Category : Books-Fiction

Sub Category : Romance

                   Chapter 7 
          Eric's punch was punny but Chris's cheek still throbbed. Enough to make Chris cringe his face in pain.           His cheek stings to the touch, but he bared with the pain and massaged his cheek slowly. 
          That idiot! Couldn't he have been a tad bit gentler?! His face was his asset. It was a lame attempt to comfort himself about everything that went down between them.
         Chris was originally tailing Bea out of the library. But since Eric appeared, he had long lost sight of her. Thank God Bea wasn't there to witness their fight. In fact, Thank God everyone else was in class and there was no one in the halls to witness their brawl.
          Chris stays in one of the school owned apartments where they use  as a dormitory. He had planned to head straight back to the dorms but instead, he stopped in front of the local supermarket.          Chris felt a sudden urge to enter the supermarket. It was as though there was a strange voice in his head telling him to enter, a strange force pulling him in. Even though he wanted to retire to his room badly, for some unknown reason his heart kept telling him to enter. That he wants to be there?
         Chris racked his brain to find a reason for him to enter the store. Finally, he convinced himself that it would be a good idea to buy a pack of ice for his cheek, and upon loosening his tie, he walked straight into the supermarket. 
          Both hands tucked into his pants pockets, his left hand nestled in the warmth of the cotton and his right thumb casually brushing his phone screen. Chris light-heartedly walked around the supermarket, studying the usual supermarket goers and taking in the sight of the various goods on each shelf.           He was roaming the food section, when out of the corner of his eyes, he spotted a familiar figure walking into a different lane at his far right, soon disappearing out of sight. 
          To his utter and complete surprise, Bea was in the supermarket!          Rather baffled at his finding, Chris stood frozen at ground. He blinked in utter disbelief. The coincidence is simply astonishing! He swears he wasn't following her and the reason he came into the supermarket was definitely not because he knew she would be here. 
          Suddenly, Bea turned in his direction and on reflex, Chris immediately ran and hid behind the shelf. His movements abrupt and unsteady, causing several suspicious eyes to land on him. 
          Why the hell am I hiding?! Chris wondered as he stared at her from a distance. She was browsing through the vegetable section. The boy has long forgotten his initial objective of buying an ice pack and was now spying on her. He quietly and carefully inched closer to her, disguising himself as nothing more than a mere supermarket customer.
          He pretended to mind his own business while the whole time keeping an eye on her at an unsuspicious distance.           Looking around, nothing was out of the ordinary and his plan seemed to be going smoothly. The few suspicious eyes were long gone and everyone else seems to be going about their own business and to his benefit, no one seems to be suspecting him, yet.
          Wait. Wait. Wait a damn second! What he is doing right now……stalking?! What the hell is he even thinking for following her?!           He must have hit an all time low by doing something so unsightly like this?! He thought to himself that if anyone were to find him in this embarrassing predicament, Chris would rather die. 
          Wrapped in the sudden realisation of his actions, Chris was annoyed, and frustrated with himself. He leaned his forehead against the wall and contemplated his actions, earning him yet more confused eyes. Consumed with guilt, Chris sulked and couldn't care less about the attention he was pulling, definitely not in a good way. 
          Disappointed with himself, Chris pulled his head off the wall and decided firmly to leave. He had no business to be here. Never had one when he walked in, never had one when he walked out. Casting one last glance in the girl's direction, when his senses picked up, this time noticing someone suspicious hovering behind Bea.
          The guy didn’t look like good news. He had a black hoodie over his head that prevented Chris from identifying him and was slightly hunched.           The only thing that Chris could tell, judging by his height and figure, was that the guy was probably around the same age as him and Bea. Perhaps it was because their objectives were partially the same, Chris could immediately tell that that guy was also eyeing Bea, although the other person was harboring ill intentions. 
         Who is that guy? Chris was on guard, ready to run over any time, if not for his rational and common sense yelling at him to stay calm and not act on haste, to save himself from further self embarrassment. Bea, on the other hand, was completely engrossed in examining the bunch lettuce in her hand. Completely unaware of the guy approaching her stealthily from behind. 
