Chapter 7
1014 Words
As Mike pushed open the door, the bell above it rang out, announcing his arrival. His eyes swept the store, locking onto May as she browsed through the racks, her fingers trailing over the fabrics. Anthony stood beside her, his eyes scanning the store, oblivious to Mike's presence.
Mike's heart skipped a beat as he froze, his feet rooted to the spot. He felt a rush of uncertainty, unsure of how to proceed. Should he approach them, or slip away unnoticed? The air seemed to thicken around him, heavy with anticipation, as he struggled to make a decision.
Mike was still thinking of what to do when May suddenly turned and saw him. Mike's eyes widened when their gazes locked, and he instantly rushed out of the boutique.
"Er...I'll be back, just gimme a sec." May said to Anthony before rushing off, going after Mike.
Luckily for her, Mike was still outside when she got there.
"Hey." She called, and Mike turned to face her. "It's you again." She smiled at him. "What brings you here? Don't tell me you're following me now."
Mike scoffed, a defensive edge to his tone. "This is just a coincidence.'' He said, the words tumbling out in a rush. "I came here to shop, I didn't expect to see you here. Don't think for a second that I followed you."
May's eyes narrowed, her gaze piercing as she studied Mike's face. "Hmm...I see.'' She replied, her voice dripping with skepticism, her tone implying that she wasn't quite buying his explanation. "So you came to shop in a place where they only sell women clothings."
"What?" Mike furrowed his brow in confusion.
"It's indicated in the sign above." She pointed at the sign.
When Mike saw the sign, he knew that he's been caught in his little lie.
May couldn't help but laugh when she saw the expression on his face. "Are you a crossdresser or something? That's the only thing I can come up with since you say you didn't follow me here." She teased.
"I'm not a crossdresser, and I really didn't follow you here. Why would I even want to do that?" Mike scoffed. "I was shopping for someone."
May could tell that Mike wasn't ready to admit the truth, so she decides to just let things be. She was about saying something else when Anthony interrupted them.
"May!" He called, hurriedly coming to stand beside her. "What are you doing with him?'' He questioned, glaring hatefully at Mike.
"We were just talking, Anthony. It's really okay." May calmly replied.
"No it's not, nothing about this is okay. You're out here speaking with a stranger, someone you know nothing about. I already warned you to be careful about this, May. You shouldn't be speaking to him."
"I..." May was saying, but Mike beat her to it.
"And who are you to decide that for her, huh? Are you her lover or something?" Mike questioned, his anger slowly rising.
Anthony stepped forward, positioning himself protectively in front of May, blocking Mike's view of her. "This doesn't concern you.'' He growled, his voice menacing. "Stay away from May, or I promise you'll regret it."
Mike sneered, unfazed by Anthony's threat. "You think that's going to scare me? Sorry, mate, but you'll have to do better than that."
He paused, a mischievous glint in his eye. "I was planning to keep my distance, but now I think I'll have to stick around. I wouldn't want you to think your little threat intimidated me."
With a mocking wink, Mike roughly shoved Anthony aside, his eyes locking onto May's for a brief, charged moment. "I'll see you around." He said, his voice low and husky, before turning to leave.
Anthony felt a strong urge to go after him and punch him, but he managed to control himself.
"You shouldn't have done that, Anthony. We were only talking, nothing more." May calmly scolded.
"Are you being serious right now?" Anthony questioned in disbelief. "You know the situation of things. We've got to be careful, so don't blame me for caring too much and looking after you. I'm just looking out for you, May. You hardly know that guy so please don't just trust him like that. Please stay away from him, and I'm telling you this for your own good." He pleaded. "I'm not saying this because I don't like him, but trust me when I say that something is definitely off about that guy. You shouldn't be seen with him."
"I get it, Anthony. I know you're only looking out for me, and I sincerely appreciate that, but I can take care of myself just fine. I don't need you worrying this much about me, and about Mike... You're only saying that because you don't really know him, but trust me when I say he means no harm."
Anthony frowned deeply. "And you think you do know him?" He questioned.
"I...I..." May trailed off, not knowing if she should tell him about Mike coming to see her and all she knows about him.
"Is there something you're not telling me?" Anthony questioned, giving her a suspicious look.
May took a deep breath before responding, "No." She paused, collecting her thoughts. "I just believe we shouldn't judge someone based on appearances. I know how things are, but that doesn't mean I should suspect everyone I meet. I don't want to live in fear; I want a normal life like everyone else. That's why I moved here – for a fresh start. I'm trying to move forward, Anthony, and I hope you can understand and support me."
May's eyes pleaded with Anthony to comprehend her perspective. After a moment of contemplation, Anthony nodded.
"Fine, I'll support your decision, but that doesn't mean I trust that guy. I still think you should keep your distance, and my mind won't change about that."
Anthony's expression softened slightly as he took May's hand. "Let's get back to shopping. We're running behind schedule."
Together, they returned to the boutique, continuing their shopping trip amidst the lingering tension.
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