During the dinner, Marvin behaved very normally. He was having his meals, mixing with colleagues, and passing his lame jokes, over which everyone laughed because, of course, he is their boss and they didn’t want to disappoint him.
He maintained his normal behaviour with me as well, as if he hadn’t just proposed marriage a few minutes ago. Perhaps he didn’t want me to feel uncomfortable, just as he had expressed when he mentioned that he wanted our friendship to remain unchanged, regardless of my decision.
I have known him for th last four years, he has never tried anything, which made me uncomfortable. He is such a gentleman and I just don’t want to break his heart but that doesn’t mean that I shouldn’t listen to my heart.
I have respect him, and I am grateful for him but I have never thought of him as my life partner. In fact, I have never imagined anyone as such except Ansell was a fool.
I couldn’t see Ansell after meeting at the pool area. Maybe he left after that.
*Honk*
A car honk flinched at my place and broke the chain of my thoughts.
“Nara? What are you doing on the street and alone at this hour?” Marvin emerged from his car.
“Nothing, just waiting for a cab. It’s taking longer than expected ” I replied.
“Cab?’ he inquired, a hint of surprise in his voice. “I thought you came with your car”
“No, it needs servicing, so I decided not to risk it” I explained.
“You should have told me earlier. I would have asked someone to drop you” he said, a concern evident in his voice.
“It’s fine. Tank you for thinking so much about me” I smiled. “I will go with th cab”
“No way!” He shook his head. “I can’t let you go with the cab at this time. It is not safe” he stated. “Come with me”
“But I have already booked the cab” I argued.
“You can cancel it” he said.
“But Marvin…”
“You dropped me at my house in broad daylight. How could I leave you alone in the middle of the roads at midnight?’ he asked.
“But…”
“You know Jayden gets his stubbornness from you!” Marvin narrowed his eyes at me.
“Ok” I resigned.
He chuckled and turned around to open the door for me. Settling inside, I cancelled the cab while he drove the car.
He turned on the radio to cut the silence and make me feel comfortable. I was glad my home wasn’t that far away.
Suddenly, the music changed to one of my favourite songs. I instinctively reached out to increase the volume, just as Marvin’s hand moved to do the same. Our hands collided, and for a moment, both of us froze in our seats.
I looked up at him, and his gaze met mine. I gulped and quickly looked away, retracting my hand. I didn’t want to make the situation any more awkward than it already was.
The rest of the journey went with me sitting in my seat, deep in thought, and Marvin didn’t try to start any conversation either. Before long, we arrived at my home.
While I was still unbuckling the seatbelt, he was fast at opening the door of the car and waiting for me to step outside patiently.
I am still not over Ansell pushing and pulling me in and out of the car as i i am some object who doesn’t get hurt by his roughness. But Marvin always treats me like a normal human being, take care of my well being and most importantly, listens to what I have to say.
God! Why am I comparing him with Ansell?
Shaking my head, I stepped out.
“Thank you” I murmured.
“Don’t make me feel small” he smiled. “I would have done the same if there was any other girl at your place”
I nodded, I know this. He always respects others. He is the kind of man around whom a girl could feel safe even in the middle of the night and on lonely streets.
“Good night” he wished.
“Good night”
He walked around and sat inside. He looked at me last time before getting in his car and driving away.
“He is into you”
I almost jumped at my place and my soul left my body for a second. Placing my hand over my heart, I turned around.
“You scared me, William” I scolded him.
He chuckled.
I mean, who does like this?
The surroundings were so silent and dark, and he came from nowhere, speaking in his deep, teasing voice. I could just have a heart attack.
I wanted to scratch off the smile from his face but my bad luck is that I don’t keep long nails anymore. He always loves teasing me.
Why are brothers like this?
“So, how was the event?’ he asked, placing his arm on my shoulder and walking me around inside the home. The weight of his arm was practically pulling my hair down.
“Fine” I told him.
“Your boss said something to you?’
Suddenly I froze to my place and my head turned to him in disbelief.
What does he mean by that?
Did he know?
If yes, then how?
“I don’t know anything. I am just guessing. I have seen him multiple times around you. He seems into you. Even today he was so busy with you that he didn’t notice me even when I was standing behind you ” he said.
“That’s not the case. He was not able to see you because of the darkness ”
“Because of the darkness, or is it because of your light “?” His eyebrows raised as he teased me.
I blinked up at him.
Why is he talking like this? I am not getting him.
“Come with me”
He walked to his mother’s room, which was vacant, as she must be sleeping with Jayden. He asked me to sit on the bed while he took the chair and placed it in front of me. He leaned forward and placed his elbows on his knees.
“As far as I can see, Marvin genuinely likes you” he said, leaning in to have a serious conversation.
My ears turned red, and I was thankful that they were mostly covered by my hair. I didn’t want to share the news of Marvin’s proposal with anyone just yet, not until I was sure about how I felt about it.
“Maybe he is afraid of expressing his feelings” he sighed. “You know, I always stopped you from going near Ansell in the past. It was because, back then, you were too young, and you didn’t fully understand the difference between right and wrong. But now you are mature, and you truly understand what’s good for you”
I decided to listen to him without interrupting because I knew for a very long time that he wanted to talk to me in private but we didn’t any chance before.
“Nara, I am still guilty of what happened with you. I am the only reason for what you are going through. In my greed of money, I started gambling, which led me to the path of destruction and in that, it it you who have burned”
I could clearly see the guilt in his eyes. I know that Jayden reminds him of Ansell and all those things that he did to me. William may be smiling but deep down, he considers himself responsible for everything that happened to me. He is not able to forgive himself.
“I have already settled down and moved on with my life” he said, his voice heavy with the weight of his past. “I have Mia, who support me, and we’re even planning to expand our family. But no matter What, there is always a lingering burden of guilt within me, and I can’t bear to see you in pain like this”
“Don’t be guilty, William. It is not your fault” I sighed, placing my hand over his. “I used to love Ansell and no matter how many times you warned me about him, I couldn’t stop myself. Of it were not this way, there was a high chance of me marrying against your wishes. I would have still left Ansell if I came to know about his profession after marriage and if I had done that, then I would have lost my family as well”
He kept on staring at me.
“You guys are my biggest strength and now that I have Jayden, he is my life. I don’t need anyone else. Don’t be guilty, please ” I said. “Soon I will shift to…”
“I will never let you move, Nara. Please don’t talk like this ” he intruptted firmly.
It wasn’t the first time I had brought up the idea of moving to a different house, thinking it would allow him to live alone with. Mia. But he never allowed me to go through with it.
“Till I am alive, I will not let stay alone. Never!”
I sighed and my shoulders slumped. I don’t want to bother anyone because of me but he never listens. I want to shift with moan and Jayden but he never allows it.
“But no matter what, I still believe you should find someone and settle down”
My eyes flicked at him.
“And Marvin could be a good partner for you. I am not forcing you to accept him or anything. It is your life and at the end of the day, it is your decision. It is just what I have noticed. He has humanity, he respects others and loves Jayden. You have known him for around for years now. Just think about it.
His words compelled me to reconsider Marvin’s proposal, which I had initially been sure I was going to reject. I genuinely wanted to move away from my brother so he could live his life freely without the weight of my responsibility or the guilt of the past. And the only way I could do this is by marrying someone.
“And always remember, no matter what your decision is, your elder brother is always with you” William added, his hand gently caressing my head.
I forced a smile and nodded at him.
Now I am even more confused than before.