Chapter Twenty-Three – Don’t help her.
“You mean this girl tried to talk with her crush but ended up just saying he’s cool.” Junior raised his brows, glazing at Arya.
They were in his room, his television was blasting off Disney songs on repeat. He was snuggled in his bed, eating grapes, while Arya was seated besides him.
She nodded. “That quite summed it up. And this girl wanted to know if there’s anyway to redeem the situation. I told her to forget it but she felt I wasn’t much of an expert so…”
Junior shook his head, leaving his bed. “You have a very interesting friend. If she is serious, what’s holding her from just telling the guy?”
“Shy. Can’t be so direct as she’s expected to be loyal to another man.” Arya rapped, then chuckled nervously.
Junior snapped his head at her, dropping his grapes on the tray. “What? Is she dating someone already?”
Arya made a tight lipped smile. It wasn’t exactly a case of dating but marriage.
Only that she shouldn’t be loyal as it’s arranged but the person she arranged with, doesn’t act like it was arranged.
“Not quite but…. C’mon, can’t you help her?” she pleaded.
“If she’s trying to cheat on her man, then no! It’s a bro code, never help a lady cheat on another bro.” Junior frowned.
Arya rolled her eyes. “What makes you think he’s your bro?” he was actually.
Junior huffed. “Even if not in blood, we are bros by being men!”
Arya rolled her eyes at the ‘men’, she stood up to leave. “Since you won’t be helping me….. help this girl, I’d be heading off now.”
“Don’t help her. Karma will get back at you. What if she is trying to take your own husband?” Junior said nonchalantly.
“She can!” Arya blurted. She realized and faced Junior who was stunned. “I mean, she can if she thinks she can but she obviously can’t.”
“Yes, because your husband is in love with you and wouldn’t want to lose you, just as her man would be in love with her and wouldn’t want to lose her.” Junior explained.
The fact that the ‘husband’ and the ‘man’ were the same person in Arya’s context, infuriated her. “Her man isn’t hers, okay? And she really likes her crush.”
“How is her man not hers, Arya?” Junior placed his hands on his hips.
Arya groaned, digging her hand into her hair. She exhaled. “You know what? As I said, I’d be heading off. Thanks for the time.”
Junior observed her carefully. “Okay, sure. It was my pleasure. But you really shouldn’t help her cheat. Whatever man in her life, she should stay loyal to him.”
Arya faked a smile then rushed out of the room, she paused to take a breathe before strolling out of the door. Someone was out there.
“Oh really now? You’ve been there for almost an hour. Enough time to rumble in the sheets!” Debby shouted as she saw her.
Arya froze then turned to her with a glare. Rumble in the sheets? Was the brat insinuating that she slept with Junior?
Really? He was like a younger sibling to her! She acted like she didn’t understand her and asked. “What are you saying now?”
“You know what I am saying. Not only are you a gold digger but a prostitute as well.” Debby’s tone was demeaning.
Arya’s fists clenched. How could such trouble be in her home and messing with her happiness this badly? “You must have forgotten the slap I gave you earlier, right?”
Debby held unto her face. “How could I forget? I haven’t yet told Damien about it, I will.”
She noticed Arya’s eyes dilate when she hinted on reporting her and smirked, coming forward. “That’s right, if I tell Damien, he’d be so mad at you. I’m really important to him.”
Arya shook her head. So surely the girl had been annoying her on purpose because she knew Damien got her back? “Well, he’s not dumb and will discipline you for being rude.”
The girl flipped her hair, advancing towards Arya. “I know him more than you do. I have seen him cry and I’ve seen him laugh.”
“And that means you know him? I’ve seen him smile too!” Arya argued.
She wasn’t interested in arguing about who knew Damien more as she’d be out of his life soon. But what was with the girl always dragging his attention?
Debby scoffed. “His small smiles with you is just so you’d feel safe. Have you made him laugh? Seen his crazy side? No!”
Damien had a crazy side? Arya sighed. “Whatever, he’s still my husband and I have a lot of time to figure those out. Go away.” She cat walked off, heading to her room.
When she was out of Debby’s sight, she ran her hands through her hairy taking the excess thoughts out. The girl was surely into her, following her everywhere.
“Should I tell Damien about it? Like he handled Selena, he can actually handle her, right?” Arya thought out loud.
She hurried to the door, but paused. If she walked in there, she would be trapped in there with him.
It wasn’t a bad thing exactly, but she had to reduce their interaction so he wouldn’t fall for her or vice versa.
“I’d have to handle this myself, then.” She sighed.
A room, besides her, opened and she went back.
Selena came out, having a big pink bow on her head. “Oh, hi sister-in-law.” She smirked.
Arya folded her arms. “I have a name, sister in law.”
“Well, since you enjoy calling me ‘sister in law’ as well, we should call ourselves that.” Selena attempted walking off.
“My name is Arya, Selena. Do call me Arya.”
Selena paused, then smiled. “You actually listen. That’s nice.”
Arya rolled her eyes, holding the doorknob to her room.
“Oh and if you feel like talking, or have a complaint to make, you are free to come to me. I am the Queen of this house anyway.”
Arya raised a brow at her.
“Princess, whatever. But I am free to be your listening ears so… whenever!” she waved, walking away. “I’m off to a party now so don’t come looking till tomorrow.”
Arya rolled her eyes. She didn’t even think of meeting, ever. She forced herself inside the room, angrily and slammed the door.
She halted, realizing she just entered the room but calmed down seeing Damien was asleep. She watched him breathing gently. The summit must have tired him out.
She was tired as well. Carefully, she climbed on the bed, then sneaked in under the sheets. She was comfortable, if she wouldn’t roll to anywhere.
“Oh no, I’m still wearing my dress.” She grunted, looking down at herself. Attempting to sneak out again, Damien moved, rolling closer to her.
She froze staying as still as possible, for about two minutes, only looking at the ceilings.
Arya glanced at him to be sure he was comfortable asleep again, but her heart jumped to her mouth when she met his greenish-gray eyes opened and on her.
She yelped. “Damn!” and fell off the bed.