Purple Romance

When Lisa arrived at the café, she saw Leslie there already. He was leaning against his car and seemed to be doing something with his phone because his facial expression looked serious. Lisa closed her car door and stood at her spot looking at him.

''Whoa, he is really handsome. I can't believe you struck the jackpot with such a goodie Lisa'' she complimented herself as she folded her arms and felt pain on her wrist and hissed, ''darn it, this damn blister wouldn't just burst'' she frowned and put her hands down.

Leslie looked up and saw her at a distance and smiled, walking to her. He noticed that she was also looking at him and he asked when he got closer to her, ''what are you looking at?''

''You… I was looking at you'' Lisa said and stepped closer. She touched his face saying, ''this face must have sent a lot of women to hell, right?''

''I know, right?'' Leslie said and stuffed his hands into his pocket, ''this face sometimes worries me. How could someone be so perfect? I sometimes think that on the day God was making me, there weren't any emergencies for him to handle. After making me, he realised how perfect I was and decided to make two of us, so that I wouldn't have to be the death of all women''

''Whoa, so much confidence'' Lisa chuckled and asked, ''what are you doing here?''

''I came to see you. I knew you would come here, so I came here instead. Are you just arriving?''

''Yes'' Lisa walked with him towards the door as they chatted.

''I see. How is your wrist?''

''I didn't die and it didn't burst so I guess we are good''

''Did you bring the medicine I bought for you?''

''Oh, I brought them'' she removed the key and Leslie took it from her and opened the door, letting her go inside before he did.

''Did you apply it before coming?''

''Not yet''

''Good, I will apply it on for you'' he said and took the bag from her hands and sat down in front of the counter. He pulled another chair closer and patted on it, ''sit down''

Lisa smiled and sat down. she stretched her wrist towards him and he removed the ointment and opened it. ''Paula started work today at the hotel'' she said when she felt the silence between them. Leslie was focused on applying the ointment on her hand.

''Really? That's good''

''Let me ask you. does your brother really like Paula?''

''I think he does''

''Well, he did confess…''

''Andy confessed to Paula?''

''Yes. Why does that make me so happy?''

''What about Paula, does she like my brother?''

''I think so''

''Then, have you ever liked someone before?'' Leslie blew air into her wrist and noticed she had stiffened when he asked her that question. He looked up and saw her looking at him.

''I have never liked anyone before and I don't want to… like anyone'' Lisa answered truthfully. She felt that her life was messy enough for her to like someone. She couldn't allow anyone into her dark world.

''It's done. Today I will be the one manning this place'' he said and got down from the chair and walked into the counter and Lisa followed.

''What do you mean you will be the one manning this place?''

''I came here because I was worried that you would still go near the fire or hot objects. If you get hurt again, it's going to be worse''

''Why are you worried? It's not like I am your girlfriend?''

''You are not my girlfriend but you are my friend''

''Leslie, don't do things that will lead to a bad ending. You doing all this for me isn't right''

''What is right then? Shouldn't I have come to help you then?''

''Yes, you shouldn't''

''Why?''

''Because we have no relationship. Doing this makes me feel like you are trying to get into my personal space. We have a contract. This wasn't included in the contract''

''Do we have to go by the contract?''

''Yes. You and I both wanted the kind of relationship where we only met for sex. I am just someone you have sex with and nothing else. I would like us to keep it that way''

''Really? Do you really want to be treated as nothing more than a sex toy?'' Leslie placed the apron he had picked on the counter and walked closer to her.

''A sex toy?''

''Yes, a sex toy''

''How dare you call me that, Leslie?''

''You are the one treating yourself like that. I am trying to be friends with you because you seem like a decent human being but it seems I was mistaken''

''You are right. I am not a decent human being and you already saw that. I am capable of inflicting pain on myself. I am a psycho, so what?''

''The way I see you. You are the kind of person who shoot yourself because you think it hurts less when you do that to yourself instead of getting shoot by another person. You look down on yourself and say bad things about yourself before another person does, because you are scared that you might get hurt by another person''

''What?'' Lisa clenched her fist tightly and glared at Leslie. She was furious. Furious that he was right after all.

''You think that people will laugh at you so you laugh at yourself first. You fear that people will mock and laugh you so you make a joke out of your own pain. You think by doing that people wouldn't have anything else to say about you, right?''

''Get out of this place. Consider that our contract is annulled''

''That's fine. There are plenty of girls waiting for me anyways''

''Go to them and I hope you get STIs'' she screamed at him.

''I always use protection'' Leslie turned back and said to her

''I do too'' Lisa said and pushed the mug on the table and it hit her hand and she screamed, ''ah''

Leslie turned back when he heard her and rushed to her, ''are you alright?'' he looked at the blisters that had burst open when the mug hit her hand.

''Leave me alone'' Lisa said to him.

''I will leave you after I get you to the hospital'' he said and lifted her on to his shoulder.

''What are you doing?''

''Stay put or you will be hurting yourself'' he said to her and walked out of the café.

At the hospital.

Paige stood by Lisa as another dressed her blisters while Leslie stood aside.

''How did this happen to you, Lisa?'' Paige asked.

''I accidentally poured hot broth on my wrist. But, what are you doing here? Don't you work at the capital?''

''I came to give an invite to the director here when I saw Leslie bringing you in. What is going on between you two? Last, I saw you two together at the club''

''He is just someone I know. I am fine, you don't have to stay longer because of me''

''I still have some errands to run. How is Paula doing? Is she coming for the wedding this weekend?''

''Yes, she said she will be there''

''Alright, my regards to her. Make sure you take care of that or I will be mad at you. Jordan will also be mad''

''Don't tell Jordan. He will nag me forever''

Paige chuckled, ''you do know that about him. I will call you later''

''Sure, my regards to Jordan''

''I will tell him'' Paige turned to Leslie and smiled at him.

''Hi, Paige'' Leslie greeted her.

''Hi, Leslie. Jordan told me he invited you and your brother to the wedding. You two must come okay? we are just inviting a few people''

''Sure, we will be there''

''Then, I will leave Lisa to you. Lisa, take care'' Paige kissed her cheek and walked away.

''You two seem close?'' Leslie said to Lisa.

''Wait. I wanted to ask you the last time and forgot. How do you know Jordan and the other two men, Lucas and Joel?''

''It's done, Miss'' the nurse said to Lisa.

''Thanks'' Lisa stood up and looked at her hand that had been treated,

''You can go to the counter and fill the payment form before you leave''

''Thank you'' Lisa said and walked with Leslie to the counter.

''Joel and I attended the same University together. Jordan is someone Andy admires and wants to work with. Lucas is Jordan's best friend. I got to know Jordan and Lucas through Joel. What about you? How did you know Jordan?''

''He is my friend. Well, let's say I helped him once and then he always helped me out and then we became friends. I got to know Paige through Jordan. Paige is a nice woman''

''Yeah, I heard their love story before'' Leslie stopped at the counter, 'I will pay the bills and send you home first''

''Okay''