Zeriah's Love Formula

Chapter 6: From the Two Strange Men

ZOEY’S POV:

I am certainly aware that my chances of getting chosen to this study have dropped to negative something percent…considering the fact that I keep becoming a personification of embarrassment a few hours ago up until now.

After asking me about the presence of a significant partner, which by the way, I think is a dumb question…Zeriah continued to interview me with some dumber questions…Nevertheless, I tried to answer those the best ways I could.

“What do you think makes you worthy of a participant?” He added.

“I…first of all, I am not in school anymore so I can really focus on the tasks you’ll be making me do. Second, I am willing to commit and cooperate for the best results of your study.” I shrugged my shoulders as I tell him my words.

“I promise, I won’t make you regret your decision if you choose me.” I added.

“Ms. Anabello, I want you to know that you are the youngest willing participant who signed up.” He exhaled out of the blue.

“Well, does that matter?” I asked seriously.

“No, it does not. I mean, to some degree yes, but I—“ He started explaining but I decided to interrupt his sentence.

“Zeriah, we are literally on the same age…I can help you better than them. Trust me” I said confidently. He seemed to be caught off guard as he leaned back and observed my face.

“Or are we not? I’m sorry…” I quickly added nervously. His facial expression at the moment is quite hard to explain but it’s somewhat cold.

“Yes we are on the same age ZOEY. But that does not mean that you have to act like my friend. Now back to the interview, shall we?” He emphasized my first name and it sent goosebumps all over my body. I think I offended this man and I feel so nervous about it. Geez, I’m just trying to be friendly here but okay.

“Sure.” I nodded before looking down at my feet.

“Well then, can you tell me the reason why you joined my study?” Zeriah asked me with the same formal tone of voice he has been using towards me since earlier.

Of course, it’s because of money…why else would I be here?

“To be honest, I am here because of the money. Please don’t think of me as that shallow…it’s just, I have some personal stuff to deal with right now and if I won that prize, it will be a great help to me.” I explained as honestly as I can while continuing to show a bright and shiny smile in an attempt to save my face from further humiliation.

But you know Zeriah, screw this. Please, just send me home now. Look me straight in the eye without any excuses and tell me that I am already disqualified.

“So are you saying…you’re not interested in contradicting my hypothesis?” He asked while crossing both his arms and raising one eyebrow.

“What do you mean? What is a hypothesis?” I responded naively.

“Let me put it this way, a hypothesis is a supposition or proposed explanation made on the basis of limited evidence as a starting point for further investigation…in my case, since I am trying to prove that love is nothing special and it is a simple result of the chemicals in our bodies, my hypothesis is that love is not existing…it is just another scientific feeling which should be called otherwise…” He said with a burning passion in his eyes. I can see his determination to achieve the goal he set so who am I to oppose it?

Insert cricket sounds for another few seconds of awkward silence…

“Okay I understand. Like what I said, I’m not here to contradict anything you say. I trust you.” I whispered and his tensed body suddenly became at ease. Ever since I entered this room, this is the first time I saw him sweat on his forehead.

The moment he heard my answer, he fell speechless for a brief moment. We shared an awkward eye contact before I decided to cut off the silence in the atmosphere.

“Are…there any more questions I need to a-answer?” I shifted my eyes rapidly from left to right as I tried my best to ease the awkwardness between us.

Surprisingly, my question seemed to come out funny to him. Instead of responding, he decided to look down and browse through my paper to scan my useless answers. And for a second, I thought I even saw a shy smile escaped from the corner of his mouth.

“O-kay…guess I’ll just wait here…silently.” I whispered loud enough for him to hear.

Zeriah is still not speaking so I decided to look around his desk and observe the details surrounding his personality. Upon closer inspection, I saw that he is wearing midnight blue, long-sleeved polo shirt, which was rolled up near her elbows. Very classy.

I also noticed his hands’ movement while writing. His manner of tucking his right thumb under his pointy finger while holding a ballpoint pen seems very cute as well. He has a very delicate skill in multitasking, I see. While he is currently moving his hands to materialize the words inside his mind, his left hand reached out to  the side area of the table to get a cup of coffee which by the looks of it, is really familiar to me.

Wait a minute…Is that coffee from Gab’s?

