LOVING A MANNEQUIN

Chapter 57: Barbie Was Being Drug

*NO ONE POV*

"Senior Nic, what are you doing?"

Nicolas was startled when Barbie suddenly spoke from behind him. With full attention in the glass, he did not expect Barbie to return immediately.

Nicolas smiled awkwardly and stood up. He supported Barbie as she sat down, and said, "What did I do?"

Barbie observed him intently.

"Why are you looking at me like that? As if I'm really doing something."

Barbie narrowed her eyes, and said, "Senior Nic, since we are young, you are always like that. If you acted weird, you did something bad for sure. Tell me, what have you been doing just now?"

"What do you think I'm possibly doing?" Nicolas laughed.

"Why are you staring at my glass?"

Nicolas sat down again in the front of her seat, "Barbie, you are being paranoid. I was just thinking about something. I never thought I was staring at your glass. Sorry if you misunderstood."

Barbie burst out laughing. "Senior Nic, you are really something. You have been abroad for so long but you still didn't change. If someone makes fun of you, you can easily buy it."

"So you are making fun of me?" Nicolas pierced a steak with his fork and he slipped it inside Barbie's mouth, "You are noisy. That's your punishment.”

Barbie pouted and acted wronged, “Senior Nic, you are bullying me.”

Nicolas smiled with a twinkle in his eyes, “You are so cute. But, I am telling you. I only buy your words, never from others.”

“You trust me that much?”

“Of course.”

Barbie moved forward and leaned over the table. She whispered, “Senior Nic, I have something to tell you. I have been keeping it for so many years. Do you want to hear?”

Nicolas was surprised. His imagination ran wild immediately. He already guessed what Barbie was trying to say. He pretended not to assume something. He looked at Barbie straight in her eyes and whispered back, “I’m all ears.”

Barbie looked serious. “Senior Nic, if I say this. I hope we will remain best friends even if you know this. This is the biggest secret of my life that I want to share with only you.”

“Please say it. Cut the crap.”

Barbie took a deep breath and said, “Senior Nic, I like you.”

Nicolas was stunned. He didn't expect Barbie to say that to his face. He knew it was just a joke but he still couldn't help but get excited and nervous. Others might call him stupid for what he would do but he chose to believe it and took the meaning true.

"You- you like me? Are you serious?" He stammered.

Barbie nodded and looked at his eyes more seriously. Later after, she chortled intensely. "Senior Nic, you really took the bait. So stupid. Look how red your face is."

"You- you really making fun of me." Nicolas took another mouthful of food and inserted it to Barbie's mouth.

Unexpectedly, because it was too big and sudden, the food choked her. Barbie began to cough heavily.

"Barbie, are you okay? I am sorry. I didn't mean it." Nicolas hurriedly walked around the table and made Barbie drink her wine.

Nicolas’s lips drew a sly smile, he thought, “Barbie, you making fun of my feelings. But it's fine. Tonight, I will make you my woman. After that, I don't think that stupid Angelo will still hkver around you if he know you are already ruin.”

Barbie rubbed her temple and her head began to sway, “Senior Nic, I think I am drunk. My head hurts and my vision spins. I can't continue this anymore. Senior Nic, can you send me home?”

“Okay. Okay. I will send you home. But only after you get your gift in the hotel.”

“But, I can't hold anymore. I really wanted to sleep.”

“Don't worry. We will just go pick your gift. We won't stay long there.”

“Okay. I will listen to you. Let's go.”

“Okay. I will help you.” Nicolas bent down and carried Barbie into his car that was waiting outside.

On the other hand….

This was the first night Angelo sulked. He always left to take care of many things, but he never left Barbie for long. He always followed here secretly to make sure she was safe. But tonight Barbie prefered to go with Nicolas despite his protest which hurt him. He did not expect Barbie to disbelieve him when he said Nicolas would ruin her.

