Jeyah’s POV
I did not know that I had fallen asleep inside Darren’s car when he was driving me home. I was only listening to some of the songs played on the stereo when my eyes became droopy. The last song that I heard before I fell asleep was “What About Love” by Lemar. I remembered I asked him if he likes that song. He replied it was his favorite and he would be happy if anyone could sing it for him. After that, I did not know what happened next.
I just came back to my senses when I heard a sweet voice, whispering in my ear.
I frowned and when I opened my eyes, Ryle’s face was caught before my sight.
“Ryle!”, I exclaimed as I stared at him.
“Hey, are you okay Jeyah?”, Darren asked me, with his voice a little confused.
I rubbed my eyes and looked intently at him. It was Darren. I realized we were already at the gate of our house.
“I’m sorry for waking you up, Jeyah. I could have just carried you. But I am just worried what could be your brother’s impression if he would see me carrying you inside”, Darren spoke.
“Uhm, it’s okay bubs. Thanks for driving me home”, I responded and grabbed my bag, ready to go out.
“No, let me do it for you bubs”, he said as he went out and opened the door for me.
He reached his hand to me, and again I felt the tingle shivering down my spine when his palm touched mine. It caused my heart rate to speed up and was giving me goosebumps. I felt like I could hardly breathe so I let go of his hands as I made a few steps towards the entrance gate. I looked at the garage and saw that my brother’s car was already there.
“Would you like to come inside?”, I asked softly.
“Yeah sure, if it’s okay”, he answered as he followed me.
As soon as we stepped inside, I let Darren sit on the sofa bed.
“Hi nanny!”, I approached the 40-year-old woman and gave her a kiss on her cheek. She was there sitting on a couch while watching television. She looked at Darren and furrowed her brows because it’s her first time seeing that a man drove me home. I introduced her to Darren. By the way, nanny served as our ‘yaya’ since my brother and I were still a kid. For us, she is our second mother, and we love her so much.
“Hello nanny, nice to meet you”, Darren greeted her with utmost respect.
After a while, I heard the footsteps of my brother going downstairs. He was smiling as soon as he saw us.
“Hi boo!”, I hurriedly went over and gave him a hug.
“Hi sweetie!”, he responded and put his arms on my shoulder while I encircled my hands on his waist.
“Good evening bro!”, Darren spoke.
My brother responded and sat on a separate couch next to him.
“Thank you for driving my sister home, bro”, my brother uttered and tapped Darren’s shoulder.
“No problem bro. Uhm. I think I need to go”, Darren said and stood up.
“Maybe we can have drinks some other time, bro”, Andre stood and shook Darren’s hand.
“Boo, can I go with him all the way to the entrance gate?”, I asked. My brother just nodded in approval.
Darren bid goodbye to nanny, and then we’re heading to the entrance door. Nanny just smiled, as she was shifting her gaze from me to Darren and vice versa.
“You have a beautiful and elegant house, Jeyah. And you also have a loving and kind brother and nanny”, Darren complimented.
I smiled at him, “Thank you bubs”
As soon as we reached at the entrance gate, Darren told me to get inside first before he would go and leave.
“Thank you for the time bubs”, I spoke and was about to turn my way but suddenly he called me.
“Baebubs!”
I looked back at him and was confused why he called me ‘baebubs’.
“Good night!”, he stared at me, and again, I feel lost. There was a moment of silence as our eyes met. My heart kept on pounding and thudding inside my chest. I really wanted to scream out loud to express what I truly feel. But I tried to suppress the emotion, that is burning deep inside.
I averted my gaze and lowered my head because I could no longer resist his intent gaze at me.
“Good night Darren”, I spoke as I went through the wicket gate. I did not look at him because I was afraid I could no longer control my feelings. After a while, I heard the sound of his car leaving the place. I shook my head and took and deep breath as I stepped inside our house. I saw my brother was still sitting on the couch while his eyes focused on the television. He looked at me as soon as I closed the door.
