LOVING A MANNEQUIN

Chapter 54: Love Plague

*BARBIE HEAVENWARD POV*

"Barbie, I like you. Actually I have been loving you since the first day we met but-- I can't be with you for now. I'm sorry. I'm really sorry."

These were the most painful words I have ever heard in my entire life. Even though he said he liked me, he loved me but I was still hurt that he rejected me. Why can't we be together?

Was I lacking something?

Was it because I'm poor?

Or was there a problem with me?

I was confused. I could not even think clearly right now.

"Why?" This was all I said while holding back my tears.

He stared at me with pleading eyes, "Barbie, please try to understand me. I really can't be with you for now. Let's not talk about it anymore, can we?”

I got up suddenly causing me to feel dizzy. I rubbed my temples and tried to breathe at a regular pace.

"Are you okay? Can you not think of it right now?"

I smiled hard once wiping away the tears that spontaneously dripped into my eyes. I stared at him deeply, "Can you at least give me a reason? Why? Why can't we be together?"

He grabbed both of my shoulders and wiped my cheeks, "Don't cry anymore, okay? My heart aches seeing you cry."

"Why don't you just  answer me? Why Angelo? Could it be that you think I am not good enough for you?"

"What are you saying? No one in this world is better than you for me. But- can you try to understand me? I am helpless too. I don't want you to get hurt because of me. I am doing this because I have my own reason. Barbie, you are a great girl. Please, I am begging you. Understand me. Believe me. I will definitely make you very happy in the future. For the meantime, can we just be happy like what we used before?”

"Just be happy like what we used before?" I repeated in a sarcastic tone. Then I laughed, "That is ridiculous."

"Barbie- I-"

Our deep and heart to heart conversation was interrupted when suddenly someone entered the room and spit out a man carrying boxes and bags. Melanie tailed him from behind.

Who was this man? Why wasn't Addorro who was with her?

"What strange thing just happened here?" Suddenly, a round and full voice of a man roared inside the room that shook mine and Melanie's consciousness. We both seemed to have stared blankly on the space. Totally forgetting each other's presence. It was too weird. This was the first time we ignored each other.

“What is wrong?” I asked and then looked at the man only to recognize who he was..

“It’s you? What are you doing here?” Melanie asked as she went on her feet, walked around the man and examined him. “Why are you wearing a doctor's clothing? Could it be-?”

He smiled on us, “Right. I am a doctor here. I am Doctor Rodolf Escubar.”

“Oh my God! So I guessed it right. You are really a doctor. No wonder those nurses and doctors know you so well. If my guess is right again, you are that man with a nickname Doctor Hunk.” Here came Melanie. The named Rodolf just entered but she already turned to normal. A lively lady.

He rubbed his nape and feigned a cough, “Don't make it sound real. It's embarrassing.”

“Embarrassing you ass. If I say, you seem like it. You enjoyed fame and attention so much. No wonder they mistook me as your girlfriend.”

“Do I really look like I like fame? Miss Smith, even if I don't like it, what can I do? I am born handsome and talented, it's not my fault.”

I and Melanie burst into laughter.

“What thick cheeks.” Melanie mumbled.

“I am glad you two finally smile.” He said.

"By the way, what are you doing here?" Melanie asked.

"I am doing my rounds and thought to pay a visit for the two of you." He said. He turned to me, "This is-"

"This is my sister, Barbie Heavenward." Melanie introduced  me proudly as she put her arm around my shoulder.

"Your sister? You two don't have the same surname. Furthermore, you two look like at the same age."

"We are best friends who regard each other as sisters." I butt in.

"Oh I see. Nice to meet you Miss Heavenward. I say, you two really have a good connection. Both fabulous and look like blood sisters."

"Of course."

For the whole night, Angelo never returned to my side. But I could feel his presence from outside the room. Maybe he was hesitant to face me because he thought we might talk about our relationship again.

I finally understood what it meant of being close yet unreachable.

He was just next to you and you were close to each other but you couldn't touch him.

This was bitter sweet, irritating.

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We were in the locker room of the boutique past noon. We were fixing ourselves for the afternoon battle work shift.

"What is going on with the air of our boutique?" Kris said almost aloud.

The expression on Kris' face was observable as she brought her face closer to mine then to Anica. We sat next to each other. The two of us did not realize that we were in daze while staring at the mirror and the comb was stuck in the middle of our hair.

"What is really going on with the people here in the shop?" Celine asked in surprise. "Why is everyone staring blankly in the air, so down and constantly sighing?”

"Yes." Jess said. "I noticed that too. Early this morning these two are not on their usual self. They both act strange."

