“Abi, look… I know I shouldn’t be talking about this the moment we meet up again after all these years but… that guy, how did you even get acquainted with him?” Chris was wearing a black cap and a mask so Abi couldn’t see his expressions but she could hear the obvious worry in his voice.
“Uh, don’t worry, Chris. Alex may look very scary but he’s a nice person,” she told him and the man shook his head in disbelief.
“Look, Abi. How long have you known him for? Do you even know who he really is?”
Abi stared at him. Her brows creased a little. “Chris, are we really just going to talk about Alex right now? We only have 5 minutes to talk to each other and that’s all you want to say to me? We still have plans so I need to go soon but I didn’t want to just leave without talking to you, especially since it has been years since we last spoke to each other,” Abi told him.
She thought that Chris was acting exactly the same way as Kelly did the first time she told her about Alex, although Chris seemed to be reacting far worse, as if he knew something about him.
Chris sighed. He seemed to have so much to say but he kept glancing at Alex and he seemed a bit wary.
“Abi, I… fine, can I come to your house tonight? It’s been really a long time. I want to talk to you properly and I’d like to visit uncle Andrew and your grandparents, too,” he told her and Abi was again speechless. She didn’t see this coming.
“I’m sorry, but I won’t be home tonight, Chris,” she said and Chris’ eyes widened. “How about you give me your number? I’ll be home tomorrow so I’ll just call you.”
Chris didn’t respond for a while.
“No. Can you give me your number, Abi? I’ll call you instead,” he said and Abi immediately gave him her number.
“It’s really good to see you again, Chris. I’m really happy and proud for you, you know. I just want you to know that,” she beamed at him but still, Chris seemed unhappy.
“Thanks,” was all he replied.
“I have to go now. Let’s talk again soon, okay?” she said and was about to leave when Chris held her wrist.
“We have met each other again after many years, Abi. Won’t you give me even a single hug?” he suddenly asked, his voice suddenly sounded downhearted. Abi bit her lips. She would be lying if she said that she didn’t miss this person. Back then, she missed him very much. She missed those crazy things they did together. She missed talking to him. She missed hanging out with him.
But maybe, over the years, seeing his face everywhere she looked and seeing that he was doing very well, made Abi slowly turn from a friend to a fan. She saw him everywhere so she didn’t miss him that much anymore. She didn’t even think that their paths would cross again and over time, she had become used to the idea that she would never get to see him in person or talk to him again.
But it seemed that Chris hadn’t changed. He was like this before as well, asking for a hug from her every time they didn’t see each other for a few days. This time was no different, maybe because unlike her, he never saw her within those years?
Abi smiled at him. “Sure,” she told him and she was about to move to hug him but the man was quick to yank her into his embrace.
“I have really missed you, Abi,” he whispered and Abi was so taken aback that she didn’t know what to say for a moment.
Abi was about to tell him that she missed him too, when she felt a sudden chill run down her spine. Her eyes widened and she quickly pulled away from Chris.
“Uhm… I have to go now, Chris. See you!” she smiled and waved at him and then she dashed away towards the man who was now glaring at Chris like he wanted to kill him.
Chris’ fists clenched slightly before he too walked towards them.
“Abi, say hello to uncle Andrew and grandma and grandpa as well, okay?” Chris said and once Abi nodded, he glanced at Alex one last time before he disappeared through the exit.
Abi returned her gaze to Alex and she swallowed silently as she looked at his darkened face. He was emitting such a cold menacing aura that the people passing them by, subconsciously ran away like they’ve seen some killer running loose.
“Alex…” Abi called out and the man who was still staring at the exit where Chris had left, finally looked at her.
She wrapped her hands around his waist and smiled at him. “Sorry for making you wait. Shall we go?” she asked but the man just closed his eyes and cracked his neck.
It was obvious he was angry and he was suppressing it. Abi remembered when Alex told her before that he hated it when she smiled and looked at other men and she bit her lips. This man had been such a good boy lately that she nearly forgot about his rules.
Abi looked around and a few people were looking over them. There was no sign of Alex mellowing down so Abi closed her eyes, tiptoed and kissed his lips. She was embarrassed doing this in public but this was her fault. She shouldn’t have agreed when Chris asked for a hug knowing how Alex hated even her just smiling at other men.
When she pulled away, Alex’s eyes were already open, looking down at her.
“Alex, I –”
Before Abi could even form a sentence, Alex held her hand and dragged her out of the cinema. He was walking so fast that Abi had to run to keep up with him.
The moment they reached the car, Alex pinned Abi down on the backseat.
