64 At The End of The Road
1971 Words
Noah furrowed his eyebrows, his arms crossed over his chest before the woman. He hesitated, his tongue rolling backward.
A gentle nudge put him back to his senses. When he turned, Fitch nodded his head toward the woman that seemed to be waiting for an answer—perhaps a signal that they were willing to listen to what she’s going to say.
“If I heard you right,” Noah began, “did you say you needed help?”
The woman tipped her down, her eyes on her toes. She squirmed a bit, the blush spreading on her face. A strand fell from in front of her eyelashes, her weary hands tucking it behind her small ears.
“Yes,” she timidly agreed, “you’re correct.”
Fidgeting with the frills that hung on her stylish blouse, the woman peaked, her eyes fixed on Noah.
Noah scratched behind his neck, the uncomfortable feeling growing on his stomach, “How may we help you?”
“Is there something the matter?” Fitch seconded as he ran a hand through his jet-black hair. His head searched behind the woman, “If you need help around the mall, would you like us to escort you to the guards?”
“Oh, no,” the woman shook her head, rejecting their proposal fast.
“Then, how can we help?” Noah inquired, one eyebrow lifted.
Like a butterfly that spread on her freckled face, the woman began blushing again.
The uncomfortable feeling in his chest grew. He wasn’t aware of what Fitch is feeling about this situation, but he’s sure he might have sensed the dread emanating beside him.
“Let me introduce myself first,” she reached her palm toward Noah, “I’m Karol,” a plum smile was on her lips, “and I happen to have lost my wallet on the way here.”
Fitch was the first one that shook her hand, “Pleased to meet you, Karol. It was unfortunate that you have lost your wallet.”
Squeezing her hands, Noah opened his mouth to talk, “Would you like to borrow money from us?”
Fidgeting her exposed legs, Karol fixed the material of her jean short that had clung to her like a second skin, “I won’t!” she exclaimed.
Noah had the impression it wasn’t the case.
“Then, what?” Fitch pressed, “we don’t have all day to spend in leisure. If you won’t tell us, then nothing would happen.”
“I need a ride home,” Karol was looking down on the floor again. And this time, her nose reddened, her eyes had pear-like tears at its ends.
Noah involuntarily touched the car key on his pocket, “Well, we couldn’t see why we can’t.”
Upon saying this, the woman’s face jerked upward, her eyes lighting up, “Thank you,” she exclaimed, the joy surfacing on her face. Her feature relaxed as she released a sigh.
“Good thing it was time for us to head back home,” Fitch stated when they rode the escalator, his hands holding several paper bags that contained extra clothes for his stay in America.
Karol was behind Noah, so he had to turn his head a little when he was talking to her, “Where are you from?” his gaze fixed on the woman’s smile.
The woman blinked, and she didn’t hesitate to answer, “You know that new subdivision in town?”
Fitch had no idea, so he shook his head, “Never heard.”
Noah thinks it was a good thing he hadn’t disclosed he wasn’t from around here.
Now that he thought of it was there a newly built subdivision in the area. If so, then he must have not heard of it yet.
“It’s the same for me,” he replied, his hand on his chin. “Maybe we can search for its location on the internet. It’s highly accurate with locations nowadays.”
Noah braced his hand to bring out his smartphone, but the woman halted his movements.
Her eyes seemed sharp, her smile plastered on her mouth. Although Noah knew that she looked stiff and uncomfortable about the idea.
“No need,” she politely declined, “I can show you the way.”
“Speaking of wallet,” Fitch moved beside the woman, “you take the subway from here?”
Karol looked taken aback from his question. Her shaped eyebrows were raised a little, and her mouth opened, and then closed.
Noah didn’t think anything wrong about her actions.
“By the way,” she was quick to alter where the topic was going, “I don’t know your names, yet,” the butterfly blush creeping on her face.
Noah thought she was bashful at first but seems not to be the case here. Blush is a natural reaction of the body. She can’t make possible will it to come show on her face. Unless…
Fitch had a friendly smile on his face, “I’m Fitch,” said Fitch as he walked ahead of her. He got off the escalator first. Then, he directed his hand on Noah who was in deep thought about Karol’s actions toward their questions, “And this man over here is Noah.”
“Hello, Noah,” she greeted, his name like a flower on her tongue, “shall we?” her soft hands grazed his shoulders for a bit.
Noah was about to say something, but he held his tongue. Instead, he forced a smile to appear on his face, “This way,” he pointed to the exit toward the parking lot.
Fitch tailed behind him as Karol walked ahead the both of them.
“Which one is your car?” she looked around.
“Oh, we’re just passing by here. Our car is in front of the mall.”
“I was wondering why we entered here,” Fitch commented as he squinted his eyes. “Too dark!”
Nodding his head, Noah agreed. He wasn’t sure if Fitch had seen his response, either way, the dimness of the place could harm the people walking by.
Tugging the arm of his friend, Noah leads him to the other exit that leads to the front of the mall. Karol trailed behind, humming like an innocent child.
“Almost there?” she asked, still looking around.
“Yes,” Fitch replied with earnest. “My arms are dying. I need to sit down for a while.”
“You bought too much,” Noah countered, “and you’re holding everything in one arm.”
“That’s because the people kept clashing with the paper bags on both of my hands. So, I opted for it to be placed on one side of me instead,” as if he wasn’t done making his point, Fitch gestured to five paper bags held by his left hand.
