THE BAD BOY OF MANHATTAN
Chapter 28. What Is Love.

CHINA TOWN MANHATTAN CITY.

Elric watched Emma enjoying her Beef Noodle Soup with wisdom. Seeing the girl eat voraciously without keeping her image at all, made her pass her thin smile many times.

"Aren't you hungry?" asked Emma who saw Elric not touching his food at all. The young man looked more like a dumbass.

"Owh, yeah .. I'm hungry." Elric hurriedly picked up the chopsticks next to the bowl and stirred his noodles.

"Is there something you want to do here?" ask Emma.

Elric shook his head while grimacing. "I need some fresh water (i need some fresh air)" he replied.

"Why take me? Don't you have a lot of friends?"

"Mike and Ryan want to have a drink. I don't want to join them."

Emma finished the rest of her meal and sipped a glass of warm tea as a cover. He glanced at Elric who was enjoying his food in silence. Lately Elric is a little weird. He felt that young man was a little different. Early on, Elric was a very annoying teenager. But now, his attitude is better. Emma thought that perhaps the lessons she taught while still a teacher of her personality had made it into her brain. Or, the teacher is good now.

"I paid for it. I just got my salary" Elric said after he finished a bowl of noodles. He approached the cashier and completed the payment.

"Want a beer?" bargain Elric. Now they are in a park that is quite crowded. Columbus Park that afternoon, many people spend time there, with family or just a walk with their partner.

"Okay," Emma answered while looking for a seat that was still empty and not many people passed by.

"Let me buy it first" said Elric. He asks Emma to wait a little while and steps out of the garden area.

Emma sat on a small bench under a leafless callery pear tree. He squeezed his sweater out of the winter transition to a cold spring in New York. Although it was cold, the atmosphere in the garden was quite pleasant. Seeing people of different races with their cheerful faces gathering with family, couples and friends, despite the envy of seeing their warmth over each other.

From a distance, he saw Elric walking closer with one or two cans of beer in his hand. The young man handed Emma a can of beer bearing the words harpoon winter warmer. Then sat down next to the girl while opening her backpack and taking out a few packets of snacks. Pretzels crisp and beer nuts. A tantalizing blend.

"Thanks" said Emma, throwing a smile at Elric. "So you said you just got your salary?"

"Yep." Elric opened his beer can and sipped it slowly.

"What's yourjob? What was it like I thought?" ask Emma curious.

Elric smiled broadly. He did not answer immediately, but helped Emma unwrap the beer nuts. "It doesn't matter what my job is. The important thing is that my cryptocurrency account is thick," he said.

"Be careful, Elric. You took a big risk by working for gangsters" Emma said, munching on peanuts.

"I like to take risks, I feel alive (i like to take risks, I feel excited)" Elric said. "Get out of your comfort zone."

Emma took her breath. "As far as you go." Still Emma could not understand Elric's way of thinking.

"I'm thinking of looking for one more job. Being a restaurant waiter, for example."

Emma clucking. "You're this. Don't you have amazing musical skills. Why don't you use that?"

"Where do you know?" elric asked while looking at Emma.

"I've seen your videos on the internet. You're playing guitar with Hellbound."

"A few days ago. Just a prank."

"That was when I was nine. I was still interested in being like Nathan Bradley back then. What a fool," said Elric.

"Why indeed? Why are you so anti-your own father?" ask Emma astonished. If he had a father like Nathan, he would be very proud.

Elric pressed his shoulders. It's hard to explain that to anyone else. Only he understands what it's like to be the son of such a popular rockstar. How he always stood in the shadow of his father. How he was bullied at school by his friends who thought he was just a spoiled and lucky boy, who had no ability whatsoever. How he wanted to prove to everyone that Elric Bradley wasn't Nathan Bradley.

"You don't want to play music anymore, El?" asked Emma to throw her daydream.

"No!" elric replied firmly. Even though his chest was pounding a little when he said that no. I'm not sure if he doesn't want to play music anymore. In fact, he enjoyed ripping apart the strings of his guitar. He even proclaimed himself that he played better than Nathan Bradley. It's just, yeah, that's how it is.

"You sure?" insist Emma.

Elric shrugged his shoulders. "I'm enjoying what I'm doing right now, Emma."

"Yeah, again .. it's up to you."

Elric looked at Emma from beside him. When did he really like this girl? I don't know. That feeling just popped up. If he hadn't seen her for a few days, he would have felt empty. If she doesn't hear Emma nagging her, she feels lonely.

Is it love that I'm feeling (does I feel this love)?

What is love (what is love)?

The phone inside Emma's bag is ringing. The girl hurriedly took it. His eyes were round and his smile instantly expanded. "He called me" said Emma with a glowing face.

"Who?" elric asked as he looked at Emma's phone screen. "Owh," he murmured. His face was immediately grim when he saw James' name listed there.

"Hi ...." Emma greeted James across the street. "Owh .. seems .. I, don't have a show." Emma spoke for a while on the phone. While beside him, Elric's mood was already very bad.

"Wow ... James called to ask me how I was doing" Emma said, shaking Elric's shoulder. But, a moment later Emma's lips pouted. "What did you say was true, El? James has a girlfriend?" his question was greeted by a lazy nod of Elric.

"Why did he call me?"

"If you were smart, you'd know the answer" Elric said. "Don't be glared at the charm of a rockstar. Don't fall asleep. You'll feel a broken heart." He reminded.

Emma blinks her lips. Maybe Elric was right. But James is very charming. His face looks so shady. The way to talk to women is very gentle. He is also a well-established man . Imagining being in her arms must be very comfortable and feel so protected. Emma laughed at herself. His imagination suddenly began to wander everywhere.

"Elric, where are you going?" Emma gasped to see Elric rise from his seat and walked away without saying anything.

"Go home" answered Elric short.

Emma grunts annoyed. That strange boy who took her to this place, and now left her just like that.

"Elric! what kind of attitude is that (what kind of attitude is that)?!" exclaim Emma upset.

***