53 Outtake: Howard Hunt 6 (2/2)

”Lily,” he muttered under his breath, embarrassed to be seen working there. He had hoped himself to be better than the position he was in currently and confronting a classmate while he was at work was the last thing he wanted to happen to him.

”How have you been?” she asked, delighted at having met him again, not picking up on the discomfort he was showing her. He tucked his head and kept scanning the barcodes, hoping to escape this embarrassing situation at all costs. He wondered if she would laugh at him.

”Fine,” he said, his voice barely audible.

”You've never been one to speak much,” she grinned. ”What have you been up to recently?” She revealed no malice in her question. She was simply curious. She had a small crush on Howard for the longest time and found it apt that they had met on her holiday. He might be on the other side of the counter but she didn't think the job to be inferior.

”Working here and there.” His words were choppy.

”I was wondering what had become of you. I am so glad we met.” He simply nodded without replying to her verbally. ”I just finished my masters and got a job. I was in town for a bit. Would you mind if we hung out for a bit?” she asked, a small, shy smile on her lips.

”No,” he gritted through his teeth. He was sure that she was luring him on purpose, that she was doing it to humiliate him further. She had been the source of her torment for years, boys teasing her for her attention. She had been the reason he had been bullied. Why would he be associated with her?

”Then—”

”I said no.” His tone was absolute. He cut into her words and then went back to bagging her things.

”You don't want to speak to me?” she muttered, hurt by his harshness. He didn't reply. She silently paid and went away, wondering if she had done something wrong.

Howard glowered at his hand and wondered why he had been so harsh on her, but chalked it up to his bad temper.

Indeed, his temper was bad. He got it from his abusive father, but this time it was triggered by his need to impose his superiority. He had nothing going for him, and a simple harsh reply could make him feel more in control of his life than talking to her and finding out how good her life was going. He didn't need to listen to her smug self-serving words.