THE BAD BOY OF MANHATTAN
Chapter 51. Thenwhy?

"Nrank ...."

James looked at the pretty face of Emma sitting beside him while giving a faint smile. Both were in James' apartment at Hudson Yard. An elite area near the Hudson River that divides New York.

"Do you have the answer?" asked James expectantly. He dared to ask the fate of his offer to Emma because he saw the girl was in a good mood. And he really hopes that Emma's answer is in line with his expectations so far. It felt like he had been very patient waiting for the girl to give herself up to him, mentally and physically.

While Emma, she thought, what else is she considering. James is the perfect guy. Handsome, mature, well-established, popular, gentleman, and seriously want to be in a relationship with him. And today, the man had made one of his life burdens come off. Student loan that disturbed him. It is not hypocritical if a woman needs to consider such things over a man who offers her love.

And Emma, at twenty-two, had never even been in contact with any man in her life. She is still a virgin at the age of two heads. Isn't that something that can be the laughing stock of many people?

And now, God presents the figure of James who is almost flawless. Will he reject this gift?

The question is, did he fall in love with this blue-eyed handsome man before him? And is love important if its future is to be assured? Wasn't he tired of his life being filled with misery all this time?

Emma took a deep breath. Then he nodded. Making James link his two thick eyebrows together, hesitating whether a nod to Emma's head was the answer he had been waiting for.

"So?" press James to make sure that his guess is not wrong.

"Yes, James."

"Tell me in full sentences, Emma."

"Yes, James .. I accept you."

James was like being flushed by snow that cooled the hot lava inside his chest. His big smile was drawn from his thin lips. The girl granted his request. And this is not a dream.

He grabbed Emma's slender body and clenched her tightly. James hugged the girl who was now officially his for a long time. As long as he wants. Until Emma felt the crush of James' body a little make it difficult to move.

"Sorry, I'm too excited (sorry, I'm too happy)" said James, who felt Emma's breath hunting. He let go of his embrace to the girl. Now his palms cupped Emma's cheeks and kissed the girl's soft lips. "Thank you, Emma .. thank you," he said, whispering warmly.

"I am grateful" said Emma. He looked at James.

"For?"

Emma smiled as she bravely stroked James' handsome face. "You've paid off my student loan today."

James frowned. He did not understand what Emma had just said. "Student loan?"

"Why are you so surprised?" chuckles Emma. "You've helped me a lot, James. You don't know what you're doing that's really lightening the burden of my life."

Still with a face of astonishment, James squinted at Emma. "I don't understand what you mean. I'm not paying off your student loan, Emma. I didn't even know you had those dependents. But, if you tell me about it before, I will definitely pay it off" James said, chuckling.

Elric.

Emma's chest is pounding. His throat suddenly felt dry. He swallowed the saliva with great difficulty to just smooth it.

"Emma?!" call James makes the girl gasp.

"Yes?" emma answered in a loud voice.

"Stay here, yes, tonight."

"I-I .. seems ... can't." Emma's hand suddenly trembled. What's up with him? Shouldn't he be happy? James is his lover now and he can spend the night with the man.

But, Emma was so eager to meet Elric at this time. Either because of a student loan problem or whatever it is.

"Why, Emma? Are you still hesitating with me?" ask James.

"Bu-not .. I .. tomorrow I have to go to work in the morning. The distance from here to the restaurant is quite far." What an absurd reason. Manhattan is small, all places can be accessed in a matter of minutes with a very sophisticated transportation of course.

James was disappointed. But he did not want to force the girl. They had just proclaimed themselves to be lovers. And Emma wasn't the women she'd been dating all along, willingly giving up their bodies even on their first date. He had to slowly grab the girl's heart.

***

Emma returned James's embrace and also a kiss on his lips after the man pulled the car over in front of his apartment building. He hurriedly got out of James' luxury car and walked quickly into the lobby door.

"Elric!" call him as soon as he walks into his seemingly deserted apartment. He did not see the boy in the living room.

Emma knocked on Elric's bedroom door but there was no answer. Slowly he opened the unlocked door. Eric's room is empty. Emma circulated her gaze throughout the middle-sized room. He didn't see the guitar that Elric used to play. That is, the child may be in the studio.

He grabbed the phone in his sling bag, then scrolled the screen looking for Elric's name. He contacted the young man several times, but there was no answer. He glanced at the clock on the tablet screen belonging to Elric who was on the nightstand. Twelve o'clock at night.

Emma stepped foot into the living room and threw her body onto the sofa. Somehow he felt annoyed Elric did not answer his phone. He could not wait to ask about the student loan to the young man. The girl was sure it was Elric who had paid it off secretly.

But, deep down, it was not about the student loan that made his feelings uncertain. His decision to accept James suddenly made him feel that Elric would soon move away from him.

Then what if Elric stayed away?

***