3 Encounter

I open my eyes to the kisses of sun rays on my soft skin, blurring my sight, I blink my eyes several times to adjust the light, I rolled myself on the bed taking in the sight, the drawers, bed, dressing mirror are all antique pine woods decorated with gold paint, a green heavy curtain hangs on the window, letting little sunlight peek through, I jumped off the bed to the window. And open the curtains. Beams of sun rays filled the room. I opened the window and was in awe of the beautiful sight.

The sun shone on the garden, and the sweet scent of blooming flowers hit my nose. The tall trees swayed gently. I cut a flower from the vine near the window and inhaled it smiling. Yeye will love this.

He used to say that "Happiness blooms where seeds of love and joy are planted. Herbs are medicine to our bodies. We may think that we are nurturing our garden but it's our garden that is nurturing our souls."

He spent most of the time in his garden and cooked delicious meals with his herbs.

My tummy rumbles with the thought of his delicious meals. I didn't eat anything last night and I'm super hungry. I can eat anything right now, glancing at Mimi's curled figure on the bed. Even you too. I twitched my lips into a devilish smile walking to her and rubbing her fur.

"Wake up sleeping beauty"

"Meow"

She meowed lazily moving her little mouth meaning she doesn't want to wake up, she's so cute when she does that. lazy cat.

"Get up or you'll be my breakfa–"

The words didn't leave my mouth before she sat on the bed stretching her hands.

"Oh poor thing."

I laugh wholeheartedly.

"I won't eat you and will do anything to protect you from being eaten or hurt, I promise"

She showed her little paw towards me.

"Meow?"

"Yeah Pinky promise"

I touched her paw with my little finger.

"Let's clean up and see what to eat."

We entered the toilet, did my business, and came to the sink to brush my teeth. I stare at the young lady in front of the mirror.

My grey almond-shaped eyes swelled up a little as the result of last night's crying, my short straight nose, and my full peachy lips, long messy black locks caging my apple face.

I blink twice, my eyes fall on the shirt, one shoulder is hanging down my shoulder and I can vividly see the bones on my neck, tracing them with my index finger.

I've lost weight in the last month, I hardly eat since grandpa was the one doing all the cooking. don't get me wrong, I do help sometimes but he prefers doing his dishes himself.

By this time of the day, I'll only find breakfast ready to eat, but now that he is gone I've survived mainly on soft drinks, snacks, and noodles and that's what I'll cook for breakfast.

***

The weather was clear and warm, the sun shone brightly. I can't believe I'm gonna walk all the way to the mall or anywhere I come across FOOD.

Sigh.

I stand by the empty roadside looking at the long road ahead with my hands on my hips. I have to trek to the mall because I've been standing for minutes here and there's no car passing by, and I don't have a ride.

I wore a Khaki color hoodie with baggy trousers, tied my hair in a black silk scarf, holding Mimi's walking rope in my left hand, my backpack hanging on my right arm with a pair of snickers. I decided to take a walk. So, here we go.

By my phone, the location is 10km to the closest mall. I can reach there in 2 hours. I glanced at my watch, It's past ten now, sliding the phone into my pocket. That would be past twelve.

***

It's been a 40 minutes walk, I didn't see any car or human being on the road, even a stray dog. For Lord's sake, what's up with this street?

"No houses in sight yet? Where on earth are we Mimi?"

I yelp looking at her, how I am supposed to get a job around here when you'll trek every day for two hours to your destination. And how am I even supposed to eat? I have to do this at least once a week.

"Remember me to buy a bicycle, anyone that lives here has a ride, right?"

"Meow"

"Then we need to have one Mim"

I continued walking, a sigh escaped my mouth, why does nobody live here? Is this place hunted or some kind of thing,

Why didn't I checked all this before buying this stupid house now I'm regretting every bit of the idea. Mimi saw me focused, and kicking pebbles that lie on my path, she knows I'm upset. And she runs fast meowing, signaling me she wants to race.

"No, no little cat, I won't race you in the middle of the road."

I shake my head. Pointing my finger at her. This cat knows me well. She wants to cheer me up. I don't have many friends, so she fills in their place. I was homeschooled by my grandpa who was a retired lecturer. I have no schoolmates, my only friend was my cousin, since when I was a kid though he was 5 years older than me. We were best friends. Besides him, I have no other friends. But when I found Mimi, she filled many spaces in my heart, a friend, adviser, lover, yeah I love that cat don't get me wrong.

We can understand each other even if we don't speak the same language and she knows everything about me and so does I.

She's serious, so I wandered and scanned the street. Nobody's here like always. I let an evil laugh.

"You ask for it baby ... you'll lose like you always do"

I yank my hood falling on my back and race the poor thing, though she also runs fast. I'm faster, my lips twitched devilish, we used to race in Yeye's little garden and sometimes break his pots.

"Hhhahh sorry yeye, now we won't break your pots"

Rest in peace, I say a prayer as I enjoy my space.

No vehicle, no staring eyes I can do whatever I want.

"Who's gonna lose ... You!"

"Who's gonna lose ... Me?"

Pointing at my chest.

"No, you!"

I run in zigzag style on the road, teasing Mimi in a singsong voice. And dancing a little.

"Who's gonna lose me?... No, you."

"Me?... no you"

I pace backward and forward-facing her laughing. She sat down on the ground pretending to be sad.

"Ohh no baby don't get mad at me"

I bend towards her, holding my knees flirting, but she turns the other way.

"Ohh I'm sorry love"

I grabbed her and caressed her fur. Just then I saw a car heading towards us slowly, is it even moving?

