A Cup of Coffee

c h a p t e r 2 5

Elizabeth

"Ad, have you gone to the toilet?" I called out as I wiped my hands on the paper towel I grabbed on my way out the restrooms. Adam was staring at a couple, the girl was our age and  the guy was relatively older. They were making out aggressively on the hood of their car.

"Hey you okay?" I asked, approaching him with my arm extended to touch his shoulder. He quickly avoided me and walked to the restrooms, ignoring me in the process.

I was confused as to why he was so upset all of a sudden. Thankfully the car was unlocked so I climbed in and dug through my bag for my phone. After updating Katie about the situation, I shoved it back into my bag as I see Adam approaching the car. He slammed the hood of the car and the door as he entered. Without a word, he peeled off the pit stop and started driving towards the direction we were headed before.

We still had two hours till we reach out destination and he refused to even acknowledge my existence so I decided I would take a nap instead. I grabbed a neck pillow and my scarf from the backseat. After adjusting myself of the passenger seat, I eventually fell asleep and managed to ignore Adam's lack of effort to make a conversation. I was awake most of the drive but I covered myself with the scarf so it wasn't awkward. I was supposed to drive but he was being such a jerk. He ignored most of my questions in the beginning of the ride and I was just not in the mood to push it. I honestly didn't do anything to piss him off.

In my last attempt to make things less awkward, I asked him if he was going to make another stop for us to have a proper meal but he snapped at me and I lost it there and then. I grabbed my duffel bag from the backseat and gathered all my belongings that was scattered on the passenger side. Without thinking, I just stuffed all of them into the duffel bag Katie packed for me. After grabbing a waterbottle, I turned to Adam who was obviously mortified and he was probably regretting his asshole move.

"Stop the car at the nearest stop,"

"No, what are you going to do?" He asked.

"Just pull over,"

"No,"

"I don't want to come with you." I spat, turning away to look at the window. I was already worried how I was going to go home but I didn't want to stay with him. We were in the car for almost three hours and he didn't bother replying to my questions and now he bothers speaking. How can we enjoy our date if he's going to act like this? I might as well go home and spend time with Katie since she's back.

He kept quiet as I made my remark. I contemplated on whether I should text Katie to pick me. I don't mind waiting five hours for her to come and get me rather than spend the rest of the trip with this. I googled the possible ways I could get back to Penguinne with money I had. There were buses available but I have to transfer buses twice to get there.

Eventually Adam parked at a deserted pit stop, he didn't unlock the doors though. We sat in the car in silence.

"Unlock the door," I ordered, trying to be firm. For some reason I wanted to cry, the situation made me feel so shitty and I honestly didn't do anything. It reminded me of how my parents were when they suddenly vent out all their anger on me upon coming home. And I would be so confused because I stayed up to wait for them but they would end up reprimanding me. It felt so similar and I felt so helpless.

"I'm really sorry," I kept my lips shut. I couldn't come up with words to explain what I was feeling at this moment. It was like remembering my childhood and I didn't want to. Now I was older and I could remove myself from the situation. I reached across, taking him by surprise and unlocked all the doors. After opening the door, I gathered my things and hopped off the car. From there I started running the opposite direction. I don't know where I'm going but I just wanted to run away from him.

Adam's car door opened and shut not long after and was bolting towards me. With his long legs and fit physique, he caught up with me with no difficulty. He spun me around and wrapped his arms around me. A part of me wanted to refuse his approach but this was what I wanted all those years ago. To be held and to be comforted. I collided with his shoulder and we stood there at the empty pit stop, embracing each other.

"I'm sorry, I just remembered the past and it completely sucked out the happiness in me." He explained in a soft voice as I started sobbing onto his shoulder. He rubbed my back in a circular motion and held me tightly yet so gently in his arms. We stood in silence but we understood what had happened. After a couple minutes had passed, we headed back to the car and we sorted out the issue. We sat in silence for a little bit but this time, he was just holding onto my hand. His delicate long fingers firmly intertwined with mine. His hands holding mine was something I can't seem to stop thinking about. Daniel was not affectionate with me and so this was a big deal. I smiled at our hands and I felt this lump in my throat. My eyes were burning up again and tears were threatening to start flowing down.

He squeezed my hand and in the moment, I realized why he was my soulmate. It wasn't because we were "made" for each other but we connected in a way I don't understand. And maybe one day, I'll figure it out.

A/N: I am terrible but life's been kicking my ass and I'm trying to juggle school and my life but writing this made me feel good cuz girl yas dramaaaa. I made a new best friend, Reign, she's actually me but prettier hahaha! I love her!