I didn't know why I ran away from that bookstore. I didn't know If I got annoyed, got pissed off, or just generally had the instinct to flee away from that man. Maybe it was the latter because that man was intimidating. I mean, yeah, he was handsome but I noticed there was also femininity in his movements. He was pretty. Maybe that's the word I should use. Pretty red-haired man.

I slowed down my pace a few blocks away from that place and just walked. Since I'd seen a playground just outside the apartment complex this morning, I decided to go there to rest and just think. I sat on an old metal swing and pushed myself. I couldn't stop thinking about that man, I didn't even get his name. I picked up a pebble and threw it in front of me. Good thing the place was deserted or else people would have stared at me swinging and throwing pebbles into nothingness. I swung myself higher and then bam! I realized I left my book at the store.

"Goddammit Frank!" I cursed myself. I wiped my face with both of my hands and sighed in frustration. Should I go back and get my book? Or just leave it there because there's a good chance that the pretty man is still there? I started to debate with myself. I seriously didn't know what to do. Of course it was only a book but it was my book and I needed it to complete my collection. I sighed again, frustration building up in me. I knew I couldn't go back. The pretty man would probably make fun of me again once he saw me, especially after my sudden action of running out like a freaking lunatic. What would he even think of me? I was sure he was laughing his pretty ass off at my expense. No wonder, I made myself look like a freaking crazy man.

"Why did I even go out? I didn't need to go out. I could've stayed in the apartment and just asked mama to buy me the book, but I left the house and thought that it would be okay. Damn Frank! Leaving the house is a big mistake," I angrily whispered to myself.

I grabbed a couple more pebbles from the ground and prepared to throw them when I heard someone talk behind me.

"You know, if you keep doing that, there's a chance that you'll hit someone and then you'll be banned here forever."

I looked back. Honestly, in my frustration, I had completely forgotten how to be the awkward and introverted potato that I was and just decided I would lash out at whoever had talked to me like that but when I saw him, I was stunned.

He wasn't the pretty man.

It was the cute guy from the complex who had complimented my tattoos!

I shifted in the swing and prepared to leave when he spoke again.

"Hi! My name's Andrei. You're from the complex right?" He extended his hand.
I looked at his hand and then back to his face. Man, he was really cute, but not as cute or as pretty as the red-haired man. I mentally cursed myself for thinking about him and awkwardly took Andrei's hand to shake it.

"I'm Frank, and yeah, we're the new tenants. My mom and I," I said as I looked down at my feet.
He didn't say anything after that so I didn't either and frankly, I was relieved that no one was talking. He sat at the swing beside me and playfully pushed himself. Some people may find silences like this as awkward, but not to me. I'd rather have hours of silence than have to talk and pretend that I like talking to people.

After a few minutes of silence, he spoke.

"So, you want to talk?" He said as he stared at the houses in front of us.

I didn't reply because I didn't want to. I mean, Andrei was real nice but I'd already had an awfully interesting day and I just wanted the silence to comfort me, but here was another hot human being close to me. As if the pretty man hadn't done enough by just wanting to talk to me.

He looked at me and repeated his question. In response, I shook my head. He whispered okay and proceeded to whistle an unfamiliar note while pushing himself on the swing.

We sat there, for like 10 minutes before I decided to stand up and leave. I didn't know how to say goodbye to him so I waited there awkwardly for him to notice that I was leaving. He did and he stood up too.
"Oh, you're leaving. Of course. Good bye, Frank," he said as he smiled. His smile was sure contagious and I unconsciously smiled a little too. Well, he was really cute and I just nodded at him and started to walk away.

Just a few steps away and he called out again.

"Hey Frank! It's really nice to meet you. See you around!" He laughed. I didn't know why, but I felt like laughing too, so I did.

"You too and yes, see you around!" I responded. He got this smile on his face, so I mirrored his expression, ignoring the fact that I was blushing, maybe like a beet root now. He was blushing too and that made me feel a little bit giddy as I turned away from him.
Maybe the day was saved after all.

Notes

Ayyyyy, I don't know how to put a photo here because it has to be a web link I think and frankly, idk how that works, or how to insert a photo from my computer directly so if you want to see the Bandit photo, look it up on my IG account, username: helenafuckinway

Also, I know this is a crappy chapter, I'm sorry but I have a terrible headache right now :( Anyway, I hope you like this chapter and I'll try and update again soon.

Another thing, if you're from here and you followed me on IG, please dm me and let's chat in there! Tell me anything you want, really, I'll listen :)

I'll stop talking now (or typing? lol) and I hope you're having a wonderful day!

PS. HAPPY LUNAR NEW YEAR!!


---xoJenn