          Chris watched as the guy silently walked up to her and walked passed her back.          The guy was fast and swift on his hands, if Chris had even taken his eyes off of him for a second, he would have missed it. The guy had dropped something into Bea's bag, which was unzipped.
          After the deed was done, the guy didn't leave immediately, instead he casually browsed the stalls and stands like every ordinary customer for a long minute, before grabing a random item and dully went up to the counter to pay for it, finally walking out of the store. Face still covered by the hoodie but Chris could almost picture the other boy humming with a smirk of a job well done. 
          Chris reverted his attention back to Bea, she was still browsing the shelves, completely oblivious of what had just befallen her.
          Chris took a deep breath and walked up to her.          Trying his best to act calm and composed, he introduced himself, "Hi! I'm Chris. We met earlier!"
          Chris had never planned to come in contact with Bea this early in the game, but the circumstance has certainly changed. After what he had just witnessed, it was evident that he had no choice but to reveal himself.          
          Act natural Chris! He told himself.          Bea was surprised initially, but she didn't stay surprised long.           "You're the eavesdropper!" she exclaimed. 
          She does remember him! Although not in the way he expected her to. Damn that principal! John should legally change his career to ruining people’s image. He seems to be an ace at that.  
           One hand scratching the back of his neck, Chris laughed awkwardly, asking, "I guess I didn't give quite a good first impression, did I?" 
         "Not really, no……” Bea agreed.           
         Chris felt a punch in his confidence, he had asked the question as a joke, but he didn’t expect the other to not deny! 
          “Do you have any business with me?" Bea timidly asked as she took a step back, shifting uncomfortably. 
          Chris could see that she was distancing herself from him and save to say he was a little bewildered. Not to stroke his pride but he has never ever in his entire life been rejected by the opposite sex. 
          "No……" Chris started and upon realising his mistake, corrected himself rather strongly, "...... I mean yes!" 
          Chris mentally face palmed himself. He realised he had came off too strongly. And if Bea was looking at him weirdly beforehand, Chris doesn't even want to think of what she might be thinking of him at the moment. 
          Chris sighed before asking, "....... just earlier, did you notice someone walking pass you?" Chris had no idea why he was slurring that much. It wasn't like he was particularly nervous or anything.          
          "No......"           She backed a step again. 
          Every step she took backwards, Chris could feel his pride and confidence crushing and crumbling into pieces. He had made sure to be as friendly as possible when he approached her, minus the screw up just earlier. 
          Her behaviour and attitude made Chris feel awkward. Not wanting to stale the awkwardness, and to be completely honest, if he were to not get to the point already, the girl would backed up all the way to the other end of the supermarket before he could even explain anything. Chris pointed at her unzipped bag and said, "I saw someone drop something into your bag."
          Bea proceeded to check the contents in her already open bag. Sure enough she found one of the store products nestled in between her books. She took it out to examine it. It was a USB cable, in its’ packaging, with the price tag still intact. 
         Wided eye, Bea asked, "What is this doing in here?" She stared at Chris, confusion written all over her face, demanding an explanation. 
          "I think someone was trying to frame you for shoplifting." Chris guessed. Although, he was pretty sure that was exactly what happened.
         Bea casually placed the gadget on one of the shelves, she then edged closer to Chris.
          She lifted her right hand to cover her mouth, but barely touching her lips as she whispered, "Is that person still around?" 
          Chris flinched a little when she came closer to him. He was startled by the question. She was initially wary of him, but surprisingly, now she isn’t.
          "I saw him exit the store." Chris whispered back. 
          Only upon hearing his confirmation did Bea release a breath of relief and relaxed.          Once she has confirmed from Chris that the guy wasn't in the store anymore, she didn't bother to keep her voice down. 
          "But that person might still be outside the store, right?" Bea asked, tensed.
