JODY.
My house suddenly felt empty today.
I sat in my sitting room, watching a new Korean drama series that I was looking forward to but I couldn’t get into it. My eyes kept going to my kitchen and imagining Marcus there making pasta.
He looked perfect that day in my red apron, and the food he made was just as perfect. I thought he was going to spend the night with me that day but he couldn’t because of the threatening text he got.
It gave me the chills and I can’t help being scared for him even though he kept telling me it meant nothing. The last time I called, he sounded so busy and I couldn’t even ask him when he was going to come here or if he had the plans to.
A loud knock on my door pulled me out of my thoughts. Must be Marcus, I thought as I rushed to put on my robe and slippers. I have missed him too much to make him pissed as soon as he get here.
I checked the mirror one more time to see if there were any crumbs of popcorn on my face before running to answer the door.
And to my disappointment and surprise, it was my parents.
“What took you so long to answer the door?” my mother asked in a disgusted tone before shoving me out of the way and sauntering into my house like it was hers.
“Hello daughter,” my dad greeted and walked in after my mum.
Meanwhile, I still haven’t gotten over the disappointment of them not being Marcus.
My mother delved into the reason they came to visit as soon as I joined them in the sitting room. She was here to remind me of the date and even brought the clothes I would be wearing to the date. She placed the address and venue in a piece of paper on my side table before getting up.
They haven’t even spent more than five minutes in their child’s house. Typical of my mother. My opinion wasn’t even needed.
“Don’t ruin this chance, Jody,” she warned, walking to the door, then stopped and turned to face me, “Or this would be this last time I would get involved with helping you get a suitable suitor.” she drawled the ‘suitable suitor’ in a dramatic manner.
I almost laughed allowed. She didn’t actually get it. I would be literally over the moon if she could bring herself to get off my business.
“I’m in love with someone, Mum, I can’t go to the date.” I told her simply, going to open the door for them. My dad was quiet throughout their brief meeting but chuckled as I said I have someone I was in love with.
“I bet he would not be as responsible as the date we set up for you,” she mused, still standing at the porch. “Besides, this is not the tenth time you’re telling me you have someone you love. Look child, you can go ahead and date anyone you like, Jody, but have it in mind that you have to make sure that man takes interest in you enough to take things further.” she scowled.
“Alright mum, have a nice day,” I said, sighing like I have given up.
Honestly I couldn’t argue at this point, I had enough on my mind already and they were simply making everything worse, so, I just have to agree with whatever they had to say so as to get them out of my personal space.
“Take care of yourself, daughter,” my mum finalized and breezed out.
I didn’t bother to give a reply as I closed the door after the both them left, then went back to wallowing in my loneliness but before I could sit back down, another knock came.
I wanted badly to ignore it and act like I wasn’t at home but the knock kept coming insistently so I stumped off angry and opened the door. I was going to let that person see how pissed I was especially if it was my parents again.
I pushed the door open only to see Marcus standing tall and handsome in front of me. He had a tired smile on his face causing all my irritation to dissipate into the thin air.
People ought to inform you before showing up on your door step but I didn’t mind such surprise visit as long as it was coming from Marcus.
I know I fall in love easily according to my friends but I haven’t felt so excited to see someone this way for a very long time.
“Are you okay?” he asked peering down at me with a concerned expression, “I went to drop of Grace and decided to come see you after.” He explained.
“No, no, sorry, sorry,” I chorused, ushering him into the house. “Please come in. It’s just that my parents came and ruined my mood.”
He walked in and continued staring me with concern. “I missed you, Jody, that’s why I’m here.” he spoke gently, drawing me flush to him. I sucked in deeply, basking in his delicious masculine cologne.
I missed him more, he had no idea how much I wanted to see him today and here he was wrapping his arms around my waist with his nose buried deep into my hair.
He let go after some minutes and we went to the couch. “Care to share how your parents ruined your mood?” he asked while I went to get him a glass of juice from the kitchen.
“Nothing for you to worry yourself about,” I replied handing his the juice, “I’m sure you have enough on your mind already,”
“But I want to worry, Jody, tell me.”
“Well,” I started, sitting close to him so I could rest my head on his rigid chest. “They keep talking about the marriage thing these days especially my mum who has now gone as far as setting up a date with some guy. She even brought the clothes I would be wearing to the place. ”
His muscles stiffened as my words. He sprang up abruptly to face me. “Who’s the guy?”
“I don’t even know him,” I answered trying not to giggle at his sudden reaction, “He’s a graduate from Harvard and his parents are influential and close to my parents. That’s all I know.” I explained, hoping he could calm down.
“Do you have to go?” he took my hands in his, a deep frown on his face.
“Of course not, I don’t want to go.”
“Then why are you bothered about it?”
“I’m bothered because my parents helped me get my job and they are threatening to take if away from me if I don’t agree to go on that stupid date. And asides, anything, I love my job, Marcus.”
He fell silent, staring down at my nails thoughtfully. “I’ll go with you then,” he uttered with a kind of confidence that made me laugh.
“Wait what?” certainly he wasn’t serious right? “You’ll follow me to the date? What will you say?”
“I’ll tell him not to take interest in you,” he said matter-of-factly, “Someone is already interested in you.”
“Oh,” I mumbled, taken aback by his straightforwardness, “What if he turns down your request?” I joked.
“I’ll beg him.”
“And if he refuses?”
“I’ll threaten him, then.” he concluded with a straight face.
I burst out laughing, unable to discern if he was actually serious or joking.
“When is the date?” he asked seriously again,
“This week, I guess,” I replied.
“Alright then, I better put that in my schedule.” he let out an easy smile that melted my heart.
I would ask him about what was really bothering me but that would be later.
For now, I didn’t want this smile to leave his face.