Chapter 16: Chapter 16

Chapter 16.

He stops midway and since I am facing the outside world, I don’t bother to look at him and know why he just stopped. I am seriously in the midst of not knowing what I feel or what I want and vice-versa. I feel some excitement within me that isn’t explainable, especially when I am with him, I feel angry at him half the time and that’s the reason I need to call myself for a meeting on a serious note so I can understand what exactly is happening to me, what I want and what I don’t want.

‘’Hey, will you be mad at me forever? What can I do to make your spirit soften towards me? Why would you be so mad at me? I am …’’

‘’Sorry? I am used to that phrase.’’

‘Your own words when I said I will shout.’ I swear I fight the urge to smile at that. I remember him telling me earlier that he is used to me telling him that I will shout.

‘’Beautiful, please look at me.’’ I feel hot instantly when he says that. My mind shifts very fast to his big brown eyes and what they usually do to me.

‘’On one condition.’’

‘’Anything, Clarita.’’

‘’Clara!’’ I say almost rudely. ‘’Now, I want you to tell me two things, one I want to know why my boss will never say no to you, and two, I want to know where you are taking me. Just then, I may think about forgetting the fact that you kissed me earlier.’’

I roll my eyes. ‘As if you wanna forget that.’ My innate will never let me be. She keeps bothering me and when she says that, I realize that she is right. The fact that this nigga kissed me is not something I want to forget any time soon.

I shake my head, pinching my arm secretly to confirm that I am still myself. I don’t need to lose focus whatsoever. If I do, I may end up losing my shit.

‘’Do you really want to do that? You want to forget that I kissed you earlier? Was I that pathetic that you don’t want to keep it in your memory?’’ I don’t respond to that. I have no idea if I do want to forget or not. I have never been kissed by anyone before so knowing who is pathetic and who is not pathetic isn’t in my line of duty.

‘’Forget about that. Just respond to the two of my questions okay?’’ I tell him without even caring if I am being rude to him.

‘’Okay, Clarita.’’ I am not going to do anything about him calling me Clarita. I will let him do it because it’s not like it irritates me anyway. ‘’I am taking you to go meet my mum.’’

‘’In a uniform? You are taking me to see your mum in such a tiny dress?’’ I forget about my other condition and my eyes are boring into his face. I swear the shimmering gleam in his eyes pierces right through my heart.

He holds me and I end up on his laps after he pulls me gently. His stare holds mine in a long minute. His breathing is erratic. There is completely no noise in the car at all, the only thing I can feel and hear is his breathing and his warm breath that is fanning my uncovered neck. I stop to think for a few seconds and decide to just enjoy the short moment while it lasts.

I close my eyes tightly. If I say that I know how our lips lock ferociously and fiercely in a wanted kiss then I will be lying. This time around, I don’t pull nor hold back. I kiss him with all the might. I kiss him back without caring about what might happen the next minute. I open my eyes and his big eyes are staring straight into my eyes. The electric fire, the tickling and the tingly feelings that are flying through my blood aren’t giving me peace at all.

I instantly feel self-conscious and I pull back from the kiss. He has this look on his face that I cannot decipher. I hope he doesn’t judge me for this. The smirk forming on his lips is suggestive. I feel like he is smiling in an irritatingly smug, conceited, or silly way.

I try standing up to go back to my seat but he holds me tightly. His arms are so warm I wonder if his blood was warmed before being pumped into his body.

‘’I am sorry, Harrison. I got carried away. Please …’’

‘’I should be saying sorry but I will not do it. I owe no one an apology for kissing you, Clarita. Not even you. Stay a bit longer, I know I am one annoying person, I don’t deserve you being in this car with me but I am grateful that you are either way. One thing though, I will never regret kissing you. Thank you for kissing me back.’’ Just that word ‘kissing me back’ makes me feel ashamed. I think I should follow Janet’s advice and loosen up a little bit. I am being too rigid with myself. He cups my cheeks with two of his warm palms when I stay too long without responding to him. ‘’Beautiful, allow me to take you home, let me introduce you to my family as a friend.’’

‘’Really?’’

‘’Yeah, really.’’

‘’What do I have to do?’’

‘’Absolutely nothing. Just be present for me and all shall be well.’’ When he says that, my mind rushes to the fact that these aren’t poor people. They have a fucking ranch and that makes them absolutely rich. I wish I could say no but I am already deep in this shit and stepping back would be a no.

‘’You know I am not up to your standard. I am not even your friend. I am not your match at all. You should …’’

‘’Hey, stop that.’’ He says gently and quietly and my heart warms at that. ‘’I don’t need you to be of any standard. I don’t want a match of any kind so long as my heart matches yours. Please don’t speak that way.’’ I feel as if there is sadness lacing his voice. I didn't say anything out of this world though.

