Dian’s POV
“I hope you’re ok now” he uttered mildly with that smug smile of his that greeted me.
“Yes I’m fine” I placed my head down, avoiding eye contact that would get me tensed and nervous.
I was already tensed. I didn’t need more of that, with my face down I would easily calm my bubbling nerves and breath well.
There was just something Branden made me feel that no other man had ever made me feel. Infact when I was younger, I used to boast of having a heart of stone because I was difficult to impress and I played hard to get till it became part of me.
Some of the richest men in my city had approached me, asking for more than friendship, promising to make my life easy and enjoyable.
Don’t get it wrong I do want to live an easy and enjoyable life but not by people I don’t love or want to have anything to do with. Some of this men were even married with kids but some were single and irregardless of their marital status or financial status I was in no agreement to fall for any of them whatsoever.
“Your food is getting cold” his soft deep voice brought me out of my reverie and out of memory lane.
It was as though he noticed I was tensed but he kept doing things to flame up my already ignited tension.
I picked up my fork and knife to continue my dinner whilst his eyes were set on me.
“You really have a thing for staring at people you know” my ears heard my mouth say words that were only meant to be thought and not said.
Holy shit! I shouldn’t have said that. He must think I’m rude now or arrogant.
He let out a short and husky laugh. I read meaning into that laugh as though he had a plan for me but I wasn’t certain.
Branden was always so mysterious, I could barely read through him. He was a man of little words and many actions however his countenance was quite free but expression were barely readable.
“Let’s just say I find you interesting” he replied whilst his lips grew a smirk.
Interesting? what does that mean? Is it sexually or otherwise? I hope I don’t become a puppet in his hands, how many women has he said this to?
This sudden curiosity to know more about Branden’s past lovers began sprouting up inside me.
“Thank you….”I replied.
“Uhmm do you….” I stuttered.
“Have a girlfriend?” he uttered the words that seemed difficult to find it’s expression through my lips.
How did he know I wanted to ask that?
It seemed as though he had been waiting expectantly for me to ask him. I wouldn’t blame him for not asking me if I was single or not because it was written all over me. There was obviously no man in my life and I wasn’t expecting one until I met this hot devil in front of me sipping cocktail and giving short glares at me.
“Well no I don’t have one, I see you’ve gotten one for yourself. Sylvester isn’t really that bad though he just misbehaves” his face bright and glooming with an evil smile.
I choked on my food the minute my ears received the word ‘Sylvester’
“Wait you think I’m dating Sylvester?” I inquired immedately. His eyes were fixed on mine as though he was feasting on my soul.
“It’s getting late, I should really get going” I added.
“Let me drive you home” he replied, his countenance and facial expression read mysteries, making it difficult to decipher his current emotional state.
*******
After the dinner we hopped into his tinted plain black BMW car, he decided to drive instead of his driver.
I got into the car at the front right passenger seat and sat humbly waiting for Branden to get in as he came out of his house after speaking to his workers.
“Are you ready” he hopped in before he ignited the engine and exited his parking lot out of the house.
We were on the free smooth highway driving vertically forward towards where I situated.
“How are your parents?” he asked oblivious of the hard bitter truth about their passing away.
My heart sank. Hearing those words ‘parent’ drowned every atom of excitement and happiness in me. Memories of how I would woke up in the mornings and had my parents yell at me for waking up late to school and I’d ignore them and walk through the door to school came flying back. How I would come back to them crying if was bullied in school and had them console me whilst I shed tears in their presence, how I would be too afraid to sleep at night, run to their rooms and have them hide me into their duvet. I never really listened to my parents but I always ran to them for comfort, I wish I had listened them more.
Memories eat me up everyday and it makes me loose balance and focus. I hope one day they forgive me for my childlike nonchalant attitude. My only family now is Jane and I’d be a completely empty non living vessel if she leaves me alone in this planet.
“Diana? I hope I didn’t say something wrong” his words broke the flow of silence at that moment.
“Uhmmm they kicked the bucket in a car accident” I muttered in agony, suppressing the river of tears trying to escape from my eyes.
“Oh I’m… I’m really sorry about that” he uttered in sympathy taking little stares of pity at me.
The ride became utterly silent and for some reason I enjoyed it. I needed it.
We got to my apartment and he dropped me, waving a warm goodbye to me as he drove off. Those memories of my parents still lived rent free in my mind, subduing the joy I should be feeling as a result of the romantic dinner date.
I stepped into my apartment to see my younger sister on the couch, fast asleep with a huge sack of popcorn and the television set on. Jane was a sucker for movies. She literally sat home all day, binge watching different korean movies and series. I’d call it an obsession because she couldn’t go three straight days without feeding her eyes with movies.
I locked the door behind me and took quiet steps up the stairs and walked into my room.
I was still in shock of what happened earlier on with Sylvester. I really found it quite disrespectful for him to walk in on us and yell at me for going on a dinner date with his brother.
Of course I went with Branden because he initially asked me first and if he had asked me last I’d still pick him because I was head over heels for Branden and not Sylvester. If it were to be anyone else they’d do the same thing. It wasn’t impartiality, I have the right to pick whoever I wanted and I picked who my heart picked.
I got into my hot boiling bath tub and relaxed calmly inside the water. And to think Branden had the wrong impression of what was going on between Sylvester and I was certainly dissatisfying.
I wish I’d never even gotten acquinted with Sylvester in the first place. He has the capabilities of ruining what Branden and I share or hope to share in the future. Most importantly they might both end up in a feud which would end up in a very unpleasant way.
I got out of my bath tub completely refreshed and ready to head off to bed. I picked up my night robe from the cloth and heard a vibration from my phone
I walked towards my phone and saw Sylvester’s number pop up as the caller. I ignored it, went back to select my rob and came back to my bed.
And why exactly is Sylvester calling me? If he is trying to shout at me I won’t take it because we have nothing going on between us so I see no reason why I should put aside everyone for him.
I placed my phone on a desk very close to my bed as I laid on it, switched off my bed stand lamp and slept.