I crossed my eyebrows in curiosity as I observe him drink from the cup. Everything feels like it’s happening in slow motion. I was able to witness the up and down movement of his adam’s apple together with the gulping sounds he’s making.

As he was about to place back the cup on his table, I saw a name written on the other side as he accidentally flipped it back.

I gasped the moment I saw the three letter name which I encountered before:

ZER.

I remember it now. He was the same guy who ordered from me at Gab’s a few days ago…the one I didn’t get the right name of. That’s why his presence felt so familiar to me. I’ve met this man before.

“Hey uhmmm, y-our coffee looks tasty.” I initiated a shameful conversation to make sure that he got his drink from Gab’s.

“It is. I got it from Gab’s…a café found just a few minute drive from here.” He said coldly. I bet he doesn’t remember me at all. That’s a great sign.

“But that’s in San Gabriel…” I uttered.

“Do you go there too?” He adjusted his eyeglasses and placed down his pen to focus his attention on me.

“I actually work there.” I said and he crossed his eyebrows. At the moment, I thought that since I’ve already made a humiliation out of myself, I decided to tell him honestly that I actually am working there to further my embarrassment.

“I take the night shift. I actually uhh—served you a drink one time, I remember.” I admitted shamelessly.

“Really?” He uttered and the hint of formality from his voice somehow vanished for a quick time.

“Yeah. I’m betting my life, that’s caramel macchiato you have there.”  I smiled before eyeing his drink.

He followed my gaze and pouted his lips slightly before nodding. I take this action as a sign of agreeing to my statement.

“Forgive me, I do not really remember...meeting you there.” He replied and I noticed that his poreless cheeks suddenly turned slightly pinkish.

“It’s alright. Well since we’re already here, it’s nice meeting you, Mr. Zer.” I reached out for his hand to try and shake it.

“Nice to meet you Ms. Anabello.” He stated after sharing a less awkward eye contact with me. To my surprise he stood up before reaching for my hand and countering my action. I followed his feat and moved my chair backwards to be able to stand up properly.

“There are no further questions that I need to ask you. Just wait for my call, I will update you as soon as the interview with your fellow willing participants are done.” He said with a smile. I’m really glad that somehow, I was able to make him change his mood for the better.

“You know, I actually thought that I am really grateful for this opportunity…” I started.

“It is totally my pleasure offering this opportunity to you.” He replied, less formally than before.

“Some people waiting outside probably have better skills than me but I just want you to know that even if I am not that as educated as you, I can be a great teammate.” I added before winking playfully. This made him let out a soft laugh.

“I assure you, I am not looking for a person who attained a high degree in any educational field.” He said.

“What trait are you exactly looking for, then?” I crossed my eyebrows in curiosity as a response.

“I am looking for…” He said before cutting his own sentence off.

He walked outside the inner portion of his desk and lean his back on top of the table to come closer towards my direction. By now, we are just a few inches apart and I can’t help but to feel nervous by such distance. I felt my heart pound fast.

“Someone who can be a great teammate.” He added. Zeriah ended our conversation with such remark and with a genuine smile from his face.

And I believe that maybe, he might consider me the one after all.

--

It was a rainy afternoon when I reached the bus stop. I was on my way back to San Gabriel and while waiting for my ride home, I can’t help but to think of Zeriah’s face. He can’t be erased in my mind and I am going crazy for the last words he said before we parted ways.

“Tch…” I smiled by the thought of seeing him. Get it together Zoey.

While sitting in the shed, I decided to lean back and enjoy the rain. For the first time in my life, I felt that the water falling down from the sky is not a symbol of something gloomy and ominous.

“You did great today, Zoey.” I uttered under my breath as I gave myself a pat in the back to cheer myself up.

“Everyone who’s headed to San Gabriel…here’s your bus! Here’s your bus! Come on up!” The barter’s voice snapped me back to reality. Soon enough, I heard the screeching sound of tires of the bus stopping in front of us.

“Excuse me…” I made my way pass the other people waiting in the shed for another bus.

I managed to secure a seat at the far side inside, beside the window. I looked around and saw that the bus is already filled with people. The moment I checked the time, I saw that it’s currently 4:45 in the afternoon and if my estimation is right, I’ll be home by 6:30.

