“I guess Zoey went home already,” Tiffany looked around for the umpteenth time as they approached Aiden’s bike.
“I asked if something is happening, she doesn’t look fine to me at all,” Aiden said, fondling Tiffany’s hand.
“Have you been watching my friend all this while?” Tiffany drew her brows together.
“Are you jealous?” Aiden leaned toward her with a smirk.
“Jealous? Oh, please,” Tiffany rolled her eyes.
“It was evident, I’m sure you know what’s wrong with her, right?” Aiden asked as they got to where his power bike was parked.
“Actually, Zoey…”
“Tiffany!” came the voice of Declan who rushed to them, breathing heavily.
“What?” Tiffany creased her brows.
“Where is Zoey? Did she go home already?” he panted, his hands rested on his waist.
“If she’s not with you, then I guess she has gone home already. She said she was going to you when I saw her last,” Tiffany answered.
“Did something happen?” Aiden asked.
“Later, huh?” He turned to leave and then began to dial Zoey’s number.
“You’re making me feel bad, why are you not telling me what’s wrong?” Aiden pouted.
“Zoey said she was going to confess her feelings to Declan. I guess she already did and your friend rejected her.”
“Why do you think Declan rejected her?”
“Isn’t it obvious?” Tiffany frowned.
“It is not.”
“Don’t query me, let’s go!”
“To my house?” Aiden grinned, leaning closer to her.
“No, the sandwich bar!” Tiffany snapped.
“Babe, come on,” Aiden pouted.
“What? Okay, let’s do it this way, I’ll come to your place on Sunday, promise,” she crossed her chest with her hand.
“You’ll sleep over and we’ll go come to school together on Monday?” he wore a puppy expression.
“No way,” Tiffany shook her head as she grabbed the helmet.
“Yes baby, yes.”
“I’ll think more about that. Let’s go.”
“Doesn’t your part-time work begins by four pm? This is barely 2, let’s go spend two hours together then I’ll take you to your sandwich bar,” Aiden suggested.
“No, It doesn’t matter when I start. The amount of sales I make determines my paycheck at the end of the day,” Tiffany shook her head.
“Then I’ll come over and buy everything,” Aiden said with a serious expression.
“How can you say silly things with such facial expression?” Tiffany frowned.
“I’m serious. I’ll come to the sandwich bar and buy everything,” Aiden said again.
“Buy everything? Do you think I’ll sell everything to you? You’re just so… Gosh!” She rubbed her hand against her temple.
“Come on, babe.”
“I’ve said I’ll come on Sunday.
“Okay,” Aiden nodded his head with a fallen expression
“Babe?” Tiffany called out.
“Huh?”
“I’m sorry. I gotta live also, the sandwich bar is my only source of income,” Tiffany said to him.
Aiden smiled and then walked closer to her, ” I understand, okay? I’m sorry for trying to make a deal out of it,” he cupped her cheeks in his palms and then kissed her forehead.
“Thank you.”
“I love you,” Aiden said.
“I love you too.”
==
Declan drove his car to the junction where he had carried Zoey the previous weekend and hoped that she was passing by.
God, he hated it so much that he didn’t insist on going to her house that day.
Her number wasn’t going through no matter how many times he had called.
Knowing that the girl wasn’t doing well because of him was hurting him deep down also.
He had never felt the way he was feeling.
Even though he wasn’t sure of his feelings for her, one thing is for sure, he knew he was madly attracted to her.
Zoey was the first lady he took to a cinema.
Apart from his sister and mother, Zoey was the first lady he dined with and walked around with, holding hands.
Those little things they do… Those petty things they argue about, he loved them. He missed them.
Oh, maybe it was the lady he loved, maybe she was the one he missed.
God, why was it hard for him to confess his feelings for her?
Even though he hated ladies with dyed hair, especially Zoey’s hair color which was gold in color, he felt attracted to her the more and wouldn’t want to imagine her in another hair color.
God, why did he have to push her away with his words back then?
He was blind. Very blind. Miserably blind.
He was about to dial Zoey’s number again when his phone rang and he sighed as he saw the incoming call.
