「 The Professor & I 」VOLUME II

(170) Crushed Dreams

Lynn's POV

Tipping Amy generously for the sumptuous meal and cordial service, Jean and I left the diner and roamed around the mall. Strangely being the only one available within a sizable radius of the city that was certainly not metropolitan but appeared more like a overly developed town, it was large and rather extensive, composing of a wide genre of shops.

Ranging from supermarkets to departmental stores and even luxury brands, there was probably nothing that could not be found here. Not to mention the abundance of other services and amenities available including a movie theatre, restaurants, hair salons, beauty parlours, laundromats, gaming arcades and many more that offered a vast selection of fun and entertainment for visitors of all ages.

Clearly aware of my own intentions, I merely headed towards the directory in search for my targeted shop. A series of fashion boutiques was surely anticipated in the long list but there was an inevitable hesitancy even browsing for clothing within a relatively confined space that automatically had me proceeding towards Nordstrom instead.

It was an expectedly uncommon practice for me to really purchase any apparels in public ever since Cuba, with Charles hiring the sales assistants to bring in their latest stocks into the mansion on a periodic basis. It felt foreign, and actually daunting, slowly rolling through the tall racks buried under the weight of countless different dresses, seemingly unable to even see the top or the end of the ladies' section in the highly illuminated premises.

As I maneuvered my chair through the maze of female outfits, advancing towards the peculiarly arranged trousers, I stopped by a shelf packed with jeans, feeling and examining the material of the sample pants hanging on the side. Exceedingly unnerved gazes and extremely distressed thoughts evidenced the dramatically escalating anxieties of the attendant standing nearby, obviously uncertain on how she should handle or even approach their badly handicapped customer who looked to be without a companion as I had instructed Jean to hide herself, aiming to complete my shopping task independently.

Skimming through the labels hanging off the wooden mantles, I eventually located the storage units that held the pants of my desired colours and sizing. I swiftly wheeled myself forward two feet towards the corner where the shelves met at right angles, easily pulling out a pair of navy skinnies that was conveniently placed at my eye level. The second pair I wanted was of identical design but in a washed denim shade and retrieving it was slightly more tricky, with it residing two racks above the one I had just accessed.

Craning my neck up, I focused on the neatly folded pants within the shelf, contemplating how I could obtain a piece without toppling the entire stack given that my fingers would probably only get to the middle of the pile or without bothering the already shaken attendant who was engaging in an intense debate with herself whether to make any contribution to my endeavor.

Finally deciding to give it a shot, I stretched my hand towards the shelf but I could indeed only reach the third piece from the top. Unable to move my chair any closer with its frame trapped at a dead end of the corner, I carefully shuffled myself to the edge of my seat and tried again while prudently holding one of the racks for support. Getting better grasp of the piece atop the stack, I smiled in delight and leaned forward, attempting to tug it off when Jean rang in my mind.

James, three o'clock, Jean suddenly informed.

Naturally, I faced towards the said direction, noticing my neighbour briskly pacing towards me with a tensed expression. Stunned and distracted by his abrupt and increasingly intimidating appearance, my concentration in clenching my core muscles crumbled and I lost my balance.

As my body uncontrollably slid off my chair, I gasped loudly and instinctively grabbed onto wooden shelvings, struggling to keep my top upright, albeit grateful that I did not destroy the orderly arrays of pants in the surrounding storage units. Having no more hands to work with, I could only helplessly watch my useless legs dangling inanimately beneath me with my limp calves seriously entangled under my semi-tipped over wheelchair as I registered several sets of scurried footsteps hurrying towards me.

Without warning, a pair of strong arms secured themselves around my waist in a manner of such remarkable reminiscence, rapidly ending my embarrassing ordeal as I was readily hoisted back into my chair.

"Charles," I blurted in reflex, sincerely wishing it was his safe embrace I was being caught in but reality was always cruel in contrast, mercilessly crushing my dreams.

Tediously organizing my paralyzed limbs that was practically in a chaotic plight after that nearly disastrous narrow escape, I glanced up and it was only James I came face to face with. Meticulously picking up my belongings that had scattered from my lap to the floor during the ungraceful fall and effortlessly sieving out a piece of my desired clothing from the upper rack, James kindly returned my clutch and my conceived merchandise into my hands as I panted in recovery from the startling accident.

"Are you alright?" Jean probed in concern as she promptly arrived at the scene.

"I'm fine," I replied breathlessly and waved off the shop assistant who basically stood around watching us, hesitant to interrupt.

"Where the hell were you?! She could have been hurt!" James shouted furiously at Jean, almost in typical Scottish temper, and her jaw dropped in absolute astonishment.

"That's enough, James. I said I'm fine," I intervened sternly, hoping to end the conversation there but he was annoyingly persistent.

"But she's irresponsible to have left you alone!" James denounced fiercely, pointing at Jean who was standing about the same height as him and she was immediately provoked.

Calm down, please. I don't want anymore trouble, I pleaded as I squeezed Jean's palm, attempting to soothe her mood.

"I was the one who told her to go. Happy?" I countered with utter sarcasm, frustrated by his ridiculous and unwarranted audacity, and he was taken aback by my retort, as blatantly expressed by his puzzled look.

"Besides, what gives you the right to raise your voice? It's none of your business," I argued, regardlesssly displaying my displeasure on my face.

"I saved you," James remarked as a matter of fact and shrugged with a conceited expression.

"And I appreciate that. Thank you," I articulated, looking up at him genuinely but it quickly faltered.

"But I'll appreciate if you do not jump to conclusions or blindly accuse my sister again," I chastised severely and smoothly swiveled my chair around, speedily propelling myself towards the section for ladies' tops.

"I'm truly sorry, Lynn," James frantically apologized as he and Jean tailed me closely.

"I'm not the one who was wronged," I stated nonchalantly without pausing.

"I'm sorry, Jean," he spouted remorsefully.

"Why don't you ladies come in tonight and I'll buy you some drinks?" James offered again.

While his honest invitation was wholly attested by his earnest thoughts, his sheer presence was simply irritating and I just craved to be away from him in that moment.

"Maybe not," I casually dismissed without looking back but his footsteps did not follow as Jean and I took a bend.

XXXXX

I'm seriously hoping this midweek to be more bearable. Work has been such a bitch lately 😭

Anyway, I hope you all enjoyed this chapter anyway. Pls vote/comment for me if you did, thanks! Your support really means the world to me 😘