Why me?

Chapter 9: Why?

I was so shocked by his sudden action. We were standing in the middle of the mall hugging for a few minutes until I gain my conscious to push him away.

"Eric wha-whhat are you doing?" I managed to speak after what happened. 

At the same time I was looking around hoping that no one saw what just happen but it was all too late when I saw Alex was standing there looking directly to where me and Eric were standing. "Oh no why now?" I whispered to myself.

"You  asked for it" Eric replied and I can see that he's blushing even though he was looking down on the floor

"When did I asked for a hu-, ermm that?" I asked but my eyes was constantly looking at Alex who was still standing a few steps away from us. Even his friends was looking at him confused, by his action and I can hear his friends asking him "what happened" and "Why did you stop walking?" But all he does was standing there and stare.

"The reward...ermm I told you that its going to be special and big. so... that was the reward...a big hug that is special for...you" he replied with a nervous tone and he kept on looking at the floor and his right hand was rubbing at the back of his neck. But my mind was really distracted by Alex and I don't even know why. Luckily, my mom called me and asked me to come back home early because my cousins are coming to my house and I said okay.

"Eric, My mom just called me and I think we should go back now" I said with a serious voice and he looked at me with a confused look on his face.

"Okay then let's go" He replied. I once more took a glance at Alex and he was just about to walk toward the other direction with his friend dragging him but his eyes were is on me. 

In the car, It was really quite and it does feels awkward but It only last for a few seconds because I was distracted and the only thing in my mind was Alex. "Why is he acting that way?","Why does he keep on appearing in front of me?", "Why does he looked like he was mad earlier at the mall?" I thought to myself. I was deep in my thoughts that I don't even realize Eric was calling me the whole time.

"Em?"

"Emma?"

"EMMALYN" He called out

"Huh? what? why are you yelling?" I replied 

"I was calling you many times now but you didn't answer me" he said

"Oh sorry...what is it?" I asked

"We're here" He replied while making his way out and when I was about to open the door myself, he was already there opening it for me.

"Thank you" I thanked him as I walked out of the car

"Em?" He called with a really soft tone

"Yes?" I replied

"Are you mad at me? about the hug?" He asked

"No its just a hug right. Best friends do hug each other. Why do you think I'm mad at you?" I replied with a smile

"Oh..ermm.. yes friends do hug. Nothing its just that you were so quite the whole time in the car so I thought you're mad at me" He said but I can sense that he was being a bit nervous.

"No don't worry I'm not mad at you haha..hey what's with the sad face?" I said with a little joke and he just smiles back and looked down

"Well, thank you for sending me home...ermm do you want to come in?" I asked

"No its getting late so I should probably go home too. Good night Em" He said as he went into his car 

"Good night" and I went inside my house.