61

Ashely
I watched as he let go of my wrist, the expression on his face changing to that of disappointment.
I swallowed a globe of saliva while my heart continued to race. It was crazy enough that he dated to ask me if I was avoiding him.
I was conflicted and confused so I lied instead. I pretended not to have remembered a thing but I was certain that he didn’t believe me. I tried hiding it behind a mask and trying to sound cruel but inside of me, I felt bad.
“Lead the way. ” I heard him say.
Without saying a word, I walked in front of him, the sun nearly blinding me and my skirt hugging my hips. I curved my hand above my forehead while squinting my eye and attempted to cross the road. A moving vehicle was plowing the road and my eye grew wide open on noticing how close it was, to me.
I was still standing there when a hand pulled me back to the pedestrian walkway, my chest hitting his and his hands holding my waist, so tightly. My heart was jamming fast against my ribcage when I looked up to shoot a glance at Leo.
“Thank you. ” I mumbled as he retreated slowly.
I took another step and walked forward, spotting a small shop nearby. I walked faster and stopped in front of the small shop. I asked for a certain amount of sugar, flour, and a couple of paper bags.
Leo offered to pay while smiling wide at the merchant.
“Are you a couple?” The merchant asked with a huge smile on her face.
I shook my head sharply while Leo answered, “No.”
“Siblings?” The merchant was really desperate.
“No,” Leo spoke again. His voice was deep and lacked any emotions. The merchant gave Leo, the flour in a grey flour sack and the sugar in a brown sack while I held the paper bags.
Leo held it with both arms, holding it horizontally by the sides of his shirt while he walked briskly and moved in front of me. I wondered if he was uncomfortable. He didn’t have to act so simply and let me carry only the paper bag.
“Are you comfortable holding that?” I muttered while trying to catch up to him.
He nodded in the affirmative and resumed walking, sweat bathing his brows. I was almost certain that he had never done this before.
“Are you sure?” I asked.
He halted and then faced me squarely, “Even if I feel a slight discomfort, it doesn’t matter, does it? I just have to get the job done. ”
He continued walking while my feet moved sluggishly. I knew it was because of what I said. It was because my words stung him. We both ended up saying nothing to each other and frankly,
I was beginning to regret it. Denying and lying about my feelings and pretending not to realize how much my heart was racing and yearning for him.
****
“You’re quite early. ” Damien remarked once we entered through the backdoor that led to the kitchenette.
“Yes, we were quite lucky. ” I chuckled, watching as Leo dropped the bags, and then that was when I noticed his knuckles and open palm that was red.
“You truly worked a lot. Ashely, give him a massage. ” Alfred suggested.
“It’s not necessary.” Leo was the first to speak.
I watched as Alfred chided Leo, asking him severally if he was alright while Leo kept up with the facade that he was alright. Damien passed him a bottle of water while I declined.
I wasn’t the one who broke a sweat.
“I can help you massage it. ” I suggested with Damien turning to look at me while Leo had an unfazed expression on his face. I watched as Nadia entered the kitchen, passing a smile at Alfred before picking up an apron. I observed that Leo’s eyes kept following her.
“No, that will not be necessary. ” I heard him say rudely before walking out of the kitchen.
Moving closer to me, Damien asked, “What’s wrong with him? Did you argue along the way?”
“Nothing happened,” I answered, pulling away from him. I walked out, casting a look at Nadia who seemed unconcerned. I was about to head towards the counter to resume serving when I sighted Leo in the storage room grunting heavily while sitting on the floor, holding his hand. The door was slightly open and my heart dipped watching him groan aloud in pain.
“Why didn’t you just say that you weren’t comfortable?” I muttered inaudibly.
I walked in, shutting the door behind him. I watched as he looked up, a bit appalled by my entrance.
“You seem to be in pain. Let me help you massage it.” I offered again.
“No,” was his response, “You will only make it worse.”
I mashed my lips together, inhaling sharply as determination burned into me. I sat on the floor beside him and took his hand stubbornly, looking at the red swollen hand intensely.
“What are you doing?” I heard him ask.
“Massaging it.” I blurted out. I began to press the flesh softly and all of a sudden, he yanked his hand off my grasp, rising quickly to his feet.
“Get up,” he said, “Your clothes would be dirty.”
“Why would you care about my clothes?” I mumbled, still sitting on the ground.
“Get up,” he repeated. I looked at him and then got up slowly. He moved out of the storage room first and I realized that I was the reason why he kept acting moody.
I just didn’t want to betray my childhood crush but as my hands reached to touch my chest, I knew whom my heart yearned for.
Feelings do change.
***
I was elated to see Katherine who was my favorite customer and bought two pies, a coffee, and a cheesecake. She mentioned that it was her fiance’s birthday and I smiled widely at her.
“Congratulations,” I uttered.
“What about you, Ashley?” Katherine asked, “No man has dared to put a ring on that pretty finger?”
I shook my head while Katherine patted my hand while telling me that it would be alright.
“I’m happy for Katherine. I wish I was her but I’m stuck here. ” Emily groaned.
“You could go home. Why are you acting so stubborn?” I shrugged.
“Because I hate painting and there’s no way I’m going to go all the way to a college of arts when I don’t want to. ” Emily retorted.
She went to serve a man who demanded more sugar in his donut and then walked towards the kitchen afterward while I watched as Leo picked up the trays with little effort, forgetting that his hand was hurting. I watched as he conversed with a few people, smiling widely at them. I was still engrossed in looking at him that I didn’t notice that someone was standing right in front of me.
“Ashley.” I heard him say. I lifted my head and the corner of my lips sloped into a frown.
Oh no. I thought.
“I know I shouldn’t be here-” Joe started but was unable to finish because I cut him off.
“You shouldn’t be here, ” I whispered, “Why the heck did you come to my workplace?”
“I need to speak with your sister. I lost my job and-” Joe spoke while I looked at him again, intently. I noticed that his eyes seemed sunken and dark circles surrounded his eyes. His neck looked longer and he seemed to have lost a good amount of weight.
“And you came to my workplace. ” I asked him again.
“I know. I’m very sorry. Can we talk outside?” Joe pleaded.
“No,” I responded angrily. I was appalled at his boldness and stupidity. He cheated on my sister, broke her heart, and when she gave him a chance, he didn’t take it but now that he had lost his job and his other woman had left him, he wanted to crawl back to the cake that he discarded.
“Please, Ashley.” He begged again.
“No. Leave me alone, Joe, and get on with your life. We have nothing to do with each other. ” I told him sharply, hoping that he got it and walked away. I turned around and picked up a tray in my hand, my eyes darting towards a table that had an empty plate and a small white mug.
I moved out of the counter and Joe blocked my way.
“Are you out of your mind, Joe?” I almost screamed at him. What was wrong with him, when he moved closer to me, I could smell alcohol oozing from his clothes and his mouth.
Why didn’t I realize that before?
“Move aside and stop trying to create a scene. ” I narrowed my eyes at him, not wanting to bring any attention to myself.
I used the tray to make a distance between us by pushing him aside but Joe grabbed my arm and began to squeeze it.
“Stop it, Joe. ” I finally yelled, getting the attention of everyone in the bakery. Pain coursed through my body as I tried to yank his grip off me and while I struggled against him, strong hands pulled him back and sent a hard punch flying into his face.
“When a lady tells you to stop it, you stop it. ” I heard Leo say as he crouched low to look at a frightened Joe.
And then at that moment, Joe retched all over Leo’s shoes.