THE BAD BOY OF MANHATTAN
Chapters 18. Don't bother me, Elric!

A few weeks passed.

Although Elric listened to Mrs's babble. Sanders that day was about developing self-potential, but all the material that the woman conveyed was not in her brain. He was busy thinking about how to get out of the house like before. Elric missed cigarettes, cannabis, a little alcohol and moments with his friends in East Harlem. He increasingly dislikes his father who treats him like a child even according to Elric he is treated like a teenage girl.

"Uugh," muttered Elric while shuddering. Not horrified, but disgusted.

"Yes, Elric? Is there something you want to say?" ask Mrs. Sanders.

"uh? No!" sahut Elric fast.

Mrs. Sanders raised his eyebrows. The woman knew Elric's mind was wandering and did not pay attention to everything he said. "So, what's the conclusion?" tanyakanya.

"What?" Elric gasp. "Owh .. self-development, potential, hobby .. bla bla bla," he continued.

Mrs. Sanders took his breath. "What do you like best, Elric?"

"Nothing" answered Elric briefly.

"You must try harder to recognize what your desires are. What you really want to do .. and what ...."

Uninspiring. Elric yawned many times as the woman began to re-explain at length the subject matter today. He was counting second by second which felt like walking was slowing down.

Finally, two hours that felt like forever passed and Mrs. Sanders ended the lesson that day. Elric, who was not using a wheelchair, walked out of the library with a step that was still a little shaken. He runs into Nathan in the corridor as he heads to the kitchen to ask Lupita to pick him up a bottle of wine to restore his broken mood from having to meet Mrs. Sanders for two hours.

"Feeling better (has you been feeling better)?" nathan asked as he pointed at Elric's feet.

"As you can see (as you see yourself)" replied Elric.

"How is the lesson from Mrs. Sanders?" nathan asked back.

Elric's lips were cut. "It's going very well (runs very well)."

Nathan nodded. He patted his son's shoulder slowly. He thinks Elric is starting to be nice. The child looks normal. Although still quiet, but Elric never make trouble again at home. He doesn't seem angry or hate anyone. Nathan also caught Elric in the studio and playing his guitar.

"Oh, Elric!" call Nathan while turning around. "If you want to go out of the house sometimes, to Michael's place, for example.

Elric who turned his back on Nathan let out a slanted smile. Of course you can't ban me, Dad. I'm not a little boy or a teenage girl who's just being arranged. I'm a grown man.

"Thanks" said Elric, continuing his steps toward the kitchen to meet Lupita.

***

EAST HARLEM, MANHATTAN.

A few steps out of the restaurant where she worked, Emma stopped when she saw the figure of a middle-aged man standing before her with a smile. Rodrigo, his father, who's been a few weeks out of nowhere.

"Emma, can we talk?" ask Rodrigo with a face.

"Yeah" replied Emma lazily. He never received a phone call or message from the man.

Rodrigo took Emma to sit in one of the long iron chairs along the sidewalk. "How are you, Emma?" said it.

"Go ahead, Papa," said Emma quickly.

Rodrigo took a deep breath. She said everything to Emma, but her daughter was old enough to talk to her from heart to heart. "I'm going to get a divorce from your mother."

"I already know," said Emma coldly.

"I just want to know how you're gonna handle all this. I don't want you to feel hurt over our divorce."

Emma chuckles. "Gosh," he said while twitching his head. "By the way about being hurt, you've hurt me for a long time. So, it looks like your divorce won't have any effect on me right now. I'm used to it." Emma looked at Rodrigo. "I think you should just split up. Than every day I have to listen to your quarrels which .. emm .. bull sh it it."

"Yeah, I know .. I'm sorry, Emma."

Emma tried to keep the clear liquid in the corner of her eye from spilling onto her cheek. He tried to behave foolishly, yet he was usually disappointed, hurt. But still, his heart felt so painful.

"Do you have another woman?" asked Emma with a trembling voice.

"Emma .. if you need anything ...."

"I'm good (no need)," cut Emma quick.

Rodrigo closed his eyes while taking a deep breath. "Take care, Emma, I love you" she said, kissing Emma's cheek at a glance and passing.

Emma turned her face opposite her father, leaving her leg. Now she can't hold back her tears anymore. He leaned his head over his thigh and let his tears break.

"F uck, fuck!" emma in her tears.

***

Elric climbed the stairs to the subway station exit while reaching into his pants pocket to retrieve his ringing phone.

"Yes, Mike .. I'm waiting for you at Ryan's apartment" he said as he climbed the last steps and stepped through a crowded sidewalk. He covered his head with a hoodie and walked casually while putting both hands in his pants pocket.

His steps came to a halt when he saw a girl sitting in a long chair slumping her face while hugging her knees. Her long hair dangling at the end touched the sidewalk floor.

Frowning, Elric approached the girl. He knew a bag of shabby black sash with a picture of the haunted mansion lying next to him. "Emma?" call him.

The girl looked up. "Oh, no!" He patted his own forehead while exhaling his breath with a big bang.

Elric chuckled at Emma's very messed up face. Her eyes were puffy, her nose was red, and the children had wet hair stuck to her face. "Wow ... jeez! You look very pathetic," he said.

"Geez, Elric!" hardik Emma is upset. Very upset why you have to meet the child in such an inappropriate time like this. It will only be used as material Elric teasing.

Still with the remnants of his laughter, Elric looked at the brunette girl. He had not expected to meet Emma at this place, in such a state of chaos. But somehow he felt happy. It's been weeks since she's stopped teaching. And, he misses pranking and making her angry.

"Don't bother me!" emma exclaimed as she saw Elric sitting beside her.

"Who's bothering you? I was waiting for my friend" said Elric, leaning his back against the back of the chair and folding both arms in front of his chest.

Emma grunts annoyed. He grabbed his sling bag and got up from his seat. He was about to pass but Elric hurriedly restrained his arm. "Hey, where are you going?" ask Elric.

"Home, of course" Emma grumbled as she pulled her arm out of Elric's.

"Wait a minute, Emma."

"What (what)?!"

"Sit here" Elric swooped over the place Emma had occupied.

Emma rolled her eyes. "What do you want? I don't want to talk to anyone!"

"Sit, Emma!" Elric pulled Emma's hand so hard that the girl dropped her tat pan on the chair. "You why? Any problem? Oh, I know, it must be your parents' problem, huh?" guess Elric.

Emma squinted her eyes at the fierce Elric. "It's none of your business, Elric!"

Elric. "Hey, I rarely sympathize with other people, you know?"

"So (then)?" Emma raised her eyebrows.

"Yeah, you should be happy because I want to ask you about your problems."

"Huh?" Emma looked at Elric suspiciously. "Hey, look, Son Breng sek .. Your mouth is unbelievable!" he said as he shook Elric's forehead and passed from before him.

"Emma! Hey, Emma! Wait (wait)!" exclaims Elric while chasing the girl's quick steps.

"Go there, Elric!!" hardik Emma while pushing Elric's chest away. His eyes glared at the boy warning him not to follow in his footsteps.

Elric snorted in annoyance as he raised both of his hands. "Freak girl!" his gerrick. He could only look at Emma's back which was getting further away.

***