PUPPY

CHAPTER 21

"Amalia, answer me!" my mother angrily shouted as she came behind me and pulled the door open.

I quickly gained footing and ran in front of her. My body was trembling like a leaf. I can't even comprehend what's going on.

"I'm sorry. Please, wait. I'll be quick," I said to my mother, but she didn't buy it. She pushed me to the side and took a good look at Neil.

Now it's over.

My mother and Neil are face-to-face now.

This isn't bound to be good.

"Amalia, who's this?" my mother asked as she tugged me by my arm making me face her.

I looked at Neil's emotionless face. I gulped down my saliva and looked back at my mother.

All the possible scenarios are running through my mind and neither one will have a good outcome. One way or another someone is about to get hurt.

What should I say?

What should I do?

Neil reached forward and snatched me from my mother's painful grip. I looked up at him in shock. "Who is this woman?" he asked with a concerned voice turning his body completely toward me.

My mother's thin brows rose. "Excuse me! I'm her mother!"

He totally ignored her. He started looking at my hurt cheek and teary eyes. I kept looking at his concerned expression. As much as I love him, I didn't want him to show up. He wasn't supposed to be there.

"Puppy, are you alright?"

"What's all this fuss about?" my brother asked as he walked from around the corner. "This mister just popped in here like he owns the place!" my mother complained to my brother.

"Let's go home," Neil said before sliding his thumb under my eye.

"I can't."

All of a sudden, my mother came to our side and took a good look at us. She grabbed the sleeve of my sweater and pulled me toward her. "Who is he!?" she shouted in anger.

Neil pushed her hand away and looked at her with a serious expression. "I'm her boyfriend."

For that moment the world stopped. For the first time, I felt the calm before the storm.

My brother's jaw dropped. My mother's face distorted in anger. I was ready to hear her insults and feel her hits. I already closed my eyes for the impact when she burst out laughing.

I looked at her in surprise.

"Oh, don't look at me like that. Do you think that I would believe this little act of yours? You're marrying Clark one way or another. Get going, mister."

Neil gently pulled me closer to him. My mother looked me dead in the eyes and firmly said: "Amalia, come here." My body flinched as if it was ready to do as she said.

She smiled before looking at Neil. "Mister, I'm sorry that she put you up to this, but now you can stop the act and leave. It's enough."

I could feel my brother's eyes glued to me. He looked almost as tense as me.

I let go of Neil's hoodie and took a deep breath. I looked into his eyes for the last time.

"I love you" was what I tried to say to him with my look.

I was ready to walk over my feelings just to protect him from my mother. Despise her petite piqué she can inflict quite some

damage to a person.

I have to go with my mother. This is the only way. She won't stop until she gets what she wants. I never imagined things would end like this.

I want to run away. But where can I go?

I-I

I want to end everything.

His eyes shifted from anger to gentleness. He took my hand into his. It was short and sweet, the time that we had together, but I think that it's over now.

"Let's go home."

He started walking, but I didn't follow. My feet were cemented on the floor. I just couldn't move. I'm scared of what will happen if I do.

"Amalia, come inside this instant!"

Neil stopped and looked back at me.

She grabbed my hand in an attempt to pull me behind her. "Amalia, let's go!"

I looked at him and then at her.

Neil took a deep breath before walking next to me. He took my hand into his and looked down at my mother. "Mrs Taylor, I presume. I kindly advise you to let go of what's mine."

My mother looked at him in disgust. "Do you hear him!? You don't belong to him."

"I'll call the police without hesitation for domestic violence," Neil commented.

I just kept standing there like a statue and waiting for the outcome. My brain wasn't working anymore.

"How dare you even assume that? I-"

He didn't even wait for her to finish. "I think that a person can't get a bruise in the shape of a hand on their own cheeks all by themselves. Now, can they?" My mother went silent. She isn't used to talking back.

She looked at me and said: "Amalia, do you see this? Your so-called boyfriend is objectifying you. He's worse than your father. He calls you his as if you're an object isn't that wrong? Clark would never do that to you."

"Mrs Taylor, I recommend you to stop playing your little mind games. You may be her mother, but guilt-tripping her into coming with you is a parasite thing to do, don't you think?"

My mother went silent, again. She let go of my hand and he pulled me behind him.

"This isn't over until I say that it is!" my mother shouted behind us.

As the door of his apartment closed behind us, Neil's body relaxed. He looked down and asked: "Puppy, are you alright?"

I looked into his gentle eyes. I was ready to leave him without putting up a fight. I'm such a fool.

How could I do that to him?

He only showed me love and kindness.

"I'm sorry ... I love you," I said before pulling him into a kiss. He gently kissed me back. "Don't be scared, you're here," he replied before placing a kiss on my forehead.

After that, my legs gave up. He caught me and carried me to bed. "Everything is gonna' be alright."

After that, the world turned black.