CHAPTER 82: STAY AWAY FROM SAM
Sam lifted up his head and saw Emma walking away. She was leaving the restaurant. He sat back on the arm chair without running after her as she had presumed.
Emma walked away from Sam while he looked at her from a distance. He wanted to run to her, stop her and plead with her for his unexplainable behavior but he didn’t shake a leg. Instead, he watched her walk away.
The disturbing flashes he was having at that moment coupled with a feeling of lowliness made him unable to react and so, he sat back gazing at the eatery wall which was beginning to look blur to him.
Sam’s eyes were shut. He was still seating in the eatery. He pondered on Mike’s visit earlier to his office and he began to fear what Emma might think when she learns about Natalie from Mike. He quickly got up and left the spot.
“Why am I so mad? ” Emma told herself in a low tune after walking away from Sam.
She was pained that Sam failed to tell her what the matter was with him. Maybe he didn’t trust her that much she thought.
“I thought we had gone past this phase. ” she muttered to herself again while trying to stop a taxi with one hand.
As far as she is concerned, her friendship with Sam had gone pass little secrets which made her mad when he wouldn’t tell her what was wrong with him or maybe she was mad because she was starting to care too much for him. A taxi pulled over and she hopped in.
“Thank you. ” she said to the taxi driver after handing him his fare when he dropped her at her destination.
She traced her way to her apartment trying to take her mind off her annoying experience with Sam. As she was about to head upstairs to her apartment, she saw Mike’s car coming from down the street. He was driving home. She stood still waiting for him.
After he got out of the car, she greeted him with the usual friendly neighbor smile without uttering a word.
“Hello. ” Mike greeted her avoiding her eyes which Emma immediately noticed.
However, she decided to start a conversation.
“Hi Mike. How’s work.. ” she began while walking towards him.
“Hello Emma. ” he replied cutting her short.
Emma yet again noticed Mike’s awkward behavior.
What is wrong with this people today? She lamented in her mind. First it was Sam acting all moody and he wouldn’t tell her what the issue is and now, Mike is avoiding her by acting all strange.
Emma turned around and Saw Mike sharply heading upstairs. She followed behind him wondering what she had done to get him upset with her. Is it because she went back to work for Sam? she questioned herself. And so what if she is working for Sam again. It’s none of her business if Mike is angry about it she thought. She thinks Mike is acting childish about it.
Mike and Emma were about to enter their apartments at the same time then Mike turned around and warned Emma.
“Stay away from Sam, Emma it’s for your own good”
Before Emma could come to terms with what Mike had just stated, he had entered his apartment and shut the door. She slowly opened her door and walked in. She took off her shoes, turned on the light and sat by the edge of her head rubbing her forehead with her left palm.
Mike had just warned her to stay away from Sam and she is beginning to feel Mike is overeacting. She appreciates him caring for her especially after Sam’s outburst the other day which led to the dislocation of her ankle but perhaps Mike was going too far.
Emma went to the shower, came out and wrapped herself in her large blanket stirring her cup of tea. She pulled a pillow and supported her back while she sipped her tea. She couldn’t stop thinking about Sam’s reaction at the eatery earlier and Mike’s recent warning . She decided to read a book. Perhaps she might feel better she thought.
The more pages Emma fiddled from the book she was reading, the more less the sense she could make out of it. She finally closed the book, placed it by her bed and decided to sleep. Suddenly, her phone began to ring.
Who could it be? she thought while reaching to the phone on the table close to her bed. It was an unknown number calling her.
“Hello! ” she said after answering the call.
There was no reply from the caller and at that moment, Emma felt she had encountered more strange events that day and wasn’t prepared for another one. She placed the phone back on the table and after about two minutes, it began ringing again. It was still the unknown caller. She ignored the phone turning the other way. Then the phone stopped ringing. She heaved a deep sigh closing her eyes.
After few minutes, her phone began to ring again and Emma angrily turned around, grabbed the phone without looking at screen and yelled at the caller after picking the call.
“Don’t you dare call me again. ” she screamed.
“Emma? ” came her mother’s voice.
Emma immediately took out the phone from her ear and checked the screen. She had answered her mother’s call thinking it was the unknown caller.
“I’m so sorry mother. ” apologized Emma. She then went on to explain to her mother how an unknown caller kept disturbing her thus the reason for her outburst.
“It’s okay my child. ‘ assured her mother.
“How have you been? ” inquired her mother.
“I’ve missed you Emma. It’s been two years since I last saw you. ” lamented Pearl.Content (C) Nôv/elDra/ma.Org.
Emma closed her eyes and quickly prevented the tear that tried to run down her cheek.
“I miss you too mother. ” sniffled Emma.
“And dad too. ” she quickly added.
“How are you guys? ” she further asked.
“We are fine my child. ” replied her mother.
“Will you ever come back to New York again? ” demanded Emma’s mother.