Possessive about Rosa

5

"Here take my jacket, you're cold." Guzman draped his jacket on my shoulder and rubbed my back, I wasn't ready to talk to him, I didn't want to. I know I was pulling my anger about Mads on him but I couldn't help myself. I was so upset and sad I didn't know how to stomach it. After they all dispersed and Guzman neared me I just stormed off until he took quick steps to get ahead of me and asked me to just walk and that I didn't have to talk if I didn't want to. I agreed.

"You know when I  see the marmalade wrapped in the tissue I was ecstatic, I wanted to ask you if there was any this morning but I didn't. Thanks." I looked at the cat who crossed the path and jumped on the wall beside and walked away. I could hear the happiness in his voice and that's when I gave up. "I'm sorry." I sighed.

"Huh?" He put his hands in his pocket and kicked the small stone in his way, "I'm sorry. I was upset at someone and I pulled it out on you." I bit my lip, the way he was talking to me without getting annoyed as I didn't answer really melted a reply out of me.

"Don't worry about it I thought you wouldn't talk today at all, your building's here." I felt bad genuinely when he said the last part, I wish I could've talked to him and not throw a tantrum like I did. 

"I'm sorry." I said looking at my black heels, funny how two colors goes with every colour, I twisted the hem of my frock as I felt Guzman's hand taking my hand in his, I looked at our hands and then slowly at him, "it's alright. I'm glad you talked finally." He smiled softly. 

We both looked at each other, I don't know who started leaning towards the other first but we did our lips were mere centimetres away, I parted my lips closing my eyes and breathed steadily, I felt him lower his head and his hand held mine tightly, the next moment his lips were on mine. I smiled against his lips and then we both moved our lips slowly and sweetly, his hands never left mine throughout the kiss, I could think nothing but his lips in mine, it felt weird kissing him but I couldn't get over his lips. We only pulled away when we heard the car honk and headlights fell on us.

"I'll walk you home." He said against my lips after he rested his forehead on mine, "No, I'll go." I breathed licking my lips. 

"Are you sure?" He looked at his car standing in front of us, the driver finally decided to turn the headlights off, "Yes, I'll see you tomorrow?" I asked, cupping his cheek.

"Of course sweetheart." He kissed me on my cheeks and whispered a good night in my left ear, he asked me to go as he watched me, after I reached the second floor I heard the engine of his car come to life, I chuckled and ran upstairs blushing like a teenager who has been kissed for the first time in her life. 

While climbing the stairs I didn't think about Richmond or his junkie wife, for the first time in a really long time I was happy, happy about myself that I have time and life apart from serving coffee and sweet treats and hearing tantrums from customers. 

I unlocked the door with the key, my eyes caught the keychain. It was a blue feather, with black freckles here and there and a diamond on the corner, I wondered when did I brought it, I pushed the door open and walked straight to the kitchen to drink some water, as usual I kept my bag on the kitchen island and my keys in the bowl, I couldn't find my bowl of keys, I was certain it was here in the morning, where did it go now? I wondered. I left the keys and walked to my bedroom, on the way I got out of my heels and freed my hair open but I couldn't get my hands on the zipper behind my frock, s**t. I swore.

"Holy Jesus!" I gasped loudly, my hand flying to my chest in order to calm my racing heart, sweat pouring out on my forehead and my hair follicles hurt strangely, I almost had a seizure seeing Eli standing against the window in my room.

"Who was he?" She asked, completely ignoring my horrified face, I had to take deep breaths to calm down, I could hear my heart drumming in my ears, I could feel the pulse running fast in my veins.

"I live alone Eli for crying out loud, don't scare me like that!" I gulped, I walked to her and turned around, he sighed and pulled the zipper down all the way down without any resistance.

"Privacy Eli! Jeez." I muttered searching for my towel, I couldn't find the towel that I left on my bed this very morning, it was strange how I couldn't find things that I left in their places.

"it's in the bathroom." Eli said from behind, she didn't..

"Listen to me," she cut me before I could say anything, I shut my mouth and sat beside her on the bed.

"I didn't bring any maids to do it, I came here in the morning and since then I'm here cleaning your paradise which turned into a purgatory the day you stopped cleaning." She wrapped her arm around my  shoulder, sighing I rested my head on her shoulder.

"You didn't have to, it's not your place." I mumbled feeling embarrassed for not cleaning my mess on time, and I hated it when she came over and did it herself.

