Bloom

Chapter-6

Stella

It's been a week since I recovered from my breakdown that night. Everything is at ease now, I don't think about that asshole anymore. I flushed all the painful memories of my childhood back to the small pocket at the edge of my brain which will never be opened again.

I'm currently in the college cafeteria, standing at the counter for my coffee. The arrogant barista skims the disposable white paper cup with a chuff smile across the counter, I give him a saccharine smile as fake as his. I feel like splashing the coffee in his face. Bastard. All my emotions have been heightened as per usual. I get easily annoyed and want to scream at every face I see yet the reason to my mood swing is unknown to me.

As I'm turning around with coffee in my hand, my phone rings with a suddenness that is unexpected. I jump at the sound and my coffee flies open, spilling on the person who is walking past me and I slam-bang, crushing into a hard muscular chest. Oh my god! Panic rises to me and the sick feeling is back, the smell of an expensive perfume shadows my senses. God no, please no, I pray, please don't.

"Fuck." A masculine voice booms throughout the place and resonates in my ears, I recognize the lack of softness and gentleness. I gulp, still pressed to the hard strong body.

"Excuse me? Get off of me." I'm frozen again, his voice is emotionless, just hollow, no trace of politeness or kindness, laced with fury- exactly like the one I hate the most in the world, my father's. I might cry if he doesn't shut up.

His hands grab both my arms, I shiver at the contact, goosebumps rise over my skin. His touch is so different to his speech; soft. A million knots tie up in my stomach. He detaches me from his brace and shoots a sharp, crisp eye contact. We stand there for a moment. I stare into his wonderful blue eyes, wanting to dive in them and disappear. The anger slowly slips away and the pigeons are back, this lean man is doing something to me and I can't figure out what.

"Just the person I wanted to see." He curses under his breath annoyed.

"I'm so sorry... umm... err" No Stella don't cry, you're strong, stand up for yourself. I notice everyone's eyes on us, we were so engrossed in each other to even bother our surroundings.

"What?" his eyes go wide.

"Can we please? go?... everyone is staring." I don't know where my voice comes from since I'm petrified.

"I don't give a shit about what everyone is doing. First tell me, what the fuck do I of this?" He points at his ruined clothes, his anger rising and getting me close to the edge by the second.

"We can... look after that too. Let's just- please leave." I muster up all my grit as I say in an urgent and alarmed tone, the words still break. I can't even form a simple sentence in one breath, jeez.

"Fine. Whatever." He stomps to the door and out, I'm left speechless. Oh my god, someone help me, I'm frozen.

"Are you going to come now or you willing to stick in your spot for a little while more." He props his head from the door. Come on now, Stella, breathe, just walk. My feet take me to the door and outside.

"What do you want?" He practically shouts at me when we're standing outside, face to face.

"You" I mutter, oh god, no way I just said that, holy cow, what am I going to do? I laugh a raspy breath as a pathetic attempt to amend my mistake, which only annoys him further. I hate him, I don't want him, I tell myself. But my subconscious says quite the opposite, he is rather attractive and irresistible but I hate him, he said all those hurtful things to me. "I'm sorry again, for saying that. Well, we bumped into each other a few days back and you literally threw yourself at me, so firstly I'm not who you think I am. I would really appreciate if you don't try to kiss me again." The robotic Stella is at work right now, my throat aches.