Chapter 3

I finally arrived at my car. I couldn't any longer feel my hands from the bags' weight and still had to carry them to her apartment. What a hassle! Fortunately, it was only for this time since I bought everything a home needs. That's why the bags were so heavy. I opened the back door of the car and put the bags inside. I got in the car too, started it, and took the road home. I couldn't wait to get home. After that much effort, the only thing I was dreaming about was a nice warm, relaxing bubble bath.

I felt great relief when I left all the bags on the table. I closed the door that I had left open and sat down on the couch to catch my breath. A few minutes later, I decided that it was time to arrange all the things I had bought in their positions.

I needed thirty minutes to tidy everything.

"Yeh! Now it's time for my bubble bath. I deserve it." I thought with delight. I filled the bathtub with hot water and added some shower gel. The sweet smell of it spread in the bathroom.

Then, I took my cd player and put in a cd of relaxing music.

Everything was ready! I undressed and sank into the hot water. I closed my eyes while enjoying the music. What a wonderful feeling!...

When I opened my eyes, the water had cooled. What the heck! I checked what time it was. What? When did the time go so far, 11:20 at night?! The cd was over. I got out of the bathtub and put on my fluffy bathrobe. After so many hours of sleep, I felt like a dizzy chicken. I was sitting on the couch when suddenly I felt the desire to enjoy a glass of red wine. I got up and went to the fridge to get one. And then I remembered that I didn't buy one! I had forgotten! What a big misfortune! And I needed so badly a glass of wine! The memory of the blonde woman telling her that they stay open until midnight struck me like lightning.

What time was it? It was almost twelve when I parked my car outside the supermarket. 11:30. Perfect! If I had been in a hurry, I would catch up. |I ran to the bedroom and wore a pair of tracksuits and my sneakers. I grabbed my wallet and keys and left.

"Just on time." I thought in relief. I got quickly out of the car and turned my steps towards the entrance. On the stairs, I fell out of action. I was about to hit the floor when two hands grabbed me at the last moment.

The things I was holding dropped from my hands.

"Slow down, girl. You will crash on the floor." I heard a male voice say to me sternly. This voice was familiar to me! That was very odd. From where? I just got here. As if I had heard it before. When I stepped firmly on my feet again and straightened my body, I raised my head and looked at the man. I estimated that he was about thirty years old. Tall. And he was so beautiful that it took my breath away!

He had short auburn hair, green-blue eyes, and a sturdy body. He was looking at me with a smile. I thought he was probably making fun of me because of my fall, which made me ashamed. I felt my cheeks burning and stared shyly at the floor.

"Are you okay?" He asked me.

"Yes, I am okay. But I have to find my things. I was holding them in my hand." I was looking around on the floor. It was an excuse to avoid his gaze, although I couldn't get how bright his eyes were out of her mind!

"What things?" I heard him ask me.

"Wallet and keys," I replied, and he started looking for them.

"Here are your keys!" He announced after a few minutes triumphantly, picking them up from the floor.

"Great. I find my wallet." I said in relief, picking it up.

"Here, take your keys." He said and put them in my handful. When the tips of his fingers touched my handful, a sweet shiver passed through my body.  

He gave me a better look. "You know something? I can't take out of my head that I know you from somewhere."

At that moment, my mind got enlightened. "Oh, my God! He is right! That's why he seemed familiar to me too, and now I know from where, but I can't tell him. It will be so embarrassing for me. No chance to tell him!"

"No, I don't think so that we have met before," I replied, filled with remorse for the huge lie I had just said to him, and I began to feel uncomfortable because of it. I felt trapped. I thought of leaving, but I remembered the wine and how much I still wanted a glass of it. Gathering my dignity that still had left, I got into the bright shop.

"AHA!" I heard him shout triumphantly. "Now the truth has been revealed! Well, I said that I know you from somewhere! You are the girl who hit me this afternoon. I remember exactly the color and length of your hair."

I looked at him wide-eyed. "The truth is that I suspected it when you spoke to me a while ago, but I wasn't completely sure. So, that guy was you?"

"Yes, me. Why? I am not good enough for girls to fall over me?" He smiled playfully and crossed his arms over his chest.

"You are! Very, very good, actually." I thought, of course, I didn't say anything like that.

Instead, I said: "It's not that. I didn't notice you when the accident happened. The sun did not help much. If you hadn't confirmed it to me, I would always have doubts."

"Indeed, you left as if somebody was chasing you without even looking at me."

"Yes, you are right. It was rude of me, but I felt so much shamefaced that I just wanted to leave. Forgive me." I looked at him with relief. Everything had clarified, as well the feeling of guilt was gone.

He looked at me deep into her eyes.

"There is nothing to forgive you. Everything is good."

I was shocked by the intensity of his gaze and wanted to change the subject of discussion. "Do you work here? I asked him. "Could you please tell me where I can find the wines?" I saw him get upset for a moment, and I wondered why;

"Yes, sure. I can help you. You will find it in the third corridor on the right."

"Okay, thanks." I heard his steps approaching me, and my heart was beating so fast and loud. I followed his directions and found them. I focused on the red ones. Generally, I don't drink, but from time to time, I ask for it.

"Do you need any help?" He asked me while he was standing right next to me.

"No, thanks. I have found them." I replied and showed him the bottle of wine, which I picked out.

He looked at it carefully. "Very nice choice. Your company will also like it." He emphasized the word 'company.'

"I am not going to have any company. I will drink it by myself."

He turned his head to the other side, but I managed to see the smile on his face. He acts so weirdly.

I proceeded to the cash desk. He followed me and took his place at the cashier. He took the wine I left there and passed it over to the machine.

"15.60," he Told me and I handed him a twenty-pound banknote. As he took it from my hand, he nailed me, his gaze in my eyes. His gaze riveted on me, and my knees trembled slightly.

"What is happening to me?" I thought, "This is no normal. It is not me! I never react like that in front of a man, but this time, I can't help it."

He took the banknote and leaned over at the counter to arrange my change. When he finished, he raised his head and extended his hand to give it to me. I stretched out my hand, looking forward to reliving his touch one more time.

"By the way, my name is Er…." He started to say, but somebody interrupted him.

"Hello, Eric, my love. Thank god you are still here. I was dying to see you."

I turned my head to the door from where the voice had heard. A woman was standing there. She was pretty attractive. Impressive actually! She had brown, long hair and big hazel eyes.

I wished for someone to shoot me. I turned my head to look at him, and I saw the muscles in his jaw tighten. Why?

That strange woman approached him and tried to hug him from the waist, but he avoided her. She tried a second time, and she succeeded.

I could no longer see them together, so I grabbed the change from his hand, I said 'Goodnight,' and once again, I left as if somebody was chasing me.

It seemed to me that I heard 'wait' somewhere from behind, but I convinced myself that it was only my imagination…