RUN WITH ME
CHAPTER 36: THE REPULSION

"I like you." Without any vague pleasantries, Archie immediately stated his intention of calling Arunika to come to the place. But there was no reaction from Arunika, the woman was still silent since the last question she asked earlier.

Seeing the woman's inertia, Archie snorted with a smile. "Why? You're expecting someone else, aren't you? You didn't expect me to be standing in front of you right now?" asked the man, still maintaining his smile.

Finally Arunika reacted by answering those questions with a slow slack. "I didn't have any guesses before coming here, just curious," he casually replied.

"Then? Are you surprised? Now I'm following the advice of someone who says to be honest if you like someone and don't bother others." Archie emphasized the first word 'someone. Arunika knew this man in front of her offended Gavin.

"It's good that you follow someone's advice, which means you realize your actions have made others uncomfortable." Arunika also emphasized the word 'someone', showing he understood who was spoken. Archie was speechless hearing that, Arunika was completely siding with Gavin apparently.

"But I'm sorry, if you ask me out, I can't" Arunika said to-the point because she knew this was the topic of their conversation. That sentence certainly made Archie close his mouth for a while. The woman in front of him was very strict.

"Why?" ask Archie at last. Honestly, he did not understand why Arunika was difficult to approach, even though he was notoriously friendly and supple. He thought she would be baper if given a little attention and seduction, but no, his estimate missed.

Arunika gave her flat gaze to Archie. "I have no intention of dating." And that answer is what Arunika always gives when invited to date. There is indeed a committed person like Arunika, but did he really not have that intention during his teenage years? Does he never have feelings for a man that make him feel like dating?

"If I can be honest, I don't believe that reason" Archie replied which made Arunika raise both eyebrows.

"I'm more trusting of the reason you're dating Gavin, so you're rejecting me now." Arunika rolled her eyes tired of hearing that statement. Why do people always say or ask themselves to date Gavin? Do their interactions look different in these people's eyes? Arunika felt that nothing was wrong.

"Listen to me carefully, I'm not dating Gavin and have no feelings for him, he's just my best friend, got it?" Even though Arunika's mouth had to foam saying this, she would still do so because she did not want any misunderstanding about trifles. Archie could see the earnestness in every word Arunika put out, even he could feel the absence of lies in the light brown net so he smiled with relief.

"Then can I try first?" Arunika's arm gave a second after hearing the plea, making Archie's smile fade away.

"Whatever you try, I won't like you. So, do not waste your time and energy on things that will definitely not materialize," replied Arunika to heart Archie. A part of him was throbbing pain and he felt tight. Did he really not have a chance?

Arunika can see the look of the face that changed softly, but here he is, he will say no if indeed he does not want to. He is not happy to give false hope to others because he knows how painful it is to experience it.

"Sorry to have hurt your heart, I hope you can meet and like people who can accept your feelings." After saying that, Arunika turned her body and started to step away leaving Archie who was still standing frozen. The girl completely stayed away without even once staring at him, showing how resolute the rejection was.

"If you've got such an answer from him, I hope you'll take it with a graceful heart." Archie gasped when he heard that heavy and deep voice. He quickly looked at the shed area about ten steps to his right and found Gavin standing there with his hands folded in front of his chest.

"When were you there?" ask Archie suspiciously.

Gavin learned the question that revolved around Archie's head through his gaze so he smiled faintly. "Yes, I'm listening to your conversation" said Gavin, which left Archie speechless.

"Don't get me wrong, I didn't do it on purpose. I had accidentally seen Arunika running here, so I followed her for fear of something happening. But it turns out he met you and you expressed your feelings for him. I'd assume I didn't hear that conversation" Gavin explained, drawing his distance from Archie.

Archie snorted with a smile, then gave a sharp look at Gavin. "It looks like you're in a very good mood after hearing our conversation. You must be very happy to see one of your rivals reduced," he said with a cruel smile.

Although Archie gave off an extremely strong aura of competition, Gavin was unfazed and responded casually. "I've never considered you a rival, what's the point? Nor will Arunika accept my feelings." Archie's forehead shriveled deep.

Gavin chuckled at the confusion on Archie's face. "You didn't hear that very strong explanatory sentence? Arunika doesn't like me and only thinks of me as a good friend. So, why do you have to feel rivaled by me?" That logical explanation also made Archie stunned.

"Because you have a lot of time to be with him. Even though now he says he has no feelings for you, you will continue to spend time together and there will come a time when those feelings grow in him. The human heart is always changing" Archie explained after a moment of silence.

"I agree, the human heart is always changing." Archie looked at Gavin confusedly after the man agreed to his words while nodding.

"But do you know how Arunika is?" gavin asked next, which made Archie shake slowly. Although he likes the woman and has been watching her for a long time, in fact Archie never really knew her true nature because he was never close to her.

"That arunika if it has commitment, it will hold it very firmly. When he was committed to not dating, then I who have given a lot of time and effort for him could not say anything. I don't know what his heart is right now, but I know his commitment to appreciate it being my best option" Gavin said in a soft tone. Unconsciously his eyes also cheered when saying this and Archie in seeing it, how much the man felt to Arunika.

There was a battle going on inside Archie. One side of him justifies Gavin's words and realizes that his behavior has not been good, but his other self rages saying all Gavin's talk is just a joke and Gavin does it to make him give up. After all, this man in front of him also liked Arunika and definitely hoped to get the woman.

Seeing Archie's silence, Gavin fell silent. He did not know what the man was thinking, whether his words would be received positively or negatively. But for sure, Gavin had said what he wanted to say.

"It's up to you to accept my words or not. It's just, I hope you don't bother Arunika anymore because she's already clearly telling her heart" Gavin said, ending a brief but rather tense conversation between her and Archie. After that, he put both hands in his pants pocket and turned his body, then walked away leaving Archie who was still wrestling with his own mind.

Archie looked at the wide back that was getting smaller and smaller. With a hard-to-interpret look, Archie tightened his grip on the hampers he held from the start. He finally could not give the item because Arunika who completely rejected him.

"Omong empty." And it seems we already know which side wins that inner battle.

...⁕⁕⁕...