LOVING A MANNEQUIN

Chapter 44: The Stranger Is Also Him

*BARBIE HEAVENWARD POV*

After seeing the scar, the incidents of the night that I and Melanie met replayed in my mind. I didn't force myself to think about it but it just occurred to me.

Just as fresh as a new pick vegetable, the incidents came vivid in my imagination and the part where the stranger got stabbed as he blocked the knife for me was at the exact spot of Angelo's scar.

What a coincidence?

I kept feeling that they were the same people because their voices sounded similar and their eyes, the way they looked at me as they both wore masks were the same too. The presence they brought to me when they were around was also similar. And now, with the scars, my doubts became more profound.

I wanted to know the truth.

Angelo was about to turn around as I called him and pointed to his side, “Angelo, when and how did you get that scar on your side?”

Angelo looked down on his body. Realising where I was pointing my finger, he quickly turned his back on me and wore sleeves with polo underneath. “Barbie, there is no scar in me. Probably, you are seeing it wrong.”

“I didn't see it wrong. It's too clear in my eyes. You have a scar on your side.” I walked over him and stood in front of him.  “Tell me, how and when did you get that?”

“Why do you want to know? Barbie, stop being curious. When and how I got this scar are not important anymore. It's all past.” Angelo looked away.

“Of course it's important to me. You clearly saved me many times, why don't you want to admit it?”

“What are you saying? I don't understand.”

“Good, since you don't understand. I will help you understand.” I raised a black jacket with a hood and showed him, “Coincidentally, when you were making a fuzz here earlier, this jacket came out from where you hid it. This jacket, I clearly remembered, was what you wore that night. Every time you came to save me, it was also this jacket you wear. Look, look at this scar, it is right where you were stabbed.”

“That jacket doesn't prove anything.”

“This shop doesn't have this kind of jacket. It was more like being bought from abroad. You and I were always here, so aside from you, who else hid it in here. I can't assume one from us hid it here because it has long been thrown in the trash if it is so since it is damaged. So there's only one possibility, this jacket is yours.”

“Why are you so stubborn? Even if that jacket is mine, then so what? That still doesn't prove anything.”

I smiled and hugged him.

“Hey, what are you doing? You are a girl, how can you just hug a man? Are you not afraid I am going to take advantage of you?”

“You already kissed me many times, what else am I going to worry about? Besides, it is you, so I don't care.”

“Stupid! Let go. We need to go back to the area now.”

“No.”

“What do you really want?” While hugging him, I couldn't help not to giggle because Angelo, for the first, got flustered because of me. “What are you giggling? Let me go now. Or else, they will find us here.”

“No. If you don't admit that you are that stranger, I won't release you. I don't care if they see us hugging here.”

“I really can't stand you. Alright! Alright! I admit, it was me. Are you happy now?”

I let go of him and jumped on him. I was glad that he was attentive and caught me in his arms. I kissed his cheek, “Yes. I am very happy. I am very happy that it was you.”

“Why?” His face frowned.

“Because - -” I quickly hopped from Angelo when suddenly, Anica’s voice echoed from outside the room.

“Barbie, are you done or not yet? Ma’am Denice is calling you.”

I and Angelo laughed at each other and then he immediately returned into Mannequin.

“I am coming!” I shouted to respond to her.