“Did you bring your car?”
David’s question the moment we reached the counter as he even insisted on helping me push the trolley to the checkout when I had already gotten what I need.
“No, I didn’t, I don’t usually bring my car.” I replied, shaking my head. I thought he would already leave me and mind his own business after helping me unload the cart and put them on the counter, but to my confusion, he remained standing next to me. “Uhm… thanks, David, I can handle it here. And I think you need to hurry and get all the stuff you needed because they’re closing in 45 minutes.”
“Hmm… it’s alright.” He shrugged. “I can always come and buy at any time.”
His reply made me frown and I confronted him.
“But I thought you said you were also here to buy some stuff?”
“Yeah, but I’ve changed my mind. Maybe I’ll come back some other time,” and once again, he gave me a shrug. “Besides, since you said you didn’t bring your car, then I’ll send you home.”
My eyes widened at what he said. As long as I wanted his idea, I wouldn’t fall for it. I don’t want to give my brother and Jack the wrong idea about us… especially his girlfriend
“Again, thank you for the offer, David, but I guess I will just hail a cab,”
“No, it’s fine, I have nothing to do at home anyway,”
“But—”
“Sam, I insist!” He looked at the wrist watch on his arm.
-‘Again? He’s insisting again? What is wrong with him?’-
“It’s already 9:30 pm and it’s hard to get a taxi at this hour, besides, it’s too dangerous to travel alone especially that you’re a woman.”
“Why, what is wrong with me being a woman?” I asked innocently. I didn’t know it would get him a little serious.
“Samantha, with so many people out there, you won’t be able to notice who is true to you and who isn’t. You won’t even notice those who will take advantage of you, harass you and worst, molest you!”
“Whoa!”
My jaws dropped in shock upon hearing what he said. Even the cashier and some other customers who were watching us were surprised by his response.
“What if the driver you get takes advantage of you, can you even protect yourself?”
“David?” I called him, my eyes were moving from side to side, glancing at the other customers looking at us at that moment as his voice became loud and he gradually getting their attention.
“That’s why I don’t want you to take a cab! I’m sending you home!”
“Whoa! Don’t you think you’re over reacting?” I asked him, chuckling. “I have been taking taxis for a long time and so far, I have never encountered a person or a driver like what you are thinking.”
“You haven’t encountered it yet! Why, are you going to wait for it to happen?”
“No —”
“Then shhh and let me send you home!”
“But David —” This time, it was not him who cut me off but an old lady behind him wearing a wide and an excited smile.
“Come on, young lady, let him send you home. There are very few men doing this kind of thing nowadays, so you’re in luck. Why not just give him a chance and let him be a gentleman?”
-‘Huh?’- My mouth hung open in mid-air. -‘Actually, the thing is not about being a gentleman or being a good samaritan, but it’s about him being already tied in a relationship but will still send his ex-girlfriend home.’- I mentally spoke to the old lady.
I wanted to let her know my reason, but I realized… what for? She knew nothing about me and the same as I, besides, there were already some customers who had already agreed and pledged their support to David’s idea… not to mention the cashier who kept nodding and smiling at the same time while the old lady was talking so, I just swallowed back the words and smiled at her before turning my gaze to David who now had a mischievous smile playing on his lips.
“Hmm… fine!” I sighed. “Just this once!” I whispered and he nodded, grinning.
Yeah, why not let him do it… just this time.
~~~~~`~~~~~`~~~~~`~~~~~
“Ohh… hi, David, it’s great to see you!”
I raised an eyebrow when Jack greeted David very casually the moment we walked through the door.
“Hi, Jack,” he replied, smiling.
A few seconds later, there was my brother coming out of my best friend’s room freshly bathed. I would have teased him about staying in our apartment and taking a bath for free if he hadn’t spoken up before me and greeted David like he expected to see him that night.
“David, bro, you’re here,”
“Yeah, I insisted to Sam that I take her home because she didn’t bring her car and she told me she would just grab a taxi home.”
“Oh, thanks for that, brother,” Dale grabbed David’s hand to shake. “There are so many bad people out there nowadays and it’s too dangerous when you’re alone riding a taxicab.” I frowned when he glanced at me.
Why do they seem to have the same explanation about taking a taxi?
“You should thank David for driving you home, Sam,”
“I did! I actually did it many times even if you haven’t said it yet,” I replied, with a frown never leaving my forehead.
“Good,” he nodded. “Thanks again, brother,”
-‘What’s with the brother thing?’-
“No worries, I’ll do anything for Sam,” My eyes were about to pop out of their sockets due to being surprised if Jack didn’t speak behind me.
“You know what, David, since you’re here anyway, why don’t you join us on our trip tomorrow?”
“Jackeline?” I called her name so loudly that all eyes suddenly turned to me.
“Why?” She asked me, pretending not to know what I meant.
“Why are you inviting him?”
“Why not?”
“He’s busy —” I didn’t get to finish what I was saying when I heard David’s reply.
“Sure!” But then I snapped in his direction with a silent question playing in my mind.
“Who told you he’s busy?” Jack then gave me an evil grin before continuing. “Okay then, it’s settled, we’re going to leave tomorrow morning at 6 am!”
“Where are we going tomorrow?” David asked and it was Dale who answered him.
“You will know by tomorrow, but for now it’s a surprise.” His lips curled into smirk. “Anyway, why don’t you stay here tonight, so we can leave early tomorrow?”
“Seriously, Dale? Why does he have to stay here when he can come back here tomorrow, otherwise we can meet at a certain place and go together where we are going? We can also meet directly at the resort or on the beach we are headed to.”
“Sam, I just have a question if you don’t mind…” I gulped at my brother’s response because instead of explaining something about what I was suggesting, he threw me back that line.
“What is it?” I felt my heartbeat started to get faster.
“Why do you seem so affected by David’s presence?” It was Jack who continued to ask me.
“What?” I didn’t expect to hear that question. My eyes were round like saucers when I faced my bitch-of-a-best friend. “Why would I be affected —”
“You seemed anxious when he’s around or every time you talk to him.”
“What are you talking about?” I couldn’t help but frown at her. She really could be straightforward sometimes.
“Are you not comfortable when he’s around or —”
“What — no! I mean, why would I be uncomfortable with him? What are you talking about?” I had to cut her off because I felt more uncomfortable with the things coming out of her mouth.
“Nah! I just noticed,” she shrugged that made me laugh sarcastically.
“I don’t know what you’re talking about, but if you guys really want to invite David tomorrow, then go!” My voice came out a bit louder this time. “And by the way, let me clarify this thing— I’m not affected by his presence! I’m just confused and worried at the same time because I noticed that he seemed to have more vacations and time to wander around than time for his work.”
“And why do you worry if he has more vacations than working hours when you’re not his wife nor his girlfriend?” Dale asked with a smirk, pretending to be cool next to his girlfriend that almost made me puke in annoyance.
“Because he’s my friend and mind you — it’s no longer your business if I’m worried or not!” Due to the annoyance that started to boil inside me, it almost came out a scream. “Anyway, enough of this nonsense conversation!” I waived my hands in front of them, motioning for them to stop.
But if there’s a thing that added more to my annoyance was my brother’s laughter.
“Fine! Try to laugh again and I swear I won’t go with you tomorrow!” I warned, glaring at him and that made him stop. He knew when I got serious.
“Oh, oh, oh… I was kidding, sis,” he said trying to stifle his grin as he put his arm around my shoulder but I hit him hard.
“Kidding your ass!” I snapped, rolling my eyes before grabbing the plastic bags and heading to the kitchen.