49- Dryness

"I used to have ice-cream with my friend April a lot." Red told him. Erich hummed, hating mention of April's name. "She is very close to me. She didn't come to the wedding though." Red said. Erich nodded. "You tell me." Red said. "Me? What should I tell you?" He asked. "Where did you first see me? I know we are from the same university." She said, "Do you remember Zach?" He asked. Red nodded, "Yeah, the senior from the business department." "In your freshman year, some guys beat him up." "And yeah and I met his asshole friend- Wait a minute." Red stopped, clearing her vague memory of that day. "Oh my God, it was you." She breathed out, looking at him staggeringly. Erich smirked, "Oh, so you do remember me?" "Wha- How could this happen?! We fought when we first met." Red said, not believing it. "Yeah we did but you laughed after it and it was enough for me." "You are crazy." Red said as an involuntary smile came to her lips and she shook her head. "You.. You..." Red tried to speak but couldn't. It was all too unfamiliar to her for make and grasp. Like a thin line. "It confirms you have known me for seven years." She said and he nodded. They remained like this and Red asked. "So... how were you in studies? A topper or something." The word topper made him feel funny as he chuckled. "I barely passed. I suck at studying... I kinda feel my degree is even gained by begging." Red let out a short laugh, "Okay, I guess it was too bad." She said, "Yeah..." He smiled, looking at her mesmerized. 'That smile. Just. that. Smile.' "And your parents?" She tentatively asked. "They died in a plane crash when I was eighteen, all alone." "Don't you have any relatives?" Red asked. "If I had, wouldn't they attend the marriage." He said. Red made an 'o' face and nodded. "Red... my life wasn't lively as yours.. I always considered things temporary." He told her, looking down. "And me? Am I temporary too?" Red asked. "I wish." She smiled. "With this much passion you wanted to leave me?" Red asked. "Yes." Red sneered, "But if you could, you wouldn't be here." "I wouldn't exist then." He mumbled. "Huh? What did you say?" Red asked even though she heard his words which evoked a strange heartache in her. "Nothing. It's good isn't it?" Erich asked, passing her a wide smile. Shrugging it off. "Hmm." "Too much thinking will affect your mind." Erich said after a brief silence. "If there's something in your mind, tell me. I won't judge." Red glanced at him before turning her attention to her ice cream cup and began to say. "For the first time, I got scared by Lucifer.. He told me something when we parted.. It elicits a strange fear in me. And despite all this, I wanted to come back to him... I was ready to increase his zeal." "What did he tell you?" Erich asked. "Leave it, Leave him." Red sighed. "We ended up talking about him again." He told her. "I don't know. I don't even want to remember him." She muttered. "For how long will you deny your emotions Red? One day you'll surely leave me." "Nothing of this sort will happen." Erich grinned and threw their cup on the dustbin. "I was just saying." He helped her to get down as they went back home. Erich's assistant Gracia came and told him about April's call at the party where Lucifer officially met Red again. Erich's expressions changed into a scowl blended with stress of why is she calling him now. "What happened, Erich?" Red asked. "No, Nothing. I had an important call, I have to attend it." "Shall I come along?" She asked, certainly not wanting to be alone with Lucifer. "No, It's fine. I will be back." Erich passed her a smile and left her alone with Lucifer. Erich went to a corner and attended her call, "What the hell do you want now?" He rudely asked. "Today I am letting you go Red, but, if we ever meet in this life again, nothing in this universe can stop you from being mine." She said, making him dazzled. "What are you saying?" He asked. "Those were the words my client Lucifer Grave to your wife." "What? Client?" Erich asked, taken aback. "Yes." She giggled, irritating him to no extent. "How could this-" She cut him off, "It doesn't matter." "Why did you call me?" He asked direly. "I will let you know soon." "Why are you not leaving my life? Please let me live." Erich's voice became sad. "Oh, shut up. You have the one you love." She hissed, infuriated at the fact after all this Erich still had Red by his side. "But she doesn't love me. I am sure Red has told you everything." Erich hopelessly tried to make her understand. "I don't care." "It was all your fault in the first place, you gave me this restlessness or else our paths would never cross." Erich hissed. "We can't change what happened." April sighed. "Then what do you want?" He asked. "For now I only want to congratulate you." "I don't need this from you." He curled his hand in a fist, outraged. "Whatever. Enjoy your reprieve till my next call." She let out a suppressed laugh and cut the call. Leaving Erich with great distress gleaming on his face, tensed about what she is planning. Erich sighed and decided to come back. He came and saw Lucifer hug Red and enraged him as he came closer to do something but when Lucifer was about to leave Erich noticed his tears. And it was enough to know Red broke his heart and it was confirmed when Red told him not to touch her. It made a gloom spread on his face as he thought. 'How many hearts are you going to break with your dryness?'