April was at loss on what to say. Who on earth would hate her so much to want to frame her up this way? Could it be the cleaner's son from years back, whom Adrian claimed was a staff here? She was still a virgin and intended to keep herself for her husband. She had never bothered with sex all her life, to talk of now her life was in a tussle, and she had promised her dad that.
"You can't talk, huh? Cats got your tongue?" her dad pressed with fury.
Naomi placed both hands on her hips. "So it is true that you guys made out in the toilet and offices." she said slowly.
As hard as April tried to refrain from it, the tears stung her vision. "Mind your business, Naomi, and just give me the purse, dad." She stretched her hands to collect it, but her dad only held it high above his head and pushed her away. She burst out in tears now. It wasn't like anyone would believe what she had to say. But come what may, she needed her mum's contents right now.
"I don't know what you are talking about, dad. Please just give it to me. You can throw away the condom, it doesn't belong to me, but I need the purse, please." she cried. But his face was hardened as he gave her a hard stare.
"No. Never." he declared, walking off. April wanted to go after him, but Naomi pushed her to the elevator.
"Don't think I would let you go there to cause another chaos. You had better cooperate with me, except you wish to have it harder than it already is." she warned sternly.
April was led down like a lamb to the slaughter, to the security guards and Naomi rambled some instructions to them. April felt her senses numb and sat down at a corner of the main entrance outside, close to where vehicles drove in. She suddenly decided sitting there would be a bad idea, and so chose to take a stroll instead. She walked on like a mother ripped off her baby till a black car slowed down by her side, but she didn't give it any attention, even knowing the driver was trying to draw her attention. The car then drove on a few metres ahead and stopped. When the occupant got down, she saw it was Adrian and turned around immediately. As much as he hated her guts, why did he choose to make it a point of duty to always show his arrogant self in her face?
"Hey, are you okay? Come on, hop in, let me give you a ride." he offered. "You look broken."
"And I would rather be in a million pieces alone, than to be with you." she declared, moving on.
"No, you don't mean it. I know you are saying this because you are very mad at me, and I totally understand. But please, just hop in for a ride, okay? It is about to rain as you can see and…"
"Leave me alone! Get out!!" She suddenly shrieked as she halted. "Please get the hell out of my sight! I don't need your freaking help! It stinks! It stinks with pride, arrogance, hatred, deceit, name it, and all sorts!"
Adrian was so shocked at her outburst he took a step back, as some onlookers looked their way, and he felt embarrassed. He knew she was really mad at him, but he didn't imagine it would come to this. Heaving a deep sigh, he shrugged to himself and retreated his steps back to his car.
She was glad he left, as she watched him return to his car. She really needed to be alone, and not with a fake human. But right ahead of her, she sighted a bunch of street bums coming towards her direction. Their crazy hairdos and dress code, as well as manners, said everything about them. She thought of crossing over to the other side of the road immediately, but the road was hell busy, and it would only be a death trap to cross so suddenly. Next, she tried to retrace her steps quickly, but they proved faster and closed up on her sharply, as one of them grabbed her hand, barring an ugly set of brown and black teeth. He was very dirty and his breath also stank of beer and cigarette. April held her breath when he spoke.
"I've got her guys, and you can bet, I'm gonna be the first to lick her." he grinned to his friends as he ogled her. She did a quick headcount. There were about seven of them, including the one holding her. She struggled to release herself from his grip, but he only laughed on.
"Come on, relax, baby. I will go easy on you as long as you go easy on me. This can't be your first time, huh?"
April almost choked from holding her breath, as the others milled around her, speaking at the top of their voices in excitement. She sighted a police patrol van across the road and tried to call its attention, but the first guy who held her, put a hand over her mouth, and another tapped her on her butts. Angered, she turned around and landed him a deadly slap across his face. Irked, the fellow raised a fist to punch her, but halted as his hand was held midway. Was this supposed to be a movie? She thought. This was the second time a similar scene would repeat in an hour. It was Adrian who had come to her rescue again.
"How dare you try to lay your dirty finger on my girl?" he growled as he twisted his arm to his back, while the guy groaned and yelled in pain. When one of his pals tried to intervene, Adrian gave him a terrible kick in his groin. April had to step aside as she watched him deal with them one after the other till they all fled away in fear.
Adrian turned back to her to make sure she was okay. "Are you hurt?"
She could hear the concern in his voice. She shook her head, unable to utter a word. No, she wasn't. She let him pull her to the car, without any manner of resistance, as she recalled the last thing she had told him. Of how she would rather be in a million pieces than be with him.
"Thank you." she muttered as he revved the engine. He said nothing in response, and rather drove on in silence till they got to a quiet restaurant in a quiet area. April followed him meekly as her stomach growled. She was no doubt hungry after a long arduous day.
"Why are you so mad at me, Andrea? Anyone in my position would have done what I did back then, seeing the way you talked back at me and made me feel less of myself." he spoke for the first time, going through the menu.
"Please, don't call me that. I told you you're mistaken. " April scoffed, rolling her eyes. "Who made who feel less of the other, if not you? You always feel so high and mighty that you always treat everyone around you like ant."
He passed the menu to her. "What would you like to have?"
She snatched it and dropped it on the table by his side. "A plate of peace, and a glass of quiet."
Adrian chuckled. "Are you trying to be funny? Pick a concrete noun, please."
"Fine. Whatever it is you are having then."
Finally, they were served a plate of pasta, salad and meatballs, which they ate in awkward silence.
"Thanks for your help back there. I appreciate it." April muttered, feeling his eyes heavily on her.
"It's my pleasure. It's a good thing I didn't just get out as you wished. And by the way, I would advice you to take some karate or judo classes. It would do you a lot of good. Those guys are nothing but a bunch of weaklings, you know."
April smiled as she imagined herself taking a class as such. Was that even possible? She was about to air her opinion when a shadow suddenly towered their table and she choked on her meal.