“Uhm, sweetie, come here”, he uttered and gestured me to sit on the couch opposite to him.
“I can sense you’re happy, aren’t you?”, my brother spoke as he crossed his arms and rubbed his chin. He looked at me, trying to read what’s in my mind.
“Hmm… Now, I am certain. You’re in love with Darren. But, are you sure he is the one you’re in love with? or it’s because he has similarities with your first love, Ryle?”, my brother said, still his eyes were focused on me. I thought I was the only one who noticed Darren’s similarities with Ryle, but my brother as well.
I was shocked upon hearing what my brother said. I did not expect, he would come up with that kind of thought. Andre knows me very well. And there’s nothing I could hide from him. Thinking about what my brother told me, made me emotional that I couldn’t hold back my tears from falling. Yes, I admit I missed Ryle so much. God knows, how much I’ve been longing for him through all these years.
“Hey, are you okay sweetie?”, Andre asked, looking anxious. He then pulled me a hug and patted my back.
“It’s okay sweetie, please don’t cry”, he said wiping my tears with his thumb.
“Now tell me, do you love Darren for what he is, or you only love him because you see Ryle in him?
I was stunned into silence because I don’t know what to answer.
“Sweetie”, he said softly as he took away some strands of my hair.
“I know, how much you love Ryle, but he is no longer with us in this world. And it’s not good that you love someone because he has similarities with your past love. I think Darren is a nice guy. So if you really like him, then set aside that thought”, Andre said in a cool tone of voice. I was just listening to him because in the first place, he was right.
“I hope you understand what I mean sweetie. Okay, go to your room now so you can take some rest. I also have something to do in my work studio”, he uttered and hugged me tightly.
I nodded and went upstairs. When I was inside my room, I quickly took a hot shower to refresh myself. Then, I dressed in sweatpants and a t-shirt like I used to wear during bedtime. I slumped my body on a soft mattress and put pillows on my side. I reached for my phone and started scrolling some photos in my gallery. Until I happened to click Ryle’s picture taken seven years ago. It was originally stored on my old phone and I just transferred it when I bought a new one. I zoomed in his picture to clearly see his face. Ryle was just a younger version of Darren. But how could that be possible when Ryle was a pure Filipino and Darren is a half-French. I shook my head because I am really confused. On the other hand, I was also thinking that maybe it was just a coincidence. Everyone of us has our own look alike in this world even not related by blood.
But do I really like Darren because he has similarities with Ryle? I kept asking myself this question which I don’t exactly know what’s the answer. Suddenly, I got a message from Darren telling me that he is already at home. He asked me if it’s okay to have a video call with him. My heart was beating fast upon thinking that I would be able to see him and talk to him online.
As I accepted the call, I saw him on his bed leaning on the headboard. He was wearing a blue t-shirt and checkered shorts. He is really handsome, and he has a smile that makes him more attractive. His blue-grey eyes were very tantalizing, and his masculine facial features were complemented by his chiseled jawline and aquiline nose. And even though I just see him online, but my heart never stops from beating fast especially when he looked at me.
“Baebubs, are you okay?”, he asked as he was intently looking at me on the screen.
“I’m fine Darren. Uhm, why are you calling me baebubs? This is the first time I heard this word. You usually called everyone in the group ‘bubs’, but not ‘baebubs’, I asked curiously.
“That’s my way of calling you since you are the newest to the group”, he explained.
There was a moment of silence as if I lost all my words. All we did, was just staring each other and smile like there’s something hidden inside.
“Uhm, I think I need to go, so you can take your rest. I was just calling you be-cause-“, he paused and averted his gaze. He left his sentence hanging but I did not ask him what was it.
“Okay, goodnight baebubs”, he said.
“Goodnight bubs”, I responded and ended up the call.
After a while, I received a message from him in the messenger.
“See you in my dreams, baebubs”
I smiled upon reading it. I softly giggled as I hugged the pillow.