THE BAD BOY OF MANHATTAN
Chapter 33. The Part Of My Body.

HUDSON'S YARDS, MANHATTAN.

"Do you love me (do you love me)?" Hannah made random patterns on James' chest with her fingers.

"I don't know what love is. I mean, don't know yet." James folded both arms under his head. Letting Hannah treat her chest like a drawing paper.

"I love you, James ... I always do (i love you always, James)" Hannah said. But his voice sounded desperate.

James breathed heavily. Emma's sweet face flashed through her mind. What's with the girl that she's so interested in. Emma's like a magnet. Emma mysterious. Emma made him curious. He wanted to see the beautiful body behind the old fashion clothes. James was tired of women willingly giving themselves up to him to sleep with.

"I'm gonna die if you leave me (i'll die if you leave me)" Hannah whispered, sending her head to James' neck.

This time James felt trapped by his guilt for Hannah. He allowed the woman to cultivate high hopes over him. At first, James didn't bother about any of that. Because maybe, there is a chance, although small, that he will continue his relationship to a more serious level. That was, before he met Emma. Emma Again. The girl got him drunk.

"Hannah ...."

"I know .. I know .. I shouldn't have said that. But, please don't leave me, James ...."

James looked at the pretty face leaning against his chest. Beautiful as a goddess, but unable to grow flowers blooming in her heart, complete with butterflies flying. Maybe he is just a breng sek man whose maleness instincts beat his own common sense. Hannah, her dandy gets her excited. But love? Hold still.

Why has Hannah recently become melancholy? Obviously because James' touch is different than before. It felt, the woman no longer felt the burning passion in every game of their bed. Hannah knew James was into someone. But Hannah tried to close her eyes. Most importantly, James did not leave him. That's all he asked for. A fool? Just think of it that way. Love does clog common sense to always think clearly.

"I gotta go, Hannah (i have to go, Hannah)," James said, shifting his body away from Hannah's embrace. He got out of bed and stepped into the bathroom.

Hannah was silent behind her blanket. He thought of something. Should he keep his eyes closed? Wait until James dumps her? Or he should keep his position.

I have to do something.

Who is the woman James likes?

***

"F uck! It hurts so bad (Sia lan! It hurts!" ogat Elric as the sharp needles of the tattoo machine scratched the skin of his back.

"Don't be such a cry baby, El (no crybaby, El)," kekeh blue-haired man with a face full of tattoos who was rubbing Elric's back which began to show the muscles typical of adult men.

"F uck you, Kyle (Sia and you, Kyle)!" as Elric said to the man named Kyle. He grimaced with the intense pain and relentlessly attacked his back.

Ten minutes later, a painting of a thorn-crowned girl with angel wings that extended to the right and left all the way to both Elric's shoulders, looked perfect. "Voil." Kyle said after his task of drawing Elric's back was completed.

Elric breathed a sigh of relief. The pain that he had suffered for almost more than three hours finally changed with a fresh taste of disinfectant fluid that Kyle was running down his back. "Have it sorted out?" ask Elric.

Kyle takes a cell phone and takes a photo of the tattoo and shows it to Elric. "Nice (very good)," said Elric happy.

"Who is she (who is this girl)?" ask Kyle.

Elric scratched his head while chuckling. "My special one (someone special in my life)" he replied shyly.

"I see (oh, so)." Kyle fixed his equipment and waved at Elric who was saying goodbye to him.

Exiting Kyle's tattoo studio still in the East Harlem area, Elric walked cheerfully through the sidewalk to the underground station. He decided to return to Greenwich to rest because he believed his back would be adjusted with the ink that went into his pores.

His decision to put a tattoo on his body was not because he was following his father. But more to, the symbol that he is an adult now. Like teenage children in some traditional tribes in the world who are obliged to invade his body when he reaches adulthood.

His home in Greenwich looked empty. He didn't see Nathan or Alya anywhere. There's only Lupita taking care of the laundry. Pablo was invisible. Both of his parents are out of town.

"They're in Rochester. Departed two hours ago. They said you didn't return a message or pick up their phone. So, they sent me a message." That's Lupita's statement.

"What way?"

"A party, it seems."

"They're staying?"

"Yeah, I guess."

Elric nodded then went into his room and laid down on his soft bed. He looked at the ceiling of the room with a faint smile rising from his lips.

Emma's face was now etched on her back. Elric has long wanted to put a tattoo on his body. But, the idea of drawing the girl's face was an idea that just popped into his mind.

She's part of my body now (she's part of my body now).

***