

"Flynn." Ella muttered. 

"Ella, good morning." His neat and innocently smiled greet her. As if they were never been drunk. He's outrageously cool, he gave him that. 

Her smiles are dull as she was trying to. "It's odd to see a med student in this lane, what brings you here? And what happened to your cheekbone?" She spotted his bruise covered by band-aid. It was for Flynn to make it cool. 

"Uhm. . . I actually have errands here. And this bruise, definitely from your boyfriend." Flynn ended it with a chuckle that lifted his cheekbones despite of being painful on the right side. 

"My- what?" She did calculated what happened last friday, suddenly remembered Theo saying he punched someone. That immediately pushed her for being embarrassed. "Oh my God. I'm so sorry about your cheek. He's surely kinda grumpy." You fucking ass! She's attempting to have a good look on it as Flynn was flinching. 

"It's fine really, besides it's healing. Just a band-aid for aesthetics." Flynn reasoned while adjusting his specs.

There was a quick silence going on and Flynn didn't hesitate to compliment her. 

"You look good by the way, Ella." His side smile was even neat than his ruffled pocket from his flannel. It was a genuine remark. She was flustered for a split-second and nods comically.

"Gee thanks." She has no idea what to say for an early-morning compliment.

"I- I gotta go." Noticing the buffers between the lines, Ella panicked for a bit for her exit. "I'll see you around, I guess." 

"You will." The smile on his lips effortlessly gave her a formal good impression. 

Flynn is nice.