"Who told you?" I asked, the answer to it was obvious; Clara. She was the one who came to pick me and she must've told Eli.

"Not Clara if that's what you're wondering, I could smell your clothes despite the fragrance." I groaned completely mortified.

"I know you don't get time to clean your house and take care of yourself the way one should at your age but living in misery is not good either, I couldn't step in when I saw all this and you're living here, sleeping and eating in such a bad place." Her voice wasn't filled with disgust rather it was genuine concern.

"It isn't such a bad place." I murmured taking in her scents, her hands enveloped mine and I felt good.

"You know what I mean, don't try and act clever." She scolded, I pulled away and looked ahead not meeting her eyes.

"Rose you know how I personally feel about your job and your house, especially the neighborhood." She exhaled.

"I'm broke, I have to live on sweets from the cafè so I could save money for rent and bills, I don't even remember when I last had a complete meal or anything savoury other than buns and rolls and cakes." I choked on my last sentence, a sob threatened to pull out of me.

"Come here, I didn't mean to upset you…" she pulled me against her chest, I hid my face in her neck and tried calming down, I didn't want any sympathy from anyone, especially not my friends. I can't cry. 

"Listen to me Rose, we can solve everything if you let me. You just have to say a simple yes or just nod your head and it will be all done for you." She pulled away and grabbed my chin making me look in her eyes.

"No." I whispered, I couldn't do that. 

"Why not? Why won't you let me help you?" I got up and headed to the bathroom without answering her question.

"Rose!"

"Rose come back here!"

"We need to talk Rose! You can't run away everytime! It's enough!" I could hear Eli from the bedroom as I brushed my teeth and jumped under the shower. I wanted to give her a rude answer but she was the only one who genuinely wanted to help me, she was really there and not just for formalities.

I turned the knob of the shower, I expected there won't be any water pouring but it did and it was cold to say the least, it was freezing! I screeched as water hit my skin again and again. I heard the bathroom door rattle she was trying to get in and talk me out of it, I couldn't have that. My mind is already made. I'm not accepting any kind of help from her.

"Mother of God! Are you out of your Goddamn mind? Cold shower?" She stepped in and turned the knob off, she had no shame. I concluded cowering my body as much as I could.

"Go...aw... away!" I managed to say between my chattering teeth.

"I'm not. Get out now! You're gonna catch a cold," she rested her hands on her hips, shaking my head. I reached for the knob to turn it back on, I needed to take a shower. "No...go out I'll be back." I squeezed some body wash on the loofah and started scrubbing my hands, as I saw her turn around I sighed that she finally decided to give me some privacy but all that went down the drain when she shut the toilet seat and sat on it after cleaning it with the toilet paper.

"You're a married woman watching a woman shower." I muttered, because that stupid comeback was all I had.

"We have the same organs." She deadpanned, crossing her right leg on her left, she wore a dark green off shoulder dress and white shoes, her raven black hair up in a ponytail. She looked beautiful and the brown lipstick she wore gave a good dimension to her lips.

"Stop staring at me." She rolled her eyes.

"Eli please turn around, I want to shower in peace." I scrubbed my inner thighs, she shook her head and continued, "Take the help I've been offering you since three years and I will." She shrugged. 

"Fine keep looking like a p*****t you are," I huffed and spread my legs to wash my thighs properly, I knew she was looking but the water was cold and so was I. 

"Tell me one reason why you wouldn't take my help." She got up and turned around from me and sat in the seat again, I washed my feet and with the loofah looking up at her.

"Sympathy. I don't want your sympathy, I'm not a charity case you know." I sighed. She turned to face me again and gasped, "that's how low you think of me?" She whispered in horror.

"No, I think that's how low you think of me."  I turned the knob on and waited for the cold water to pour on me, I shivered under the water but quickly washed the soap off me, I rinsed the loofah and hung it on its place around the knob.

From the cabinet above I pulled out my face wash and pumped a dollop on my left hand, the link liquid squeezed out in my hand as I heard Eli, "if it were a sympathy or charity case as you say everyone would've known about it, I can't believe you actually said that Rose. You know me better than anyone among the girls yet you failed me today." Her voice broke, she got up and left the bathroom leaving me more upset than I already was.

With a towel wrapped around my body I stepped out of the bathroom and my eyes searched for Eli, I felt bad even though it wasn't my fault, I told her I didn't need her help and that I'm alright with my current situation. "Eli, I'm sorry, please come out," I cursed softly as a shiver ran down my spine and goosebumps rose on my skin, without any attempt to call her I made a dash to my room for my clothes. 

