Perfect Proposal

11. The conflicted agreement

"That's not a problem! I will handle it," he uttered as he strolled towards the middle of the crowd, and stood infront of them after wearing his T-shirt.

I saw something in his pocket, but I was too tired and hesitant to spare another glance to zoom over it.

"My dear ladies and gentlemen, we welcome you all for our upcoming soap opera at Pious Garden, and as a token I am glad that you might've enjoyed our little performance of creating a suspense out of thin air, the theme of our program will be a mystery unfolding infront of you all, so I cordially welcome you all. And please enjoy the special coffee of my friend's friend over here," pointing at Ezlyn he blurted out in words as stark as stone carved by the authenticity by which they were reciprocated infront of the crowd, silenced them.

After delivering the speech he took out a rolled paper, more like a flyer of advertisement of some drama show, just like he mentioned. I barely spelled the big alphabets-'MACBETH'. I remembered Luca telling about the same show although I had no interest in such things.

But the flyer, damn, suddenly a gnawing realisation dawned as earlier when I came here I had seen a guy giving out the flyers near the cafe's entrance whom I barely noticed as my visual senses were conjured by that Jace.

"The hell!"I was gawking at him for the sheer brilliance he executed in managing the crowd from tearing me apart thus identifying the forgery I had done in my gender, and evading the same dilemma which he swung over my head, I truly was astonished to the core. Why this wretched idea of flyer didn't struck me?! Damn.

An urge to complete his words thrashed over me, and I suddenly took a cup from the wooden table, after fishing the spoon out of my pocket and tapped on the cup inviting people's attention.

"Also ladies and gentlemen, my name is Helent Berkley, and I am just another customer of this shop as the coffee here has made a special connection with me," clearing my throat, I added to the speech he delivered revealing about my identity, with a twinge of smile on my face, "what fucking connection? Did it marry you?" The wretched innervoice of mine never leave a chance to mock me.

The throngs of people started to split like shards, although I noticed few curses emanated from them, well can't blame them for sure, but my gaze was glued on him, the nameless stranger in front of me busy returning my stares wrapped up by coldness which only he could manage. I saw a twinge of victory in his face though it was still a face of darkness for me.

"Aren't you supposed to thank me for saving you?" He asked, as he strolled towards me.

"For what? Oh yeah, thank you for plotting to strip me naked, and to manipulate me, thanks a ton," I retorted with words laced with anger, "and if you slit my hands and then bandage it, I didn't know that I was supposed to appreciate it, you prick." I lashed out confronting him with the remnants of courage in me. "It's so very kind you."

"Still you couldn't get away just like that if it wasn't for me to save you," he uttered crossing his arms across his wide chest.

Scowling at him, I reached near Ezlyn, who was exhausted from the unveiling of such a dramatic night, that too when she had the most quantity of customers she'd ever get because of my stunt. She stood silent though I knew she had a plethora of questions to shoot.

The wooden tables and chairs were filled with people, which were once abandoned and the cafe were at the brink of collapse financially due to the deflation in sales, but at this moment the cafe choked on customers, the music drifted into jazz as the walls of the cafe reverberated in its symphony, the steam of coffee rose from the cups, and rippled into air syncing with the rhythm.

As I took her hands, her eyes gleamed in ecstasy of the money which she could get from tonight's business, although it suddenly collapsed into an agony, a dilemma hovering about me.

"Helen, I don't know what all things happened here? Who is that guy, and.." She started asking.

"Ssh, it's okay, he is one of my acquaintance and I am busy as I have to return this beard and moustache, and you know about my mom's strictness, right? I have to reach home," I said, "and I will tell you about everything tomorrow."

"But Helen.."

"Please Ez, I really need to go."

"Can I get you something? I have made your favorite brownies in today's menu."

"Save it for tomorrow, will you? I really need to sleep, Ez."

"Ok then Helen." She grabbed me into her tight hug, and grinned as I struggled to stand properly owing to the marvelous stunts I had executed.

I strolled past him towards the exit door of cafe, and stood waiting for him to talk.

"So? When I have to do the job?" I asked.

"You have to do that tomorrow..." He replied, his husky voice trailed off.

"I can't. Tracking requires time.." I was baffled as I reminisced about the efforts and strategies I made for that, spending much time to retrace his steps.

"Which I don't have, owing to the fact that you ruined it today. Like you said earlier, I have enough resources and I had tried to do it earlier, but.." losing his gaze over the scattered crowd in front us, he went silent fathoming memories which are anonymous to me.

"But.." scrunching my face at him, I asked impatiently.

"Nothing. If so, I will give you one day. That's all I can afford."

"Well, it's still not enough, yet I will try. But who are you? I don't know anything about you. Where shall I meet you?" Shifting my weight to one leg, I blurted to identify the dangerously dark recesses he had lingering all over him.

"Here is my card. I have to go now." Fishing out a visiting card from his pocket, he handed it over to me, "also the coffee you mentioned was not mine, it stained my T-shirt when I bumped into someone before that, just so you know be accurate before assuming," he said, curtly.

"Well, last time I checked I was a human not a freaking god to see your past, I only said what I noticed on your shirt," I blurted as I was annoyed.

He uttered, "great. Then see you later," before starting to paddle away, blending into the shadows casted by myriad of people and buildings, above which the glow moonlight was shrouding the street.

"Hey, wait. Will you..will you pay me?" I yelled as I chased him. His steps were fast, pace was unmatchable, as if he had a destination waiting for him.

"No." He retorted in a loud voice.

"Wait, what? Whoa, I won't work if you won't pay me for it." I yelled back my reply as the distance between us increased.

"I would've, if you accepted my deal when I offered, now you have to do anyways due to the dare. Remember be a man of your words."

"Its woman..woman of my words
...argh, screw you."

"I doubt the woman part in your sentence." He uttered and strolled away leaving me behind.

"I can show you though, come right here," a throbbing fury swept my face in red, as I yelled.

Damn it.

I stomped the ground beneath me in anger, the fervor on it made the pedestrians reciprocate the weirdness in me. The nerve of that son of a baboon.

The name in the card, 'Jayden Reyes', it seemed familiar for me but couldn't recall the memory.

Pondering over it, I walked towards my home, I know to call a taxi or board a bus, but my empty purse would advise otherwise, excluding the money given by that Dylan guy which is for my dance fee.

I strolled through the sideways, in slow steps only realise the silhouette draping the darkness behind me. I glanced over my shoulder although I couldn't see much.

I increased my pace instantly, though the person was too increasing his to chase me, my heart beats thundered, sending splintered shards of fear towards my reflexes.

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