My best friend's cousin just got home from America. Liam glimpsed at me, eyes full of excitement as he waved his sign with his cousin's name written on it.
I shoved my hands on my pocket while tapping my foot on the ground. I honestly don't have any idea who his cousin is. Liam deceived me by saying we'll go for a drink after this. Not until I saw a young woman with her branded bag swinging on her posed arm, wearing expensive shades, I guess. She was looking elegant and sophisticated with her stilettos that create an irritating sound whenever she walks.
"Akisha! So good to see you!"
Liam threw his arms to his cousin with a wide grin. Man, this Akisha is taller than my boy. Or maybe, it's her stilettos that made her look taller.
"Liam! Argh, you smell so bad," she beamed, nose wrinkling in disgust.
"How dare you," he pouted. "Go and look for your own driver."
"I was just kidding! Let's go shopping!"
I was immobilized to my place when I heard the word shopping. Damn, girls and their accessories. I was wrong about the drink, I think it would gonna be a shopping.
"Hold on, let me introduce to you my friend. Hey bud, come here."
I raised my brows if he's really referring to me. He widened his eyes and gestured his head to Akisha.
I rolled my eyes and went to the both of them. Akisha's brows shot, giving me a sardonic look and negative ambience between us.
"This is Ervin. Akisha, meet Ervin. And this is Akisha. Ervin, meet Akisha."
None of us offered a hand. She'd given me an unctuous smile and shrugged with an expression I couldn't comprehend.
"Okay. Can we go shopping now?" Akisha's voice was sweet as a candy, a voice you cannot resist.
"I promised Ervin a drink after this, Akisha. But, I can drive you to the mall and just text me when to pick you up."
"Wait, who will hold my things?" she objected. "I mean, I will buy a lot. And I can't carry all of them! I need one of you to be with me."
"Not me." Liam surrendered both of his arms in the air.
Akisha's eyes gawked at me. I smirked and chuckled at the same time.
"I know nothing about your cousin, Liam. Go and join her. Just give me money for my drinks."
"Ervin, my pockets are empty. Remember? I lost at the casino," he wiggled his brows with a foolish grin on his face.
"Maybe... I can give you money for your drinks after my shopping," she offered, though her tone screams in hesitant.
I glared at Liam, his face remained the same. He's teasing me with this brat!
"Ervin, you have a well-built body, I know. I bet you can carry the whole mall."
I mouthed a cuss that made his laughter grew.
In the end, I went to the mall with Akisha. I'm now holding 5 paper bags on each hand while she only has one; her branded bag.
"Look, Ervin! That bag looks so good, isn't it?"
I rolled my eyes in irritation. You can buy all you want as long as you're the one who will carry it!
"It looks common. Nothing special," I stated.
"You think so? But it looks cool for me," her eyes were twinkling at the sight.
"It's ugly."
"Fine," she puffed. "Let's look around again."
Akisha love bags, that's what I observed. We almost spent five hours at the mall, I was starting to get bored. Until she whirled to face me with her blank face.
"Done shopping. Let's go for a drink."
"Alright."
I acted not excited at all, but deep inside me, I'm celebrating. Finally, I'll be able to taste alcohol drinks again.
"Here. It's all yours," Akisha said. "I will just check my stuff. Make sure you won't get drunk. I will not carry an old man."
"Old man!" I laughed and drank my liquor. The alcohol passed through my throat, making me wanting more.
I drank my liquor quietly. I watched Akisha grins and giggles because of her expensive bags and stuff. I didn't notice she was also making a shot.
"You know, my bag has a special place in my heart," she giggled and got another shot. "That's why I love bags."
Looks like I'd be the one who will carry a brat.
"Bags?" I asked, confused. She really is obsessed with bags, huh?
"Yes, I was raped, you know," a bittersweet smile flashed across her lips. "That's why my parents sent me to America, for my protection."
She's drunk. I listened carefully to her sobs and cries. Liam mentioned nothing about this. I thought she's just a brat. That's it. And... I never thought she has a painful past.
"I was given no justice. I didn't know who the man was," she whipped in pain. She grabbed another liquor and didn't hesitate to drink it.
"Liam... I convinced Liam. I did ask for his help! But what did he do? He turned his back on me! All my relatives! They were disgusted! Well, I can't blame them. I was also d-disgusted to m-myself," her voice cracked.
"Shhh..." All I could do was to hush her.
"And... the man almost k-killed me, too. He stabbed me with his knife when I refused to his desire. He's c-cruel... But, I did cut his two fingers in exchange," she laughed and drank another shot.
"What?" My face crumpled.
"Yes," she proudly uttered. "As far as I remember... he made me take something. I supposed it was drugs. Maybe the reason I couldn't remember anything," she cachinnated and continued her story. "I was able to defend myself that time, I used his own knife to stop him but." She drank her drink and shook her head. "Silly me, I only cut his two fingers and put it inside my bag. He was mad. Very mad."
"You're a brave woman yet weird," I whispered in awe.
"I am. It's just, Liam... I mean, we're cool now. But I still can't forget on what he did," she sadly smiled and wiped her dried tears on her cheeks.
I was also disappointed to Liam. How can he do that? Akisha is her cousin. He should've help her...
I gripped my hold to my glass, thankful of the dim lights, she wasn't able to see my two missing fingers.
—
Product of the writer's imagination.
—Rosé Speaks xx
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