MONALISA
“For the thousandth time, I wasn’t worried” Irene said over the phone, assuring me that it was okay.
“We talked on phone this morning and I clearly told you that I wasn’t worried. I saw Mr. Devine leaving with you and although I didn’t understand why he had come to get you, I wasn’t worried” she added.
“I am glad” I mumbled.
“But Lisa…”
“Yes?”
“I have a question that might sound a bit weird”
My brows arched.
“Weird? In what way?” I asked.
“Is Mr. Devine just a father figure to you and nothing more? Are you sure he is just that? I know this sounds as weird as hell and I am sorry I am asking but…”
“It’s fine” I cut her off even though it wasn’t fine. At all. My heart had started racing, wondering what Irene had seen last night. Did she see him wrapping his arms around me and keeping me close?
“He is just a father figure to me and he has been one for years. Lots of years now” I replied.
“Oh, I see.”
“Why did you ask?” I questioned.
“Nothing. Just… Just because” I could almost see her shrugging on the other end of the line.
“Will be in school tomorrow?” I asked.
“Oh yes, I should be.”
“Should? Not sure yet?” Irene asked.
“Not super sure. We have just one lecture tomorrow, right? And it has a huge tendency of getting cancelled. That professor almost always cancels his class and reschedules”
Irene chuckled, agreeing with me.
“Irene!!” I heard a scream from the other side of the phone. It was a woman’s voice and I immediately knew it would be Irene’s mum.
“I will call you back soon, okay?” Irene said and ended the call super quickly.
I pulled the phone away from my ear and stared at it with a pout on my lips.
I was still thinking about my talk with Irene and her suspicion on Lucius being more than I said he was when the door was pushed open.
It was him. Lucius. I felt my heart skip a beat at the sudden sight of him in the room. He had a bouquet of flowers in his hand with a fancy bag.
“Hey Cupcake”
I couldn’t help but smile at the way he called me.
“Just stay in bed” he said, stopping me from getting up and running to him with my limping.
“Welcome back” I mumbled a greeting as he sat on the edge of the bed.
“White roses” he handed the bouquet of flowers to me and my eyes lit up.
“Thank you” I thanked him and pulled the bouquet of flowers close to me. I breathed in the beautiful scent of the flowers and how beautiful it was.
“Got you something else” he pulled out a bracelet from the fancy bag.
“Your hand” he demanded and I stretched out my right hand to him.
Taking my right hand, he eased the bracelet to mt wrist and then lowered his head to kiss the back of my hand. My stomach tightened and my heart flipped.
What the hell was going on?!
“Do you like it?”
“I love it!” I admitted with a wide grin on my face. It was a very beautiful piece.
“Good thing you love it. I want you to have it with you always, is that okay?” He asked.
“It’s so beautiful, of course I will have it on everytime”
“That’s a promise?” He asked.
“Uhm… Yes. ” I affirmed and he gave me a small smile, a hand going to my hair and patting it gently.
“Beautiful” he whispered.
“I know you have loads of questions to ask. You should go on with those questions now” he added and I tucked my hair behind my ear.
“Last night. Was it because you just wanted to satisfy me? Or was it because you truly are not tired of me?” I asked.
“Do I have to pound you again for you to see that I am not tired of you? Not even one little bit tired? Quite contrary to what you think, I am wanting you even more” he replied.
His words made my face redden and my stomach flip.
“Then, why did you suddenly act so distant from me?” I asked and he moved his right hand to my face, cupping my cheek.
“I was busy with sorting out a few things, Cupcake. Trust me when I tell you that I am not tired of you”
“I guess you were really just busy then” I grinned, finally satisfied
It was just him acting distant for a day. Perhaps I had over reacted.
“I was but I am done taking care of what I was busy with, alright?”
“Perfect then” I smiled.
“When are we going back home though?” I asked.
“You don’t like this place?” He replied with a question.
“I do but I just wanted to know when we will be back home”
“How about we go back tomorrow? Or in two days?”
“Whenever is alright but I might have to go for lectures tomorrow” I replied.
“I will drop you off whenever you need to. Get off the bed and walk to the door, I want to see you walk” he said and I furrowed my brows.
“I want to see you walk, Cupcake”
I threw the sheets off me and got out of bed, heading to my door.
“That’s a bad limp” he groaned and spread his arms.
“Come back here”
I walked back into his arms and sat on his lap as he patted it for me to sit on.
“Let’s eat out tonight or have a dinner in the garden here. It’s a pretty garden too”
“In the garden will be perfect!”
“Great. I will have it set” he leaned in and kissed me on the forehead.
A shade of pink crept up my cheeks and I smiled as he picked me up and dropped me on the bed.
“I will just give them quick instructions on how to set it and I will be back” he said to me and walked away.
I raised my hand up and checked out the bracelet.
“It’s so pretty” I cooed at the beauty on my wrist.
Then I picked up the bouquet of flowers and sniffed in the scent once more.
“So good” I kicked the air.
All my worries seemed to have swiftly vanished into the air. He still wanted me. He still found me attractive and that made me happy. A different type of joy.
My heart pounded in my chest and a sweet sensation went up my body. I felt jiggy with excitement, all at the same time.
It all felt good, at least until I recalled I had an assignment to finish up with. Damn, I couldn’t wait to be done with college so I could finally be free from assignments.
My phone rang and I grabbed it. It was mum calling. We had talked earlier today.
“Hello mum”
“Hey, how are you doing?”
“I am doing fine, mum. Is anything wrong?”
“No, just wanted to let you know I will be needing you to get something from me at my office tomorrow”
“Oh, sure”
“I will text you the details, sweetie. And how is it with Francesca?”
“Mum” I groaned. The last thing on my mind was Francesca. I wasn’t even thinking much about her anymore.
“Lisa”
“Mum, I and Francesca can no longer be friends”
“Alright then. Just wanted to know. Bye. Take care”
“Take care too, Bye, mum”