          "You're right! He might be waiting to see what happens to you." Chris was impressed by Bea's reaction, it didn’t even cross his mind that the guy might still be outside until Bea brought it up.           
          "I hope he's there to see me walk out of the store unharmed and realize that his plan has failed." Bea said as she started towards the exit which also happens to be the entrance of the supermarket.  
          "You're going to just walk out?!" Chris asked, genuinely surprised. There was no glint of hesitation in her voice whatsoever. 
         He jogged up to her. But before he could catch up, Bea suddenly stopped dead in her tracks, Chris halted as she turned around to look at him. 
          "I've got you as my bodyguard, right?" She asked. The girl had a broad smile that Chris found hard to resist, beckoning him to go along with her request and the enthusiasm in her eyes captivated him immensely. If Chris didn't find her cute before, he found her ten times cuter than the last time they met. He couldn't say no even if he wanted to. 
          "Yeah......" Chris agreed. Words just rolled out of his mouth before it even went through his thought process.          
          His legs weren’t listening as well. If it was even possible to not have control over your body, Chris experienced it there and then. Before he could even so much as register his current situation, he was already walking out of the store, following closely behind Bea. 
          He kept an eye out for the guy in the hoodie. But he didn't see anyone suspicious loitering outside the supermarket.          He looked at Bea, who was walking a few steps ahead of him. Genuinely surprised that she was so composed and calm after what he had just told her. Any normal person would have freaked out or at the very least be pissed but Bea remained unaffected and strangely at ease? It was almost as though she didn’t care. 
          It was an extremely quiet journey. Bea was unusually silent, absolutely no form of conversation was exchanged among them as they walked amongst public. 
          Chris has been following her for quite a distance now and they have left the supermarket long behind.
          Chris looked around one last time, he turned around and started walking backwards to make sure he scanned the entirety of his surroundings for the last time, he decided. 
         After making sure that they were not being tailed and there weren’t any suspicious beings, he released a breath of relief.        
          Chris wasn't sure if walking backwards slowed him down or Bea had picked up speed, either way when he turned back around, planning to break the good news, there was at least a good 9 foot distance between them. 
          All the while, Bea has been walking at a very average speed which the boy had successfully managed to grow accustom to. He hadn't notice when she picked up her pace, but he figured it must have been when he was momentarily walking backwards. 
          Chris could feel the gap between them widening and it was evident that Bea has suddenly started walking faster. Not wanting to be left behind, Chris frowned and picked up his pace to catch up with her.          "Hey! Wait up!" 
          When he finally caught up with her, instead of slowing down, she picked up pace. Chris grabbed her arm to stop her when she didn't seem to hear him even at the close proximity.    
          "I don't think there's anyone follo-" Chris started but stopped midway through his sentence. He felt the arm he was grabbing onto trembling.           
          Surprised, he looked at Bea. She was looking down, her right hand gripping onto the strap of her bag way too tightly.  
           Chris released her hand.           She wasn't fine after all...... 
          Chris softened his tone. "You should be fine now, I’ve been looking around and I didn't see anyone suspicious." Chris relied the information. 
          "......Is that so?" Bea asked uncertainly as she looked at him gratefully. The girl was putting up a tough front but Chris could hear fear in her voice. 
          Chris was at a sudden loss for words, but he managed to at least provide her an answer. 
        " Yes. "
         A few seconds passed in absolutely silence. Well, at least that was what Chris felt it to be. He was pretty sure he heard the blaring of horns coming from the street and the shuffling of feet and chatter, but he was too engrossed with the girl in front of him to care about anything else. 
          "Does it hurt?" Asking so suddenly, breaking the silence between them, Bea reached out her hand and touched Chris’ slightly bruised cheek. Her fingers brushed Chris's skin and he tensed, more in shock than in pain when her hand came in contact with his cheek.          
          Chris was too caught up with what had just happened in the supermarket, he had completely forgotten about his injury. Remembering it made the area Bea touched burn slightly. 
