It takes me a few seconds to understand his words and how they make me feel. Not good, definitely not. My hands tingle, then I realize it's anger, so much so that it makes me want to punch his already misshapen face. Blood runs through my veins at the speed of light, and it's been years since I felt that. Last time I think I was in jail.
- What did you say? I ask, raising Angelic's eyes to him.
“You heard what I said, man. He smiled, like it was a joke I should laugh at.
- I heard, but I'm giving you a chance to change the shit you just said.
In peripheral vision, I can see Angelic's eyes widen. She would most likely ignore this guy. I should do the same, since it's none of my business.
- I didn't know it was yours. I am sorry.
'I don't…' Angelic turns to him.
- To abandon. You're not going to run - I interrupt him. This is, yes, the subject we need to discuss.
- You don't command me.
I look at the red-haired guy and raise an eyebrow. He will only give this key to Angelic if he plans to die today.
- I would love to see you running, but today I don't want any problems - he reaches out to take the key from her hand.
I don't see his expression, but I'm sure Angelic's lips are pursed. She's too proud to ask, but she also doesn't want to leave here knowing I won.
"Whatever," she throws the key in her hand.
And again, I'm a chess player. I move pieces around to make it look like I'm going to lose, because I don't want to make my moves look predictable. Near defeat is sweeter than victory. I know the path to success changes depending on the pieces I choose to wear, and people are my favorite pieces.
Angelique squints but says nothing. She's probably trying to appear bored, impatient, or unimpressed.
There are people in the world who are meant to be manipulated. Victims who couldn't change their destiny, even if they came back and lived their lives in a thousand different ways. And then there are the players, like me and certainly like Angelic.
- Congratulations - she said - You won.
She walks around me and heads back to her car, probably her rowdy friend doing business in the Bronx. I can't see it, but I know she has a smug smile because she likes the game. She likes stepping out of the perfect bubble that surrounds her and discovering the real world. She likes not being protected or rejected, not having to be perfect, falling and failing, because that's what normal people do.