Come To Pick up

Varel accidentally made a mistake. This time, the mistake was quite fatal. Whether it was due to the influence of alcohol or because he genuinely liked Summer, getting carried away with the atmosphere. When he fell and accidentally toppled Summer, for some reason, his heart began to beat quite hard. 

The irregular rhythm was as if there were several people repeatedly playing drums inside him. The silence intensified, making the atmosphere thrilling for both of them. Varel's face slowly moved closer to Summer's face. Closer and closer, and- Varel's phone rang loudly, breaking the silence and tension.

In haste, Varel moved away from Summer and checked his phone. The number was unfamiliar to him but, he still answered, thinking it might be his parents or relatives trying to contact him. It turned out to be Axel calling through Summer's phone.

"Hello?" Varel answered. 

Axel, on the other end of the line, fell silent for a moment. He wondered why a man answered, assuming that the number continuously calling Summer was her ex-boyfriend.

"Who's this? Why have you been calling this number?" Axel asked curiously.

"Why are you asking back? Who are you? You were the one who called me first," Varel replied bluntly.

Seeing Varel getting irritated, Summer wondered if Varel was talking to Axel. She approached Varel and tried to see his phone.

"Rel, are you okay? Can I see your phone? Maybe it's someone I've been waiting for?" Summer asked, curious.

Summer was confident that Axel was calling her back. Varel immediately handed his phone to Summer. Before Summer could speak, Axel began talking, expressing his frustration with another man calling his wife's phone.

"Who are you? Her ex? Why keep calling my wife's number? This is a warning! don't contact my wife again!" Axel said angrily.

"Hello? It's me, Summer," Summer replied.

Hearing Summer's voice on the phone surprised Axel. He had assumed that the one calling was Summer's ex-boyfriend, feeling caught meddling in Summer's personal affairs.

"Huh, this woman. Just a few hours, and she's already moved on quickly," Axel grumbled angrily.

I didn't understand what I just heard from Axel's mouth. What? Wife? Did he call me his wife? Ck, nonsense. If, he thought of me that way, he wouldn't have let me out of his car. And he wouldn't have stopped his car on the side of the road just because I asked him to. I muttered in annoyance.

"What do you mean by that?" I asked.

"What? It's—" Before he could explain, Varel's voice was heard asking Summer who was calling. That is made Axel furious again.

"Quickly send me your address! I'll pick you up, be ready!" Axel said firmly, ending the call.

Hearing Axel's different tone, I realized that. We might argue again if we met, but I had no choice but to let Axel pick me up before things went beyond limits. Before, I realized that Varel would do something to me. I don't know why my body froze at that moment, as if unable to move at all. Maybe because Varel was right on top of me. Therefore, I felt relieved when his phone rang, breaking the tension.

I then sent Axel Varel's address through a text message. I tried to keep smiling in front of Varel. Then I tried to explain to Varel that someone would pick me up soon. Varel didn't ask much about who would pick me up and where he would take me, but a clear sense of anxiety and curiosity covered his entire face. There was also a bit of guilt, but I didn't want to assume too much.

"I'll get my coat; you should get ready," Varel said, walking towards his room.

"Alright," I replied.

Shortly after, we both went to the apartment lobby. We waited for Axel, and the situation became more awkward, due to our previous encounter. I didn't want to discuss it. So, I tried to stay silent. Meanwhile, Varel seemed nervous and uneasy. Several times he looked at his phone screen and put it back in his coat pocket. Until Varel finally said something.

"Was that your phone number that just called?" Varel suddenly asked.

"Y-Yes, that's my number," I replied hesitantly.

"Alright, I'll save it," Varel nodded.

Varel realized that the man on the other end of the phone earlier was Summer's boyfriend. He regretted his exaggerated behavior.

"I shouldn't have done that," Varel muttered regretfully.

Shortly after, Axel arrived wearing a white shirt with rolled-up sleeves, black trousers, and polished shoes, looking like an office worker who had just finished work. With his cold gaze, Axel looked fierce and intimidating. There was no smile on his handsome face.

Axel immediately pulled Summer's arm and led her, ignoring Varel, who was right beside them. Summer could only stare at Varel, who seemed very surprised by what he saw at that moment. Varel couldn't do anything, let alone stop him. Because he knew it seemed true, that the man who brought Summer was her boyfriend.

"Ck, look how rough that guy is. Poor Summer. Should I contact Hakim? There seems to be something wrong with that guy," Varel muttered to himself.

I felt Axel gripping my hand so tightly that it started to hurt. I tried to release it, seeing Axel's face filled with anger.

"Let go! It hurts, you know!" I said while pulling my hand away from Axel's grip.

Axel just stared at me with his sharp gaze without saying a word. I wasn't surprised by what he was doing right now because he always behaved rough and arbitrarily like this.

"Look at my hand, it's so red. Where's my phone?" I complained, asking for my phone back.

"Quick, get in the car," Axel said firmly.

"Where's my phone?" I asked, still whining.

"Get in the car, Summer!" Axel raised his voice.

I immediately fell silent, surprised to see Axel so angry. This time, it seemed different from usual. I couldn't guess what he was going to do or say to me again. I tried to ask for my phone again, but with a calm attitude and without raising my voice.

"Where's my phone—" before I could continue, Axel opened the car door and moved his head as if telling me to get in the car quickly. I felt like I was hypnotized and followed his will. Inside the car, the two of us looked awkward with each other.