Akira

I freeze.

My entire body stiffen when I hear his hurried footsteps coming near me.

Oh hell no.

Immediately I go to pull the door but before it could open, a hand slams it shut loudly, preventing me to open it.

I close my eyes as I try calm my seething nerves. I know I have to face him now, because even from the little bit I know about him, I know that avoiding him is not an option for me. Clearly not when he is less than a feet from and demanding my attention.

Don't turn around.

I will have to.

Hardening my already numb heart I turn to him, "Yes?" I ask, regarding him coolly.

He takes a small step back, clearly dazed by my lifeless tone but recovers quickly, "We need to talk."

Talk? My foot!

My brows perk up in mock surprise, "Do we? Whatever for?"

He takes a breath looking visibly nervous, "I want to explain wh-"

I cut him off before he could go any further, "I don't want an explanation. If that's all then I have to go."

Get the hell away.

He struggles to come with words, "I understand if you are angry bu-"

To hell with him!

"If I am angry? If I am?" I ask incredulously.

"I was stood up and you ask me if I am angry. I waited and I kept waiting for whole three hours for you and then I suddenly realised that you weren't coming at all but even then I was worried about you. I called you, I messaged you but no reply. Nada! You just disappeared. Then out of blue you are here after one week of messing my head, wanting to explain yourself. And you are asking if I'm angry!"

By the end I'm sure that my raised voice is attracting attention but I couldn't be more careless. My temper got better of me. I discreetly notice Dev, who is standing by other side of truck looking confused as he watches us.

Taking a deep breath I step forward and toward him, shoving my finger to his chest, "From the day one you keep humiliating and insulting me. Throwing cruel and hateful words to me but I still wanted to believe that you must have some goodness in you. So I kept beating myself because I thought maybe I've done something wrong to you to receive such hostility from you but guess what, its not me, its you who is at fault here. You are the heartless monster who played with me and my emotions, every chance you got till I reached the end. When I'm trying to piece myself together you want to explain. Then explain! Explain why you played me? Explain what I ever did to you?!" I don't notice I'm crying until I feel salty taste of tears in my lips.

Damn!

I don't want to cry and look out as weak, at least not in front of him. I don't want him to think that he still effects me.

He does though!

Swallowing the painful lump in my throat, I wipe my eyes through my hand as I continue to stare at him, prompting him to speak.

He looks stun at my outburst and in pain as if it is hard for him to see me like this. Its irony considering how he enjoys my misery. Grinding his teeth tightly he clamps his jaw and he lets out a frustrated breath as though he is struggling.

As I keep staring him, I notice he has dark circles below his eyes. His gray orbs look tired as due lack of sleep. He still is sinfully beautiful in his usual attire but if noticed carefully it would seem that he is aching. Wheels in my mind start moving at any possibility of his innocence and my traitorous heart once again starts collecting points for him.

Then again my mind seems to have tendency of making me see things that are not true. It has ways of decisiving me.

I realise how close I'm to him when his scent reaches my sense and my heart itself sore into life by beating wildly. I feel agitated and helpless all of sudden for such lacking of control on myself.

I instantly step back because I could swear whenever I'm near him, my heart itself whispers 'I know you'

Turn around and leave without looking back!

Listening to my inner voice, I speak rigidly, "You know what, you and your explanation can go to hell for all I care. I don't have time for this. I've to go."

His large hand grabs my arm just as I move turn around, "No! Wait I want to explain. Come with me." His tone has a hint of pleading but I ignore it effortlessly.

The gall of this man!

"I'll go nowhere with you. Now leave my hand!" I demand.

"You will not go with him. I won't allow it. I will take you anywhere you want then we can talk. Come on." With that he starts pulling me to god no where.

Allow it?

What the hell!

Is he kidding me?

Implying a huge force I snatch my arm out of his grasp, "Excuse me? I will not go anywhere with you. Stop this nonsense right here."

I look over Dev who is looking wary and then glance around us, I see few people watching us, more like Romero who is rather famous here. They are staring with a interest that they are waiting for something to happen, something like a fight. Not wanting to create more mess, I turn to Dev, "Dev, let's go." I say walking toward him.

But I'm stopped by wall, a human wall to be exact. I look up to find gray orbs glaring Dev disdainfully. "I said, you are not going with him."

Dev looks like he has enough and comes forward, "What's your problem man?"

Romero takes a step on, glaring viscously, he snarls, "You are my fucking problem."

"And why is that?" Dev speaks trying to look confident but I can see through him, he is nervous. I don't think he'd stand more than few minutes against Romero, if they fight. And I don't want them to fight. I don't want him hurt because of me.

Romero breathing comes out faster, a clear sign of anger, "You thinking you can take my girl anywhere is what your biggest fucking mistake." He looks ready to punch Dev.

My girl?

Oh hell! Who does he think he is?

Feeling my anger surfacing again, I move around Romero to stand in front of him and between them, "Listen here and listen carefully. I'm not your fucking girl. You hear me? Not your girl. Go find someone else who can play your games and leave me alone. You have destroyed me enough."

I know my last sentence got him.

Then I turn my back toward him, without waiting for his reaction and plead Dev through my eyes to start the damn car. He nods and goes to driver seat starting engine.

Tingles shoots up throughout my body as his hand once again grabs mine, stopping me to move. I look back to him, he appears wasted as he begs within his eyes.

"Please don't go with him." This the first time I've heard him say please apart from his drunken mistake and I know he is using it manipulate me to do as he says.

If it was last week I'd have done everything he says with looking like this but not now.

Not when I don't know his motive. Not when I don't trust him to not play any more games with me.

His expression are so sincere that I can't really decide if he is really wrong but I don't want to take any chance with him. I don't want to get my hopes up only to stomped on. I've learnt my lesson, I don't think I'd going on that road any time soon.

Buzzing sound of truck has me snapped out of my brain, I tug my hand to get it free as I can sense peoples eye on me. I really want to disappear from here and judgmental eyes of these people.

"Let me go. You are causing a scene King." I snap at him trying to get free.

He shuts his eyes tightly as if he is try to control himself before they open again and they are still pleading but there is something else, something akin to determination. "Okay but only because I'll see you after your work."

My brows shoot up in surprise at his determined tone but then I speak without thinking just to crumble it, "I can't. I have a date."

His hand release me so fast as though I've burned him, along with his eyes which are now cold as ice as they bore into me, "Then enjoy your fucking date." His tone turns impassive and hard.

He takes few steps back still staring in my eyes as if he is seeing my soul, I fight the urge to look away and hold his own. This is until he turn around and disappear between cars.

I'm hit with a sudden sense Déjà vu as I watch his back.

As I look around for people, only to find them dispersing in crowds after having their fill of entertainment.

What is this?

High school?

I slide inside the truck where Dev is ready to go.

I sigh resting my head on the seat when I feel Dev's eye on me. I blink at him, "What?"

"Do I want to know?" This is his subtle way of asking if I want to tell him or not.

I shake my head in answer, "No. Just drive."

The truck start moving but my mind is still stuck with full of question and confusion.

I replay my last sentence in my mind.

I don't have any date today. Yes I'm giving second treat to Alex but that is it. It's not a date but just two friends having dinner together.

Then why did I tell him otherwise?

Because you intentionally wanted to hurt him.

Yes. That's probably true.

The main question is, did it hurt him or his pride?