CHAPTER 16
"What am I even doing here" Anna huffed, folding her hands across her chest as she stood in the queue to get her coffee as well as Eva's who was sitting at a table around the cafe, scrolling through her phone.
Eva always said that when one wants to ease their mind, they must do what they like so she dragged Anna to the cafe as she enjoyed coffee with chocolate muffins a lot. Although Anna owned a coffee shop herself, she never made coffee and never wanted to learn how to make one. She was used to having the coffee made by her Mom who was now no more and she knew she could never make a coffee like her even if she tried.
Anna came back with a tray which had two cups of coffee and a plate of cupcake and sandwiches. She sat down and sighed as she blew on her coffee, before sipping from it. Closing her eyes, she felt a bit calm as the warm liquid went down her throat.
"Feeling better?" Eva chuckled as Anna nodded before opening her eyes, a confused look creeping up her face.
"Comm'on, forget whatever happened. You had a heart good enough to help an injured guy and bare up with his childish behavior for a night and half of the day today, that's it. It's over. It's already crossed 4pm, now chill out girl" Eva tried to cheer up Anna and she genuinely smiled after a long day filled with frowns and aimlessly thoughts.
"I am okay, Thanks" she said politely as they finished whatever was there in their plates before finishing their coffees. They stood up and Eva put her hands around Anna's shoulder as she flashed her a smile, while walking towards Eva's car. They giggled, recalling some things they did when they were kids and how they were caught a couple of times because of Anna's innocent self not being able to lie to her parents.
Eva unlocked the car as she opened the driver's side and got in, Anna walked around the car to the passenger side, she held the door handle, when she suddenly felt someone grip her from behind and she let out a loud gasp and stood frozen, she was too shocked to scream for help as the figure tightened their grip on her waist. Her eyes went wide open when she heard a voice close to her ears, "Noona"he whispered.
She closed her eyes as his voice sent shivers down her spine, he was gripping her waist tight, so tight as if he was afraid she would run away if he let go off her. His hot breath hitting her neck was not helping at all and she gulped when she felt his lips on her shoulder through the thin fabric of her top. The warmth of his body once again took over hers as she made no attempts to set herself free from his hold.
"Why aren't you getting insid-" Eva chocked on her words when she came out of the car to see why Anna was not getting in, seeing a tall, built man hugging her or specifically squeezing her, she felt her jaws drop. Anna's eyes shot open as she heard Eva, and blinked at her shocked face, Eva blinked back and both stood still until a voice startled them.
"Raven" a deep voice called from behind them as Eva walked around the car to stand near Anna, her mouth was still a little ajar looking at the man who hid his face in Anna's neck while Anna struggled to turn around with the man clinging onto her neck and they saw the couple walking towards them. As soon as they reached to the girls, Charlotte was quick to pull Raven away from Anna with an apologetic smile on her face and a pout formed on his lips as he stood beside his mother.
Anna felt the warmth being snatched away from her body, the cool breeze blowing and giving her chills. She straightened her top which was crumpled a little around her waist because of the man's tight grip, the skin there felt hot.
'Did he bruise my skin with his hold?'
She gulped at her own thoughts as she caressed her sides lightly.
"First, he marked your heart, Now you skin. Wow, how romantic."
Her inner mind cooed in her ears as she hissed at her internally.
Anna smiled awkwardly at all the people whose eyes were fixed on her, not only the couple ,their son and Eva but also some people passing by seem to be giving her double glances.
"Sorry about that dear" the lady said smiling a little and Anna shook her head. "It's alright Mrs. Lorraine." She tried her best to return the smile and somehow managed to do so.
Eva snapped out of the shock, blinking when she heard the name, "Wait, you are The Lorraine's?" she asked, her voice a little too high pitched as the lady looked at her confused before giving her a small smile, "Yes, Nice to meet you too" she said.
Eva narrowed her eyes before crossing her hands against her chest.
"Well, I don't quite feel 'Nice' to meet you" she said mocking the word Nice as she threw daggers at the couple and they just stared at her. Anna's eyes went round as she abruptly turned her head towards her friend, "Eva" she whisper yelled at her, holding her elbow, trying to calm her down. She did not even know why Eva was being so rude with the couple.