“What?” he groaned as he picked his little sister’s call.
“Shouldn’t you at least exchange greetings? You’re damn too annoying,” the girl hissed.
“Look, Marlie, I’m damn too stressed right now, don’t annoy me,” Declan gritted his teeth.
“Why? Did your girlfriend dump you?”
“It’s not exactly…”
“Well, I knew it was going to happen. When I heard that you already got a girlfriend, I didn’t believe it. I’m sure you hired a bîtch because you didn’t want to marry the slût that chose for you,” Marlie grinned, chewing gum.
“Is there something you don’t know?” Declan frowned.
“Of course, there are many things I don’t know. But not about you, I know everything about you,” Marlie smirked.
“Marlie, there’s a bigger problem,” Declan rubbed his hand on his forehead.
“What is it? Did she dump you right before you confess your feelings to her?”
“Wîtch,” Declan groaned and Marlie laughed.
“She confessed her feelings and then dump me.”
“I guess she think you were going to reject her, so she made herself believe that instead of hearing it from you,” Marlie shrugged her shoulder.
“But I wasn’t going to reject her,” Declan frowned.
“oooooooo! My brother is growing so much,” Marlie teased.
“Fûck off.”
“Well, dad wants us to come home this night. He said to be home before eight,” Marlie changed the topic.
“What is it this time?”
“I don’t know. He sounded serious. We wouldn’t want to annoy him by not coming. I’m going anyway, I need money. Brother, will you send mon…”
The girl was still saying when Declan ended the call.
**
“I don’t know. He sounded serious. We wouldn’t want to annoy him by not coming. I’m going anyway, I need money. Brother, will you send mon…” and the call ended.
“What a dîckhèàd. Shouldn’t he be nicer to his only sister? No wonder he doesn’t have a girlfriend,” Marlie sneered, approaching the sandwich bar.
“I mean, who would want to date him? I guess that girl that confessed her feelings to him is blind, if not…” She stopped talking as she saw the sandwich lady, Tiffany alighting from a power bike.
“Hiii,” she screamed, running towards her.
“You,” Tiffany shook his head.
“Hi, did you miss me?” Marlie smiled
Aiden frowned at the familiar voice and then turned to look around.
“Marlie?” He said as he got down from the bike.
“Aiden!” Marlie screamed, rushed towards Aiden, and then hugged him.
“How long has it been?” She pulled away.
“Silly, it’s you who hasn’t been coming around,” Aiden hissed.
“Anny, she is Marlie, Declan’s sister,” Aiden said as he ran his hand through the lady’s hair.
“Seriously?” Tiffany widened her eyes, amazed.
“I see she also attends the same school with you guys,” Marlie smiled scrutinizing Tiffany’s uniform.
“Who’s she to you? Are you guys dating?” she asked Aiden in a whisper which Tiffany heard clearly.
“You don’t need to whisper, she can hear you. And yes, she’s my girlfriend,” Aiden answered.
“Woah, I see you guys are growing already. Declan was also whining earlier about being dumped by some girl,” Marlie laughed.
“For real?” Aiden raised his brows.
“Yes.”
“By the way, Tiffany, did you miss me?” Marlie smiled mischievously and walked toward Tiffany.
“Why would I miss you?” Tiffany frowned as she took a step back.
“How did you guys know each other?” Aiden asked..
“I’m not even sure. If she were a guy, I would have thought she was trying to hit on me, but since she is a lady, I’m not sure what she wants from me. Are you perhaps a lésbian?” Tiffany asked.
“Excuse me? I love guys so much. As a matter of fact, I have three boyfriends. But I love you, I don’t know why,” Marlie giggled.
“Stop being creepy, please.”
“Babe, I’ll get going. I’m going to visit my dad. I’ll come back later, okay?” Aiden walked closer and kissed her cheek.
“Alright babe,” Tiffany nodded her head with a smile.
“Actually, Aiden. I… Need money,” Marlie said with an awkward smile.
“Send your account details, I don’t have enough cash right now,” Aiden answered as he got on his bike.
“God, I love you so much, brother!” Marlie screamed.
