CHAPTER 33: WHAT DOES YOUR HEART SAY?
“So here I am on the beach against my will.” Kira sighed and sipped her coconut drink loudly. Evelyn who was beside her laughed heartily, well…yeah, they forced her to come over even when she said she wouldn’t. Moreover, she permitted them to do so, she said ‘Do your worst’ and they did it.
“You need to start coming out regularly,” Evelyn advised Kira while the latter only eyed her before hissing.
“This is coming from an extreme introvert, haha.”
Evelyn shook her head in amusement and there was silence. They watched the wave roll against the water thereby creating a splashing sound. Tom and the other kids were near the water with two adults to oversee their affairs and make sure that they were okay.
Evelyn sighed and sipped the milk that she was holding. This was what she knew that Tom was lacking but wouldn’t want to let her know. Even though he was young yet he wasn’t dumb, he was very smart and this was one of his characteristics that made Evelyn happy.
Tom needed playmates aside from the ones he had in school and after speaking with his teacher, his social activities were below average as he hardly made any friends which were quite important for a growing child like him. This was why she brought him out here to have fun and maybe make new friends.
“Is there anything that you would like to talk to me about?” Kira asked after a while. Evelyn blinked and looked at her friend. She rubbed her forehead as if that would let go of the thoughts gathering in her brain.
“Raphael confessed to me a few days ago.” She disclosed the news to her.
“Who did what?” Kira was stunned.
“Raphael, who is my boss, confessed his feelings to me and I am confused, Kira, I really am.”
“Wait, why should you be confused? This is good news. Your boss takes interest in you and you are telling me that you are confused, why are you confused, or what exactly is making you confused? Your feelings for him or what?” Kira asked.
Evelyn sat up and redressed her hair. She faced Kira.
“Isn’t that too early? I mean, I started working with him not quite long and he is already interested in me?”
“What’s weird about it, girl? Haven’t you heard of the common term Love at first sight? I am a witness of this term. It might not really be love but the attraction that develops into love later, since no one knows how long a person is supposed to stay before falling in love then we can’t really judge him or her when he or she eventually does in a fast pace that you’d ever imagined.
Now, he confessed to you, if I must say, he is really bold to have done that but what was your reply?”
“I couldn’t say anything. I was speechless. I was only trying to rectify the mistake of kissing him earlier that morning…”
“Wait…hold on, you kissed him? What else am I missing?”
“It was just the hormones working against me that morning. I just felt the urge to do so, I knew I was wrong by doing that to my boss because he never for once molest me, that was why I wanted to apologize but he went boom on me!” Evelyn replied. She put her head on her palm that was steadily on her lap as she gazed at the children playing inside the not-so-deep area of the water.
Kira strikes her palms against each other before bursting into laughter. She tried to stifle it when she received questioning expressions from those around her. Evelyn looked like a lost puppy at that moment and she looked so cute that Kira couldn’t help pinching her cheeks and mouthed ‘so adorable’.
“Okay, let’s get serious. How do you feel for him? Do you also like him? What does your heart say?”
“I guess he is good. I do have a soft spot for him and admire him but he is my boss, Kira and he is a billionaire. He comes from a rich family while I have none, how do I fit perfectly into his circle?”
“Who cares? The main theme which has been conquered is that he likes you, he is interested in you and that is very important. Anything you do Kira is for you and your son’s happiness. You can’t continue your life in a single state, you need a partner, Evie and as far as I am concerned, Raphael is a suitable person. If you are not sure about him then take your time but not too long though. After all, it’s your call to make.
But if what you are worried about is what society is going to say then let me remind you that society wasn’t there when you needed them, so it shouldn’t stand in the way of your happiness when you truly deserve it. Your experience with that ex-fiance of yours should not stand in your way of meeting other people, okay?”
Evelyn nodded and smiled. Kira was like that lamp she needed the most in her life, she would always advise her and give her several options to pick from as it was her call to make. Her advice and that of Ralph were actually pointing out the same thing: it was meant for her happiness and that of her son.
“Come to think of it, you are only talking to me about my issue. Let’s switch roles, when are you planning to be not single anymore?” Evelyn asked after laying flat on the chair. Kira shrugged.
“I haven’t even started planning yet because I don’t have it in mind. I have been too busy, Evie, that being in a relationship feels complicated to me. Anyway, I will try being in one very soon because my body ain’t wood. Cheers to the sisterhood of singleness?”
Evelyn chuckled and they both clinked their drinks against each other.
“Cheers.”