‘’You know I am saying the truth, don’t you know?’’

‘’I don’t care if you are saying the truth or not. I just want a friend, a genuine, honest and one who doesn’t judge anyone.’’

‘’I don’t remember accepting your friend request. Are you going to lie to them that I am your friend?’’ he shakes his head unbelievably.

‘’Go back to your seat,’’ he says and I jump out of his laps to my seat. I strap and fasten my seat belt as he clips his which he had unbuckled. He steps on the gas without uttering a word and I go back to viewing the outside world.

So amazing. I want to tour the world when I grow up.

Isn’t life crazy or something? A few weeks ago, I didn’t even know that this guy existed, today, I am feeling funny. I think I should get checked or something. The rate at which my life is changing is alarming. No one, absolutely no one would prefer their lives to go through such drastic changes.

‘’Are you crazy or something? You know you can get us killed at this rate?’’ he isn’t driving at a higher speed or something close to it. He is just doing it with moderation but I hate the stretch of silence that is cooking in the car. It makes the car unnecessarily hot.

‘’Am I really at high speed?’’ I shake my head with a smile. ‘’Keep smiling, beautiful. Don’t be mean with that smile. It is the best smile ever. I want to see it all the time, I want you to maintain it, I want to bring it but if it has been there, then I want to make sure it remains.’’ He explains. I am sure he lost me somewhere in the middle of that sentence but that’s okay.

‘’Why would you want me to keep smiling?’’

‘’Because I have realized that you have the most beautiful smile, you rarely smile but when you bring it out, it warms my heart and makes me smile as well.’’

‘’All the best with your smile maintenance mission, Mr. Harrison.’’ I say sarcastically.

‘’Thank you, Clarita.’’ I roll my eyes internally when he says that.

After a short drive, we get to this serene, tranquil and one of the leafiest suburbs ever. These people live a good life. I don’t think I fit in this community.

They live, while we in the village survive.

I thought Aliana’s house was big, man! This one here is double or maybe triple big. I can see it from outside. I have never been to such places.

Let’s hope that his people will let a poor human being like me to enter their posh home. I hope against all hopes that they will not send me away like some beggar.

‘’Come back home, beautiful.’’ He startles me when he says that. I turn to look at him and he is smiling sweetly. ‘’Don’t overthink, don’t overdo anything, just do completely nothing. Leave everything to me because I will be there with you the whole time. By your side, okay? Then you can tell me where you want to go after this.’’

I am glad it is my off day because this means I will spend it lushly and sumptuously. He opens his door and hops out of the car then walks round to my side. He opens my door and I skip out sacredly. I even feel guilty stepping on the grass. It is well-groomed and I can bet one of my fingernails that I have never seen such sweet grass.

His hand snakes my waist and even though that’s making me a million times uncomfortable, I don’t try to push it away because it is the only way he can convince his people that he and I are friends.

I don’t support the idea but hey, he is one of the few people who I know in this city. I don’t trust him but I don’t distrust him either. He doesn’t make me rush, he is keeping to my pace and I am really grateful to whoever created this dude.

‘’Hello family,’’ he calls loudly when we get closer to the house. He rings the doorbell and less than two seconds later, I hear footsteps. A beautiful young lady, almost my age opens the door five minutes later.

‘’Hi sir,’’ she says to him. Turns to give me a slight smile which I don’t have to be a genius to know that is forced and not genuine. She is in a blue and white striped short dress. I think short dresses are the norm in the city. People are walking around half-naked but with what I have figured out, they seem not to care.

He nods at her and pulls me gently deeper inside the room.

‘’Welcome, son.’’ A beautiful, elegant, middle-aged woman who I assume to be his mum says. She sneers openly at me but I respond with a sweet smile. I don’t mean to be rude but I know some times it is good to let people fathom the situation by themselves.

A man who is almost dad’s age stands up and extends a hand to me and I do the same for a handshake. In the few seconds that I have been standing here I have discovered who that his mum doesn’t like me, it is evident.

‘’Who is this young girl, son?’’

‘’She is my friend. Her name is Clarita. She …’’

‘’Cla … what? Where does she come from?’’

‘’Actually, ma’am, my name is Clara,’’ I say politely.

‘’Where do you come from?’’

I just came from the …’’

‘’Um … that isn’t necessary, mum.’’ Harrison comes to my rescue as he pulls motions me to sit on the available couch. I hesitate for a second but he insists. I lower myself into the posh couch and I catch the similar sneer on his mum’s face.

She hates me and it's obvious.

After minutes of chit chat, I ask Harry discretely to take me back to Aliana’s. He agrees and we bid goodbye to them.

I spare his mum a sweet smile and wave briefly to his dad as Harrison leads the way out.