Aileen
When we arrived home, Dave opened the door for us and helped me carry Mom up to their room.
After I put her to bed, I pulled the covers over her body. Dave took off his watch on the bedside table.
“Go to bed then, goodnight,” I said, turning away to leave.
“Uh, wait!”
I stopped in my tracks, turning around to look at him.
“What? Do you need anything?”
“Yeah, it’s just I haven’t been able to talk to you alone after that old man took you away. And I was busy because of the party as well. So, maybe I can get a goodnight kiss and hug?” he asked, wrapping his arms around my neck, and peering into my eyes.
“No, I’m tired,” I replied, removing his hands away from my shoulder. “Another day.”
His brows frowned in confusion. “What? It won’t take even a minute. You are tired of that?”
“Yeah, mentally and physically. So, excuse me.”
“But, Aileen”
I walked out of the room the very second without looking back behind me. And closed the door.
If you had just hugged me tightly and kissed me then maybe I wouldn’t have minded in the first place.
But, you had to ask me for it. I’m not a stranger to you, am I?
You are acting a bit differently now, Dave.
That night, I went to bed feeling a bit complex. I closed my eyes and my phone beeped with a notification.
I searched for my phone blindly with my eyes closed, but couldn’t find it. So, I had to get up from bed to search for it.
Only to find it on top of the table.
I picked up to see, it was a message from Skylar.
“Hey, reached home yet?”
“Yeah,” I texted back. “Why are you up so late? Can’t sleep?”
“Yeah, I was worried for you. That’s why, I couldn’t sleep.”
J became puzzled for a second to hear that.
“Worried for me? Why?”
“I mean, all that happened after that. You might be under some type of stress. That’s why I thought I would check on you a bit.”
“Are you really alright?”
I don’t know why, but I felt his gesture quite warm. No person would go to such lengths for me, except for my family.
But, even they don’t know what happened back then.
“Yes, I’m alright. And you stop worrying about me needlessly. I’m trying to forget about it. So, don’t bring that up again.”
“Uh, as you sa, y Madam. So, are you coming to college tomorrow?”
“Yeah, and go to bed now. It’s late, goodnight. See you tomorrow.”
“Goodnight, see you.”
I turned off my phone and, put on the nightstand. Skylar is really something. Just talking to him makes my heart feel at ease.
He’s a little bit like Marshall, but Marshall is a bit more gentleman type. If I was a little bit older, he would definitely be my type.
It’s a shame, that he couldn’t attend the party even though he wanted to see me in my party wear.
Why did Becky have to have a fever all of a sudden? He had to stay to take care of her.
Guess I need to meet up with him in this dress to surprise him. Yeah, that would be good.
I should sleep now also. I’m tired. I went to bed recalling the interaction between Sarah and Dave.
I hope not everything is as I’m expecting it to be. Don’t make my fears come true goddess.
The next morning, I woke up with a nightmare. I was drenched in sweat and was having hot flashes as well.
I sat up and gulped down the glass of water to quench my thirst.
I sat in silence, trying to recall what I saw. But, my attention was drawn by my alarm clock, ringing loudly near my ears.
I turned it off, and my dad’s voice rang in my ears suddenly.
“Aileen, wake up. Don’t you have to go to school today?”
I looked around and there was no one to be seen. I was imagining things by myself.
What has gotten into me? Before I saw him in my dream and now I can hear him as well. I must be becoming sane now. I need to get my head checked.
I went downstairs for breakfast and saw Dave and Mom sitting next to each other having breakfast.
“Good morning, you two are early,” I greeted, sitting down.
“Morning, yeah. I woke up” Mom was alarmed by the sound of bell ringing.
Someone’s here today? At this hour?
“Oh, that must be Sarah. She said was going to show up to our house as she was in our neighborhood for work.” Dave explained. “Will it be alright if she eats breakfast with us?”
“Ah, no. No problem at all. Right, Aileen?” Mom asked, turning to me for help.
Why are you looking at me?
