Jeyah’s POV
It was close to twelve midnight when the party ended. We were the only one left at the venue, since the visitors had already gone home.
“Bubs, are you going to ride with us?”, Clarisse asked me.
“I’ll drive her home, bubs”, Darren butted in.
“No, it’s okay, bubs. I’ll just take a taxi”, I responded.
He stared at me and again, I was lost. “I insist, bubs. Your brother entrusted you to me. Besides, it’s almost midnight, and it’s not good for you to be going home alone.
I averted my gaze at him, because I felt like I was melting already. I felt all the butterflies in my stomach, and I was afraid I could not control my feelings anymore.
“Okay, guys, let’s say goodbye to Aunt Olive, Daphne and Dolly”, Angela spoke as she walked towards the direction of Darren’s family while we were following behind.
“Auntie, we’re going home now”, Angela said and smiled at Darren’s mom.
“Mom, I’ll drive Jeyah home. Uhm, I already called our driver mom”, Darren said, then kissed his mother’s cheek,
“Okay no problem, son. Take care!”, his mom responded while smiling at me.
“Bye sis, Jeyah. Thank you for coming and for making my handsome brother happy today!”, Dolly spoke like she was teasing her brother. Darren glared at her, so she stopped and softly giggled.
“Bye Dolly, Daphne. Ma’am, thank you!”, I said hesitantly.
“Bye everyone!”, Dolly was waving her hand as we walked towards the exit door.
As soon as we reached the parking garage, my group mates and I bid goodbye to each other. Some of them went inside Andrew’s Avanza, while others were inside Eduard’s Montero and Lance’s Toyota Hilux.
Darren opened the door of the passenger seat for me. Then he turned to the driver’s seat and got inside. After fixing our seatbelts, we pulled the driveway while my group mates were following behind. But after some time, they took a different route.
“Uhm, bubs can I ask you something?”, Darren spoke and I can sense the sincerity in his voice.
“Yes what is it bubs?”
“Ryle and I—“, he paused.
“Do we look exactly the same?”, he continued while his eyes were on the road.
“Uhm, yes”, I softly responded.
“Do you still love him?”
I was stunned into silence because I did not expect to hear this again from him.
“I’m sorry bubs. It maybe personal. Never mind”, he said and continued focusing his eyes on the road.
I was feeling a little annoyed because I wanted to answer his question but he did not hear me out.
“Anyway, thank you for coming to my birthday party bubs. You know this means a lot to me”, Darren said, while looking at me.
“Don’t mention it bubs. That’s what friends are for, right?”, I responded and smiled at him.
He nodded and took a deep sigh. Afterwards, there was a moment of silence like no one has a nerve to open up a conversation again. Until I reached home. He had gotten out of the car and opened the door of the passenger seat for me.
“Thank you for driving me home bubs”, I said as I went out of the car.
“Would you like to come in?”
“Uhm, no bubs. Some other time. It’s getting late already.”, he responded.
“Okay, goodnight bubs. Thanks again”, I said as I waved my hand and went through the wicket gate.
“Goodnight bubs. See you tomorrow in school”, Darren waved his hand as well.
As soon as I entered the entry door, I heard Darren’s car leaving. I turned the doorknob and got inside. I saw my brother sitting on the sofa bed while watching television.
“Hi boo! I thought you were sleeping already”, I said and approached him with a hug, then sat beside him.
“I’m waiting for you sweetie. Uhm, how’s the party?”, he smiled amorously.
“It’s fine boo. I met Darren’s mom and sisters”, I said casually.
“Oh that’s great! Uhm, ler’s go to bed now sweetie. You still have your class tomorrow and I also have work. There are a lot of things to do in the office since I was absent for three days.”
“Goodnight sweeetie”, my brother stood up and took the remote control,
“Goodnight boo!”, I followed him upstairs and went to my room.
I walked into the bathroom for some personal hygiene, afterwards I got dressed into my pajamas. I was about to lie down on my bed, when my phone rang. I immediately took my cellphone and my heart skipped a beat when I read Darren’s name flashed on the screen.
“Hi bubs, I’m now home. By the way, my sister Dolly was sending her regards to you bubs. You know she likes you”, I heard Darren’s voice speaking on the other line.
“Oh, thank you. Kindly send back my regards to her bubs”, I responded casually.
“Uhm, they’re flying back to France tomorrow bubs. My sisters need to attend their classes and mom as well has a lot of things to do at work.”
“Uhm, I’ll hang up now bubs, goodnight and again thank you for coming to my birthday party. You really made my day. Thank you for the gift as well. I really like it”, Darren said.
“You’re welcome bubs. Goodnight”, I responded.
“Goodnight bubs, see you in school”, Darren responded and afterwards we ended our conversation.
I put my cellphone above the drawer and slumped down my body on the mattress. But suddenly my phone rang again, so I stood up thinking that it might be an important call. The number was not registered in my phone so, I’m sure it wasn’t coming from any of my groupmates.
“H-hello”, I said softly.
“Hello, Jeyah right? This is Bridgette Castillon.”
I furrowed my brows when I heard her name. I don’t have any idea why she was calling me at this hour and where did she get my number.
“Uhm, yes. W-what can I do for you Miss Bridgette?”
“I just would like to tell you that Darren and I are already dating. So stop messing around with my boyfriend!”, she spoke roughly.
“Uhm, is this the reason why you called me just to tell me not to mess up with your boyfriend?”, I paused for a while.
“Darren is my friend Miss Bridgette and in case you forgot, let me remind you that I am his groupmate. So why are you telling me like that?”, I said, trying to control the emotion I was feeling deep inside.
“I jiust wanted to make this clear to you Jeyah, Darren is mine. So don’t you ever dare to fall for him and you will surely regret it!”, she said and hang up the phone.
I was feeling annoyed like I wanted to tug that woman’s hair and squeeze it. Why she was tellng me like she owns Darren? I don’t care if they are already dating!
Tears started to form in my eyes. I was feeling hurt like I wanted to cry so hard.