Anticipation gripped Darryl as he awaited Vanessa’s arrival. He knew Vanessa was the type to create a scene, so he was mentally prepared for her reaction. He was still astonished by the way he asked Vanessa to marry him after kissing her.
As he played with the pen in his hands, he thought about the best excuse he could give after kissing her out of the blue, but nothing added up. All the possible excuses he had made up pointed back to him and that made him guilty.
He couldn’t tell if it was the rage he had felt because of his parent’s decision or the zeal to step up his game with Vanessa, but something similar to one of those excuses had made him kiss Vanessa without thinking.
Darryl had a smug look on his face as his mind drifted to the kiss. He had kissed a number of women, but this one was definitely different. Something was unique about it that he wanted to try it again, but he wouldn’t dare when it came to Vanessa.
He jolted at every sound he heard, thinking it was Vanessa approaching, but it wasn’t. He had gone back to the first floor hoping to meet her at the entrance of the building. But he didn’t see anyone who looked like her.
Why is she not here? He wondered as he adjusted the tie around his neck. After waiting patiently for two hours, he took his phone to call her. Was she going back on her word after she promised last night wouldn’t affect her work? Or did she get sick from waiting out in the cold last night?
The second question prompted him to dial her number as anxiety replaced his initial smug attitude. He was ready to take full responsibility if she had happened to be sick.
His gaze fixed on his phone as he listened to it ringing. Relief washed over Darryl as Vanessa picked up the call. Sniffing was the first sound he heard and this made his heart beat faster. Then he heard her cry, he heard it loud and clear. He could imagine how her lips trembled as he heard her sob over the phone.
“What is going on with you? Darryl asked her, hoping he would get a reply from her. “Why are you crying?” he tried again. He was not good with crying girls. He didn’t know how to console crying girls. He had never tried to console anyone, not even his sister.
Instead of getting a reply from Vanessa, he was met with a louder cry. This sparks something inside of him. He wants to be by her side, he wants to console her, he wants to wipe away her tears and, most importantly, he wants to make her laugh.
“Where are you? He inquired without overthinking it. He was patient with her as she sniffled.
“Home” finally, Vanessa replied.
“Stay. I will be there in a few minutes,” Darryl assured her. As fast as he could, he grabbed his car keys and phone as he abandoned everything to meet Vanessa at her house. He was grateful that he had forced Vanessa after their first date, and she agreed to let him take her home then.
He ignored Phoebe’s questioning stare as he walked past her to the elevator. Each step was on purpose and with heavy stride, he got to his car in no time. The engine roared under Darryl’s foot as he slammed it down on the gas pedal.
His knuckles turned white as they gripped the steering wheel, his gaze narrowed as he set a focused vision on the road ahead. Every twist and turn was navigated with intense precision as he pushed the car to its advanced limits.
He tried everything he could to get to Vanessa as soon as possible. Traffic lights became mere suggestions, the yellow light was a challenge to him as he stepped on the gas. But the red light that was supposed to be a brief stop became a challenging inconvenience.
Due to his anxiousness about Vanessa, Darryl became impatient as he weaved through lanes and cars. Every second counted, measured by the loud thrumming of his heart against his ribs.
It was like the car itself understood the state of emergency because it seemed to have changed and stretched to avoid obstacles as he carved the road towards Vanessa’s house.
Less than fifteen minutes, he had covered up a thirty minute ride. He got out of the car as he halted in front of Vanessa’s apartment. Without confirming if it was her place or not, Darryl’s large hand landed on the door as he knocked on it.
Vanessa, who was glued to the floor, intensely sobbing, jolted by the bang on the door. She had forgotten Darryl had talked to her about coming. Hesitantly, Vanessa carried herself up. She dragged herself to the door to see who the intruder was. She opened the door slightly to peep and was shocked to see Darryl at the door.
Before she could close the door, Darryl’s hand pushed it open gently as he created enough space to let himself into the apartment. Defeat washed over Vanessa as she watched Darryl make his way inside her apartment. Avoiding him, she wiped away the tears but her puffy eyes gave it out that she had been crying.
Darryl pulled her into a tight hug as he noticed how she was trying to hide her pain. His hands moved up and down her back as he patted her to stop crying. He was rendered speechless at the sight, everything he had planned to say varnished from his mind.
“Stop crying sweetheart.” He spoke softly under his breath. Even if he didn’t know what to do with Vanessa, he was certain keeping mute would only make things awkward for him.
Instead of succumbing to Darryl’s patting, Vanessa broke down in tears as her body trembled in Darryl’s arms.
Helplessness gnawed at Darryl as Vanessa trembled in his arms. The only thing he could do was pat her head to calm her down. Slowly, Vanessa gave in and, after a while, her trembling had morphed into hiccups.
The progress eased Darryl’s helplessness as he meticulously led Vanessa to the chair. He held her until she was sitting in it. He squatted in front of her, placing his hands on her lap in a comforting way.
“I’m sorry if I made you cry, Vanessa. It was not my intention to do this to you.” Darryl stuttered as he searched for the right words to apologize.