The Perfect Man

"Kyaaaaaaah!!!" Maddie screamed, she was caught for accidentally falling while bumping her own leg. "Let me go!" Maddie twisted the man's hand on her shoulder, sadly the woman's career ended because two other men had followed.

Damn it, Maddie screamed in her mind, believing that she would have made it through if it had not been for a slip. She had just gone through the back door, but luck was not on her side.

"Let me go!" Maddie kicked as the two men grabbed her hands. Her body is small, the double kick caused her body to lift. "Let me go. This is a misunderstanding!" Maddie says anything she can think of, but who would believe her? It was apparent Maddie had been caught doing something to one of them. Even if it's the wrong target, they still won't let her go.

"Misunderstanding?" The man fiercely said, "You did it in front of us and you said it misunderstood?" The expression on his face was cold, he was no longer as friendly as the first time Maddie sat with him.

"Take her to the police station," the man said, more than able to surprise Maddie. Maddie had been in trouble with the police twice and she didn't want to go through that again. Her pay wasn't high enough to spend the night at the police station, so no!

"No, no, please!" Maddie pleaded, not wanting to say that the police station was the only place she deadly avoided. "Please, I beg you." Maddie's acting is in action, she easily sheds tears and puts on a sorrowful facial expression like an abandoned child. "Please, I am forced to do it. Please listen to me."

Fooling to run away is not difficult for Maddie, who has done it many times, especially with her beautiful face. She managed to thrill the hearts of the three men and instantly, doubt and curiosity filled them, making them wonder why Maddie was crying and what she meant by being forced to do it.

"Please, listen to me, just a moment." Maddie sobbed, giving the three men an ominous vibe and causing them to loosen their grips slowly. "I—" Maddie wiped the tears that rolled down her cheeks before looking up at the three of them.

"I—" Maddie saw an opportunity and a way out. She attacked, punching the two men beside her and kicking the man in the stomach in front of her. "Run—whuahaha!" Maddie's gleeful laughter exploded as she managed to escape leaving the three men curled up in pain.

"Three idiots!" She said with great joy. "Hopefully, we don't see each other again!" She yelled as she kissed the air.

"Hey, you!!!" The first man touched his punched nose. "Chase her!" he shouted, making everyone ignore the pain as each rushed to catch up. "Stop there!"

"What fool would stop when being chased?" Maddie mumbled, she ran out of the alley and away from the bar, running faster and faster and leaving her forgotten friend.

"You don't want to greet me back?" Again, that cold voice, Castelia felt her heart beating much faster. It was scary, Castelia didn't want to be tricked by him again.

"Don't do that to me, please!" Castelia pushed Joshua to create some distance and covered her ears to miss whatever Joshua was going to say. Unfortunately, Castelia's efforts were not successful. Castelia couldn't help but wonder, how could someone keep slipping just because of anxiety?

After she stepped on her bag, now her leg just sprained because of a broken heel. Again, Joshua quickly grabbed her hand, bringing her back closer into his arms.

The smell of Joshua's perfume entered Castelia's nostrils, lulling her and making her feel calm. But Castelia refused the feeling, she struggled to wake herself up, pulling her body away but Joshua wouldn't let her. Instead, he touched Castelia's cheek, making her look up so they could look at each other.

Those beautiful eyes looked helpless. This woman was so sweet, that's how Joshua saw her now. She was scared but her cheeks were flushed red with embarrassment at the same time. Is it natural for two feelings to come together? Joshua touched Castelia's earlobe and brushed her hair. His gentle touch, Castelia had not forgotten. "Hi, Cas." Again he said hello and this time, Castelia answered.

"Hi-hi…, Joshua." Castelia shouldn't have done that, but she couldn't help herself. The distance was created when Joshua let go, Castelia looked down, bit her lip and tried to hide her still crazed heart palpitations. Even so, she already seemed calmer and was no longer as frightened as before.

"I just came back here. It looks like we are quite destined to meet," said Joshua, Castelia was silent because she didn't know how to respond because yes! Joshua admitted that he had just returned and how could fate bring them together like this? After all these years, it was still hard to believe that the man in front of Castelia was really Joshua.

"Where … have you been all this time?" she asked after a moment of silence, but Joshua didn't answer.

"You should look into the eyes of the person you're talking to." He said that, and Castelia immediately courageously looked at him. Joshua smiled, looking at Castelia as if she were a docile puppy obedient to her owner. "You waiting for me?" asked Joshua. His way of speaking was soft even the way he looked, easily made Castelia forget what he really was, a man who always hurt her.

Castelia didn't have an answer to Joshua's question, she nodded and shook her head at the same time. "I'm just glad to see you're fine," said Castelia, appraising Joshua's appearance and the man looked like a great man. His athletic body was beneath a black shirt and coat. New shoes, clean and shiny black. His skin was clean and well-groomed, and his hair was neatly combed. Joshua was the perfect man in Castelia's eyes, always that way.

"I want to talk to you more but I'm running out of time." Castelia didn't understand what Joshua meant, she just stared at him taking out his wallet and card. Joshua handed it over before adding, "See you tomorrow night at seven."

Castelia wasn't sure about that but she didn't refuse either. Just be quiet and stare at the card between Joshua's fingers until the man takes her hand and puts the card there. "I will be waiting for you." After a brief touch on her cheek, Joshua walked away, leaving Castelia still frozen and off to nowhere.

There was a moment of silence until Castelia looked down at the card. She skimmed through all the neatly printed words on the white card. Not an address, the card is used to open the room's door.

Drrzzzztt!

The phone ringing broke Castelia's thoughts, causing her to look here and there looking for the phone. On the floor, near her dropped bag, Castelia looked at the number printed on the screen before pressing the green button.

An unknown number with no name, Castelia kept holding it up to distract her from Joshua who had gone. "Hello, who's there?" Castelia talked first.

"Castelia, I'm in trouble." A voice from the other side was heard. Without introduction, Castelia knew who she was because she remembered her voice so well.

"Maddie?" She called and what had happened in the bar before crossed her mind again. Castelia curiously asked, "Where are you? You are okay?"

"I'm not okay and I really need help!" Maddie shouted in a whisper, she sounded angry and frustrated. "I was at the police station and needed bail to get out," she said.