“Yo, mama here she comes” Earl turned to look at Audriana who just entered the restaurant with a big smile on her face.
She walked over to them and placed her hand on Earl’s outstretched ones then sat beside him in the booth.
“I thought you wouldn’t bother coming again,” Sofia said taking a drink of water.
“Why wouldn’t I come? I am the one who suggested we hang out together” she shrugged then turn to Earl who was already looking at her.
He was caught off guard when she turned to him but he adjusted himself so he wouldn’t be obvious.
“How are you, Earl?”
“I am fine Audriana, how are you too?” he asked then turned away from looking at her to checking the menu.
“I am fine, thank you. I would like to say thank you again, I cannot express my gratitude enough for what you did that day for me. Thank you Earl” she said and he turned to grin at her making his dimples pop out.
‘Oh, he has dimples, nice’ she thought to herself and looked away from him.
“Audriana, I have told you already that there is no need for you to thank me again, I am just glad nothing happened to you. It was just the right thing to do at that time” he said and she nod her head.
“Let’s order something,” she said looking through the Menu before deciding on ‘menu three’
“Have you guys decided on what you want?” Sofia asked then put down her menu.
“Yes,” Audriana and Earl said at the same time and took a look at each other then chuckled.
The waiter that helped Sofia and Earl in locating their table came to them with a tray that had empty glasses on it.
“Hi again, have you decided on what you would like to have?”
“Yes, please” Audriana answered for them all.
“Okay, hold on so I get my note and pen,” he said and turned towards the kitchen then returned after a while to take their order. “I will bring them to you shortly,” he said and left them.
“So, how is work?” Earl asked both of them.
“Work is great, thank you,” Sofia said.
“How about you? Can I ask what you do for a living?” Audriana asked and she saw his eyes go wider than usual then he tried to smile to cover it up with a cough.
“Oh, sorry do you need water?” Sofia offered him and he shook his head no and cleared his throat.
“Sorry, if that made you uneasy” she apologized.
“Oh no Audri, I am fine and I work for a woman I call madam” he answered.
“Oh, okay” she nod her head and allowed it to end there seeing that he was uncomfortable with that question.
“Can I ask what job exactly you do for this ‘madam’?” Sofia butted in and Audriana gave her friend a scolding look then saw from the corner of her eyes how he swallowed visibly.
“Er… help.” he let out then cleared his throat again “Like, a help for her,” he said looking in between the friends.
“Oh okay, that is nice”
“Was that why you weren’t comfortable saying it?” Audriana asked and he looked at her then nodded.
“Are you shy that you work as a help?” Sofia asked with her brows raised.
“Er… yes” he answered and could feel his palm sweat.
“Oh come on Earl, you shouldn’t be ashamed of the work you do, even if you work as a cleaner, you should be proud of what you do. At least you are working and just so far the work you do isn’t dirty” she said casually and shrugged.
Earl felt bead of sweats on his forehead and his palm was more clammy and his heart was racing fast. He tried to calm his distressed state so they don’t notice and start asking questions.
“If I wasn’t engaged to a very jealous gorgeous looking man, I would want you to be my help” Sofia winked at him and he let out a nervous chuckle.
Audriana placed her hand on his shoulder and gave him a comforting squeeze.
“Don’t take most of the things my bestie here says to heart, she is a playful person. Take note” then she placed her hand back on the table.
“Note taken” he chuckled then the waiter brought their food and they started eating.
A beep sound was heard and they looked at Earl who was looking at his phone with an angry look and clenched teeth, they looked at each other then shrugged before looking back at Earl who stood up and pockets his phone.
“I need to use the bathroom I will be back soon,” he start to come out from the booth when Audriana spoke.
“But your food will get cold”
“Oh about that, don’t worry, I can still stomach cold food” he smiled and she shrugged then went back to her food.
He looked at her for another moment then went to the bathroom to clear his head for a while.
***
“Because I care about you? Que demonios?” he slammed his fist on the dresser table knocking off some things off it.
He ran his hand through his hair again and went to sit on the bed still in his towel. He rubbed his palm on his face and let out a sigh then lay down on the bed.
