A banging proposal

SHELDON

Unaware of my presence behind the stall, he walked towards a transparent fridge and reached for something. A short moment later, he withdrew his hand with a bottle of water in his grasp. His fingers were roughly squeezing on the plastic and I noticed a bruise cut on his lower lip. 

He didn't have that before. Which means someone hit him. Possibly his weird father who doesn't have any remorse.

I panicked when he started looking around and at some point, I had to stop spying on him so his eyes don't find me.

I was facing the other side of the stall waiting for him to leave. The ticking of the wall clock was what my attention was glued to for the meantime. I came up with a plan to wait him out and when he's at the counter paying, I could then run out of the store.

"Excuse me." A soft-toned voice interrupted my thoughts from behind. 

A worried buzz rang inside of me and I'm overwhelmed by fear as I responded by looking at the person.

It was an elderly woman who was trying to teach some canned tomatoes. 

Hew! I hastily helped her with one before tracing my gaze to where Mr. Morgan's son was standing before. I didn't find him anywhere. 

I started getting the things I wanted after making sure he has left.

Great, he's gone.

I felt glad that I saw the stalker right before he could find me.

But it didn't feel so good buying things when I knew I was out of funds. I needed to help myself out of the messy situation.

Thirty minutes later, I was back at my house. The whole floor was quiet unlike how it was when I left. Quentin and his friend are finally done causing a raucous in the tiny apartment. 

The next day didn't seem any better than I had hoped. I did get invitations from Winter to spend the night with some gang lords at a house party tonight but I was in no condition to honor it.

Instead, I started looking for jobs I could do while good to college. And one of the dreaded things I have to do in the job hunt is to be ready for an interview.

I needed to brush up on my speech skills so I wouldn't end up humiliating myself. 

It had been ages since I tried getting an official job to do and the task hasn't been easy.

I got a shocker when I saw that Winter had sent me some money to my bank account. It was totally unexpected but I cherished it a lot. Who was I kidding? It'd still run out no matter how much I try to take things slow.

I survived the week! Going to interviews even to far companies, paid my friend to keep taking care of my cat because I was barely home, and attended school meetings because we were on a break. 

I was exhausted from how busy I was and it hurts that there was still no luck with the job I was looking for. I easily got the job of a waiter but I don't have the patience to serve anyone.

Then, Sunday came. 

A day to clean up my belongings.

I was on it for some minutes until I heard a knock on the door. 

Fuck me if it turns out to be any of my lousy neighbors. Hearing them speak is a real torture to my brain cells. 

I made my way to the door while thumping my feet heavily on the wooden floor — I let that do the talking for me.

I unlocked the door and yanked it open.

It didn't feel real at first glance but it was. It was no hallucination with the person standing before me. 

I was so sure he was a stalker. My gut hardly lies.

Using my other hand behind the door, I grabbed the umbrella in case he attacked because it was no neighbor, it was Mr. Morgan's bloody son.

His eyes are fixed on mine but they posed no threat. It's mild and collectively soothing. But I didn't want to take any chances. 

"What are you doing here? How did you get this address?" I asked hoarsely.

"I hired a private investigator. I want to speak to you." He answered, his hands going out of his pockets. 

A private investigator has been monitoring me? Since when did I become so important?

"Can I come in?" 

I ended up letting him in because I wanted to hear what he had to say. But I was still scared for my dear life. Worse, my phone is charging in my bedroom which will make it difficult to call for help. 

The insane thoughts going on in my head made me stand while he sat on my couch. 

"What is it you wanted to say?" 

He leaned back on the chair like he was now comfortable and crossed his legs afterward. 

He was watching me with expectations in his gaze. Unfortunately, I was numb. 

I wasn't going to say sorry for having something with his old man.

It was strictly business and I wonder about the shady life he was living as well.

"My name is Denzel and I have a proposal for you." 

I arched my brow at him. 

A proposal must involve money. If he wants me to leave his father for a certain amount of cash, then I'm up for it. 

I used to have shame, but I guess I lost it when I started meeting men.

"What proposal?" 

"I want us to get married." He replied before keeping an opened black box on the table. I was utterly dumbfounded as the diamond ring came to light. 

My reaction was late but it still resounded in my ears.

"What the hell are you saying?" I yelled.

He must be out of his mind if he thinks this is how marriage works. Besides, I wasn't expecting this from him.

My stare darted from him to the ring that was reflecting with the help of the sunlight through the windows. 

"You and I are going to be engaged and we'll keep it that way for a while before getting married. It's a matter of urgency." Stated the young man as he brought out his phone. 

"I'm not interested. Find someone else." I jibed. I wasn't a fan of marriage and it was the last thing I needed right now. 

"That's the problem. There can't be someone else. It has to be you. You're my dad's favorite mistress in case you haven't noticed. Your presence in my life will prick his skin more than any other lady out there. Do we have a deal?" 

What?

"Hold on, you can't just decide this like you have power over me. I don't even know you—"

"Will this money be enough for a month?" He asked showing me his phone screen.

I saw a good amount of money typed on the screen and I was about to wet myself because of it. 

My eyes grew twice as big and my lips were finding it hard to close. I used my palm to save myself from embarrassment. 

"For—For me in a month?" I stuttered. 

"Yes, Sheldon. Do we have a deal or not?"