Passionately Ablaze

I turned and bumped into him. Looked up and saw the tall figure with mysterious eyes staring down into my dark chocolatey eyes with slight curiosity but mostly longing. He was gone for what felt like a lifetime. I never forgot him. From the looks of it he never forgot me either. It is almost as if mother nature brought us back together again. What's the phrase? Don't mess with mother nature? Karma's a bitch? If it is not then this is a real slap in the face. He looked the same except he did not shave. He looked very rugged. Almost as if he had not slept for a while but of course he still looked good. I don't blame the rest of the females for looking but if only they knew how he can be then maybe there would be less females who would look long enough to drool.

This is also the same man who blocks me like I block him but he never forgets to ask "Where are you?" when we reach out. Even if it's just for a short moment.

"Athena." He said with mixed emotions.

"Hunter." I said with same emotions.

"It is nice to see you again."

"I unfortunately, cannot say the same."

"Why not?" He asked puzzled.

"You and I in the same environment only results in complications, denial, hesitation, lust and stress."

He looked more pained after hearing each word.

"It is ok. We are both grown and have moved on. Nothing to dwell on now."

"I disagree." He whispered sadly.

I ignored it.

"Anyway...I have to go." I said aloof.

I stepped around him.

"Athena." He said as he turned, grabbed my wrist and waited for me to turn back towards him.

Hearing him utter my name in slight anguish truly hurt. Deeply within my core. It was also nice to hear it come from his lips.

"Yes?" I half turned to him.

"I tried calling." He said reassuringly.

"I changed my number."

"Oh."

"Yes.Well...I hope you have a wonderful day." I said dismissively.

"Athena I would love to catch up if you will allow me a moment of your time."

"Hunter. There is nothing to catch up on. You chose another and I moved on. You should go home."

"It ended."

"Sorry to hear that. You will be back on your feet in no time."

"'Thena...For old time's sake. Please allow me a moment of your time. I would love to catch up. It has been a while. We were friends once."

"I remember us being something to each other, but it was certainly not friends, Hunter." I responded. Annoyed.

"I am sorry. I did not mean to upset nor offend or insult you. I just did not want to upset you at all."

"Hunter. What do you need?" I asked impatiently.

"We have been apart for a long time. I would like for us to get back in each other's lives."

"Why?"

"Because I was a fool to let you go. I was not in the right set of mind."

"Which mind set were you in?"

"The kind that was foolish and made the obvious wrong choice. She occupied my mind and thoughts at the time based on the type of pictures she posted and how she presented herself. It was lust."

"Well. At least someone occupied your mind."

Regret filled his eyes and expression.

I was ready to move as he had insisted upon me but changed his mind when I had my bags packed and ready to go. All for another.

"I am more regretful than you will ever know."

"It is hard to imagine as it was not the first time you left me."

"I know. I can barely live with myself."

"You were living just fine from what I could tell from all the messages you opened and ignored from me after telling me multiple times to stay in touch but instead you were planning to move for her. Something you would never do for me."

"I am sorry Athena. I am sorrier than you will ever know. I hurt myself by hurting you." He choked up at the end of that sentence.

The anguish flooded back within me. The pain. The deceit. The rejection. The hurt. It all came rushing back to me.

I tried so hard to keep it in check. I almost lost it. This man is quite the predator. He preys on my feelings and then goes onto others and once whatever there is between him and the other female or females is over, he comes running back to me as if I were his emotional crutch. I am not a doormat. And I am most certainly not anyone's second or last resort. He can go mend his wounds elsewhere.

"Hunter I have to go."

"Athena. Please give me another chance. I was not ready for a relationship. I thought I was but I wasn't. Now I am."

"That is great Hunter, but I am not interested. You and I had something. Or so I thought, but now we do not. It is okay. You chose someone else which is okay, but I will not be your emotional blanket again. You need to do that on your own and live your life. I will continue to live my life."

"Athena..."

"Goodbye, Hunter. I wish you nothing but the best, but I do not want you in my life again."

"Ath.."

I turned and walked away before he could finish.

"Athena. I mean it this time. Athena please."

I kept walking while fighting my own feelings. Hurt.

"I love you." He whispered once I was out of hearing range.

It is just like Hunter to say what he really feels when he is alone but keep it to himself whenever he is around others. He struggled with his feelings and never had the courage to admit it to me but he did not have a problem chasing a certain tail to across the globe.

I got on the plane and left.