III. Heading home

I didn't have time to react. By the tight grasp of his hand on my arm, I thought he'll drag me until we reach my home. I could imagine my bleeding nose because most likely, I would drop in the concrete pavement head first. My crazy imagination was cut off when he lifted me in his arms and buried my face in his shoulders.

"Don't move because you're darn heavy."

My ears fidgeted and I looked at him sourly. "I am not heav-" My statement was cut off when I saw him pout his lips as he said, "I don't want any arguments now young lady."

"I just want to tell you I-"

"Shhh. Hush now." He said softly as he laid back my head on his shoulder.

Being carried around by a total complete stranger is as awkward as eating cat food heated up in the microwave. I don't know what to do but follow him and smell the mint gum on his mouth that is totally out of my control. What can I do? My nose is just inches away from his chewing mouth and though I don't like his facial hair brushing against my forehead, I like the minty smell.

"First off, what's your name?"

I shouldn't trust him. Being 19 years old, alone and new in the big city justifies the fact that I'm vulnerable and easily tricked. What if he is like those guys I watch on TV? Those guys that take girls inside ice cream trucks and grind them in their ice cream machine with all the ice cream ingredients and sell them for a lot of money. Ugh. My stomach churned and knotted, I think I'm going to puke in his black spotless hoodie.

"If you don't want to tell me your name, I'll call you Suzy."

The thought of grinding human flesh still lingered in my head, I could feel my breakfast welling in my throat. I purposely leaned closer to his mouth so I could smell mint, that way, my dizziness would go away.

"Suzy is the name of my dog...what, what are you doing?"

Perfect, he talked coarsely. The minty odor is powerful, my brain stopped processing gore thoughts and it was exchanged with... Oh no, what's this feeling?

He was looking down at me with those big brown eyes, he's so close I could feel his breath on my chin. He stopped walking and I felt him brush his lips softly in mine.
My chest drummed and my legs jerked, he too is as surprised as me. There's no question about that because he dropped me, I slid down from his grasp and landed hard on my buttocks.

"Owh!" I let out a sigh of pain while he stood there, looking as dazed as ever.

I gripped his khaki pants and forced myself to stand, he finally noticed me and picked me up instantly. The surprise is still showing in his face while I was standing in front of him, my face flushed with embarrassment.

"I uh, I didn't, I-I, I am.." He looked really confused, if I didn't feel the same confusion, I would have probably laughed out loud because a strong looking man like him doesn't fit to act like a shy guy. I had ugly mixed emotions, it would be better if I feel numb. My ankle is still hurting like hell, good thing he noticed the pain showing in my eyes because he carried me again back to his strong arms. Although he didn't offer me his shoulder anymore.

My neck was stiff when we finally reached the side of the highway. I am still in a darn emotional breakdown because I feel so embarrassed and mad at the same time. Plus the pain on my foot made things worse as ever. He hailed a cab, attempted to open the door while I'm in his arms, groaned when he wasn't able to, kicked the side of the cab and cursed.
I opened the door for him, he used his left foot to widen the opening and tried hard on positioning me on the back of the car. My head bumped on the side of the door, he changed his stance and then my dangling feet hit the window instead.

"Damn." He said gritting his teeth. I had felt too much pain now I wanted to pass out and just think all of this as a nightmare and that when I finally wake up, all of these things had never happened. The yellow car honked loudly which made me realize that this is all so true. This is frighteningly true.

"Put me down." I croaked.

He didn't put me down and attempted to dump me again inside the car by himself. My head hit the top of the car again before he had successfully put me down the cold leather seat. He slammed the door close, and then talked to the driver.

"Take this girl home, just ask her where." I saw him take out his wallet, I tried to protest but it was too late, he gave the driver payment for my fare.
He smiled at me and mouthed the words, I'm sorry.

I just looked at him, I don't know what to say. The car rushed and drove away, funny but I looked on the rear window and waved.