I exhaled deeply before putting my earphone up and listening to some mellow love music and closing my eyes. After I was able to pay my transportation fee, my phone beeped, exposing a text message from Emily.

“Zoey, there’s two men waiting for you outside the house. I invited them in but they said they’ll wait for you outside no matter how late you’ll come home. Please hurry, your grandmother is getting anxious now.”

I felt the world stopped spinning and for a second, my heart stopped beating. Why do happy moments need to be always replaced by bad ones eventually?

--

“I’ll pay the debt, soon. I promise. Please don’t show up uninvited here again. You’re scaring my grandmother.” I talked with the two men wearing black suits and holding two briefcases.

The moment the bus pulled over near our home, I ran as fast as I could to reach the two agent waiting in front of our apartment. I know they are sent by the person whom I am indebted with and this isn’t the first time they visited me surprisingly.

“You have until this year to pay us, Ms. Anabello. If you fail to do your duty, we can’t promise that this will end peacefully.” One of the men stated in an intimidating manner.

“I know.” I replied simply.

Although the two of them might appear scary, I got used to dealing with matter like this that it doesn’t shake me up anymore. I am the one in charge to protect my grandmother now and I have no time to be cowering in fear with a simple intimidation like this.

“You can go now. You’ll hear from me soon.” I uttered with confidence to show them that I am not scared.

They decided to take one last look at the apartment and in the window where my grandmother is peeping before finally driving off. The moment they were out of sight, I let out a deep sigh as I closed my eyes.

“Hey, are you okay, Nana?” I greeted my grandmother warmly soon after I entered the door.

“Who was that, Sandra? And what took you so long to get back here? You said you’ll be home after lunch.” Nana worriedly stated and her sentence made my agitation go away.

“Nana those were my friends…” I lied as I looked back and forth towards my grandmother and Emily who is now standing beside her, waiting for an explanation.

“And I didn’t say I’ll be back after lunch. I said I’ll be back at around 6 in the evening and guess what? I’m home at 6:30!” I cheered her up before ushering her towards the living room to watch the television.

After Nana was distracted, I walked towards Emily and invited her to have a talk over a cup of tea in the dining area.

“You can have your dinner here, before you go…” I said as I was preparing her drink.

“Oh no thanks, I already helped myself earlier with the snacks you left for us to eat…I think that’s enough.” She uttered, politely declining my offer.

“Emily, thank you for taking care of my grandmother while I was away.” I said sincerely as I take a few steps towards the table. I sat adjacent to her as I reached my left hand to give her the tea.

“It’s no big deal, your grandmother was not that hard to look after to. And thanks for the tea.” She replied with a smile.

I nodded as I take a sip from my cup.

“The men you saw out there…I would appreciate it if you would just keep it a secret between the two of us.” I went straight to the point.

“If you don’t mind, may I ask who they are? They really seemed scary.” She asked with a hesitation.

After I fell speechless for a second, she decided to speak again.

“Oh nevermind, you don’t have to answer me. And yes, I will keep what I saw a secret between the two of us, you can trust me.” She stated uncomfortably.

I smiled as I observe her flinched a little from her seat. I thought that it was reasonable for Emily to have some kind of an explanation since she didn’t let anything bad happen to my grandmother and the house after all.

“Well I have a family issue…Let’s just say that I am currently indebted to someone and that someone sent two men to ask for the p*****t today.”  I explained quite embarrassed.

Emily seemed to understand the situation as she didn’t ask for any more questions to me. I appreciate that she knows her boundary and decided not to get nosy to my personal business. We bid farewell after I handed her the p*****t from my uncle. And just like that, the night fell silent as Nana and I went to bed to end the day.

I took a night shower in order to relax myself before going to bed.

Just as I was drying myself the second I went out the bathroom, I decided to check on my phone and browse my f*******: account for a while. I thought about searching Zeriah’s profile online but a text suddenly popped up my screen which made me jumped out of bed.

“Good evening, Ms. Anabello. This is Zeriah Sebastian. Congratulations! You are the official participant of my study. Please reply to this text message as soon as you can.” I read shockingly.

I covered my mouth as I cannot believe what I just read. It seems like the heavens are listening to my prayers after all.

I guess I’ll see you again, Zeriah. I can’t wait.