"It is not only them who are like that." Celine replied again. "This morning, I went to Miss Smith's office, do you know what I got there? Like that. She has the same symptoms as these two."

Kris laughed and repeatedly clapped her palms.

"What's funny?" Jess's eyes narrowed.

"I am warning you Celine, Jess, Nelia to not fall in love. Otherwise you will be like them. Look, our shop seems to be suffering from incurable plague.” Kris said seriously.

“What? What plague?” Celine exclaimed.

“Love Plague.”

Everybody laughed.

Anica and I rolled our eyes at them and resumed fixing our face and hair.

Celine put her hand on my left shoulder while looking in the mirror, "Barbie, why do you look so broken hearted like Anica? As far as we know, you have a handsome cool lover. Do you two have a problem?"

I smiled so as not to reveal what my problem was, "What nonsense are you saying? What problem could there be with me? I am just tired and a bit unwell from yesterday's hard work. I mean, chasing and worrying about him."

"I say, you don't have to linger on it anymore since he returned home safely."

"You are right Celine. Don't worry, I will remember that." I got up and put my things away and then put them in the locker. Afterwards, I went straight out of the room, "I am going first."

"Hey? What are you in a hurry for?” Kris shouted. “Barbie, you really know how to avoid inquiries.”

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“Miss, Miss, are you okay?” I flinched when someone suddenly tapped my arm. I didn't realize I spaced out again.

“I am sorry ma’am. Do you need my assistance?” I asked politely.

“Oh, I only wanted this red stripe polo and this grey trousers but the sizes don't fit for my son. I want to ask if there is medium size for these items. Size 30 for the trousers.” The woman who seemed in her early forties said with a wide bright smile on her lips.

What an easygoing lady. If all customers were like this, I didn't mind having overtime every day.

I smiled at her, “We have that size ma’am. Please wait for some minutes, I will pick it up for you.”

“Alright! Alright! Thank you.”

In the meantime, maybe because of the pleasant presence of the lady, I forgot the problem I was going through in love that kept passing back and forth inside my brain. Thankfully, I immediately found the clothes she was looking for from the hangers.

"Here it is, ma'am." I said and gave her the clothes.

She examined the clothes for a while, then said, "Thank you Miss. Then, I will be paying in the counter now."

"Okay, ma'am. Come back again. Bye bye."

"Guess who is there? Simple yet alluring." I twitched when a male soft but solid voice suddenly heard around after a moment that the lady left. As I looked back, I saw the familiar aura and smile of a man with his hands on his black pant's pockets.

My gaze widened after I watched him, and ran our distance to meet him. "Senior Nic!" We were only a few steps away but I was already gasping my breath. "What are you doing here Senior Nic? When did you just come home to this country? How did you know I was here?"

He ruffled my hair and poked my nose, "Look at you. You still don't change. If you ask, it's always too long. How can I answer all of that at once?”

I smiled, tidying my hair again, "You can just randomly answer those questions."

"Well, have dinner with me tonight. We did not meet for a long time. I want to tell you a lot. Of course, I also prepared a gift for you. I did not expect to run into you today so I did not bring it along with me. Well , how is our princess?”

“ Drop it, Senior Nic. I am no longer that spoiled princess girl.”

He bent down and moved closer to me, “You still that little cute princess in my eyes. No one can change that.”

“Senior Nic, you are making me embarrassed.” I said and slightly slid away.

He stood up straight and ruffled my hair again, “Alright! I still have something to do now. Don't forget our dinner tonight.” He searched his pocket and handed me a business card. “Here, take this. Call me or message me with that number. Tell me where you like to eat and I'll be there. Okay, I will be going then.”

I stared for the card and just nodded at him.

He already took a couple of steps when he added, waving his hand, “I will wait for your call. Don't forget our dinner tonight, my Little Princess.”

“Whoahh, Barbie, you are so great. I admire you so much.” Suddenly, Nelia appeared from behind me and instantly gave me a teasing smile and flirtatious wink as I looked back at her.

“What are you trying to say?” I narrowed my eyes.

“Such a perfect man, how did you know him?”

“He is my senior in high school. We used to hang out together before.”

“Then what happened after?”

I eyed her, “Why are you so curious today?”

“Just tell me, okay? Don't be stingy.”

“Alright. He went abroad when he was already in third year in high school. Coincidentally, my mom fell sick and I needed to take good care of her so I also stopped my studies. Since then, we lost everything we own, so we lost communication. He just arrived now.”

“Oh I see.” I saw an excitement behind Nelia’s smile. Could it be--?

“Nelia, do you like my Senior?”

She coughed from my question and left without excusing herself.