Chapter 3

Punk?

What did he just call her? Did he just call Rose a punk? She blinked hard, multiple times at that as she walked back to him.

"Excuse me sir, did you just call me a punk or am I deaf?" She said with boldness. The man on suit looked at her with a smile. He nodded, "Yes, I just called you a punk. What are you going to do about it? Beat me up?" He asked her. It seemed he was used to picking fights that way because he looked so excited while he talked to her. 

Rose closed her eyes for a few seconds as she tried to calm herself. She wasn't in the right frame of mind for that. She would have fought there and then, she was sure he would win and not just that, she was sure he would beat the living daylights out of her. Her graduation had already been ruined, her brother hospitalized and her mother worried, adding a fight to that would mess the whole day up.

"No. Steady yourself, Rose. This pipsqueak isn't worth it" she told herself as she tried to calm down.

Without another word, she turned to walked to the bathroom. She was pressed also, so she would take it as though she could not defend herself properly because she was holding back on a piss that took too long. Yes! That sounded better to her ears.

Rose was a few feets away from the female restroom entrance when something stung her in the head. She turned around to see what it was and was surprised to see it was a rock. A little rock. Immediately, she turned to see who had dared throw the rock at her. When she turned with anger and frustration, she was surprised to see the handsome tall man waving at her. She wanted to scream or react but instead, she looked downward as she picked up the rock and threw it back at him. Her aim was great as she ended up hitting his knees. He grounched in pain as he promised to get her back. Feeling satisfied and happy, Rose skidded her way to the restroom. She got in there and walked to the toilet. She took a piss and then walked over to the mirror.

She bent over to wash her face and then looked at the mirror again. She had initially planned to cry as she walked out of where her mother was but strangely, she felt alright. She took a deep breath and decided she was going to go out onto the road and start begging. It wasn't the best of ideas, but it was better than staying idle while her brother died. She didn't do that before with her father but not this time. If her brother had to die, she would die with him.

She wiped her face clean, adjusted her makeup and started to move. If one was to be a beggar, at least they could be a beautiful one. She smiled as she thought of the quote she had just formed for that moment and then walked out. She was at the door when someone 'boo-ed' at her. The sudden sound shocked her and when the figure revealed its face, she jumped immediately. She took a few seconds to get herself back and then finally opened her eyes to fully recognize who dared to scare her at a time like this.

In a hospital restroom? Who could be that foolish? 

Rose grunted as she immediately raised her hand to slap whoever it was but as her vision became clearer, she noticed it was the same man who had bumped into her and also thrown a rock at her. She grunted again, almost snarling at him.

"What was that for?" She shouted in anger.

The strange man giggled as he angled his neck to the left and smiled at her.

"It was for throwing a rock at me. Now, we are even. How about I take you on a date?" He said.

A date? Was this man foolish or something?

She stood up straight and glared at him. "Does this look like the time or place to ask me out on a date?" She said with anger as she used her hands to gesture to him. Rose watched as she saw the stranger's gaze follow her hand. Her ring finger to be exact and she wondered why.

Suddenly, he turned to her and asked, " why can't I ask you on a date here? Are you married or engaged already?" 

"Pffttt .. please leave me alone!!! I came here for someone and I really need to concentrate on that person" she said with all the seriousness in the world written on her face. The strange man giggled as he turned his back on her and then walked a little distance. He had reached a wall painted green when he stopped there and turned to look at him.

"How about I help that child you came with?. How about I clear all his bills and I change your life? I can do all of that with the snap of my finger, it is that easy for me. How about that?" The stranger called out to her. 

His words made her eyes widened as she wondered how he knew she had come with a child . She wanted to ask him but then again, there were many stalkers in life. There was no need to find out more. She smiled at him as she walked up to him. When she got to him, she immediately let out a loud laugh and told him, " Nice try" and then walked away.

She was meters away from him when the doctor she met earlier who had treated her brother passed her by. She turned as her eyes followed the doctor. She was curious to know why he was heading to the female restroom and then, suddenly, from the corner of her eyes, she saw the Doctor and two other Doctors fall on their knees. They were all in front of the strange man begging. Rose could not believe her eyes. What was going on?