“I have a bad feeling about that Earl guy, I don’t know what seems to be off about him but I don’t like him,” he said out loud to himself.
‘Or maybe you are just jealous and is so egoistic to admit’ he groaned at that and sat back up with a frown on his face.
“I can’t be jealous, I cant be. He just seems off” after many battles within himself he came to a decision and stood up then walked into his wardrobe to get dressed.
“I am bringing her home no matter what,” he said.
***
He saw how happy and giddy they all looked and his frown deepened.
Seems she was having so much fun without him, his fingers tightened around the steering wheel and he banged the horn mistakenly and he earned a glare from the woman that got startled by the sudden sound.
Deciding he wasn’t just going to sit there and watch them, he got out of his car and started walking towards the restaurant but paused in his tracks and thought about it.
It would be ridiculous for him to go in there and request she returned home with him that moment. It would look stupid and he might just as well embarrass himself and that was the last thing he wants at the moment.
Then he turned around and looked up then saw something from the next building. It was someone laying down with something pointed at the restaurant, then he realized it was a gun.
Panicking, he ran towards the window side where his wife was sitting and in seconds he was on the floor, his head had hit the pavement so hard and he could smell something metallic.
His head was spinning but and the only pain he could feel was the one at the right side of his head. There were noises here and there but just one he could pick of the rest.
His wife’s panicked voice.
He felt himself being turned so he was laying on his back and his head was cradled on something soft then a face overshadowed him and it was his wife’s face.
“Dimitri, oh my GOD, stay, don’t close your eyes, help is coming. Sofia quick call the ambulance” was what he could pick of all the thing she said.
His eyes felt heavy but he couldn’t close them because his wife wanted them opened. Then the pain started coming in slowly and he felt it on the left side of his chest.
He put his pain-free hand on his chest and felt something wet and sticky on his palm then brought it closer to his face. Although it was blurry but he was able to make out that was blood. His blood.
“Oh” he coughed and Audriana tried to keep him steady by applying pressure on the wound just like the operator instructed her.
“Hold on Dimitri, they are coming” she cried, and then the ambulance siren could be heard and she thanked GOD in her heart and told the operator about the current situation.
“Stay awake, they will come and get you now,” she said.
“Move, move, everyone move” she heard someone say from behind her and she looked back to see the paramedics coming with a stretcher. “Good evening ma’am we will take it from here,” they said and got to work.
She stood up with bloodshot eyes, a trembling body, and bloodstains on her shirt, hands, and trouser. She kept sobbing then Sofia got off the phone and came to hug her to which she accepted.
“Oh my GOD. I would have listened to him and not left the house, I shouldn’t have come”
“Oh baby, don’t sweat too much about this, everything will be okay, nothing will happen to Dimitri” Sofia cooed her but she still kept on crying.
“it’s my fault I wouldn’t have argued with him and just stayed at home” she cried even more and her friend held her tightly whispering ‘Everything will be fine’.
“Good evening ma’am” they both turned to the voice and saw that it was a policeman that had another that should be his partner trailing behind him.
“Good evening officer” Sofia greeted while Audriana turned to watch as the paramedics give Dimitri the first treatment he needed before being transported to the hospital.
“I am detective Raminos and this is my partner detective Adam, we would like to ask some questions please”
“Er, that wouldn’t be a problem but as you can see my friend here isn’t in a good state so can this questioning be postponed for later, maybe when she is calmer?” Sofia answered.
The officers both looked at each other then nodded.
“Okay, ma’am. If you don’t mind we can follow you to the hospital”
“Sure,” she said and turned to her friend who was already following the paramedics to the ambulance after they’ve packed Dimitri properly on the stretcher and kept him stable.
“Audriana, I am coming with the police to the hospital now, please be calm, everything will be fine”
Audriana hugged her friend and let go when one of the paramedics said they needed to get to the hospital fast.
“Will he be fine?” she asked the woman who was cleaning the remaining blood that was on his torso.
She turned to her and smiled.
“Let’s hope so,” she said and Audriana sighed hoping for the best.
***
Que demonios? – What the heck?