Chapter 32
Claire’s POV
We ate for a while without saying much. He had an uneasy look as though something was bothering him.
“Hope you are enjoying the food?” He asked, lifting his eyes from the phone where he transfixed his gaze previously.
“Yes, it’s great. You barely touched your food, what’s wrong? Don’t you love the meal? Or you are just not hungry?” I asked.
“I’m not really hungry. I ate snacks earlier.” I had finished my food so I called on the waitress to clear the table. Damian kept his phone finally and smiled at me.
“You’re looking very beautiful today. I love the dress, it fits you so well.” He said.
“Thank you, Damian. You are looking good too.” I said courteously.
“So, Claire, I’ve been thinking. Are you in a relationship now?” He asked suddenly.
I didn’t see that question coming. As a matter of fact, I did not know that he would ever ask me that question. It means that Damian has eyes on me. The thought made me begin to blush.
“Actually, I’m not in a relationship just yet. After I broke up with my ex-boyfriend, I have not been engaged since then.”
But that was a lie. A big lie even. I had a boyfriend. He lived somewhere in Manhattan and it was far from where I stay. He visits me few times a month but I don’t want to tell Damian about him.
“Why is that?”
“Well, I have been hoping to meet my prince charming.”
“I see. You will surely meet him one day.” Damian said before going back to his phone.
“What plans do you have for prom night?” Damian asked.
“I don’t really plan on attending, since I don’t have someone to go with. What about you?”
“I don’t have anyone to go with either. Will you come with me?” Damian said, extending his right hand.
“Yes, I will. But it is still weeks ahead. So I’ll start making the preparations from now.” I said as I placed my palm on his hands, happily.
“Okay then.” He said and slipped his hand from mine almost immediately.
“It’s past 9 pm already. We should be going home now. Hope you had a nice time?” he asked, getting up from his seat.
A nice time? We just stayed here for an hour. Why are we leaving now? This is not what I envisaged for the evening. I thought it was going to be a proper date.
“Yes, it…it was lovely. Thank you.” I stammered.
We walked to the car, and he drove off almost immediately. Along the way home, I was prompted to ask him if there was something bothering him because he was uncomfortable earlier.
“Damian, is everything well? I noticed you were not your usual self. Is something bothering you?”
“Something happened earlier before I came to pick you up. It was my reason for coming a bit late. It would have warranted me to call off the dinner but it has been fixed already. I did not want to disappoint you.”
“What exactly is the issue?”
“Don’t worry about it. Let me not bore you with lengthy issues. It’s a family issue though. I am fine. Thank you for asking. I really appreciate this.” He said, dismissively. Obviously, he doesn’t want to talk about it.
“If you insist. I enjoyed your company tonight. We will do this again some other time, right?”
“Probably.” He said curtly, without adding any other thing. I knew it was time to keep quiet. The drive was peaceful and quiet till I got to my house.
He parked the car outside and bade me farewell. After having a warm bath, I began to think about what happened at dinner today. Why was Damian asking about my relationship status?
If he is interested in me, he should had asked me to date. He would have indicated interest just like Scott did. Thinking of it now, being Damian’s girlfriend will not be bad.
Maybe he has feelings for me but he cannot say it yet. I would love to date him too because he is such a gentleman. I began to imagine going on regular date nights with Damian, flying out for vacations, kissing and waking up in his arms. Probably getting married to him too.
Afterall, we are not high school kids. I am certain that he has a lot of money to spend unlike Jack, my boyfriend. I must get Damian for myself. No one else is going to have him.
My imaginations were interrupted when my phone rang. It was Jack.
“Hey, Babe. What’s up?”
“I’m great. You have not slept yet?”
“Nope. I called you twice earlier but you didn’t pick up.” He said.
“Uhmm…when you called I was in the bathroom. I was planning to call you back later.” This was a lie also because he called when I was in Damian’s car on our way home. Of course, if I had picked up, he would have suspected that I went on a date with another guy.
“Okay, I will be free this weekend. You wanna come over? Let’s just spend the weekend together.”
“I would love to but I have engagements already. There are projects to be done, books to be ready, assignments. It’s a whole lot. I am very much occupied.” I said reluctantly.
The truth was that I do not want to go to Manhattan any moment from now. I want to spend more time in school with Damian, so that he can feel my presence so much. Hopefully, we could start dating before we graduate. Damian is from a very wealthy family, if I get married to him, I would have properties and assets signed in my name. Our name.
I will get Damian, even if it means seducing him.
“Babe, those engagements can wait. It’s just for three or four days. I have not seen you for like three months now! Have you not missed me?”
“Of course, I do. But you know that I am in my final year and our exams are fast approaching. I need maximum concentration now more than ever. Babe, please be patient with me for now. Don’t worry, soon enough I can come over to Manhattan and spend months with you.”
“No problem, Sweetheart. If you say so. I’ll be going to bed now. Goodnight and take care of yourself. I love you”
“I love you too, Honey.” That was end of the call and I let out a sigh of relief.
**********
The upper weeks, we began to make preparations for the upcoming graduation party and prom night.
After the dinner I had with Damian some weeks ago, Scott has been avoiding me. We seldom speak to each other, mostly in class but he has not been to my house. Ethan, who has always been the playboy amongst the trio never lacked company because he had a bunch of girlfriends while Damian has been so occupied. Although he did not tell me what kept him occupied, but he has been scarcely seen in school.
One afternoon, I was arranging my locker at the hallway, when Scott walked up to me. He just leaned on the adjacent locker and watched me till I finished.
“Claire, are you not going to say a word to me? This days, you act like you cannot see me.”
“You have been here for close to fifteen minutes now, without saying a word either. I thought that you wanted us to just be quiet.” I retorted
“Claire, what have I done wrong? After the day I told how was feeling about you, you have been acting differently. Now, it is all about Damian, you act like you don’t know Ethan or I. You hang out with us only when Damian is around. It doesn’t have to be that way.” he complained.
“Is Ethan complaining about it?” I asked nonchalantly.
“He has not told me anything yet. But I think he must feel the same way.”
“That means, the complaint is coming from you alone. In other words, you just want to spend more time with me.” I said, pausing from what I was doing to look at him.
“Kind of. I really wish to spend time with you. You are longing for Damian even after you said that you don’t have feelings for him but I know you do. I can see how you look at him. But Damian doesn’t have time for you, I am here.”
“You are jealous, Scott. You have always been. That is why you are here.” I was bemused.
“Maybe I am. But let’s leave that part out. Will you come with me for Prom night? It’s on Friday”
“I’m sorry but I’m coming with Damian. He asked me first.” I said, pride showing in my voice.
“But he said he would not be coming. I thought you would be free that was why I asked.”
“He has probably changed his mind.” All because of me. Damian has feelings for me. He just does not want to admit it.
“Alright then. I’ll be going now. We can talk some other time.” He left dejectedly.
*********
When I got home that day, I received a package. I tore the box open and it was a beautiful blue gown with black lace-up heels and a black purse.
A note was attached to it and it read:
“For my date, my queen for prom night, Claire Smurf.”