He should have planned to take her out to cheer her up but she went out with Nicolas. He admitted, refusing to make their relationship to be official did hurt her but he had his reason. He didn't want to hurt her, but seems now he understood, whether they would become lovers officially or not, she still got hurt because of him.

He brushed his palms into his face and drank a can of beer again while sitting in a cement flower box on the roadside and watching the sky.

“Love is so beautiful but also painful.” He mumbled.

Flashback ....

Angelo was in a coffee shop and was buying coffee shake at the counter when suddenly, the accident in the Maltana Town re-played on the TV screen at the top of the counter as well as their hugs and kisses with Barbie.

Many who saw it thrilled. Many were also envious of their love. Angelo slightly looked down and hid his face with his palm as the cashier stared at him, probably she recognized him.

"Aren't you that mask --"

"Pssst! Don't be noisy. Can you?" Angelo snapped as he covered the cashier's mouth with the butt of the plastic cup. “I will take the cup off. But make sure you won't say anything.”

The cashier agreed.

“Good!”

The cashier smiled cutely as Angelo put down his hand. No one was aware of what he just did because he created an illusion again. Only him and the cashier knew it.

“I didn't expect I would meet you here sir.” The cashier said.

“Can you hurry a bit? I need to go back.” Angelo said.

“Alright!” The cashier kept stealing glances at Angelo and constantly smiled.

“Look at your work. Don't make a fool of yourself.” Angelo scolded.

“Yes. Here your order.” The cashier seemed not minding Angelo's cold response.

“Thank you.”

“Come again Sir.”

Angelo's curled into a disgusted shape. He grabbed the box and immediately turned away. As he was on his way to leave the shop, a voice of a man caught his attention and stopped him from walking. He was not the kind of person who eavesdrops on people's conversation but he heard him mention Barbie’s name. He knew that there were too many people around the world who shared the same name but he didn't why, his instinct was telling him to stop and listen. He was suddenly curious about what their conversation was about with someone on the phone. One more thing that made him suspicious was that he was staring intently and smiling cunningly at Barbie's image at the TV.

“What a pervert.” Angelo mumbled. He felt like wanting to beat the guy at that moment.

"I never thought that right after I came back here for her I would see her hugging and kissing with a stranger and mysterious guy." The man said to the person he was talking to.

"Don't worry. I know her so well. She will definitely come with me if I ask her."

The man listened for a moment to the speaker on the phone and later laughed.

"Of course. She is working in a boutique shop. Later, I will go and talk to her. Just a few praises and flatterings from me, I can make her say yes right away. Who am I? I know everything she likes."

He fell silent again. "Sure. I will show you after. Just wait."

Angelo's teeth gritted. He really wanted to kick the man until he did not realize and squeezed one of the coffee boxes he was holding until it burst out. The content spluttered into his clothes so he didn't have a choice but leave and change.

End of Flashback….

Angelo startled as he suddenly heard a hissed of a can beside him. As he looked at it, he found out that there was a woman sitting next to him and even stole one of his beers.

"Don't you think it's good to steal other people's stuff?" Angelo said in a cold voice.

The woman attempted to brush her hand on Angelo's chest but Angelo quickly slid away.

"Handsome boy, don't be stingy. I noticed you are alone and down so I especially come here to entertain you for free. So, don't avoid me."

Angelo's face stiffened and glared at her, "Miss, behave and respect yourself if you want others to respect you. But if you really want to play with fire, then I am telling you, you approach the wrong person. Now, get lost!"

“So petty! Hmmp!”

“Why do some women behave like this? Aren't they pitying themselves?”

Barbie’s face flashed on his thoughts. “No. Barbie is in danger. I don't care what she thinks of me anymore. I have to take her away from that asshole.”

Just a blink of an eye, Angelo zoomed off and went to look for Barbie.

.

.

.

Back to Barbie and Nicolas..

Nicolas carried Barbie all the way until his room inside the hotel. Barbie was so weak, sleepy and had a terrible headache as she was laid down on the bed.

Barbie forced open her eyes and looked at Nicolas.

