Five years ago…..
Sharon
I decided to spend the night at my parents place since I closed early from work today. Moreover, it's been a while since I last lived with them in the same mansion.
It was already two minutes to seven in the evening. I know dinner time is approaching. Any moment from now, my parents would call me downstairs for dinner.
I had a cool nice shower and changed into one of my nightwears. A two piece pink silk strap top and shorts that reached my upper thighs.
I looked at my figure in the vanity mirror, busy staring at my natural beauty. No cosmetic contact iris. No wigs. Just my very self. I walked my fingers through my neatly plaited cornrows.
Somehow, my face looks rough naturally when I'm without makeup.
I sat on my queen size mattress when I remembered I have a few things from the office to finish.
Just when I started working on something in my laptop, I heard the door squeaking open.
I looked at it and saw that it was actually mom coming towards me.
I thought maybe she was going to invite me downstairs for dinner until she held out my phone in her hand.
"Hello darling." She sat beside me on the bed, smiling. "I see you're busy. Well, it's your phone. I saw it ringing in the kitchen's counter when I went to get water." She handed it to me.
"Oh," I must have forgotten it by carelessness. "Thanks, mom." I took and scroll over the screen to see who the caller was.
"It's been ringing nonstop since. You should call the person back, maybe it's something important." Mom said, getting up to leave.
"Yeah, sure. I will."
"I'll be with your dad in the study room. Don't forget to come downstairs for dinner at 7:30." She stood by the door.
"Of course."
After mom left, I continued what I was busy doing until my phone buzzed, distracting me from my work.
I look to it. It was an unknown number. The same number that appeared five missed calls on my recent call logs.
I scroll over the green button and held it on my ear, a puzzled frown on my face. "Who's this?"
There was silence for a brief moment, then I heard the familiar, thick, strong voice with velvet edge answered on the other side. "Come downstairs." He blandly said. But still, I felt the command in his slow authoritative voice.
"Okay?" I replied and he hung up.
I took a deep breath, contemplating whether to go downstairs and meet Jide like this or first change into something nice.
I couldn't put up with a brilliant idea so I agree to meet him like this, in my natural self.
I got off bed, put on my indoor flipflops slippers and head downstairs.
I wouldn't be deceiving myself but I've been dying to see him ever since. I've been looking at my phone for this past one month, hoping that he'd call me soon.
I had wished I never prohibited him for seeing me in the first place. But thank God he called to see me today.
Something inside me tells me that this worked out because of Rodriguez. Yes, his prayers worked things out for me. First, the gifts from Jide and second, he's calling to meet me downstairs—I can't believe he traced me all the way here to my father's house.
He must have gone to my villa earlier and couldn't find me there.
Just the urge to meet with him again makes me get excited. I don't know why if I may be asked. But I somehow feel giddy to see him again.
I took several deep breaths and composed my dress before twisting the doorknob open.
"Hi." He greeted, smiling handsomely.
Before I returned the greeting, my eyes travelled all over his body from head to toe, studying his evening outfit.
He wore a dark red signature loose sleeve that had 'Dior' printed smally all over the entire top and a black denim pants to match.
I loved his manly scent. He smelled really masculine and nice.
I tried to put up an attitude like the bossy girl I am. "Hi." I hid part of the smile so he doesn't reach my face.
Obviously giving him a hint that I was mad at him for neglecting me a whole month.
When he walked in, I shut the door and fold my arms across my chest. Of a truth, his eyes were perched on me. Not even a single blink.
And apart from the fact that my top was revealing my cleavages, his eyes was not there at all. It was just fixed on my face like something was there and I didn't know.
I didn't say anything to him. We just stood there like teenagers shy to speak to each other.
I was waiting for him to start up a conversation. In fact, I expected him to go on one knee and apologize for snubbing me and ghosting me off for a whole month not stand here, looking at my face.
"I've been surviving on guilt conscience for a whole month." He started and I just listened while looking somewhere else. "I thought about writing you a letter but then I realised that my handwriting would just make things worse."
My brows creased confusedly as I turn towards him.
He scratched the back of his head, nervously. "Honestly, if awkward apologies burned calories, I'd have twelve packs by now."
Geez.
I couldn't help it.
I found myself laughing hard. "Twelve what?" I covered my mouth, trying hard to contain my laughter that keeps pushing. "There's no such thing like that."
He paused for a while, grinning hard. Then, I heard his deep voice breaks through. "It's so good to hear you laugh again."
I don't know why but I somehow felt shy immediately he said that.
"Sharon," I felt him coming closer. Something that always makes my heart beats hard whenever he's around me. "I know I messed up about last time. Your dad wasn't supposed to see us that way. I was getting out of control about myself and forced you over things you didn't want. I didn't come just for your forgiveness—I came so I can at least upgrade you to an actual dinner and apology."
He wants to take us out for a dinner date?
I wasn't ready for this anyway but now my insides is excited for his apologies plus the invitation of his dinner date.
"Good evening, ma." I lift my head when I heard him greet someone behind me.
When I turned around, I saw mom standing at the staircase, grinning from ear to ear.
"Hi there, Jide." Mom took his greetings as if he was already part of the family. Sometimes, she acts weird around guests. "How are your parents?"
"They're fine, ma." Jide answered happily.
I knew she was not ready to leave if I don't say something to chase her off. "Mom, are you stalking me?"
With wide eyes, she shook her head vigorously. "No, sweetheart. Actually, I was going to get water from the kitchen."
I rolled my eyes. She's very bad with giving excuses. "But you have a little fridge in your room, right?"
"Sure." She faked a grin. I know mom was only trying to eavesdrop on our conversation. "Are you two dating?"
Geez! "Mom?" I frowned at her. She can't be serious right now. "Seriously?" I didn't miss the part where Jide was chuckling silently.
"Okay, okay, fine. Am going upstairs now." She started heading for the stairs but stopped midway and said, "I heard you're going out on a date tonight. Put on something nice." She winked but when she saw the flaming look on my face, she raised her hands. "Fine. Am leaving."
After mom left, I heaved out a deep breath, facing Jide. "Am really sorry for my mom's bad manners. I'll just go upstairs and change into something nice."
"Okay." He tucked his hands into his pockets, patiently waiting for me.