Kennedy could see how Randy, who had just entered the restaurant, looked really upset. Next to him was Darwin, whose condition seemed to be the complete opposite of Randy’s.
Upon closer inspection, Darwin seemed unwell. His face was pale, and he walked with a limp. However, Randy, who was sitting beside him, seemed unsympathetic. In fact, he appeared indifferent and eager to quickly take the seat Kennedy had reserved.
Earlier, Randy, representing Kennedy, had gone with Darwin to meet a client involved in a partnership with The Palace and the Infinix Group. Whatever had happened, upon their return, their behavior seemed strange, just as it did now.
“What’s wrong with you?” Kennedy wondered when Randy had already taken a seat in front of her. Shortly after, Darwin joined them and sat beside Randy.
“I’m really annoyed,” Randy complained, his facial expression still sour.
“Why are you annoyed? If you’re going to tell me, don’t beat around the bush,” Kennedy said, sharing Randy’s irritation. She hated people who were long-winded. Her cousin was giving an incomplete story right now.
“Just imagine, Ken. During the meeting earlier, Darwin was so embarrassing. I felt so reluctant to acknowledge him as my cousin.”
“What did Darwin do?” Kennedy asked, growing even more curious. The furrow in his brow deepened as he contemplated what had actually happened.
“Imagine this, while everyone in the meeting room was busy discussing sales graphs with the client, he kept going back and forth to the restroom because he felt nauseous. And do you want to know the reason he was vomiting?”
“What?” Kennedy inquired.
“So, one of the representatives from the client’s side, feeling sorry for Darwin’s sudden strange condition, spoke up and asked why he kept going to the restroom and vomiting. Darwin casually said that he was nauseous because he got sick from smelling the perfume one of the clients was wearing.”
“Oh my,” Kennedy exclaimed.
“It’s so embarrassing, right? What if the client got offended?” Randy couldn’t believe it.
“Don’t overreact!” Darwin, who had been silent until now, finally spoke. “You have no idea how miserable I was in that meeting room.”
“And you have no idea how embarrassed I was in that room either,” Randy argued back. “Just imagine, when the client asked what was wrong with the perfume, you, without any guilt, casually commented that the perfume scent was overpowering and smelled like armpit odor. That’s just rude, Win! My goodness, where can I hide my face, Darwin Walters!”
For a moment, Kennedy was flabbergasted by Randy’s story. Then, shortly after, he burst into laughter, imagining how awkward Randy must have felt in the meeting room. Especially since nearly all the business clients knew that Kennedy, Randy, and Darwin were family members in the business.
“So, Darwin actually said that?” Kennedy asked while continuing to laugh.
“Yeah, Ken,” Randy nodded. “Can you imagine how embarrassed I was in front of the clients because of Darwin’s cursed words?”
“I’m not exaggerating. The perfume the client was wearing really had an overpowering scent. I couldn’t just casually mention that and vomit repeatedly.”
“You must be craving it,” Kennedy teased suddenly. He seemed to understand what his cousin was going through. “Veronica is pregnant, right? Maybe it’s you who’s craving it. I felt the same way when Luna was pregnant with Kalvin. I often felt nauseous, wanted something unusual, and the doctor said it’s normal. Usually, it lasts until the second trimester of our wives’ pregnancies.”
Darwin nodded. He was grateful that someone understood the condition he was experiencing. Randy was just being too dramatic about it.
“See, Randy? Kennedy even experienced the same thing as I did earlier. You’re just overreacting and making a big deal out of it.”
“The problem is, Darwin, you didn’t filter your words with the client!” Randy scolded his cousin. “Why didn’t you just say you didn’t like the perfume’s scent? Why did you have to be so clear that it smelled like armpit odor? For what? What did that achieve?”
Darwin laughed shortly thereafter. It was his fault for speaking so carelessly. What could he do? His mind was really messed up in that room because he was truly bothered by the overpowering perfume scent.
“Oh well, it just slipped out. Besides, you’re not married yet and don’t have a pregnant wife. So you haven’t experienced random incidents like this.”
Randy grew even more frustrated. What was the point of comparing their situations?
“Even if I get married and have a wife, I won’t be as dramatic as both of you. Seriously, it’s such a hassle!”
“Don’t boast,” Kennedy, who loved debating with Randy, said. “Who knows, when you get married, you might do something even worse than Darwin or me. You never know what the future holds.”
Randy didn’t bother to respond. Rolling his eyes lazily, he chose to start eating the lunch they had ordered.
Meanwhile, Darwin seemed engrossed in discussing the meeting he had attended with Kennedy during lunch. They spent roughly an hour at the restaurant.
When their time was up, they parted ways and headed to their respective offices. Since Darwin had been hitching a ride with Randy from the beginning, he naturally had to go with Randy. Thankfully, Randy was still willing to give Darwin a lift, despite the embarrassment from earlier.
During the journey, the two of them continued the conversation they had started during lunch. After a while, while still on the road, Deasy suddenly pulled over, and it seemed like her car had broken down.
Unsurprisingly, Darwin asked Randy to stop the car. When the car they were riding in had come to a halt, Darwin quickly got out and approached the woman.
“What’s wrong? Is your car broken down?” Darwin asked without beating around the bush, while the woman he was addressing turned to him, wearing a surprised expression. She might have been startled by Darwin’s sudden approach.
“Can I help you?” Darwin continued offering assistance when his previous question went unanswered, and it seemed like Deasy was intentionally ignoring him.
“I don’t need help!” the woman replied somewhat curtly.
“Deasy… Deasy…” Darwin murmured to the woman in front of him. “What’s your problem with me? Seems like you really hate me?”
“I just don’t want to owe anything to a…”
“A scoundrel like me?” Darwin interrupted as if he knew what Deasy was about to say. “I don’t actually mind how you perceive me or your opinion of me. Here, I just want to help you, and I’m not asking you to suddenly like me.”
“Come on, just accept the help. When else will you be assisted by handsome guys like us?” Randy provoked confidently, standing beside Darwin. “Besides, if you know your car broke down, why didn’t you call a mechanic or a tow truck? Instead, you’re standing here in the heat.”
“My phone is dead. So, I can’t make calls or even call a tow truck.”
“Well then, let us help. It’s better than standing here in the heat and turning into a scarecrow.”
Seeing the sincerity in Darwin and Randy’s faces, Deasy finally agreed to accept the assistance of the two men. After all, there was nothing she could do since her phone was completely dead and she couldn’t contact anyone for help.
After getting the green light, Darwin immediately inspected the engine of Deasy’s car. He carefully examined and diagnosed what had caused the breakdown. After some checks and minor repairs, Deasy’s car finally started up again. Darwin, who had completed his task, returned to Deasy, who was waiting.
“I’ve fixed it. Your car is ready to go now,” Darwin said.
Deasy simply nodded. She had no desire to express any gratitude for Darwin’s help. In fact, after getting into her car, she immediately drove away without a word of thanks.
“Wow, this girl is something else. She’s been helped, but she’s too proud to say thank you,” Randy joked, shaking his head.
“She really seems to dislike me.”
“Well, you were quite annoying back then, so that’s why she ended up not liking you.”
Darwin just laughed it off. He didn’t want to dwell on it too much, so he urged Randy to continue their journey. He figured, let Deasy stay angry or resentful for now. Eventually, Darwin believed that Veronica’s friend’s perception of him would change on its own over time.