The Black Swan Behind (Beauty of Fire)

Chapter 18: An Old Pickup Truck

Unbeknownst to Emma, ??a woman standing behind the counter was watching her. Emma’s beautiful appearance would indeed attract anyone’s attention.

“Are you new in Handway?” The cashier greeted her.

Emma nodded and smiled.

“You are very beautiful. Are you still in school or working?” asked the middle-aged woman. It seemed that all the old people in Handway were very friendly. Way far different from the youngsters.

“I study at Jardin University. I live with my parents here.” She answered with a hint of lies. Whoever it was, she had to be careful.

“Oh I see..” She nodded as she continued to work, “You have to be careful walking around at this hour. The streets are not safe for women at night.”

“I know. Thanks for watching me.”

.....

“I have a son around your age. He was a good and obedient boy. But since high school, it seemed like he made friends with the wrong kids. Until now, I don’t seem to know him anymore. He always rebels against his parents.” Her two eyes glazed over.

“Owh.. Forgive me. I shouldn’t have burdened you with my story.” Said the woman again.

Emma shook her head, “It’s okay, Mam. I understand. A parent’s love will last forever, no matter how their children treated them.”

The woman smiled gently, a tired look appeared on her face, “You are a good girl. Your parents must be very happy to have a daughter like you.” praise her.

Emma just smiled faintly. In her heart, she felt like a showman. What bullshit did she actually say to that woman? Emma realized that she was not a daughter her parents could be proud of. Even worse, Emma was also not close to her parent at all.

After paying, Emma thanked the cashier and left the supermarket. For a girl who lives alone, Emma’s groceries were quite a lot. Recently, Emma realized that she had a new hobby, which was cooking. Because of that, she shopped a lot for groceries.

“Akh..” Emma complained as soon as the last, largest shopping bag she managed to put into the trunk of her car.

Emma parked her shopping trolley in another group of trolleys located at the edge of the parking lot, before she got into the car. Then she started the engine and drove out of the supermarket parking lot.

“Why is this city so strange? No wonder, even though it is beautiful, but very few tourists come here. Even though the structure of the city is neat. But when the night comes, it looks like a dead city.” She talked with herself.

Emma’s car was still a bit slow because she had just come out a few meters from the supermarket parking lot. Then her sharp eyes caught the figure of a guy who was limping as he walking while pushing his motorcycle, which seemed to break down in the middle of the dark road.

Actually, Emma didn’t really care and intended to just go through with it. But as she got closer to it, she felt she recognized a street fighter that looked like it had just been hit by a train and dragged for ten kilometres.

Emma slowed down her car as she approached the man who was walking almost bent over. The guy turned as soon as the car was beside him. Emma, ??who had been focused on staring at the window from the start, suddenly dropped her jaw.

The girl immediately pressed the button to lower the windowpane, “Calvin?!”

***

“What happened to you? Who did this?” Emma Jabbered with a look of horror on her face.

Calvin’s face was full of bruises from battered and parts of his jacket and pants were torn. His motorcycle was also dented here and there like a wrecked motorcycle. The guy just smiled calmly while wiping the blood that kept dripping from the side of his lips with the tissue paper given by Emma.

“I had a traffic accident.” He answered.

Emma quipped with a sarcastic laugh, “You think I’m stupid? Even crazy people would know that you’d got beaten up.”

“Can I have another tissue, please?” Calvin asked as if he didn’t care about Emma’s worries.

“We have to go to the hospital. You need to be treated.” She shook her head as she stood up from the edge of the sidewalk they were sitting on, “Get up. I’ll take you there.”

Calvin was still curled up with no interest in getting up at all. That made Emma so irritated that she stroked her chest with her palm. The two sad eyes glanced at his iron horse, which had been declared dead. “I have to bring my motorbike.”

“Gosh.. Are you kidding me?” Emma laughed, in disbelief. “Your motorcycle is no longer usable. Just leave it here. Even the homeless people don’t want to take that broken motorbike.”

“This bike is so precious to me. I can’t leave it.” He answered with a sad face.

Emma just stared at him in disbelief. It may be true that the motorcycle was very valuable to Calvin. Emma herself also had something very precious to her, not expensive, just a worn-out pair of ballet shoes. But behind, it saved great memories that had changed her life.

From the corner of her eye, Emma saw a yellow light approaching. She turned her head and watched a car speeding from the distance. From the shaky way the lights were lit and the clearly audible rustling sound, Emma immediately knew that it was an old car. For some reason, she continued to watch the car until it was quite close.

“A Pickup truck!” Emma exclaimed as seeing a glimmer of hope.

Then, the girl immediately stepped forward by waving her hands up as a symbol of asking for help. Luckily, the pickup truck driver slowed down and stopped behind Emma’s car, which was parked on the dark side of the road.

“Is there anything I can help you with, young lady?” Asked the driver who was an old man with a shabby hat and vest. From his truck, it can be seen that he often operates it around the wharf to bring marine products.

“My friend just had an accident. His motorcycle was badly damaged and I had to take him to the hospital. Can you help us transport the motorbike to a repair shop?” asked Emma.

The old man did not answer yet, he looked at what was behind the girl’s back from behind the car window. Not long, he nodded after seeing for himself that what the girl said was true.

“Where’s the workshop?”

“Not too far from here. I would drive my own car, and you can follow from behind. How is it?” Explained Emma with hope.

Finally, the man nodded, “Okay. But you guys need to help me lift that big bike up.”

Emma smiled widely, “Thank you, sir. Of course, we will pick it up. Thank you very much!”

Without realizing it, Calvin had stood up near his motorbike. He smiled innocently as Emma approached him cheerfully, “We got the help. Quickly lift your motorcycle into the man’s pick-up.”

Calvin nodded “Okay. Thanks.”

Even though he looks dying, there was something very surprising about the guy named Calvin. He was still strong enough to carry his motorcycle into the pickup with a little help from the old driver man.

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