“Yeah, sure, why not? She’s standing at the door. Let her in.” I replied. “There is enough food for four, right?”
“Yeah, I told the maid to make extra food for one person,” Dave replied, getting up from his seat. “I’ll go get her.”
He looked really excited to get the door and I didn’t ruin it.
I glanced in Mom’s direction. She took a sip of her tea and didn’t seem to be bothered by anything.
She’s such a simpleton. I don’t understand why she never gets jealous of other women hanging around Dave. I could never stand it. Wait, if she was cautious then we couldn’t have been able to realize our feelings for each other.
That’s also a thing, so she shouldn’t be that suspicious.
“The dining table this way, come,” Dave came over along with Sarah beside him.
Both of them were very much cheerful.
“Take a seat,” he said, pulling out a chair for her beside him.
“How are you all?” she asked, sitting down. “Sorry for bothering you so early in the morning.”
“Oh no, it’s not a bother at all,” Mom asserted, “We are glad to have you around. You must be hungry, we waited for you to eat together.”
“You did? That’s so sweet of you.”
“Rita, bring the plates,” Dave called.
Maids served her food and left. She looked at the food a bit surprised.
“Dave, all of these are my favorite foods. Did you tell the maids to make it for me?” she asked, placing her hand on his shoulder.
“Uh, yeah. But, some of them are also Aileen’s favorite foods. That’s why we eat them most of the time,” he explained.
“oh…. I see….” She stared in my direction, forcing a smile. “It seems we’ve got many things in common.”
I nodded in response. “We do now.”
“Anyway, start eating. The food is getting cold!” Dave said.
“Sure.”
We started eating altogether. And between eating she asked about which room was in which direction and asked him to give her a tour next time.
Dave was just laughing and nodding, agreeing to whatever she said to him.
He really looks like a lovesick fool now. What has gotten into him?
After breakfast, he even went to see her off. Mom left for work and I was tired of seeing him act so nicely with her that I went upstairs to grab my bag.
I saw her car driving out of our property a few seconds later. I felt relieved after she left.
At last, she’s gone.
No, I don’t exactly hate her. But, the moment she’s with us, all of Dave’s attention shifts to her only.
And I don’t like that. His attention should be on me only and no one. But, I may be overthinking about all this as well.
Out of anger, I can’t see through anything.
I went downstairs to head for college and bumped into him on the way.
“Are you free now? Get out of the car, We have to leave now.” I said, walking past him, and heading out of the door.
“I’m sorry, I can’t drop you to college today,” he apologized.
He said, what?
“Why can’t you do that?” I asked, turning around to face him.
“Uh, I just received a call. I need to meet up with someone right now in the neighborhood. Then, go to the office. So, you need to go alone. I’ll book a cab for you, wait.” He pulled out his phone and scrolled through the apps.
“You don’t need to do that. I’ve booked a cab already,” I replied.
He looked up puzzled. “You did? But, I told you about it, just now. How did you know beforehand?”
“Uh…who knows? My intuition? Anyway, I’m holding you down for too long. You can go now. And I’m leaving as well. Bye, have a good day.” I said, smiling at him.
“Um…you too. Bye.”
I walked out of the door with a bitter feeling in my heart.
As I thought, I should’ve expected some sort of this is going to happen when I saw her come inside.
But, why did I lie to him? Why does my ego always get in the way of everything?
I should be honest and upfront. If there’s anything I don’t like, I need to tell him.
Even now, I don’t like how he’s neglecting me while giving that woman all the attention in the world.
This isn’t fair to me.
But, how do I get my feelings across without saying them out loud?
I stopped in my tracks and looked sideways. I did come out telling them I had booked a cab. But, how am I going to get there on foot when my college is 30 minutes away and I’m running low on time?
“Need a ride?” a voice behind me comments, drawing my attention.
I turned around the very moment to see a car, and that car looked very much familiar to me.
It was Marshall’s car and his voice.
He drove over to my side and pulled the windows down smiling at me. “Good morning, princess.”