“Because of money?” Tiffany rolled her eyes.
“I love whoever gives me money,” Marlie smiled and began to work on her phone.
“I’ll send it to you, please do it as soon as you can. Hi, Tiffany. Let’s go inside,” she locked her arm with Tiffany’s and then pulled her inside with her.
“Why are you such a pain in the neck?” Tiffany groaned.
“I love you,” Marlie grinned.
“I don’t love you.”
“Neither do you hate me.”
==
8 PM
Declan drove his car roughly inside the large full of securities.
He tried Zoey’s number once more before he got down from his car with a sigh.
The lady’s phone has been switched off since she had left the school and he couldn’t help but worry about her.
“Welcome, young master,” the guards bowed at him in unison as he entered the house.
*
“Declan!” Marlie sprang from the cushioned chair and rushed towards Declan, spreading her arms widely.
“Don’t try to hug me. I’m not in a good mood,” he frowned and walk past her.
“Are you ditching your sister because of some girl?” Marlie frowned.
“Would you leave your boyfriend because of me?” he groaned as he settled on the couch, ignoring the maids who greeted him.
“Of course… No! Even though I have three boyfriends, I wouldn’t leave one because of you. You’re not worth it,” she sneered.
“Where’s dad?” Declan looked around.
“We thought you were not going to come so we ate already. You can still eat though,” Marlie answered, browsing through her phone.
“I’m not hungry,” Declan hissed.
“Well, I knew you were going to say that. Let’s go meet him. He’s in his study,” Marlie twitched her mouth and then turned to leave.
**
Marlie knocked on the door once and then pushed the door open, Declan trailing behind her.
“Declan is here, dad,” Marlie greeted as she entered fully, staring at her father whose back was facing them as he was staring out of the window.
“Hmm,” the older man cleared his throat.
“Hey dad,” Declan strolled into the room and then settled on one of the two chairs that were opposite the chair his father was going to sit.
“Why did you arrive late?” Their father turned around and then walked towards his chair.
“I… I was busy,” Declan nodded his head.
“Doing what?” The older man asked as he settled on the chair.
“This and that,” Declan looked away.
“Your mum said she will see you guys.”
“Dad, for real?!” Marlie widened her eyes and then sat on the chair beside Declan.
“Not now though, probably in a week,” he nodded.
“Why? We’ve been whining and begging to let us see her but she refused, now she wants to see us?” Declan frowned and Marlie kicked his leg.
“What?!” He glared at her.
“I see your temper is not leaving,” their father nodded their head.
“Dad, can you just let me live my life? I don’t like Lauren.”
“Did I say anything about it?” the man shrugged his shoulder.
“You didn’t call me here because you missed me,” Declan rolled his eyes.
“You’re such a jerk,” Marlie shook her head, stylishly eying the picture that was closely in front of her dad.
“I didn’t call to talk about Lauren. I just wanted to see how you’re doing out there,” he smiled and then removed the eyeglasses he was wearing.
“I guess your informant hasn’t been giving you useful news about me,” Declan twitched his mouth.
“Goodness!” his father chuckled.
“Dad, what are these pictures?” Marlie grabbed the picture before her father could even take them away.
“Give it back. It is none of your busi…”
“Huh?” Marlie creased her brows as she checked the second picture.
“What?” The father asked.
“This girl looked so much like the sandwich. Take a look, I heard she’s a student from your school,” Marlie frowned her face and gave Declan the picture.
“What are you saying?” their father stood up the chair.
“You’re right. This girl looked so much like Tiffany, the younger version though,” Declan agreed.
“Yes, she is Tiffany! Do you know her?!” their father, Senator Han queried recklessly.
“Where do you get this picture? Is she Tiffany? ” Declan wrinkled his brow as he stared at his dad who was getting reckless.
“Y… Yes.”
“Why do you have a picture of Tiffany when she was younger?” Declan asked.
“She… I…”
Woah, what a nice turn of event.
This is fûcking busted.
How could his children know the girl?
God, he hope they were nice to her when they met her.
They shouldn’t be bad to their family, right?
*
TBC…