ADRIAN
“Adrian, please. Don’t do this. You can’t just abandon us when we need you the most. I thoroughly understand that Olivia might have upset you. But please, can you not take it out on her now?” Kate bemoaned. She was taking the situation more seriously than Olivia.
It was Olivia I expected to speak up and not Kate. Olivia wasn’t even making an effort to convince me. She was seated comfortably, believing that Kate would do the dirty work for her.
I ignored Kate’s pleas like a plague.
I didn’t do that on purpose. I wanted to trigger Olivia’s anger and force her to speak, and it worked the moment Olivia whispered in my ear, “Please, Adrian.”
Her voice wasn’t audible enough because she was very ashamed of her act.
I looked away, pretending not to hear her speak, even though she was seated next to me.
I wanted her to speak to me with all sincerity, like she meant it.
“Didn’t you hear my Boss? She just took the bold step and pleaded with you. Please forgive her and let this slide. We shouldn’t spend time the whole day doing this when we have a difficult task ahead of us,” Kate buttressed just to get my attention.
I responded in a split second. “Stop doing this. It’s not worth it. Save your energy for important stuff. You are the only one begging me so far. Olivia hasn’t done anything worthy to earn my forgiveness. Why should I listen to her?”
I utilized the opportunity to pour out my frustrations on Olivia after I missed the opportunity when she confronted me on that highway.
After the ranting, I felt fulfilled. My heart was settled knowing that I’d finally done that which I’d been yearning for a while.
Moments later, I heard some funny noise. I looked next to me and saw Olivia weeping like a pathetic widow. She could barely control the tears drooling from her eyes.
Unbothered, I stepped outside the car. I wasn’t interested in her tears because I knew they were fake. It was just one of her antics to make me feel like the guilty one, and I wasn’t ready to fall for that.
I waited for Olivia to step outside, but she didn’t. Instead, it was Kate approaching me after having a word with Olivia. I couldn’t help but wish that Kate and Olivia would swap places, at least for that moment.
“You need to go speak to her. She won’t stop crying. I hate seeing her like that. You know what she’s been through lately. Do you want to add to it?”
Kate said to me. She was sober, yet she wasn’t the one that got insulted. She cared so much for Olivia. It’s quite unfortunate that Olivia has failed to realize that.
Kate spoke to me like a Boss Lady. She spoke tirelessly while I listened endlessly.
I was starting to think if she and Olivia swapped brains for the few moments they spoke in my absence.
I was stunned. Usually, I don’t get carried away by mere talks, but somehow, Kate made me marvel. Her level of intelligence swept me off my feet.
“So what do you suggest I do now?” I asked nicely. Something I wouldn’t have done if I had spoken to Olivia.
“If you truly love her, you will go speak to Olivia and calm her nerves. You know how stubborn and hot-tempered she could get,” Kate said while smiling.
I saw that as a challenge. I didn’t bother asking her who told her I was in love with Olivia.
Kate is no stranger to Olivia. They might have discussed it an unhealthy number of times. Besides, she previously caught Olivia and me kissing inside the car.
The challenge was something I never saw coming. It was as though I were about to wrestle with a Lion.
Majestically, I walked back to the car. I wanted to open the door when my eyes narrowed down to Kate. Immediately, she winked at me as a sign of good luck.
The wink was complemented with a smile. It’s safe to say that Kate has got the most beautiful smile I’ve ever seen.
“Hi,” Olivia and I both said together like a programmed robot.
I smiled. “You go first while I listen,” I said to Kate. She said the same thing, too. Unlike me, she wasn’t smiling. Her facial expressions made me understand that she wasn’t pleased with me.
She might not have uttered it, but I could feel it in her eyes. I knew I needed to make things right with her.
“I am sorry for speaking to you whatsoever.” I drew the first blood and apologized.
I expected her to say something, but she never did. I knew it wasn’t enough. I needed to sound convincing enough.
I bite my lips, itching my hair to rack my head for fresh ideas. Nothing seems to be coming.
Suddenly, a thought crossed my mind immediately. I was joyous and confident that it was gonna work out this time.
“I love you, Olivia. And I am ready to fight for your love. I don’t give a fuck about what Cyril says or does. I am ready to spend the rest of my life with you,” I proclaimed.
Seconds after my proclamation, Olivia turned her focus to me and looked directly into my eyes. “Are you sure about it? How am I sure that you aren’t saying this just to make me happy?”
The question struck me like a thunderstorm. I wasn’t certain about my desires anymore. I thought of what to say to Olivia that won’t get her pissed off anymore like I did the first time.
“I asked you again, Adrian. Is this what you want from me? I believe we are adults, aren’t we? We should be able to know what’s best for us,” she repeated the question in a mature way to put the pressure on me. She asked as though we were about to exchange our marriage vows at the altar.