          Bea retracted her hand immediately and Chris hated himself for wanting the heat to linger longer. 
           "I'm sorry." She apologised and Chris wanted to hold her hand in his, instead he slid them both into his pockets and lied. 
          "It's nothing." 
          "You'll need an ice pack for that." Bea stated. And Chris was once again remembered that his original plan was completely side-tracked the moment he met Bea in the store.           Why does she always catch him at his lamest moments? 
          "I have some ice packs at the apartment I live in, I can give one to you." Bea offered. 
          "I'm fine. I can manage on my own." The offer was tempting, but Chris turned her down. Not because he didn’t want to accept her kindness, but if he were to take on her offer, there’s a high possibility that she might ask about his injury. 
          Chris couldn't possibly tell her she was the reason he was punched. And he most definitely can’t tell her about Eric. 
          "Why were you being followed?" Chris changed the subject by asking a much pressing concern that has been tugging at his mind and he was itching to know the reason.
          "This is the first time they went this far……" Bea muttered under her breath. 
          This isn't the first time she has been in a situation like this?          Without thinking, Chris asked, "Were you always bullied?"          Chris immediately regretted asking the moment the words came out. He realised how insensitive that question must have came off. He didn't even know why he said 'bullied', it just seemed so fitting. 
          Sure enough, Chris was replied coldly, "That's none of your business." Bea said, she averted Chris’s eyes and turned away.
          Awkwardly, Chris agreeded, “You’re right, it’s none of my business…...” He then continued, “……Except you wouldn’t be here if I had not interferred.” A smug grin forming on his face. 
          To say Chris was not curious with her situation would be an obvious lie. She seems to know something. And after all the ordeal that they have gone through together, he felt he deserved at least an explanation as to what was going on. 
          Bea looked at Chris in disbelief. But she was quick to compose herself. She cleared her throat and said, “Thank You for saving me! But I would prefer if you choose not to associate yourself with me.” 
          The girl was extremely serious and just like how she refused to participate in the event, she refused to say anything else to Chris. 
          Eventually, Chris gave up. If she wasn’t willing to tell him, then fine. He can’t force her anyway.           Instead, he came up with a much better idea!
          “Can you lend me your phone?” Chris casually asked. 
          The girl shivered at that question, the smooth tone of the male as he asked the question and the way the words rolled off his tongue too gracefully had Bea instantly understating that he has done this way too many times. 
          Chris hummed lightly at the way the girl was now eyeing him suspiciously. He took his hands out of his pocket along with his phone and showed the dead gadget to Bea. 
          “My phone died earlier and I need to send a quick message to someone.” Chris relied his problem with an apologetic smile. He did feel a tad bit guilty for using such an excuse but technically he wasn't lying. 
          Bea dwelled on his words and after making sure he wasn’t lying, she handed him her phone. 
           “Thank You!” Chris wore a bright smile and started having his way with her phone. He was grinning the entire time, having the girl wondering what was so funny? 
          When he finished his text, he tossed the phone back to Bea. Slightly caught off guard, she almost didn’t make it in time to catch her phone.           
          Chris laughed at her unsteadiness as she caught her phone like it was a hot bun.
          “With this we’re even!” Chris exclaimed before running off, waving. Leaving a dazed Bea behind.                
                    XXXXXXXXXX 
         Bea remembers that moment clearly. Despite the streets being filled with people, Chris managed to swiftly dodge them all. And among the crowd, he stood out. The way he ran into the distance, it was like he shined and radiated under the sun. She couldn’t take her eyes off him. 
          Bea felt so entrapped and entranced, she felt like reaching out her hand to catch him.           Something tells her, this isn’t the last she would see of him. And for some strange reason, she didn’t hate it.

All Rights Reserved © 2018 by Anne Teng


End of Chapter 7~This chapter turned out surprisingly long ! If you managed to make it till the end, you must let me know down in the comments! You're amazing!What do you think about the story so far? I really enjoyed writing this chapter very much! Chris and Bea have finally encountered each other!
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