“Drink up kid. You need it to be calm.” the police woman motioned to the bottled water she handed to me.
“Thank’s Ma’am,” I mumbled.
“I gotta say, you were one hell of a heroine back there. i’d love to have you teach my girls lesson on self-defense. Don’t really trust their Jap sensei. And guns are more reliable than karate.” the police woman said, smiling at me.
I smiled back timidly.
“Thank you so much,” said the old lady from the convenience store. She attacked me with a bear hug. So did the woman. The teenage boys were getting the same from their relieved mothers who came to the police station right after they were informed. I’ve been surveying the place at 360 degrees but couldn’t find Mr. Neuman.
“Here’s the last. The guy you almost ran over with the vehicle’s still in the hospital. Need you to affix your signature, honey.”
“So he’s hurt.”
“Just a few scratches here and there. Nothing fatal.”
I signed my sworn statement and then left for the resort.
“I can schedule you for post-traumatic stress consult.” Toni offered.
“Guys, stop it. Really. You’re sounding like my aunt. I’m F-I-N-E.” I lifted up my hands in a figurative show that I sustained no damage. “The way you’re treating me like I’m some Nam survivor is creepy, so can it.”
When they heard the news, my friends overreacted. Like any girl teenager would when someone they know get involve in an accident. I told my aunt I handled the situation well. Her lips trembled when the police woman who escorted me said to her that I shot 3 men. I could swear she almost fainted. I had to beg her hard not to tell my parents who will surely outdo her aghast reaction.
“Right. Ok. Got news about your boss?” Shiela asked.
“I heard he was ok, overall. Nothing fatal from the blows he took to his head. I think his face will be blotched for a few days, though. “
“Haven’t talk to him, I’d guess?”
“No.”
“No word of thanks? Or at least a head nod?” Toni is always quick with these things.
I chuckled.
Frankly, I dunno how to face him. Its sort of awkward.
When I reached his room, I decided it was no use knocking. I’m pretty sure Mr. Nueman is still in bed, snoring.
And I wasn’t mistaken. What surprised me was when he woke up, he threw the pillow at my face… again.
I took a steadying breath.
I sighed. Oh, well.
“ Breakfast is ready, sir.” Soon as I got the words out of my mouth, I felt the sheets on my face. They fell down on the floor. In my periphery, I saw the outline of his body covered only by boxer shorts.
Oh, well.
Back to being someone else’s shadow. Silently, this time, I followed Mr. Neuman around. I didn’t really think about it. I just kept myself within 2 meter distance from him. Before I knew it, we were in Sunkiss, with Chris snapping her fingers at me.
“ What?” She was trying to tell me something which couldn’t register into my mind.
“ I said my boyfriend wants his bike back.” Yeah. The bike I grabbed off the street. “ You okay?”