A laugh escaped from Noah, “Whatever you say, buddy.”
The light of the car flashed before them, Karol yelping from the sudden brightness.
“Oh, sorry,” Noah felt the need to apologize. Him opening his car came unattended.
Karol tucked a loose strand of her behind her ears, “Don’t worry. I was just startled a little bit.”
“Well, now—” Fitch took hold the handle of Noah’s car and pulled open the door. He immediately places every paper bag on the furthest seat.
“You can come inside now,” he gestured for Karol.
The woman excitedly went inside and said as she sat, “Finally, I can go home!”
When the three of them were already settled, Noah began reversing the steering wheel. They reached the highway before Noah started his set of questions.
Looking at the rearview mirror, Noah spotted Karol leaning her head on the windowpane, “Are you sure we shouldn’t use a navigator?”
Karol stiffened, but her gentle smile played on her lips, “Yes, I am sure.”
Fitch glanced back, “Show us the way, then,”
“I will,” the determination lined on her eyes when she said she would.
“Should you refill your gas?” Karol asked.
Come to think of it, Noah hadn’t filled his tank in awhile.
“I know a gas station nearby,” Karol stated.
“You mean the one called Starry Sky?”
The smile on Karol’s face appeared, “Yeah. Odd name, is it?”
Before they headed to where Karol’s home is, Noah opted for the three of them to stop by at a nearby gas station.
“I think we’re out of gas, so I’m going to fill some first.”
“Take your time,” Karol smiled from behind them.
On the other hand, Fitch was busy looking at his phone, browsing through the happenings on f******k.
“Check this out,” Fitch had Noah glanced quickly at what he made him see. “Who is that?”
“Just some random dude we had been classmates with when we were in high school.”
They arrived at the gas station, and Noah headed out.
“I’ll help!” Karol called before a woman wearing the skimpiest skirt headed their way.
The woman raised her eyebrows at Karol, “New here?” she had her manicured nails on her hips.
Noah wondered why there was tension between the two of them.
“No, thanks,” Karol began filling in the gas tank on Noah’s car.
Then, he recognized the woman in the skimpy skirt, “Hey, you’re the one who helped me changed my tires the other day.”
The woman batted her, eyelashes, “Yes, sir. I thought you’ve forgotten.”
Reaching on his back, Noah began searching for his wallet. He then handed money to the woman, “Thanks for your services.”
“How about I wipe your windshield?” the woman asked, seemingly determined to be of service to Noah.
“I don’t think—”
“I’ll do it!” Karol volunteered. “I’ll wipe your windshield.”
Did she really want the service badly?
Sighing, Noah began asked the woman if she could let Karol clean the windshield of his car.
The woman, later on, came back with a towel and some cleaning material. Karol finished in no time.
When she closed the distance between her and Noah, Karol had her hand on her back, “Sorry,” Noah handed her money, “Please accept this. Thanks for the service.”
With haste, Karol took the money he was handing her.
As he ended his sentence, Karol wiped her head toward his direction.
“Uhm, what is it?” he asked, the concern lining his features.
“Nothing. Let’s head back.” Karol looked at the woman one more time. “She here all the time?”
Noah thought for a second, “Yeah. I give tips to her from time to time. Her services around here are great.”
Something changed in the way she looked. It was kind of scary and creepy all at the same time. His mind began flying in different directions.
Noah had no reason to doubt a woman in need of help. But, the uneasy filling was there. It never ceased the entire car ride toward Karol’s home.
Finally, they reached the highway again, and Noah began asking her questions when to turn, what landmark to find so that he can safely drive her down to her home.
She leaned behind Noah seat as she poked her head to the side, “There,” she pointed her index finger toward a street that they’re about to enter.
“Roger that,” Noah replied as he stirred the wheel.
They were finally inside the wide street. Houses lined on each side, the green lawn a visible feature for every American home they will pass by.
“Straight ahead,” Karol instructed as she had her hands holding behind Noah and Fitch’s car seat.
“Look at all the houses,” Fitch had his eyes on the color of their roofs, “they looked so organized.”
“They look the same,” Karol added, “Anyway turn this corner.”
Now, Noah remembered this place, so he couldn’t hold his tongue this time. “Aren’t we heading back to the highway?”
Karol smiled despite his suspicious queries, “Yes. I live near there.”
“A house in front of a highway?” Fitch’s voice sounded it was in disbelief. “I don’t think that’s safe at all.”
“Is it not?” Karol challenged. “I have been living there for ages. I didn’t encounter any danger ahead.”
“Good thing you didn’t,” Fitch turned his head toward her as he said that.
Noah kept driving. And finally, after five minutes, they have spotted the highway ahead.
“Oh, there,” Karol had the joy and relief in her tone.
“Where?” Fitch looked sideways. “There aren’t any houses around here.”
“It’s just the police station—”
A siren went out behind and in front of them. Two mobile cars blocked Noah’s way.
“Huh? What’s happening?” he rolled down his window shield.
A police officer went down on his mobile and headed straight to where they were.
Noah furrowed his brow, his heart quickening as he looked at Karol casually lounging on the back seat. Fitch was as equally confused. The expression on his face matched Noah’s.
“Officer, what’s the matter?” Noah was the first one to ask.
“Sir, if you will step down on your vehicle,” the officer’s voice was authoritative.
- Writer
