Stuck in you

In Eric's eyes, Jack was the worst choice for Rachel. Although he seemed to have changed a lot these days, in Eric's mind, it was just not enough to become Rachel's husband.

Rachel had been with the wrong man so many years. Eric decided to keep an eye on her so that she wouldn't be deceived by Jack.

A sound suddenly interrupted his personal reflection. He was sure that it was Rachel and he suddenly felt anxious for no reason.

He thought that if he would stop speaking, nothing could make her angry again.

"Eric!" Rachel called out to him. Her voice sounded cold and it came from behind him. He turned his head towards her and looked embarrassed. "What's the matter?"

"Do you want to hang out?"

"What? Really?"

"Why do you look so surprised? Go get changed and we'll go shopping," she said in an almost commanding tone of voice mixed with a slight jest.

Eric stood up filled with excitement like a little boy and hurried up the stairs. After a few steps up, he suddenly paused and turned to her once more. His face looked gloomy and sad. "I...uh..." He scratched his chin briefly as he stammered. He then raised a hand to touch the edge of wound on his forehead.

There was a look of worry on Eric's face. His eyes were suddenly filled with anxiety and sadness. Rachel fully understood what he meant and what he was thinking. She took a deep breath and smiled at him. "You look handsome! Are you afraid to be seen by other people? They won't bite you, you know."

She walked slowly towards Eric and gently poked his face. "You don't even need to wear a hat. Just change your clothes. I'll wait for you outside."

"Rachel..." He was filled with anxiety. He hesitated and could not bring himself to agree with her.

"Don't be ashamed of it. Instead, you should be proud of it. It's considered a badge of honor for you."

She gently stroked the scar with the tip of her soft finger affectionately. Eric turned to her with an inquiring look. "Honor?" he asked softly.

"You got this from doing boldly what is righteous. And you almost lost your own life in the process. There is no reason to feel bad about it at all," Rachel explained patiently.

Eric grinned at her.

Boys of his age prefer to show off their beauty in public and feel good to be admired for it. Thus, his mind was filled with how a scar on his forehead completely ruined his good looks.

He went up as Rachel said to change his clothes. Once he was done changing, he took a hat and slowly placed it on his head like the finishing touch on a masterpiece artwork. He then took pictures of himself so he could check how good...or how bad...he looked.

Rachel sat in the car and waited patiently for Eric. She turned to him as he approached the car. She shook her head with a faint smile on her lips. She thought that he was still too young and childish.

He opened the door and got into the car enthusiastically. "Come on, Rachel. Let's go!" he urged with a mischievous smile.

He was like a child who couldn't wait to leave for the mall.

worries have completely melted

of the popular shopping malls. Before they left, Rachel made a list of things that they needed to buy and placed the list in

as she drove the car to the mall. It was then that she realized that his life was as much a mess

the rear of the last car on the lane. She stopped completely and then leaned her head against the window and watched what went on outside. The sound of Eric's voice reading the items on her list

was immediately

the loud honking of a

you thinking about, Rachel? The road is

the car and gently stepped on the gas pedal. "Okay, here we go," she said

as they finished parking. Eric still looked worried as he kept fixing his hat. He

satisfied with how

entered and he found the air inside the shopping mall to be fresh and to his liking. He brought out Rachel's shopping list and

the list from his hand and checked the items that she listed. "Let's buy

me?" He stared at the clothes he was wearing and looked confused. "I have enough clothes already. I don't need to buy new

Rachel agreed with

even looked exaggerated and it made them look

she disliked how his clothes

elevator to the fourth

the next, looking for

a big smile on

acknowledged her greeting by nodding politely at her. She then turned to Eric and asked in a soft voice, "Do you want to pick the clothes you want or do you prefer that I pick

pick them, but you can give me

"Okay. Sure."

around and introduced new shirt styles for Eric. He picked a shirt that looked interesting to him and inspected it. He was discussing the shirt with Rachel when their conversation was interrupted by the voice of a woman who called his

almost in sync and saw a girl in a light pink sleeveless dress that stood a few feet from behind them. Her sunglasses hung low on her face to allow her eyes a clear view of Eric. She looked like she wasn't sure if

to look more closely at her, her face became visibly relaxed. She smiled sweetly and approached him slowly, her high-heeled shoes clacking on the tiled floor. "It's really you! Where have you been? I haven't

Rachel for a moment. "Yes, I have been

You don't even come

really can't tell you

you involved

suddenly felt annoyed with the woman's comments. "What are you talking about?

Rachel and just talked with Eric

He looked impatient as he felt that he shouldn't waste any more time talking to her. He turned to Rachel and handed the shirt to the shopping guide. "We need to leave now.

It is rare for us to meet completely by

nothing else to talk about. Let's just meet some other

annoyed by Eric's rudeness. She suddenly frowned and looked unhappy. "Hey! Why are you even like that?" But Eric simply ignored her and walked

They all watched the two women and the man as the three walked across their shop as