AN UNEXPECTED GROOM

– I ask how you know Jonas?

Roxane didn’t want to listen to his broken language, so she added,

– Speak in English.

***

The sun was setting and the warm orange light enveloped the city of romance. Countless white pigeons circled above the city.

The car was parked in the desert. It wasn’t as desolate and silent as he had imagined. Instead, there were many people gathered there, men and women of all kinds.

The old oil tanks were painted with unique graffiti, and different luxury cars and sports cars were parked around them.

Roxane had difficulty finding a familiar face in the crowd. After walking through the crowd with great difficulty, she saw Jonas wearing a white t-shirt and gloves. He was holding a silver key and lying in front of the car…

The light of the setting sun fell on her face, and her beautiful face was covered with sweat and black oil stains. From time to time, hot girls approached him and wanted to wipe his sweat, but he coldly refused them.

Roxane remembered that he took her to see car races at M City.

So he had started running again, and all that money had been made running with his life on the line?

Anger rose in his chest. Without thinking, she pushed through the crowd, grabbed his arm, and turned to leave.

The surrounding people were stunned.

Jonas was also stunned when he saw her suddenly appear and was pulled by her in a daze.

Someone called him from behind,

– Jonas….

Jonas turned around and tossed him the key.

– I come back soon.

Roxane dragged him to a quiet place. Without waiting for him to speak, she took a stack of money out of her pocket and shoved it into his hand.

– I will give you all this money back. I don’t want any of that.

Jonas was confused.

– Roxane, what are you doing?

She had suddenly appeared in such a place and said such strange things.

– I don’t want the money you earned in your life!

Roxane looked up at him and said with disappointment:

– Car racing is so dangerous. Even if you are good at driving, you cannot guarantee your safety! Why should you choose such a dangerous way to make money? You don’t respect yourself because you owe me money? Is self-respect more important than your life?

Jonas knew she had misunderstood. He took off his oil-stained gloves and threw them on the floor. He scratched his eyebrows and said angrily:

– Who told you I made money racing?

– I saw it with my own eyes.

Roxane pointed to her eyes.

– I saw it with both eyes.

Jonas took a deep breath, but he still couldn’t help but scold her.

– Roxane, are you a pig? If you don’t even use your brain to think, how will I have the money to buy a car?

– uh…

She was stunned. She suddenly looked a little embarrassed, but she was not convinced and asked:

-So what are you doing here? You were lying in front of the car earlier…

Who wouldn’t have been mistaken when they saw it!

– I will help them repair their car and they will pay me 200 euros! Jonas explained: The money I reimburse you comes entirely from car repairs.

He stuffed the money that Roxane had given him back.

– Do you have such a skill? Roxane was a little surprised. She couldn’t say it.

– What else?

Jonas rolled his eyes at her.

-Who told you I was here?

– Sam, replied Roxane,

“He only said you were here. He didn’t say you were helping them fix their car.

Jonas’ dark eyes narrowed.

– I’ll take care of him later.

Roxane wanted to say it wasn’t Sam’s fault, but someone was calling Jonas from a distance.

He responded and turned back to her.

– It’s getting late. You should go home early and don’t come here again!

After all, it wasn’t the country. If something happened, he might not be able to protect her, so it was best she didn’t come.Nôvel(D)ra/ma.Org exclusive © material.

Roxane nodded and was silent for a moment before saying:

– So pay attention to your safety and don’t work too hard.

Jonas nodded and waved his hand for her to leave quickly.

Roxane turned around and left.

Jonas didn’t have time to watch her leave before being taken back to the car by two young men who ran.

The last bit of light faded, and madness and indulgence grew in the darkness. Everyone was whistling and shouting the driver’s name.

Jonas casually leaned against a sports car, lit a cigarette, and puffed as he watched the group of people dancing like crazy demons. He was quiet and solitary, as if the world had nothing to do with him.

Roxane stopped next to him, her eyes fixed on his right hand.

He held the cigarette in his left hand and his right palm was empty next to him. The scar was still obvious and glaring.

Jonas saw her and frowned.

-Why haven’t you come home yet?

Roxane withdrew her gaze and said softly:

– I can’t take a taxi here.

She couldn’t go back, she would probably have to walk until dawn!

Jonas threw the cigarette butt on the ground and crushed it with the tip of his foot. He turned around and walked towards the young man who was watching the car run to the side of the road.

He patted the man on the shoulder and said something. The man took out his car keys and threw them at her without looking back.

Jonas returned with his car keys and said in a calm tone:

– Let’s go, I’ll send you back.

Roxane stopped and asked:

– Do you have a foreign driving license?

– Shut up! He looked at her. if you say one more word, you will turn around alone!

Roxane was silent and sat in the front passenger seat. She watched him sideways as he buckled his seat belt and started the engine. The sports car was like a beast and rushed quickly.

Jonas was probably scared because she was still in the car, so he didn’t drive too fast and stopped slowly downstairs.

Roxane got out of the car and Jonas followed her.

She didn’t come in. Instead, she looked up at him and asked hesitantly:

– Jonas, why don’t you run?

He stopped locking the car and his expression quickly returned to normal.

– I am old. I can’t drive anymore.

– You’re lying, Roxane’s clear voice revealed her lie. His eyes fell on his right hand.

“You seriously injured your right hand when you saved me last time, didn’t you?

– No. He responded quickly.

Roxane didn’t seem to hear him and continued to ask:

– You can no longer draw with your hands. You can’t even drive cars anymore, can you?

Jonas looked into her clean, clear eyes. The word “no” was stuck in his throat, and he couldn’t lie.

In the silence, Roxane looked down and said guiltily:

“I’m sorry,” she said.

– Sorry, my ass! He narrowed his eyes and said with a tense expression: What does this have to do with you?

– It’s my fault if you can’t do what you want with your hands.

Roxane looked sad and her eyes were filled with guilt.

– If you’re talking about painting, then forget it. I don’t have this talent to begin with, so no matter how hard I work, it will be in vain! he said in a disdainful tone.

– As for motor racing, there is no need to even talk about it. You know how dangerous it is. You could die at any moment. It’s better not to play.

Although this is the case, but

– For what?

Roxane couldn’t help but ask curiously:

– why did you save me?

He didn’t even care about his own safety!