The Unexpected Romance: LYSANDER
It was almost a week later when the household rang. Myself and Nyssa were watching a program in the livin’ room but she got on her feet to get the gate.
“We have a worker at the gate, Nyssa.”
“Oh, yes,” snatchin’ her phone from the table, she walked towards the door. “I have a feelin’ it’s Ariadne.”
Our visitor.
That was her name.
Givin’ her a nod, I faced the television screen once more and waited for the long-awaited moment to come.
Soon enough, the door opened and a cologne filled my nose. The room in total, also. I stopped lookin’ at the screen of the television and faced two women. One was the woman I might be in love with and the other, a woman she announced many days ago.
“It’s nice to meet you, Ariadne,” I mouthed and jumped on my feet. “You look familiar, I must confess. I just don’t recall when and where we’ve met.”
“Oh, at the auction. You came to one with Nyssa many months ago. That was where we saw each other.” She took a seat on the same couch with Nyssa who moped at the both of us gettin’ along. .
For once, our gazes met and she looked away.
That connection.
Did she also feel it?
Our gazes held for moments.
Finally, she looked away and got on her feet. “I should leave you two to get along while I set the table for lunch,” she announced and was walkin’ away when she stopped to ask.
“How is Michael, Ariadne?”
“He is doin’ very well,” Ariadne mouthed. “He sent his greetin’. Lookin’ forward to the day you get to join us for lunch once more.” And Nyssa was gone from our sight, leavin’ myself and Ariadne who didn’t look very happy to meet me, in the same space with her.
Did I do somethin’?
“Is there a problem?”
“No, not at all, Lysander-Can I sit with you?” Standin’ on her feet, she walked to my front and took a seat on the same couch as me. “I’m just shocked you’re gettin’ better, accordin’ to the words of my friend. I’m glad and also worried ’bout her at the same time.”
“I am not goin’ to do anythin’ to hurt her.” I let her know. “Ariadne, I have a conscience, and I’m puttin’ it to use this time around. I’m recallin’ who I used to be, and it’s not also affectin’ me.”
She nodded and got on her feet. “That’s a good thing to hear, Lysander. Don’t you think we should join my friend at the table? Aren’t you hungry?”
I got on my feet.
Was this woman here to scare me?
By now, Nyssa was done settin’ the table.
She smiled at each of us before takin’ a seat. “It’s time to eat, Lysander. You’ve not had anythin’ since mornin’ if I’m not mistaken. Sit here, mm?”
I did just that. Far away from Ariadne who obviously didn’t have an iota of trust for me.
What was I expectin’?
She loved Nyssa and was lookin’ out for her. I managed to put a smile on my face and waited for the woman who did the cookin’ to do the dishin’, which was done in a moment.
“Thank you.”
“Shall we eat already?”
“Yes.”
This time, Ariadne didn’t look in my direction. But Nyssa, once in a while, looked at me. Right in the eyes. Was she-in love with me already? ’cause I was so much in love with her but how could I say the words when I had almost hurt her in the past?
I was scared of myself too.
“Are you okay, Lysander?”
Snappin’ out of my thoughts, I looked at her. “Y-yes, Nyssa. Thank you.” Before lookin’ away, my gaze met that of the woman I was tryin’ so hard to avoid.
Nyssa looked at her.
Ariadne looked away.
“How is Michael?” She asked and Ariadne looked in her direction once more. “I haven’t heard from ‘im since I left the house. I’m sure he hates me so much already.”
“Oh, no. Not at all,” Ariadne said, lookin’ up from her plate of food. She met my gaze and looked away.
“Are you certain?” Nyssa pressured.
“Yes-” the woman nodded again.
“Fair enough.”
“I explained to ‘im how busy you are, you know. He asked me to greet you. I’m sure I said that before now already.” With a smile, and pride on her countenance, she said the words before facin’ the meal before her.
“I’m glad we can get to see each other again.”
This conversation wasn’t a part of my business. I got on my feet and smiled at both women, takin’ the tray in my hand as I chose to walk away – excuse them too.
“Are you leavin’?”
“Yes, for now,” I said and kept walkin’. “I’ll use the livin’ room. I have a program to watch. You two should go on with your conversation. I’ll be here if you feel unsafe.”
And I walked away.
My legs caught up with the livin’ room, while I settled on the couch I was on before I left the space. And I turned on the television, watchin’ the program that was already past half. I should have just stayed here, shouldn’t I?
Why did we look at each other that way?
The way she looked at me. It wasn’t the way she did long before now, when she brought me from the hospital. Is she-in love with me?
Was I also in love with her?
It looked like it.
A smile came from nowhere. What was wrong with me? Was it safe to think that I loved the accident? If not for the unfortunate incident, I wouldn’t be here with a woman who cared so much ’bout me.
A woman I had hurt before now.
Laughs came from the table. I looked away from the screen of the television. Our gazes met, she held it for a while before changin’ her mind and lookin’ away.