The streets had puddles at every corner. I almost stepped into one. Some café owners cleaned their seats which were outside with a cloth so that their customers can enjoying the outdoor setting while enjoying their cup of coffee or latté. I walked home with the laundry basket in front. I had no idea on where I was going. I was moving forward with no sense of direction. I'm kind of regretting my decision of not following Carlos home. I saw a familiar newsstand ahead. It was the one close to Aunt's building. Looks like I'm not lost after all. The breeze blew my boater out from my head. I held the basket in one hand and reached for my hat with the other. I stretched out my hand a bit further than I thought and managed to get my hat. There were some guys sitting on the stairs of an old building and talking to each other. One of them,who seemed to be the leader was admiring me. His stare made me feel uncomfortable. He pointed at me and his friends nodded. I put on my boater and continued my journey home. I walked past the building and the leader walked up to me.
"Hello gorgeous!"The leader said, trying to get my attention
I ignored him and continued walking. He signalled his friends and they blocked my way. They surrounded all around me. I tried to get through them but they won't let me through.
"Wow! She's pretty!"One of his friends said
"What's your name pretty picture?"The leader asked
I didn't answer him and was mute.
"Playing hard to get,huh?"The leader said, squeezing my arm
"Let go off me"I said, escaping his tight grip
During the struggle,my boater fell off from my head. I bent down to keep me but the leader snatched it away from me.
"Try and catch your hat"The leader, holding my hat in the air
"Give me that"I said, trying to get my hat back
"Almost got it"He said, raising his hand really high
"Ooh! So close"He said in a mocking tone.
He watched me make a fool of myself,trying to get my hat from him.
"If you want your hat back so badly,why don't you take it?"He said, giving me my hat back
I reached out my hand to get my hat when he tossed it to his friends. I knew it was too good to be true. They played keep-away with me. I got tired of jumping and catching my hat.
"Don't you want your back? You can have it if you want"The leader teased
I wished I had rode home on with Carlos on his motorcycle earlier. Maybe then none of this would have happen. I wish he was here. Even though he's annoying,he will definitely deal with these bullies. Speaking of the devil,he rode his motorcycle and parked next to a streetlight. He took off his helmet and got down from his motorcycle. For the first time in my life,I was glad to see him.
"Quit messing with her and give her back her hat"Carlos said
"And who are you?"The leader asked
"I'm her knight and shining armour"Carlos said
Wait? Did he just say he is my knight and shining armour?
"Look at this guy,he says he's her knight and shining armour. Just like from one of those fairy tale novels"The leader laughed, mocking Carlos
"He doesn't look like one to me"One of his friends added
"We'll just have to see about that"Carlos replied, cracking his knuckles and ready for a fight.
The leader signalled his friends one by one to give Carlos a beating of his life. Carlos dogded his punch and returned some to him. He fell down and the leader was surprised. The leader signalled two of friends to beat up Carlos. One of them punched Carlos and he bruised his right cheek a bit. Carlos punched him really hard and bumped his prey's head with the other. They both fell to the ground. The leader signalled his other friend who was the last in his group to attack Carlos but he chickened out. They had seen that Carlos was much stronger than they were and ran away. When the leader realized he was all alone,he surrendered and dropped my hat on the floor away from Carlos.
"You might have won this time but we'll be back when your boyfriend isn't with you"The leader said, moving backwards
"Boyfriend? He is not my boyfriend!"I said
The chickens ran for their lives. Carlos picked up my hat,dusted it and gave it back to me.
"Here you are"He said
I wore my hat and picked up the basket I had dropped earlier.
"You know none of this would have happen if you had agreed to ride with me on my motorcycle"He said, going to his motorcycle
He put on his helmet and started the ignition.
"This is my fault? So much for a knight and shining armour"I said
He rode his motorcycle and drove past me. I finally made it to Aunt's building and saw his motorcycle parked in the alley. He made it home before me. I entered the lobby and saw was busy on his phone. He saw me enter the lobby and kept his phone in his pocket.
"What took you so long?"He said with a smirk on his face
He was getting on my nerves. I went to the elevator and he followed me in. We arrived at the 5th floor and he followed me all the way to the apartment.
"You know you don't have to walk to the apartment. We are already in the building"I said, annoyed by his presence
"I'm only following your Aunt's instructions"He said
I rolled my eyes at him and knocked on the door. Aunt opened the door and we came in.
"How did it go at the laundry mart?"Aunt said, checking a timer
"It was... good"I said, heading to my room
"Hi Coco! What have you been up to?"I said
I dropped the basket on the sofa and picked her up. I cuddled her and she licked my face in return. I noticed that her paws were covered in flour. Now I understand why Aunt was checking her timer. I smelt smoke coming from the kitchen. Aunt surprise was burning.
"Oh no! My cake!"Aunt said
Luckily,she was able to save her cake. What's left of it.
"Would anyone like to try my cake? I baked it myself. It's a little bit burnt but it still tastes good"She said
"I will pass"I said
"And what about you? Do you want to try my cake? Even if it's a slice?"Aunt asked Carlos
"No thanks,Ms Nicolette. I'll be on my way now"He said
"Okay"Aunt said, returning to the kitchen with the slice she had cut
Finally, he is going. I was so happy that I wanted to do a cartwheel in the living room. I had a second thought and had the celebration on hold to avoid breaking any of Aunt's antique. Carlos cleared his throat and looked at me.
"Aren't you forgetting something?"Carlos said, standing next to the door
"What exactly?"I asked
"Umm...I don't know. A thank you?"He hinted
"And why should I thank you?"I asked, raising my brow
"For saving your life"He said
"First of all,you weren't saving me. Instead,you were showing off your karate moves. Secondly,I had everything under control"I said
"You allowing them bully you,'under control'?"Carlos said
Okay! That does it! Carlos was seriously getting on my nerves. I opened the door and pushed him out of the apartment. I slammed the door right in his face. That should keep him away for now.
Author's Thought
"Hey readers! It is your writer here! I hope you guys are enjoying this book as much as I do. I know this isn't your regular high school romance novel but I thought of doing something different. I would like it if you rate my book and leave reviews. Seeing your opinions will help me in know how good or bad my book is."~Precious Love.