Chapter 13

OBSESSIVE BEHAVIOR

Diane’s P.O.V.

“Did you like it?” Leandro’s eyes were sparkling the moment he asked me.

He was talking about the flowers that he gave me. It was the same bouquet of elegant red roses that he left on the asphalt cement outside our gate earlier.

Leandro said that he left immediately upon seeing me rushing outside. After our last conversation that did not go well, he was ashamed to show up to me in front of our territory.

We were now in one of the corners of Lucy's Club near the counter. He opted to buy me some refreshing drinks, but I refused.

I just finished my dance number, and until now, I had not yet removed my mask while talking to him. I was ready to go home because I already timed out, so I also had my bag with me. It was fifteen minutes past ten o'clock in the evening, and I was sure that my brother was still awake waiting for me.

It was still noisy inside the club due to the loud music and hyped people partying around. But in my two years of working here, my ears were already used to it. Lucy’s Club would be open until two in the morning. It was a good thing that my duty ends by ten o’clock—giving me additional time to study before I could sleep.

Some people were clubbing like this would be their last night on earth. Some were sulking at the corner tables drinking with friends because of problems or heartaches. Some were meeting and dancing with the opposite sex whom they could continue to mingle into the morning. Some were moved like puppets on strings by ecstatic music, and some were almost rolling on the stage laughing.

The disk jockeys were even enjoying what his eyes were seeing, making him change the music too frequently. Socorro, the lady bartender who was also my closest pal here, was even throwing her bottles in the air as she mixed, prepared, and served alcoholic beverages. The neon lights were almost blinding me, that I could not see Leandro clearly.

“These flowers are indeed beautiful, and I honestly liked them, but you should not give them to me anymore. Leandro, please understand. I have nothing to give you more than just a friendship,” I dejectedly professed while returning the bouquet to him. I knew that this could only make him feel upset, but I had to do this.

But instead of accepting the flowers, he just shoved them away and obstinately held my hands. “I’m sorry for what I told you last night, Claire. You might not believe this, but as a matter of fact, I can really wait no matter how long it takes. Just promise me that when you are ready to love, I should be on top of the list.”

Sighing out of despair, I shrugged my shoulders at what I heard from him. It was always the same thing whenever we talked about ourselves. He was not getting tired of pushing himself to me, and he had no plans of giving up. When it comes to his physical attributes, Leandro was a total-package heartthrob, and there was no question to that.

But when it comes to attitude, he was very selfish even though he had no rights at all. He was undoubtedly obsessed that he always looked at me like I was a piece of his high-valued possession. He would like to control me even though there was no such thing as us, and he was choking me every time we were together. I was already exhausted by these same old scenarios, and I was afraid of verging through the stage of forgetting our friendship too.

How can I teach my heart to love him and even put him first in that so-called list he mentioned? And what does he think about me? I will collect men then he should be my number one priority from them? Collect and select?

Twitching my lips, I did not know if he noticed the scoff I made. He was truly impossible, and he was indeed making my head hurt! If he would force me to make him the number one on my list, then I would immediately jump to number two.

Now that we were not crossing the line outside friendship, he was already choking me to the point that I could no longer breathe anymore. How much more in case we became a couple in the future? Perhaps, he would end up locking me in the house, so I would not be able to get out again. I was not a thing, and he does not own me, not even the tip of my fingernails.

Sometimes, I could not help but regret agreeing with Aunt Lucy when she asked me a favor of entertaining Leandro. It was the time when David had to pay for a compulsory project in school, and I used my savings for my tuition fees, so I badly needed more.

But way back then, I should have noticed that Leandro had a bad temper because no one dared to scare Aunt Lucy here in the club. He was conceited and arrogant. He was a hopelessly spoiled brat who thought that he could always get the things that he wants.

I distastefully removed his grip on my hands. I guessed it was time to voice out my thoughts.

“Did you know that your attitude plays a very important role in why I don’t even like you?” I snarled at him frankly because I could not stand him anymore. “You are very possessive, Leandro. Your obsessiveness already reached the top, and it was only making me cringe whenever we are together. You know what? I am not even your girlfriend, but you are already taking control of me! You are suffocating me, Leandro, and if this is your definition of love, then I would not want to be loved by you.”

I tried not to raise my voice, but he already pushed me towards my limit. Suddenly there was a deep pain piercing through my chest because I was not used to being angry.

“What else can I do, Claire? Did you even notice how a lot of men were crowding you? You don’t know about it, right? Because you are too naive! Open your eyes, Claire. You might not see it, but several men are trying to win you here.”

Based on his desperate tone, he wanted me to listen to him. He anxiously wanted to explain his side.

“Did you even know how they looked at you like a piece of meat? How do their eyes get stuck on you while you are dancing or just even sitting at the counter? Their eyes were full of lust, and that was what made me feel paranoid! The only thing where I could excel from them was that you are talking to me. I could have you with me for a small conversation at my table, but it was only until then. What if they dared to approach you outside this club or in your school—” Leandro was too straightforward until he succinctly stopped.

We were both shocked by the details that came out of his mouth. I was surprised because I did not expect it. On the contrary, he got astonished because he did not want to tell me about those things, yet he already divulged it in front of me.

Then, I narrowed my eyes before sneering at him. “W-What did you say? So, you already knew that I am studying, huh? And you also seem to know where my school is. When will you realize your actions, Leandro? You are choking me beyond more than I could take, and now this? So, you are really following me wherever I go? God! I am not even your girlfriend, and I am tired of this. Tell me, what else did you know about me, Leandro, besides the things that already I told you?” Suddenly, I got raged with fury.

I did not expect him to reach the point where he would follow me wherever I would go. Well, why would I even be surprised? The last time I checked, he told me that he had eyes and ears everywhere. But if he thought that I could not get away from those clever eyes, I would show him that I could escape from his obsessive behavior. No matter what, he could never control me. I did not belong to him.