I slipped in my green pajama bottoms and a shirt, I left my hair open and brushed my hair, as I pulled out the brush from my hair my eyes widened when I saw the amount of hair that came out, it freaked me really, I loved my hair and I always made sure they were cleaned and maintained. I sighed running my fingers in my dark brown locks, my hair felt oily. I need to shower.

"I'm leaving, I brought some food that's in the fridge," Eli trailed off looking at me standing in front of the mirror.

"Everything alright?" She asked, stuffing something in her small purse, "Sure." I nodded 

"Okay then, I'll be on my way." She turned around and started leaving, I don't know what came over me I threw the brush in my hand on the floor and ran to hug her, I hugged her from behind and climbed on her back, with a gasp she stopped and her hand held my legs around her waist, "I'm alone." I felt myself trembling.

"Rose, get down we can talk if you want." She said in a soothing voice almost as though she's talking to a child..I never stopped telling her how she would be a great mother.

"Okay….." I whispered and got off her, she turned to me and cupped my cheeks, she pushed my hair back with her one hand and pulled me inside the living room making me sit on the couch. The couch didn't smell foul like it always did, a kind of smell you'd notice when you leave something to rot, something earthy. 

"I want to help you, I know you're capable of owning everything I'm ready to provide you on a silver platter right now, but sometimes you need the push Rose." She smiled softly, taking my hand in hers.

"I don't want your help, I'm sick of living here in this dumpster but it's always been like that, I don't have proper qualifications to get a good job with a good pay, and I most certainly don't have the money to resume my studies." I sighed, I always hated talking about my situation, but now it reached a point where I felt tired of explaining and not mad. There was a huge difference. 

"I can help you with your studies." She was dead serious, I turned to fully face her, I sat on the couch with one leg dangling down and the other crossed on the couch, the way she sat was elegant, with her legs crossed and her hands in mine.

"Don't have the time or strength, I come like a freaking corpse to home after work." I shook my head.

"What do you want then?" She asked, squeezing my hand.

"For you to stop offering me help and be there just as you are." I smiled softly.

"Alright. If that's what you wish for." She nodded, pulling me in a hug, chuckling. I hugged her and after some persuasion she left. Her driver stood down waiting for her but she wasn't ready to leave me alone besides she told me how her husband was coming home from a trip abroad after hearing that I just had to make her leave.

My stomach grumbled in hunger, I got up to notice that I haven't bought anything from the café when Leona asked us to, instead I passed my share to David, his sister loved dates muffin. On the way to the fridge I hoped for something to be there that was edible, I was hungry. I was literally starving, pulling open the fridge I gasped at sight before me, I couldn't believe my eyes. My whole fridge was wiped clean of all the expired sauces and dressings along with other edibles which weren't edible. Now were replaced with containers of food. I just had to heat them up and enjoy it. 

Keeping my hand on the other containers I pulled out one glass container and closed the door behind me, the size of the container was enough to fill stomachs of three people, I heated it up in the microwave for five minutes, I looked up at the clock in the living thinking of Richmond as I pulled out the hot food, it smelled heaven, my stomach growled in hunger as my nose took in the delicious aroma.

It was almost eight-thirty and it was time for Richmond to arrive, I let the container cool down a little then pulled out two forks tucking in the pocket of my pajama, I took the keys from the bowl which Eli kept on top of the fridge along with my bills. I got out of my apartment and locked the door and cautiously walked down to the second floor, I sighed looking at the elevator.

Dusting the staircase with a tissue in my hand I sat down with the glass container in my hand, it was spaghetti and meatballs my mouth watered as I took a long sniff, I hoped that Richmond would arrive soon so the food won't get cold. I heard footsteps climbing up and waited for it to be Richmond's. It wasn't. It was some Asian kid climbing up with three popsicles in his hands, he didn't bother looking at me, he just walked past me.

Kids are rude these days. 

After five minutes more I heard footsteps and I had given up, I didn't think Richmond was ever gonna show up. Strangely he did. He climbed up with a bag in his hand, he looked tired and his steps weren't stiff, I feared he might trip. 

"Are you drunk?" It was the first thing that came out of my mouth, he raised his head and looked at me in confusion, he needed sleep. 

"What? No. I'm tired, I didn't catch any sleep last night and I'm starving." He threw his head back and exhaled.

"Well, good for you I have brought dinner, spaghetti and meatballs." I grinned.

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