Perfect Proposal

6. The cafe war

"Suck it you creepy maggot!" I yelled out of frustration, as somebody from the crowd unknowingly pushed me, when I was sprinting, wrapping my tattered courage, clenching my life.

Avoiding that guy's face drilling glare to murder me for my decency, I scurried through the side way, penetrating the throngs of people.

My heart beats accelerated, claiming to break out my chest. Last hours, many things happened, things unbelievable to myself, making me question my own dreams, which seems more real to me, at this very moment of vulnerability I am striving through.

First I thought he would follow me, though I didn't see any sign of him, which whipped the life in me, finally I got rid of him. The anonymous stranger.

A moment later, I quickly stole few more glimpses over my shoulder to wrap up my assumption of making him back out.

"Hel, I never thought you would do such things, or you would face such situations." My inner voice took a dig at me, though few things taunted me about the guy, and that bloody Magoa, no I will call him Mango, or Maggot, yeah that seems relatable, given his behaviour.

I sauntered through the side walk to my destination, the shop where my best friend Ezlyn worked, 'Meraki'. It's a cafe, along with a small library set by both of us. Ezlyn worked at night shifts.

Time approached almost 9'O clock, the peak hour when most people rejoiced in the hotness of coffees. I could see the cafe built by red bricks, at the end of the lane, glistening in white light, along with the lingering aroma of freshness shredded by the coffee beans.

I saw the unfolding of blurred images of buildings and vehicles through the corner of my eyes, as I sprinted to reach there. The sidewalk was slippery in the wetness as it was drenched due to the rain.

After when I was kicked out by that bastard earlier for defending Ezlyn, she has banned my entrance there, to not cause any further trouble, consoling me that she would handle it herself, which I seldom believed.

As I approached the cafe, I let my eyes roam around, gazing at the few people through the glass window which covered the major portion of the facade. The counter was embraced by fresh roses planted in small pots, because Ezlyn hated the idea of plucking flowers for our pleasure.

A recently hit pop song floated in the air, a rhythm of symphony which made my legs tap accordingly. I remember telling her how much I was in love with this particular song, though at that time she didn't seem to mind. That's Ezlyn for you. She is full of surprises, which would charm your mind, conjure it in it's ecstasy, while rendering you to wonder on her soulful personality which will make you fall in love with her.

"Oh, there she is, Ez." I thought to call her, but I had to execute a plan which required no interaction with her, to hide my identity. I hadn't told to her inorder to surprise her, although she sniffed out that I was up to something, for the eccentric and impulsive nature I radiate. I yearned for her happiness.

As usual, Ezlyn and others were busy serving people. She had tied her brown hair into messy bun, though there were few strands flutterring, gracing her gorgeous face. She belonged bit of a chubby side, with her plump cheeks which glinted in red, along with the almond eyes, which was almost invisible due to the smoky effects she made herself drench in.

A smile tugged at my lips when I saw her, but it faded when my eyes landed on that asshole, Jace Tristan, sipping the coffee and trying to catch Ezlyn's attention. I went in slowly, and grabbed a corner seat, from where I could watch him.

A sky blue T-shirt hugged his stout body, the fuzzy honey-blonde hair of his was gelled and curled neatly to perfection, complimenting the clean shaven face he possessed, containing the stark angular jaw line, inflating the tinge of beauty he radiated, though his mouth would disagree with the amount of trash it littered dimming the glitter of his face.

"Hey Ez, can't you behave nicely to the customers, see I am waiting here for you always, sweety." Jace told, when Ezlyn ignored him, and walked over. He quickly patted her back, "didn't your daddy told you not to be rude with the customers, I can teach you though." He laughed, ignoring her death stare. "And where is that friend of yours?"

"I told you to leave her alone, and me too." Ezlyn retorted, angrily.

"How can I leave you? I have to teach you good manners, sweety." His lips curled into an evil smirk, while glaring Ezlyn.

It was raging a blizzard in me. The hate in me spilled through my eyes, making it fume. A shiver found it's way towards my hands, or more like the embarking of adrenaline rush to thrash him over. I glanced around, and I grabbed a coffee cup from the waiter who passed by me.

First I thought to pour it over him, but another idea flashed in me because he deserved better. With a smirk, I flung my hands wide, and threw the cup at him.

With a sound, it splashed all over him, persuading him to trace it's direction, making his gaze tower over me. Gritting his teeth, he wiped the coffee dangling from his eyelashes, dripping from his hair, which was wretched.

"What the fuck?" Curse words erupted from his dirty mouth, which added the stench of dirtiness more intensely.

"Now you have seen that I too don't have good manners. Can you teach me too?" I uttered holding hands across my chest, as the spectacular events laced my happiness with the revenge, spitting my venom all over him.

"You're gonna regret for this, you prick." Fuming in anger, or rather the hotness of the coffee clawing it's way in his skin, he sprinted, and grabbed my jacket, yanking me towards him, while locking his infuriated eyes with mine.

I could barely move, but the fact that he hadn't still identified me aroused the confidence. I tried to gather my calmness, making him smoulder in his own gaze, as he might've expected me to run.

I quickly balled my fists, thrashed his face, aiming his nose, which gave him a shock, forcing him to release me. With a shriek, he wobbled back, retracting his steps, while cupping his nose which was at the brink of bleeding.

He was flushed in embarrassment as many stares were shoot by the few customers who were joined by the pedestrians to watch the show. He was engulfed in agony. In despair. In anger.

"What? You don't wanna teach me now? Aw, that's so sad, sweety." I screamed at him, after holding my beard, to make sure of my anonymity, that it wouldn't fell off in between which would be an anti-climax to my plan.

"Who..Who are you?" Jace snorted, as he was burning in anger, to be seen thrashed in public, which intensified the deflation of his bruised ego.

"Let me think, oh yeah, I am not obliged to answer it, coz you deserve every bit of this."

"Who the hell are you to tell me all that, you coward." He said, or it sounded more like a grunt.

"I. Am. Not. Coward." I snarled, as I retorted, with words laced by rage dripping from me.

"I don't think so." Retrieving his evil smirk, he said.

"You should think so. I am not the one here standing with a bleeding nose, because I chose to mess with the girls." I replied, reciprocating the smirk he had.

Before I could spit another word, he retaliated and kicked me in my stomach, making me tremble, and land on my knees, holding my stomach, and squirming under the throbbing ache.