The courage to say no
Mia got to the supermarket and went inside. She got a basket and began her shopping. She went into the grocery section and got cucumbers, broccolis, spices, and so on. When she was done she was passing out when she saw the children section. She saw so many amazing and great things that her daughter would love but she didn’t have any money to buy one for her, some she just passed by.
Not having the courage to come back empty handed without getting anything for her daughter, she decided to get her some beautiful hair clips for her hair and some biscuits. While choosing which one was her daughter’s favorite, another customer was also about to carry that particular biscuit.
“Oh sorry, I wanted to get that for my dau…”
“Mia? Mia is this you?”
“I’m sorry sir.” Mia replied as she turned around to leave. Her heart was gladdened to see him again but her soul burned up in anger.
“Wait please!” He said as he held her hand, trying to stop her from leaving.
“Good morning Antonio.” She greeted him with an ignorant expression.
“Wow so it’s really you! How have you been? I mean wh- what are you doing here? Where did you disappear to? How- oh my God I can’t believe I’ll ever set my eyes on you again.” Antonio was still speechless on seeing her.
“I never disappeared. It was you who did.” Mia replied with a hostile voice but she lowered her voice more like she was talking to herself.
“Oh come on I never did. I’ve been searching for you all over the place. You just left without a trace but it’s in the past now. So how have you been? Are you married now?” Antonio asked Mia. The last question shocked her as she didn’t know what to say to him. His countenance looked happy, his appearance was still the same, or even more handsome than ever. His smile… His smile reminded her of something, of a secret she never wanted to let out.
“Hello?” He called her out of her lost thoughts.
“Oh erm ye- yes I am.” She replied but his attention was not on her anymore as he was speaking to a lady.
“Of course, as always. Am I not surprised?” Mia thought to herself.
“Babe, I’ve been looking for you all over the place. Come on now, let’s leave shall we? And who do we have here?” Charlotte asked as she held Antonio arm to arm while she eyed her.
On seeing Charlotte, Mia’s heart began to beat faster. She felt like entering into the ground or wishing it could swallow her up. She wished she could just run out of here but the entrance before her was blocked by them.
“H- hi.” Mia greeted as she stretched out her hand for a handshake.
“Bold yet feeble.” Charlotte replied as she eyed Mia’s hand that was beginning to shiver. Mia withdrew her hand.
“Oh erm don’t mind her please. By the way, it was nice meeting you. My regards to your husband please.” Antonio replied as he held Charlotte’s hand while Mia looked at their hands together in shock.
“Wait, you’re married? To whom? Oh definitely to that loser of course ha!” Charlotte smirked evilly.
“You two know each other?” Antonio asked Charlotte after hearing what she just said as he turned a bit to face the both of them.
“Oh erm ahh…” Charlotte stammered as Mia’s heart beat faster.
“Yes, yes she’s no, she was my friend back in those days.” Charlotte replied as she eyes Mia, giving her a hard stare.
“Oh, that’s nice. Why don’t you two catch up on old times with each other then hmm?” Antonio suggested as Mia just smiled shortly while Charlotte broadly smiled but casted an evil look towards Mia.
“I can’t believe her. She’s even denying me, well what was I even expecting at the first place? I wanted to run away from her so I don’t blame her after all.” Mia said to herself in a low voice as she picked up a few items and headed for the counter.
“That will be two hundred dollars ma’am.” The sales girl told Mia after packing up her shopping items.
Mia dipped her hand into her pocket to bring out the money and pay but there’s nothing in there. She opened her bag and brought out her purse but had a few bills in it. Pulling them out, she realized that she didn’t have enough money to pay for what she had shopped for.
“I’m sorry I don’t have that amount. In that case can I just return a few items to balance up please?” Mia requested in a low tone as she was embarrassed.
“Sure ma’am. Which would you like to return?” The sales girl asked Mia.
“She’s returning none. Here, put it on my card.” Antonio said to the sales girl as they just arrived at the counter with Charlotte.
“Wait what? We are not a charity organization able to be giving out money anyhow. And who will pay for my shopping huh?” Charlotte yelled at Antonio.
“Is it now a crime to help someone out?” He asked Charlotte as she was acting all up.Content from NôvelDr(a)ma.Org.
“Yes it is! It is a very big crime Antonio if you don’t know okay?” She yelled at the top of her voice.
“Then in that case, pay for your stuff and meet me in the car when you are done.” Antonio replied.
“Wait what? Should I now pay for my shoppings? Great!” Charlotte screamed after him while he left already.
Mia packed up her stuff ready to leave.
“Tell him thanks.” She replied as she walked past her.
“!!!” Charlotte groaned loudly as she looked at that sales girl and brought out her card.
Mia came out of the supermarket but didn’t see Antonio to thank him.
“Well, I’ve already sent his thanks to his grumpy girlfriend or whatever.” She replied as she began to walk away from the store.
Antonio spotted her leaving and was about to come out of his car when she had already boarded a taxi and even if he was going to stop her, Charlotte was already at the door of the store and he didn’t want any further drama again so he just stayed back in.
“What was the meaning of that?” He asked her as soon as she got into the car.
“What was the meaning of what?” She asked him back, rather rudely.
“You tell me if that attitude of yours in there was nice. Look at how you embarrassed yourself out there!” He replied coldly to her.
“Oh it’s now me who embarrassed myself? How about you? What do you think was on their minds when you couldn’t pay for your wife’s shoppings and instead, paid for a total stranger huh? What now? Are you crushing on her?” Charlotte fired back at him.
“That’s enough now and point of correction, you are not my wife yet so use the right words at the right time!” Antonio scolded her.
“And so what? What difference does it make? Wed6hage been married by now if not because of your silly excuses with your company!” Charlotte yelled back at him.
Antonio just shook his head and started the car engine.