The Encounter At The Mall

I packed at the packing lots, holding tightly to my steering wheel and hitting it over and over again like it was the cause of my problem.

I just can't get him out of my head.

“Ok, let's do this.” I adjusted my hair using the rearview mirror.All set.

I walked into the shopping mob; the glass door slid open, the place buzzed with people, and low-tone music played in the background.

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I went to the provision section; I was really low. I picked a few things from the shelves before I saw these adorable couples.

They had their cute boy on the cart while they shopped; they stopped at a shelf in front of me.

The man whispered in the woman's ears like he was seeking her opinion on the product display on the shelf. The wife nodded, and he picked it up and placed it on the cart before they walked past me.

I stared back at them, my eyes filled with admiration, and in my mind I wanted that. I wanted someone I was going to love for the rest of my life. I wanted a family, but I guess it wasn't happening soon.

I just caught Standley texting her again, and he denied it.We had a bunch of arguments early that morning, and he was gone.

I told him I can't do this anymore. He was always on and off each time, walking into my life and leaving even though I didn't want him to leave.

“A horrible thing to go into,” a deep voice said behind.I turned to see a man behind me; he had a tuxedo suit on, looking all professional, a bald head, and a carved beard to complement. He looked so hot and charming. I swallowed hard.

“Excuse me.” I kept a straight face, folding my hand across my breast.

“I mean marriage. I saw you admiring those two.” He pointed at the direction the couple just left.

“Yeah.” I turned to continue my shopping, but he stopped me.

“I’m Jerry.” He stretched out his hand for a shake, but I didn't take his hand.

“Lisa”

“I didn't mean to…”

“Oh, save it. Mind your business.” I made an attempt to leave, but his next words stopped me in my tracks.

“There, the attitude—that is the reason why you're still single.”

What! I couldn't ignore it, and who is this dude to tell me that?

“What attitude?” I turned to him, my arm still folded across my breast.“You’re been rude”

“First of all, I'm not single and second of all, I don't like your kind of man. Is that how you go about talking to ladies? I didn't ask for your opinion about marriage neither do I care about what you have to say.”

My voice was on a high tempo and it attracted people around but I didn't care. He was just a perfect person to boil out my anger at.

I was done with his lips apart in both embarrassment. I made sure to put him in his place before I walked away.

I grabbed some things before I got back to my car, took out my ice cream and began licking alone.

I just need to cool off the anger that has already built within me. The buddy I just exchanged words with knocked on my car door.

“Go away.”

“Hey, I just want to talk to you.”

“Go away.”

“Just a few seconds, I want to apologize for what I did back there. I was just having a day, and I just found out my wife was screwing someone else.” I noisily placed the ice cream spoon into my mouth, humming to the music from my radio.

“And you decided to shake off those hurts with me.”

“I got some ice cream too; do you want some?” He asked, and I gave him a cautious look. He looked so sorry, frustrated, and sympathetic.

“What flavor do you have there?”

“Vanilla”

“Get in.” He went over to the passenger's door and got into my car.

“So now we are ice cream buddies.” I got the ice cream out from the bag, poured some into my container, and left some for him.

“I’m so sorry for the way I spoke to you back then.”My spoon left midway in my mouth; I could feel the sincerity in his tone, though I wanted to act all casual.

I could see a broken man who needed someone to comfort him about his wife, since apparently he might not like to drink, which is why he didn't go to the bar to shake off his pain, so he decided to shop, hoping all that pain would go away.

“Your wife, what was she like?”He looked away like I had asked a wrong question.

Lisa, why will you ask him that? My conscience, I was already feeling worse.

“I'm sorry about my question.”

“It's okay.”

“She lied she was traveling but went to screw my best friend.”

“That's horrible.”

“Yeah.” There was an awkward silence between us; I already lost interest in the ice cream.

It was like the air was screaming pain.

“My boyfriend cheated too. We made up, but he texted the girl and still lied to me to my face.” I voiced out my own pain.We were like two souls going through betrayal, and I swear it sucks and hurts.

We ended the chapter of our pain, and we got talking, and we vibed really good.

“I have to go” he opened the car door and stepped out.Is that it? He was just going to leave.

“Hey wait, you're not going to ask for my number” his brows creased.

“No” What! I swallowed down the humiliation that bubbled inside of me. He rejected me without blinking an eyelash.

I looked around hoping no one was watching us because I was going to pray the earth swallow me whole. Frustrated, I got back to my car, and a red color got my attention.

He left a red rose in my car with a note and his number on it.

This dude! That was the beginning of something beautiful, I thought I was going to experience.