Terrified

Chapter 7: Closer (Part 1 of 3)

There was once a saying that 'If it burns, you're getting closer'. Each time they feel this sensation of deepening affection towards someone, the more it hurts, it gets more complicated as they know more of these feelings, and things get tougher, especially when there are doubts and secrets hidden behind the growing fondness. Because they cannot stop it and dictate their scared heart not to go further, they still get closer to this love however. And because they try to fight it and they keep lying to themselves, every day feels like a battle within themselves but how long will their denials last as they get closer each day?

It's a breezy night in the town that's lighted up by the Christmas lights and kissed by the snow that started to free the ground. The streets are filled with people, family and friends, hanging around together as they enjoy a joyous night for they feel the Christmas coming. It's almost same to everyone because all have smiles and enthusiasm in them. However, the lonely and troubled Fatima isn't on the same swing as everyone else, differing herself from everyone's mood with her own.

While everyone goes in and out of stores with their shopping bags and gifts wrapped for their love ones, Fatima being one of the fewest alone in the town, she makes her way not to any stores but to a classic bar located out of the shopping district. It's dim and only yellow lights brightens up the place and jazz music playing in the background. The temperature is good for her to remove her thick coat and relax her body for a warmth as she takes one of the vacant seats in front of the bartender, together with some few lonely people like she is from seats apart.

"Do you want Margarita or just some Gin and Tonic?" The bartender offered, smiling at Fatima's pouty expression as soon as she sat down.

Fatima looks up on him and groans, "Kuya Chris ... stop smiling at me like that. It's creepy."

"It's creepier that you came in here spacing out." Chris giggled and served just water to Fatima for her to compose herself first before anything else. "How did you know I'm working here now? From the other staffs?" He then asked and Fatima nodded. "I have to keep grinding and earn while the café is still closed you know. But don't worry, when Yumi finds a way to reconstruct the café, I'll make sure to come back no matter how long she'll take." He further said as she reassured.

"I know Kuya." Fatima replied short and even let out a sigh.

Because Fatima's mood isn't changing at all and aloof with what he's saying, Chris has to ask her after serving Gin and Tonic, "Why are you alone? Where's Yumi? It's unusual for you to be grabbing few drinks on your own."

Fatima stares at her drink, watching the ice cubes melting as they move and pronounces low, "She's with Bianca right now. I think they're going to the hospital to visit Yumi's mom and so she can introduce B to her mom too."

"So Yumi's babysitting the lawyer's sister, huh? I heard a bit about Ashtine being Yumi's lawyer for the café's incident too." Chris stated.

But Fatima snorts, "Yumi seems to be enjoying it too much though. They've been hanging around too much and Yumi brought her one time to music stores too. She's so into it that she's forgetting that she has problems too which is good actually. At least Yumi is finding her ways to distract herself from being drowned on thinking about one problem to another."

"I see. Our precious Yumi found someone she can trust other than us. That's good." Chris nodded satisfied but seeing Fatima having the opposite day as her best friend, he leans closer to her as he sincerely asks her, "So, how about you, what can I do about to the troubled you? You know both of you are like my sisters so you better tell me like how Yumi always opens up to me too whenever she's troubled. I may not say good advises but you know you can tell me anything just to vent it out."