LOVING A MANNEQUIN

Chapter 49: Cool Off 2

*ANICA POV*

“Initially, he called me. He said we are going to have lunch with his friends. But I don't know why, I waited for him for so long but he did not show up.  I almost starved to death while waiting for him. Turns out, he didn't come.”

Flashback,,,

I was waiting outside this boutique shop at the exact time we agreed. I kept waiting and waiting until my feet hurt and my legs numbed. So, I called him. I called him many times but he didn't pick up his phone. Until hundreds of calls, maybe, I got annoyed. As I was about to end my last call, a bartender of a bar answered his phone.

I quickly raised my voice at him, and said, “Hey, Eric, don't invite me to go out if you don't want to. You are only wasting my time.”

“Hello Miss? You misunderstand me. I am not Eric. I am the bar's bartender. I noticed that you kept calling so I answered the phone on his behalf. Miss, I don't think you can talk to him. Why don't you come over and pick him up. He is too drunk.” The male voice said continuously.

I was embarrassed. So, the man who received my fierce voice was someone else. So embarrassing, really. “Oh, I am sorry sir. But- the owner of this phone, how is he doing?”

“You should hurry to come over. Your boyfriend is really drunk now. I don't know what will happen next. Usually, he is not like this. He just drinks moderately every time he comes here. He never drank himself like this, he couldn't even pick a phone. I assume it is related to you. He is in a bad mood, so hurry and coax him. I am afraid he will cause trouble here later.”

What? Bad mood? No way! He can't cause any trouble. This man - was really annoying.

“Sir, can you please take good care of him first. I will be there in five minutes. Send me the address.”

.

.

.

Just like what the bartender said, Eric was really too f*****g drank. He even started to mess around with other customers.

“You are such a loser. You don't want to drink with me anymore?” He pointed to the other guy. “Here, come again. Let's drink. Don't refuse me.”

The said guy shook his head, blocking the glass with wine.

“Why don't you drink? Are you going to embarrass me? Do you know who I am?”

The said guy looked at him, “Buddy, it's not that I don't want to drink with you, but looking at your situation, you can't drink anymore. You are already drunk. You should go home and choke your sorrows under your pillow.”

“What do you mean?” Eric grabbed the guy's collar and yelled, “Tell me, what are you trying to say? What hides my sorrow under my pillow?”

The guy still looked calm and didn't look scared at him. “Buddy, look, you are becoming violent. You are really drunk. Go home.”

“I don't need a s**t to dictate what to do.” Eric was about to punch the guy when I hurriedly squeezed in between and blocked the guy with myself. I closed my eyes as his powerful fist approached me but instead of hitting me, Eric kicked the table.

“Eric, don't create a scene.” I took his arm, “Let's go. I will send you home.”

Eric looked at me fiercely. His lips pursed tightly and his jaws moving endlessly. I even heard his fist cracking as he clenched it. What was wrong with him? Why was he so agitated?

I thought he was going to yell me but shockingly, his voice back to normal, neutrally low. He looked away as he spoke, “What are you doing here?”

“Let's talk outside.” I said and looked at the guy next to us, “I am sorry sir. I sincerely apologized for his misbehavior.”

Eric suddenly squeezed off his arm and stormed out at an unsteady pace.

I bowed slightly to the guy and chased after Eric. He was too fast even though drank and just found resting in a tree. His eyes were closed and hands on his pockets as he leaned against the tree, not far from the bar.

I slowly approached him and stood next to him, but I dared not to say anything. I didn't know how to start a conversation, at the same time, I was afraid to disturb him resting.

“Why don't you speak? Aren't your mouth good at gossiping? What? In front of me, you became mute?” Eric said in a sarcastic tone. As I remained silent and bemused at the same, he just suddenly grabbed me and pressed me against the tree.

“What are you doing?” I struggled from him but what could a weak girl like me do against a sturdy and domineering man? I could only meet his flaring gaze with fear behind my calm look.

After, maybe five minutes, his eyes wandered around my face. From eyes, down to my nose and fixed on my lips. I subconsciously gulped as I saw his Adam apple moved and he gulped.

“You are really something, Anica.” He whispered, his fierce eyes became gloomy yet unfathomable. I didn't know what he was thinking at all.

“What do you mean?” I felt my flesh inside me quivered. I just don't know if he was aware of it.

He giggled like a fool.

“Are you sick?” I couldn't help to say it as he kept giggling with his face closed in me. I could smell the alcohol but strangely, I actually found it sweet scented and the warm of the air that emitted from his mouth added more to my odd reaction. I was like, God, it tickled me inside.

“Say it again!” He said in a gentle yet powerful tone.

“You are really sick. You better go home.”

His jaws moved inside his cheeks again and without permission, he just suddenly claimed my lips in an aggressive and punishing manner. Wait? How did I offend him? Why was he so angry?

I didn't think much about it. I assumed it was only due to his intoxication that's why his kiss was more like punishing me. But who would think, after he kissed me, he just grabbed my hand and tried to pull the ring.

“Ouch!” I whisked his hand and retracted mine. I held my finger inside my palm and my tears voluntarily fell down. “Eric, what are you doing? Don't you realize? You are hurting me?”

Eric smirked in a mocking manner, “Hurt? Which part of you is hurt? You finger or your heart?”

“What do you really want? Why did you suddenly become like this? I almost don't recognise you.”

“Then forget me from now on. Cast me out from your life because I will do the same. Just think we had never met.” He extended his palm on me, “Give me.”

“What?”

“My ring.”

Before I could speak, he reached my hand again and slowly took off the ring.

This was too unbelievable. I should be happy with what he just said. I should be happy that he took back the ring. But why? Why was my heart hurt? I tried to laugh but the more I laughed, the more I felt pain. I don't know what to feel exactly at that time.

“This ring, - - doesn't suit you.” He said and then ran away.

End of Flashback…

“What is going on? Why did I become more confused now?” Barbie said. “Eric just suddenly became a different person and broke off the engagement. Hey, why didn't you ask why he did that?”

Anica laughed, “I am the girl. Of course, I save my face. Not only was I hurt yesterday but I was also mad. So, I didn't get a chance to ask, why.” I sighed, “Forget it! I don't want to hear his unspeakable reason.”

“So are you just giving up on him?”

“Giving up?” I laughed. “I never thought of giving up on him. For now, I just don't know what to do. Well, this is fine too. We can reflect ourselves.”