Eve…
I got off the floor where I sat and began to rampage through my wardrobe. I saw a box that I filled with clothes that Jason got for me before. It was too expensive so I hid them. Right now, I was in the mood to dress up nicely so I pulled the box out and picked out a cream Saint Laurent dress. I opened another box and pulled out a black Dior heel and a small black purse with pearls around it.
I put them on and then styled my hair in a bun and let a few strands fall while I used a cream brooch to hold it so it won’t free fall. I put on light makeup and looked at myself in the mirror. I looked really expensive.
Satisfied with my looks, I left the house and walked down to the bus stop outside the estate before I flagged down a cab going to the location that my mom had sent to me on my phone earlier.
We soon arrived and I alighted from the cab. I looked around taking in the exterior of the building. It was much better than the dilapidated building that we used to live in before. I entered inside and took the staircase to the first floor. I rang the bell and after two rings, I could hear the sound of footsteps approaching the door.
The door opened revealing someone I least expected.
“Eve..” my brother Isaiah said probably surprised to see me as I was to see him.
“You look…” He paused but I could tell what he was thinking – You look different. It was written all over his face.
“Is mom at home?” I said ignoring the questioning look on his face.
“Yes.” He said opening the door a little wider so I could enter the house. I entered inside and I could tell that their status had really changed. I guess it comes with getting married to the rich. The interior was beautiful, filled with antique wallpapers and an expensive rug as I could feel the softness from my feets. I found my way to the couch and sat down even before I was asked to sit. I looked around the house, everything feeling foreign to me.
“Eve, you’re here.” My mom said coming out from what I assumed was the kitchen.
“Would you stay for dinner? I was just about to begin the preparation.” She said smiling but I looked at her with my face void of emotions. I could still feel the burning gaze that my brother pierced on me but I paid no attention to him.
“You look like those rich women from the television.” She said sitting opposite me with a smile on her face.
“About that day…” She began and I could tell she was talking about the day she came with dad under Mia’s invitation.
“We didn’t mean to barge in on you like that, it’s just that it was a chance to meet our in-laws so we wanted to take it. You know be sure we married you into the right family.” She said and I scoffed.
“The right family?” You jumped with the glee the moment Jason came with a few gifts to ask for my hand in marriage in our run down apartment. Despite the fact you saw the way he treated me with scorn on my wedding date, dictating what and what I should do, you asked me to listen to him like I was some sort of robot and then you wanna know if I was married into the right family?” All these were simply my thoughts. The thoughts I couldn’t say and my eyes could only convey. I looked at her and looked away, not responding to what she was saying.
“Eve..” she called, noticing I wasn’t paying attention.
“Could I get a glass of water?” I asked and she turned to Isaiah and asked him to get me a glass of water.
“Why’s she acting like a stranger? She can get the water by herself.” I heard him complain but he still went to the kitchen to get the water anyway.
“The house is lovely.” I commented.
“Yes, it is.” She said quietly.
“What do you want from me?” I wanted to know why she called.
“Want from you? What do you mean?” She asked, feigning confusion.
“Do you need more money?” I asked in annoyance.
“What do you mean? Can’t I ask to see my beloved daughter again?” She was visibly upset by my question.
“What made you think..” she tried to say.
“Isn’t that why you called me here?” I cut her off before she could complete her statement.
“Why are you talking to mom like that?” Isaiah yelled coming out of the kitchen with the glass of water in his hands.
“Did you ask Jason for all of this?” I asked, pointing around the house. From my observation, everything there was new or the latest edition which I’m sure they can’t afford if they are still doing their scrawny jobs.
“Eve..” she mumbled, unable to say anything.
“He gave them to us.” Isaiah said, defending them.
“He gave you?” I laughed painfully.
“At what expense? Because I’m his wife?” I said frowning.
“Eve, we’re all family now, he just doesn’t..” she tried saying but I cut her off again.
“He doesn’t want to see his wife’s family suffering?” I asked and she looked at me speechless.
“I’m leaving, if you ever need any money, call me, not Jason. Me!” I said and turned to leave the house. As soon as I opened the door and walked out, the door slammed shut and I let out the sob I’ve been trying to suppress.
I am truly a gold digger. Whenever I worked in the past, I took pride in my dignity because I never gave in to anybody claiming that they could take care of me because I believe that I could take care of myself and that one day, all my hardwork will prevail but life wasn’t that way.
Life wasn’t simple and life is serious. But once I saw the looks on their faces when Jason came along with those gifts, I knew I had to make that decision and that from that day, I had thrown away my dignity but now that I realised it, I feel so downcast.
I left the apartment and took a cab to the book cafe I once visited with Max. I had tried Max number earlier on but he wasn’t picking up my calls.
