Chapter 43 - The Look Of Love

My mobile phone rang while walking back to the car. It was Imran. I was contemplating whether to answer or not. Kalau aku tak jawab he might suspect I'm up to something. But what do I say if he asked where I have been....I can't possibly tell him I'm in Alor Setar.

"Hello....Imran...? How have you been? Lama you tak call?", tanpa berlenggah aku terus menjawab panggilan Imran.

"Yeah.....you've been quiet yourself. You masih marah pada I?", he asked me back.

Aku bersandar di kereta. "No lah....I am not mad at you.....I figure this time out will calm us down...It'll do us a lot of good, trust me.....", I replied.

"Why...? You feel we have a problem....I mean our relationship? I am very sure we resolved all negative issues between us....", he wanted to know.

"No....no....no....don't get me wrong.....we're doing great.....I have been busy with work...that's all...how about you...? What have you been up too?", I turn the table around to distract his attention.

"Nah.....nothin' much. Hanging around the house and back to work. By the way, I'm planning to travel to Bali in 2 weeks time. I like to see you before I leave, if that's possible...", he announced.

"Yeah,.....sure. I love that and looking forward to it....", I replied and glad he wants to see me. I smiled and turn towards the car door when I saw Emir standing looking at my direction...it gave me a shock! I wonder how long he has been standing there and how much he heard my conversation......

"Well, I have to go now.....things to do here....I'll call you to set up a meeting.", I said to quickly end the telephone conversation with Imran.

"Alright..., you take care. I love you....", Imran ended the conversation.

I turn away from Emir and slightly move forward, "I love you, too.....good night....", I whispered softly. And I hang up.

I unlock the car door and got in. Emir did the same....start the engine but next thing his right arm crossed the steering wheel and he switched off the engine. He grabbed the car keys and put his hand in his jeans pocket.

"Hey....give me back the car keys....", I said out loud. I tried pulling out his arm from his pocket but he was so strong. He won't let it go. He sat there looking at me....I tried pinching his arm with my finger nails. I know it hurts because I can see the corner of his eyes cringe a little. Nak tunjuk tough kononnya lah tu......

I gave up. "Alright what is it.....what did I do wrong...?", I asked and look him straight. "You suka sakitkan hati orang.....hobi you ya.....love to intimidate people.....awak tahu tak.....I have a very good intention tonight towards you. I invited you out, drive around the city and take you away from Mak Uda....I thought we can get to know each other......but this is the thanks I get.....? You're a piece of work...! With the ugly sense of attitude you carry around no wonder your wives left you.....".

There I've said it. I shouldn't have but I cannot stand him anymore. I just want the car keys and go back to Telok Bagan. Emir masih membatu. Maybe he tries to calm down after I blew him off, especially the wife part.

I have had it....! "Come on Emir,....give me the car keys....I just wanna go back.....", I pleaded. Dengan muka tin sardin dia, dia buat tak tahu saja......he didn't budge. I immediately turn to open the car door and the alarm went off. I quickly closed the door.

"EMIR.....!!!! You are insane.....", I shouted at him. "What is the matter with you? What game are you playing here.....please let me drive home.....seriously I thought we connected. I guess I was wrong....", I cooled down feeling defeated.

Then I felt his hands moved on my neck...aku terkejut.....seram sejuk. Genggamannya tak kasar but felt strong. His thumb rubbed against the back of my earlobe. Aku terpaku. I froze as I did not want him to break my neck. Using his hand he turn my neck towards him. Aku ikut gerak tangannya.

Then he said,"Shhhh......dah? Dah habis meroyan? Listen, I'll drive okay. Don't pick a fight with me. In your condition I think you will not get us home safe...". Lalu aku menepis tangannya.

"A**H**E...! Suka hati you lah....", and I opened the car door. He got out as well. We are switching seats. He hold on his side of the car door to allow me in. Sebelum aku masuk, I gave him one last look.....and with my mighty strength, I slapped him on the face.

"Ouch!!", came out of my mouth. My palm felt numb. I couldn't belief that I hit Emir in the face. He felt the pain on his cheeks as he made facial movement.

