Darren
Listening to her stories overwhelmed me with rage and sorrow. It's like I suddenly have this killer instinct to hunt down her aunt and her husband and murder them.
The thought of her being slapped and hurt and he was almost touching her... I fist my hand.
Maybe I will kill someone afterall.
I'm confused with all these feelings I feel. Anger, because I could not imagine anybody should be hurt like this. Sorrow. Because I can imagine the pain and hurt she is holding. She is practically a stranger to me. And yet I want to console her. I want her to stop the sobs. I reach for her. Slowly.
She flinches again when she sees my hand going up her shoulder but then relaxes when she looks into my eyes.
This woman flinches a lot when someone is near. How she managed to not crying whenever they beated her was beyond my imagination. She would have been so brave.
I pull her into an embrace. She suddenly stiffen but then her body trembles and she cries again. More than just sobs and harder this time.
Shit! This is not what I expected when I pulled her into my arms.
I am about to tell her she should stop crying because I hate to see her tears when I hear she says, "I miss my mom and dad. So much."
* * * *
I just stand there in silence, without realizing I am stroking her back while letting her crying her heart out. I do not notice how time flies.
"I'm sorry I soaked you with my tears." She rubs at the wet site of the shirt. As if doing that would get the shirt to dry but I think it is kinda funny when she does that anyway. I let out a chuckle before I manage to stop it from coming out of my mouth.
She pulls out from me, with a confused look.
I am debating whether I should tell her or not but seeing her face, I blurt out, "Look, no offense but you rubbing this spot is not going to make it dry."
"Oh! Thank God I could enlighten you with that. I didn't know it wouldn't dry your shirt."
I never see her retort coming like this. So, she was a spitfire and that personality might be lost with her a month ago. Maybe with her other interesting personalities. Heck. I want to know everything about her.
"Th..thank you for that anyway," She blushes.
This woman drives me crazy. One moment, she was crying in my arms, one moment she looked annoyed, the very next moment she blushed!
And no! I don't like her like that. Don't think I'm falling in love with her.
"No problem. My shirt will always be ready for you."
Okay. That sounds wrong even to my ears. Cheesy? Hmm. I don't think it's that cheesy. Or is it? I grin at her. Feeling a little stupid about it. She gives me a confused look, again.
I ignore that and ask her one thing that has been nagging on my mind, "What is your name?"
"Is it relevant to know my name since you're going to kill me?"
"Well I should at least know my subject's name, should I not?"
"Why do you think it is relevant since I won't be here anymore tomorrow?"
"You won't?"
"Aren't you gonna kill me today?"
"God, woman. I was asking you one simple question. Your. Name. Why do you have to answer my questions with questions?"
"I did that?"
"See?"
"Don't you realize it?" She smiles.
I am starting to feel annoyed. She is one stubborn woman. And she has the gall to smile right now? It is as if she know I am getting pissed and she suddenly finds it amusing to play some sort of question games with me.
"What?!" I screeches.
She smiles again. I think she has the beautifulest smile in the world. And beautifulest is not even a word.
"You did that too, answering me with questions."
"But you started it first. I was just asking you your name and instead of answering me, you questioned me back. Each time." I cannot go on feeling annoyed with her. Not after the smiles, but there's nk way I'm showing her how giddy I am.
"Ann.. Annabeth!" she answers abruptly after being quiet for about a minute.
"My name is Annabeth."
Finally.
"Nice meeting you, Annabeth. I'm Darren."
"Urm.. nice meeting you too?" I think she just doesn't notice she anwers with questions, again. Maybe it's her habit. Or maybe she thinks it's funny to play that on me. I'm not sure which one.
"So how are you going to kill me?
Guys, please leave me comments to let me know how you like this story, or how you don't. Or if you spot any grammatical errors and spelling, go ahead and tell me, please. Thank you so much for reading. I m sorry I couldn't be faster in writing this.
