RESTRAINED OBSESSION: POSSESSIVE CEO

CHAPTER 2:Coffee for a Stranger

The moment I stepped out of my apartment, I was carrying a paper bag with a sandwich and a hot coffee. This was for the pitiful man outside.

I immediately looked at the bench. The man who was sleeping earlier was now sitting up, folding a black umbrella.

He was pale. Even though his hair was wet from the rain, it was obvious he took care of himself. He didn't look like a beggar at all.

I slowly approached him. I hope he doesn't bite me, okay? I joked in my mind but I was really nervous.

"Ahh, Sir, good morning," I greeted while standing in front of him. I held out the coffee and sandwich. "I brought you hot coffee and a sandwich. It's delicious and I made it myself. Eat it while it's still hot so your stomach will be full."

He didn't say anything. He didn't speak either. He just stared into the distance, like he couldn't hear me.

"Sir, don't be shy, it's free. I just want to give you something to eat," I repeated.

But this time, he slowly turned and stared at me.

Oh no. This is what I was afraid of. What if he bites me or hurts me?

Angel, you're so stubborn, you're trying to be a hero! If he eats you, you'll really become a story, I'm telling you! I nervously said in my mind.

If looks could kill, I would surely be dead by now because of how badly the man was looking at me.

Sharp. His gaze was sharp. The kind that pierces through your soul. His eyes were a blue-grey color, but cold. Like ice in London.

I still forced myself to hand him what I was holding and tried not to show that I was scared. I smiled slightly even though my hands were shaking.

"Sir, I'll just leave this here. By the way, can I know what your name is and why you always sleep here?" I asked while slowly placing the sandwich and coffee on the bench he was sitting on.

I just asked to get rid of my nervousness for a moment.

He still wasn't speaking and he was still staring at me. At this point, I wanted to pee in my pants.

Calm down, self, don't show it. I'm an introvert, why do I need to be a hero to someone I don't know? That's what you get! I lectured myself in my mind.

Self, when I count to three, we'll run, okay? I whispered to myself.

"Okay sir, I'll leave now. It seems like you don't want me here. I hope you eat that to ease your hunger," I said to the man in front of me.

I was about to step away when the man suddenly spoke.

"Vince."

I stopped.

"My name is Vince," he said coldly. His voice was deep, with a British accent, low. He didn't sound like a beggar at all.

I suddenly looked at him.

"I don't need your pity," he added. "Take this away from here and you just eat it yourself."

His tone was sarcastic.

And at this moment, my pity seemed to disappear and was replaced by annoyance. This jerk, I'm already being kind and he still has the nerve to be picky? I said in my mind.

But I still smiled.

"Oh, sir, don't worry. This is just for now, I won't bother you again with food if that's what you want. But please don't refuse grace and food because it might get mad at you and next time you won't have anything to eat," I joked to him but inside I was annoyed at myself.

You're such a show-off, self, that's what you get.

"Okay sir, I'm leaving too, I have a lot to do," I said and I finally walked back to my apartment.

As soon as I entered my unit, I could finally breathe easily.

Oh my gosh! I was really nervous like 50 percent! But why is he so mean? Someone kind and beautiful is already being nice to him, and he still doesn't want to accept it? What is his problem, hello, it's me? I joked to myself, irritated by the man's behavior.

There! Don't get confused, okay? This is really how I am because I only want myself as a friend. Joke!

I should go back to my room and take a shower.

But before I went into the bathroom, I peeked out the window.

He was still there. Sitting. And for the first time, he picked up the coffee I left.

And he drank it.

---

He's so grumpy, but he ate it anyway. But why is he so grumpy? I asked myself while still peeking out the window.

But in fairness, he's so handsome up close. His nose is so pointed, his eyebrows are so thick, he just looks sharp when staring into the distance but it's different when you stare at him up close.

Pale handsome with a pointed nose,

Hey girl, wake up! Do you hear what you're saying? Like you're getting a crush on that man? Keep it up and you'll be sleeping on the bench next to him, you want that? I jokingly said in my mind.

It's okay even if he's homeless, I can let him stay here in my unit, my mind said again as if there was really an angel and a devil fighting inside me.

Angel on the right says: "Help him, poor thing."

Devil on the left says: "He's handsome, let him stay!"

Is this still normal? Oh well, I'll just take a shower.

I went into the bathroom and played music so I could really feel my shower. I turned up the speaker.

_Shower is my therapy,_ as they say.

While I was soaping, I was even singing. Until the song changed and I suddenly stopped.

My Mama and Papa's favorite song played.

The lullaby they used to sing to me when I was a child.

Suddenly I just started crying without me noticing. The water from the shower mixed with my tears.

"I miss you so much, Mama and Papa," I whispered while leaning against the bathroom wall. "Maybe if you were here, my life wouldn't be this lonely."

I am all alone.

Only a distant relative raised me since Mama and Papa died because our house burned down when I was 10 years old.

Lola Laling. She was the only one who took me in. But because of old age, she also passed away.

So I was forced to stand on my own feet and hustle to finish school and survive.

I worked as a janitor while studying. I saved money. Until I was able to buy this small apartment.

But even though I have an apartment, I am still alone. No family to come home to. No one to eat with.

That's probably why when I saw Vince outside, I saw myself in him. Alone. With nowhere to go.

We are both alone in this world.