I step back from the road with Mimi in my arms. Should I ask for a lift or? The car is black a porche, with tinted glasses.

Yes?... No? I raised my hand then quickly withdrew it. I can't trust anyone, not in this kind of place, and driving in tinted glasses.

It passed by us and the car dashed out in no time.

I raised an eyebrow, really? Huh, who said he wants your help either.

I facepalm myself, maybe he's just answering phone calls and didn't even notice us through his tinted glasses.

***

I entered the mall exhausted. It was 12: 50, I finally made it. I found a seat and sat down. I'll rest first before I can do anything productive. I rest for ten minutes and finish off the remaining water in my bottle and get up.

"Let's do some shopping"

***

My trolley is heavy. I pushed it lazily, it's been an hour now that I've been shopping grabbing whatever I found edible. I hope I get all the things I need because I'm not coming back here anytime soon. I pushed and added more snacks as I walked.

Not far from me was a man in a black suit and in a sky blue shirt. he held his jacket in his left arm. He walked from side to side checking for the best item to choose, with his other hand tucked in his pocket, his broad shoulders gaping from the thin shirt.

He pulled the hand in the pocket, picked a bottle, and tilted the bottle reading its content. He scratched his chin with the other hand. Concentrating on the bottle and me on him.

I was lost observing him. And I step on Mimi's tail.

"Meow"

"Aw I'm sorry but right now shush"

I whispered not wanting to get caught peeping.

"Meow"

She meowed again wanting me to pick her up. And I came back to my senses, what the .... why am I looking at him? I guess I'm interested in the bottle in his hand, or does he kinda look familiar?

I shake my head chuckling at my fake defense, Looks Familiar... where? ... in your dreams? I rolled my eyes and covered my mouth chuckling at my thoughts, I'm crazy.

"Meow"

"Mimi I can't pick you up, the trolley is over full, where should I keep you or hold you"

I explained myself by rubbing her head. And I continue pushing the trolley, he's not here anymore, I think he's done with the bottle.

"We're done I guess, Mim" we have to leave early to find a ride home, I checked my trolley for the fifth time now, and was satisfied, I got all I need.

Heading to the counter, I pushed the trolley, with all the strength left in me. Mimi trailing behind me, who's also tired.

A dog saw Mimi and howled at her

How dare you, I automatically grab whatever lies next to me, a bat, good, very good this will do. I showed it to the dog chasing him away. While Mimi hid at my back, he followed her wherever she hid, making me rotate.

"Go away, go away" I commanded the dog but it didn't even notice me.

"Leave her alone, you monster"

I raised the bat swaying in its direction. Yelling on top of my voice. It ran but I followed it. Thank God there are no many people there to get their attention.

"How dare you scare my poor little baby cat"

I followed it every angle it went, I'll scare this dog enough to never ever frighten any cat.

I saw its trail behind a shelf, tiptoeing I roared.

"Gatcha"

I swung the bat, but it was caught in mid-air. I pulled it back but it didn't budge. What kind of dog is this? Or is it a wolf?

I didn't move again, I was about to let go of the bat and run. But suddenly I was pulled towards by the force.

And I let go of the bat I came landing in slow motion. My face, oh no my face, my not so beautiful face will be uglier now.

Instead of the cold tiled floor, my face landed on something firm and warm, it became stiff, I trace my fingers on it I felt something like a heartbeat, another, and another. I jolt my head up, to meet shimmering blue eyes looking into my mind.

He pushed me off him, I grabbed what I could, this time I'll be kissing the floor for sure, I closed my eyes ready to absorb the pain. but a strap I held left me hanging, I was holding on to his necktie. OMG.

He was bending towards me, I could view his whole face now. He's the man with the bottle, he had a straight pointed nose, small pink lips, a strand of his metallic silvery blonde hair touched my face.

I balance myself and let go of his tie. Fake coughing.

"Why are you trying to kill my dog"

I was about to walk away with my face flushed. When his husky voice thundered, clearing his throat, he straightened up, his eyes covered under his messy locks as he adjusts his tie. Kill, I wasn't trying to kill it. I gathered some strength and covered my flushed face, how dare he, I won't just chase it if he didn't frighten my cat.

"I wasn't trying to kill it, that monster sucks the life outta my cat. And he's not getting away with it, I have to teach him a lesson, nobody dares raise a finger–"

He ran his fingers through his lock clearing his view. His voice softened a bit, cutting me off after looking at me up and down with his face tense.

"It's you"

"Excuse me?"

I raised a questioning brow at him. Did he know me or something?

"You are the crazy girl that just moved into the old house at Fu street"

He confirmed, how did he know it's me that just moved in it was just yesterday and wait… did he just called me crazy? How dare he call me crazy?

"Yes, it's me. I was scammed by one heartless, selfish BRAT, and got sold the house that isn't what it looks like ... Wait... who do you just call crazy?

I questioned pointing my index finger at him with the other hand on my hip.

"The one that sits in the rain when there a house nearby, who dances in the middle of the street with a cat, like a weirdo, and who walked all the way to a mall by foot when she can ask for a lift"

He said at breathing in, he added.

"Crazy indeed"

He left me dazed with my mouth open, not minding the part he called me crazy again, how did he? ... so he was the one in the car.

"Who, who are you?"

Was the only thing that came out of my mouth.

"I'm the one you just called a Selfish Brat"

He ... he's ... the one that scams me, how dare he just showed his face like that without any shame of what we've done … Selfish Shameless BRAT!