Hearing his shrieks gave Imelda a jolt of energy. She was sweating, the sun beating down on her back and her braid sticking to her neck, but she didn't care. She chased after him in a lopsided run, hand gripping her left shoe tightly over her head. She was always able to chase away any man who aggravated her, and this was no different.
She was gaining speed, crowds parting and people veering out of the line of fire. Shouts and terrified cries were heard, people colliding into each other as they darted out of the way.
With one final thrust forward, Imelda yanked his white shirt collar back, causing him to tumble backward and fall down at her feet. The crowd of people that had scattered when she ran gave gasps and glares as they looked on with wide eyes.
Imelda's eyes narrowed, her nostrils flared and she felt a tingling sensation shoot through her body. She leaned down and got right in his face, snatching the pathetic boquet of dying roses from his hands and lowered her voice to a menacing level.
"Never come near me again."
The man gave a terrified nod and backed away, Imelda not lowering her arm to put her shoe back on until she couldn't see him anymore. Then she looked at the expressions of the people in the crowd. Shocked, terrified, even enraged. Same as always.
Strands of hair had fallen loose around Imelda's face as she tried to catch her breath. Her dress was glued to her back and soaked with sweat. Recovering from her burst of rage always took a lot out of her. Turning to face in another direction, she started to walk home...
When she saw him.
He was frowning, gripping his guitar by the neck and staring her down. He was wearing one her favorite suits of his-- the orange one he'd worn his last performance with Ernesto. His hair was matted to his forehead, slick with persperation like hersm but he still looked energized. He didn't say anything, just stared at her with eyes narrowing in disapproval.
He shook his head and walked away, not looking back at all, not even when Imelda called his name.
She chased after him, her arm reaching out even though he was far away from her.
"Héctor, wait! I didn't mean to."
He stopped abruptly, so fast that Imelda almost collided with him. He turned toward her, eyes no longer pinched, but wide and flashing, the sun glinting in them and making them look strangely frightening.
"Yes you did."
Then he turned on his heel and ran away from her, no other words spoken as Imelda watched him go.