Four

……..

SHE STOPPED BY THE shop that afternoon. She looked familiar but I was sure I had not seen her before. I could not deny that she was a beauty but I could hold it in.

 Her hand was smooth and look silk soft. I was tempted to touch it but I fought back.

 " Why not wait for a waiter?" I asked, avoiding her emerald eyes.

" I have a choice not to, don't I?" She said in a beautiful voice.

I nodded saying 'sure'. I wiped the counter, avoiding her hand and hanging the rag, I asked, " What do you want, my lady?"

She rested her face on her hand, leaning forward, and said, " What would you recommend, handsome face?"

" Deep black coffee. I do not know why. I just like to pronounce its name."

She leaned away and sat erect. " Okay." She stretched out her hands and stroked mine on the counter. " Why are you so handsome?"

For some reason, I was uncomfortable but not nervous. " Because God made me."

" Well God made all of us."

Right, I thought. She had a point. I was happy when she didn't pressed further on that topic.

She withdrew her hands. " Get me my coffee."

I turned to get it.

She began to talk behind me. " When I heard people talking about someone handsome in this shop, I had to see myself. Now, I see that their description belittles how you look."

How could a lady be so flirty? I did not brood over it though. I turned, a jar of coffee in one hand and a cup in another. " I guess I am that handsome. But then, you are equally so beautiful." I dropped the cup on the counter and filled it. I dropped the jar and shifted the coffee to her. " Here."

She might have stretched but all I knew was that her hand grabbed my collar and she drew my face close to hers, I could smell her fresh breath and feel them on my mouth. I almost spilt the coffee catching my balance on the counter.

" Do you want to give me something, handsome face?" She asked.

" You want a kiss from me?" Her voice was soft now.

She let me go and sipped her coffee. I straightened my rough collars.

" No," she said. " A secret."

" I have none." I took the jar inside and returned shortly after. " But to be honest, I thought I was the most flirty in town, but now I have seen my boss."

She chuckled. " You are a playboy, aren't you?"

" Why?"

" You did not succumb to my temptation. No other guys could do that. You get kisses everyday, right?"

" Sure."

She smiled victoriously.

" My mom's," I added.

Disappointed crept over her face. She sipped her coffee again. The disappointed was gone by the time she dropped her cup. " Joking now?"

I shook my head. " I might be s playboy but I am not a slut."

She nodded. " Exceptional. Interests me more." She finished her coffee. I took the cup from her.

" I am Scarlett. I will be looking forward to meeting you more often." She winked, stood and left.

" I'm Todd!" I shouted after her.

What a customer!

I thought none of my encounter with her as I walked home that night. A warm breeze brushed my face. The only source of light now was the full moon, street lamps, and light from the bulb and it was less crowdy.

From the distance, I saw a woman holding her little girl as they sauntered and another man jogging downtown. Somewhere down the street, a rap contest and crowd cheers sounded.

I was humming a song as I walked now half-conscious of my environment.

…I’m ain't your son. You ain't my father. So just sleep off if you want to and stop getting me worried. Worried. Worried...

It was a depressing remainder of my father's death but I sing it a lot. I stopped when I saw movements in a dark alley. It dawned on me that I was in a deserted street now and had been too absorbed in my song to realize earlier. As I moved closer, I began hearing voices. 

“I’m going to teach your father some manners. Don’t worry you’ll only be a scapegoat,” a male husky voice said.

“Yeah, it will stain his reputation. He’ll be ridiculed,” another said. 

I heard a female scream and I rushed into the shadows without thinking. I could see their figures now. 

“Stop!” I said.” Will you see what you are doing?”

“Who are you,” one asked.

“I mean do you care to see how dirty what you are doing is,” I said calmly.

One has already raised his fist and was coming to me.” Why you bastard…”

I dodged his punch and moved back.

“ Whoa! Easy man,” I said.” You almost got my handsome face ruined.”

He swung his fist at me again and I dodged and twisted his hand before elbowing his face.

The other ran at me and I dug my fist into his stomach and kicked his forehead. They grunted and ran away while I stretched. 

“Are you okay?” I asked peering into the darkness. “ Come on out.”

I heard footsteps and following them I came out of the darkness. I saw recognition dawn in her eyes at the same time it dawned in my mind. 

“Putin Global?” left my mouth. 

“Rude waiter?” She was startled. 

Then I put on a smirk. “ Fancy meeting you here.”

But she refused to leave me victorious. Out of the blues, she stamped on my foot. 

“No, thank you!” She said as I held my foot before walking away. 

“You!” I busted. “I saved you. Wait till I get you!" I held my feet, groaning there.

" Are you okay?" I heard the familiar voice a while later. I let my foot go and tried to act like I was okay. Even though my foot was killing me.

It was Scarlett. She placed a hand on my shoulder and I felt her tender touch. I was not expecting to see her but I had a plan. I turned, and pushed her against the wall, getting close just as she did in the afternoon. She flushed.

" I have thought of it and... ahhh..." My foot was still hurting and I felt a sting of pain.

She pushed me away. I almost fell.

" What are you doing?" She asked. She began to go.

" Please help me."

" A playboy deserves whatever is coming for him!" She walked away.