Eva gently pushed Anna's hands which were trying to stop her as she stepped towards the couple standing just a meter away from them. "Do you even know what your son has done?" She asked in a dangerously low voice to the lady whose brows knitted together as she said, "Excuse me?".
Anna pulled back Eva back to her earlier spot as she glared at her before turning towards the couple with a nervous smile, "I- I am sorry Mrs. Lorraine, she...she did not mean to say that....she was just..."
"No, I said what I meant" Eva's voice rang in Anna's ears. "Your son has been such a pain in assmph!..." Anna's palm pressed against Eva's lips, muffling her swears. "We should get going. Have a nice day Mrs Lorraine, Mr Lorraine" she bowed a little and she started pulling Eva back to the driver's seat hurriedly with her hands still covering her face as Eva tried to pull her hand away.
"Wait.." Ric, who was quite all this while watching the ladies, finally spoke. Anna turned around and Eva successful pulled her hand away from her mouth, "Why did you do that?" She frowned, Anna ignored her words as she saw Ric walking towards the girls. He towered them as he stood before them, "Could we have a little talk Miss. Smith?" he said.
Anna blinked at him as she found herself at loss of words and looked at the ground confused. "It's something important, Please" he continued and she finally looked up at his serious face as she nodded, "okay".
---
"What is it Mr. Lorraine?" Anna asked as she sat down at the edge of the couch of her living room. Her grandmother sat beside her and the other side occupied by Eva who had a mad look on her face. On the couch across, the couple sat on either side of their son, who was smiling at Anna like a small kid and she completely ignored his presence not wanting to blush and get embarrassed infront of so many people.
"Mrs. Smith..." Charlotte started as she shifted her gaze to the old lady who was sitting calmly beside Anna. "I.....we, need a favor from you" she said, her face was covered in concern and voice pleading.
"Go ahead" the old lady said politely. Charlotte took a deep breath as she restated the words of the doctor before them. Her voice cracked a few times but she managed to hold back her tears as she explained Raven's condition to them. A tear escaped her eye and she quickly wiped it away as she told them why Raven was behaving like a kid.
Anna finally glanced at Raven after a long while of ignoring him and found him still staring at her in awe. She felt the sadness and a bit of pain rising in her chest. She had been quite cold towards him and now she knew why he was pouting everytime, acting abnormal. He stared at her as she stared back at the green orbs that mesmerized her everytime their gaze met.
His gaze suddenly shifted down to her lips and the pout on his lips faded as he locked his eyes on her rosy lips. She felt heat rising in her cheeks as he refused to look up and continued opening gawking at her. He still had that innocent look but if anyone was to look into those green orbs, they were saying something else.
She felt her heart almost leap out of her chest when he licked his lower lips still staring at hers. She noticably gulped before quickly looking away,
'How can someone who is mentally a kid do that?' she closed her eyes for a second and when she opened it, she saw Eva staring at her with a questioning look on her face and eyes narrowed. 'Oh No, did she see him too?' she felt her cheeks heat up even more as she could look anywhere but her lap, fiddling with her fingers.
"That's really disturbing Mrs. Lorraine, I can understand what you are going through right now but I can't quite figure out how we can help you." Anna's grandmother said in her soft and polite tone as Charlotte's gaze shifted to Anna who was looking down. "Anna could help us" she said and Anna's head shot right up at her, "M-Me? How can I..." Her voice trailed off as the old lady sat a hand on her shoulder indicating her to stay calm and she obeyed.
"Anna, you resemble someone who was very dear to Raven, very precious to him, her name was Kim Areum. She passed away two years ago" Charlotte said as she slowly patted her son's hair who was just looking at Anna, unaware of the surrounding.
'A girl? Someone precious?'
"Is that why he..." Anna said, trying to imply the provided information to his clingy behavior towards her. "Yes, he was very much attached to her and you look very much similar to her that's why he wants to be with you" Charlotte explained as Anna just looked at her, feeling no words coming out of her mouth.
"Well, if you don't mind me asking, who was this Areum girl exactly of your son?" Eva could not help her curiosity as she asked them. Anna's ears quickly stood up to the question but when she heard the answer, she somehow wished she had never heard it,
"She was....his wife"