“Senior Nic, I am feeling uncomfortable. I am lacking air to breathe.” Barbie said as she rubbed her chest.

Nicolas leaned over the bed and brought Barbie's phone. There was no password so he easily accessed her personal files inside. Then he took a couple of pictures of them with him cuddling her. One picture was kissing her lips.

He planned to send it to his phone and to Angelo but not for the meantime. He wanted her to become his woman first before sending those photos in order for him not to ruin his plan.

“Senior Nic, what are you doing? Why are you taking photos? Why are you cuddling me? Why did you kiss me?”

“I am just comforting you.” Nicolas grinned.

“Senior Nic, can you get down from the bed. It's improper for us to lie down next to each other. Moreover, I can't breath even more if you cuddle on me.” Barbie pulled her collar like she wanted to rip it off. “I feel so hot. What is going on?”

Nicolas rolled over and reached out Barbie's peplum buttons and began to open it. “Let me help you undress Barbie. You are right, it is indeed hot here. I don't know what is wrong with their air-conditioning.”

Barbie slapped his hands away, “Senior Nic, go away. I don't need you to help me. Go away. I am begging you.”

Nicolas' jaws clenched and his gaze lit up. He suddenly crawled on top of Barbie, “Barbie, don't chase me away. It is hurting me. I like you. I like you Barbie. Didn't you say you like me too? Then, be my woman tonight.”

Barbie struggled weakly beneath him, “No. No. I don't like you. I only love Angelo. Senior Nic, don't do this to me.”

Nicolas yelled and punched the pillow, “No! No one can own you. You are mine! You are only mine.”

Nicolas didn't waste anymore time. He was like a mad wolf, eager to devour his prey. Despite Barbie's protests and begging him to stop, he didn't listen. He seemed like he was going mad completely.

He started kissing Barbie's neck in an aggressive and possessive manner. Barbie was so weak and could only dodge her face and moved a bit as a sturdy and well-built man pinning on top of her. She kept begging him to stop, “I beg you. Stop. No. Don't. Don't touch me. Please, Don't stop me.”

Nicolas remained indifferent until he reached out her collar and ripped her clothes completely.

Barbie outcried.

Nicolas was about to strip off Barbie's lower garments when suddenly the vase at the corner lifted up and flew, and hit his head.

Nicolas fell down unconscious on top of Barbie. Right after that moment, the door barged open and Angelo entered furiously. He flipped aside Nicolas and kicked him down to the floor.

He really wanted to beat him to death but Barbie's endless begging hit his ears. He took off his jacket and wrapped it on her.

Angelo quickly carried Barbie out of the room. As they were about to step out from the room, the hotel manager arrived.

“Sir, what happened? Where are you going to bring that girl?” The hotel manager asked nervously. He eyed Angelo with fear in his eyes. He thought that Angelo was a bad person and trying to steal someone's woman.

Angelo glared at him and spoke in an intimidating tone, “If you don't want this hotel to collapse, next time, make sure what kind of person you book in your hotel. Otherwise, one day, you will only realise, this hotel is gone.”

“What do you mean? Are you threatening us sir? But - even so, you can't take away a woman from her. Or else I will call the police.”

Angelo's eyes flared up as the lights blinked off and on, “Sir manager, I think your brain is malfunctioning. Why don't you try to call the police? Let's see who is left humiliated. Or you want me to give you a hand? I will call the police on your behalf. What do you think?”

“Sir, he seems not here to steal the woman but picking her up.” One of the manager's subordinates said.

“Seems like your subordinate is smarter than you.” Angelo glanced at the said subordinate, and ordered, “Go and call an ambulance.”

“What happened? Can you tell us?” The manager asked in panic.

“I wanted you to handle that man inside this room. If he escapes from his misbehavior tonight, I will not let you off and this hotel. This is your negligence of safety. You shouldn't let a drunk unconscious woman enter your hotel without verification of who she is with. If I didn't arrive on time, he almost r**e my friend.”

“What?”