"Okay I deserved it. Now get in....", he instructed me. I did as I was told. Geram sangat aku tengok perangainya yang bossy.

When he got into the driver's seat, he saw I was searching something in between the gap between our seats. "What are you looking for...?", he wanted to know.

Dengan suara manja aku menjawab, "My mobile phone...it must have fallen somewhere here...", as I pointed at the gaps between his seat and the hand brake panel. He helped to look for it. "I think I can feel it....here, here....put your hands in here."

I did as I was told and he was right. I could feel it. "This is what we're gonna do....you slide your tiny hands try to push it up slowly while I grabbed from up here....", he laid out a plan. I nodded.

After the 3rd attempt, he successfully got hold of my mobile phone. "Err....Emir, I think my tiny hand is stuck here....", I told him.

"What? Stuck? Tarik je lah tangan tu keluar...", he said. I couldn't belief my ears.

"Sakit nanti....", I replied. Then he slowly used both his hands trying to squeeze my hands out. Soon as I managed to release my hand, my bracelet broke and the beads are all over the floor. I instantly looked up and was afraid that Emir gonna be mad at me. He looked up as well about the same time I did. Our face was so close that our nose brushed. I could hear our breathe when he suddenly moved closer to my lips.....

Credit to Diana Krall and You Tube

For a few seconds I felt like the time froze as we gazed at each other. Emir membetulkan rambut aku yang berserabut. Mata aku beralih memerhatikan jari jemarinya. When he stopped we quickly sat up right back in our seats. Perhaps we were pretending nothing did happen. "I'm sorry about your bracelet...we'll get you a new one...", he said.

We were quiet until he stopped the car by the roadside. "Kita berhenti makan dulu ya....", said in a friendly manner as he looked at me. "They have Cafe Latte here...", he added. I nodded.

"2 Big Mac Meal...large....air coca cola satu saja.....", he said to the server over the counter.

The server replied, "Air dua, bang...". The girl looks at Emir then to me.

Emir replied, "Akak ni dah beli latte tadi....just one coca cola please...". The server nodded. She must have find the act, weird.

"Makan sini ke?", asked the server.

"Tak, to go, please....", Emir replied as he turn to look at me. Aku mengerutkan dahi tanda what's going on.....

 As we walked back to our car, he was holding the food on one hand and my hand on the other. When we reached the car, he opened the door for me. "Thanks..", I said and slide in.

We sat in the car and ate our burgers. We did not say anything to each other. Once in while we look at each other and ended up looking back at our burgers. Sambil makan kami melayan lagu-lagu yang diputarkan oleh DJ dari Fly FM. Sting featuring Craig David, Toni Braxton, Carlos Santana,and Amy Winehouse.

"How's your latte?", Emir asked. Mulutnya masih menguyah french fries.

"Mmmm....good...and thanks. I really need it.", I replied and took another sip of my coffee.

"Was that your fiance you were talking to on the phone a while ago?", he asked but still busy munching his fries. He didn't look at me.

I turn to his side and place my left leg under my right leg. I looked at him. "Yes, it was...you heard my conversation, didn't you?", I answered.

Then he kept staring my face then to my mouth. "Err....ada....ermmm...on your....", he didn't finished but pointed to my mouth. I felt intimidated by his action....

"Apa?", I asked sambil meraba-raba pipi kemudian ke mulut aku. Then Emir used his index finger to wiped off something on my lips...

"Ada coffee foam....comot...", he said. "More fries....", he asked. Aku mengelengkan kepala. "Tak, I dah kenyang....", I responded.

I was curious why we had to eat in the car, so I asked Emir. "Why didn't we eat inside the restaurant?".

"Too much distraction.", his reply was short and simple. "I like my privacy."

"Emir, I wanna apologized for the things I said about you tonight. The slapped was uncalled for...", I had to apologized to him. I looked down at my coffee cup.

"No worries. I dah lupakan dah pun....so are you going to finished the fries...?", he asked. Aku menggeleng. He took my fries and eat them 2 pieces at a time.


Note : Pictures and images are for illustration purpose only and are sources from Google.