Not far from where the two ladies were, Raphael was strolling down the beach. His hands were inside his pockets and his shirt was light, in sync with the weather and temperature. He looked around the beach, watching as the kids were having fun and the adults were divided into twos or threes to discuss, then he caught sight of Tom first and then the ladies.
He smiled when he saw Tom jumping happily, he looked so happy that Raphael’s heart warmed up at the sight. He continued walking towards the ladies. Kira was the first to see him, she nudged Evelyn who was about to fall asleep and the latter opened her eyes.
“What?” She whined.
“I think you have a visitor,” Kira whispered.
“Huh?” Evelyn was confused for a moment, she looked toward the person Kira pointed at and her eyes opened up. It was Raphael standing in front of her flesh and blood.
This was the first time she was seeing him in an informal dress and truth be told, he looked hot. His shirt was left unbuttoned at the upper part[ as four buttons were left undone] showing his toned chest muscle. He was wearing a black pair of shorts and then black sandals to go with it.
He had an orange hat to match his orange shirt and lastly, a pair of black sunglasses.
“Evelyn.” Kira poked her twice and she came back to reality.
“Mr…I mean Raphael, good afternoon. What are you doing here?” She asked nervously.
“It’s the beach and also a public property,” Raphael responded.
“Of course.” Evelyn agreed and an awkward silence crept in as darkness would after the reign of the day. Kira turned her face away and chuckled silently, her friend was the worst.
Even though Evelyn had run out of words to say, Raphael kept standing in front of her with his eyes glued on her that he didn’t even care about others watching him.
“Mr. Raphael, hi.” Kira greeted him.
“Hello, Miss Kira.” Raphael waved.
“Please call me Kira.”
“Then do the same for me.”
“Please, have your seat.” Kira pointed at the empty seat beside Evelyn and he sat down.
“Are you also here to have fun?” Kira asked.
“Not really. I have been working all through the night so I decided to come out to clear my mind before returning to work.”
“But don’t you think many people would notice you or anything like that?” Kira asked and Raphael looked around.
“I am hardly known as Raphael Theophilus because I rarely show myself to be public, unlike my brother. I might just be known among the business people and those are people that I deal with in terms of architecture.” Raphael replied sincerely and stole a glance at Evelyn, his words carrying a weightful meaning.
“Ha, I see.”
A few minutes later, Tom rushed over to meet his mum but jumped into Raphael’s arms instead when he saw him.
“That’s my boy.” Raphael chuckled heartedly. Evelyn furrowed her brows, did the child forget that she was his mother and would prefer to run into the embrace of a stranger? Seriously? It seemed like he needed more mathematical equations to work on.
Raphael ruffled his wet hair and kissed his forehead.
“I hope you had fun.”
“Yes, I did,” Tom replied and went to his mum.
“Mommy, I made a new friend today.” Tom pointed at a chubby boy who was the same size as him. He was with his mum as well.
“Do you need me to say hi?” Evelyn asked Tom who nodded eagerly and pulled her along to meet him.
Kira faces Raphael with a questioning look after the mother-son pair had left.
“Raphael, I need you to clear my doubts about something.” She said and Raphael smiled knowingly, it was as if he had been expecting this moment to come and it finally did.
Evelyn was able to meet the kid and his mum, she collected his mum’s number and promised to invite them over for dinner anytime soon before leaving. They started packing up to go back home.
“I can offer you a ride.” Raphael volunteered.
“No, that won’t…”
“Yes, please. To order a cab is going to take a while and we can’t wait anymore. Thank you very much, Raphael.” Kira interrupted Evelyn’s desire to turn down the offer, she pulled Tom along with her, heading towards wherever the car was parked.
Raphael followed them while Evelyn just stood there for a second before leaving reluctantly. They got into his car and he ignited the engine but before that, he came closer to her, and that made Evelyn’s heart beat faster.
“What are you trying to do?” She asked nervously.
“Put on your seatbelt.” He replied and then the belt clicked.
“What do you think I was trying to do?” Raphael raised his right brow at her but Evelyn didn’t respond, he reversed a bit so he could get out of the parking lane before driving off at average speed.
The ride back home was full of Tom saying this or that to make the little journey less boring for him.
“Daddy.” He called and Evelyn cringed.
“Hmm,” Raphael responded.
“What does the word ‘bastard’ mean and do you think that I am one?” He suddenly asked and the air inside the car tightened that Evelyn felt she was about to suffocate. Her eyes met with Raphael swiftly before taking a look at Kira from the rearview mirror.
TBC…