I entered the cafe and went to the counter.
“Hi, can I have a latte and blueberry muffin?” I asked.
“You’re Eve right?” The barista asked and I remembered that he was the one max was hitting on the other night.
“Are you Ethan?” I asked, remembering that Max had mentioned his name some time ago to me.
“Yes, I am.” He said with a smile that didn’t reach his eyes.
“Is anything the problem?” I asked, noticing the look on his face.
“Have a seat, I’ll come and meet you soon. My shift ends in a short while.” He said and I nodded.
Soon, he dropped my latte and blueberry muffin on the table I was seated at. I was reading a fairytale book that I didn’t even notice when he sat in front of me.
“Eve, have you heard from Max all day?” He asked in concern.
“Nope, I’ve been trying his number but it’s not going through.” I said frowning. Why was he asking this question?
“Is anything the problem?” I asked in concern.
“Did you hit..” I gasped.
“No.. no.. ” he said immediately.
“I don’t hit anybody.” He said in his defence.
“Sorry.” I said feeling ashamed of my accusations.
“It’s fine, I did more than hit him anyways.” He said sadly.
“What did you do?” I asked.
“Well…” He paused.
“Last night, he spent the night in my house.” He began and I looked at him with wide eyes.
“No, we didn’t have sex.” He said immediately and I laughed.
“I didn’t say anything.” I said still laughing and he looked embarrassed.
“I wanted us to take things slow but we were close to my house so I invited him for a drink with me.” He said and I nodded in understanding.
“I mistakenly spilled drinks on him and I gave him my clothes to change into. We fell asleep after drinking for a while but my mom came this morning and ruined it all.” He said looking downcast.
“Ruined it?” I said sourly, remembering how my own morning went.
“Yeah, I was in the bathroom so Max was the one who opened the door for her but she attacked him from the front door.” He said and I raised my brows.
“Attacked him?” I said I was confused.
“With words.” He said quietly and I mouthed okay.
“My mom’s not quite accepting and she’s seen countless guys in my house so she thought Max was one of them. She didn’t give me room for explanation and said all sorts of hurtful things to max. I couldn’t defend him.” Ethan said dejectedly.
“So you’ve brought countless guys to your house?” I asked as my mind was still dwelling on that.
“Yes, but just for sex.” He said and I frowned.
“And your mom misunderstood?” I asked and he nodded.
“And you couldn’t defend him?” I asked and he nodded again.
“Why?” I asked.
“Why?” He repeated after me.
“Why couldn’t you defend him?”
“Was he because he was just like your countless one night stands?” I asked frowning.
“No… No.. no..”
“Not at all.”
“I like Max and I want to go out with him but I haven’t asked him yet because I didn’t want to rush him and I didn’t know if he wanted to put a label on the relationship yet, I was scared that if I said he was my boyfriend to my mom, he might feel bad.” He explained and I smiled.
“I understand but that’s where you did wrong, it’s not my place to tell but I know Max has feelings for you.”
“You’re the only guy he’s talking about apart from his ex and the only reason why he talked alot about his ex was because his ex was a car dealer and sold all sorts of expensive cars. Not that Max was in it because of his money anyways but because Max is crazy about cars.” I explained and he nodded.
“I’m sure he’s pissed off not just because you couldn’t defend him but because he feels like you don’t feel the way he feels.” I said.
“Feel the way he feels?” He asked and I nodded.
“He likes you but you didn’t defend him in front of your mother because you were scared of his reaction which means you weren’t man enough to confess your feelings and shut your mother up for him.” I said and he nodded in acknowledgement.
“You’re such a romanticist.” He said and I smiled.
“Your husband must be glad to have you.” He said again and my smile faltered.
“I know where Max is so I’ll go and get him for you.” I said changing the topic.
“What do you say you give me your number?” I said and he laughed.
“You’re not hitting on me, are you because I’m a taken man!” He joked and I laughed.
“I’m married and you’re not my type.” I joked too and we laughed.
“I’ll text you when I find him, knowing max he’ll either be at a park or at the aquarium.” I said.
“Should I go and look for him too?” He asked and I shook my head.
“It’s best to give him space for now, he’ll come around by himself.” I said and he nodded. I finished up my snacks and bid him goodbye after we exchanged numbers.
My best guess was that Max would be at the park farthest from his apartment. He called it “The Max escape.”
Whenever he wasn’t happy, he would go to the farthest park from wherever he was because it wasn’t familiar so he wasn’t overwhelmed by his problems.
I took a cab to the park I guessed he would be and I saw him sitting on one of the benches not far away from the entrance of the park.
Found you!