Chapter 17: Chapter 17

Chapter 17.

It hurts to be poor, it hurts to look like shit. To be in the midst of polished and well-groomed men and women. To be where you don’t belong, to try owning what isn’t yours and finally, it really hurts when you try to fit and you don’t have the moral support that you really need.

The hate burning in that woman’s eyes was real. It was evident and trust me, if my little village self could notice that, then it means the people in that home saw it more than I did.

I wonder why some people are rich, others poor and others just there, somewhere in the middle. If only I looked like one of them, then I wouldn’t have felt out of place. She made sure that my stay there was nothing but uncomfortable, awkward and edgy.

That woman back there looked at me with repulse, aversion, distaste, and disgust. To her, how could her son bring home a poor creature who cannot even afford to wear decently? How could he become friends with someone as poor as me? Is he normal in his head or is something lacking somewhere?

Fat warm lone teardrops from my right eye when I remember trying to offer her my hand for a handshake and she rejected. She walked away with a sneer on her face.

She is in her own world where other people are not found.

Just her.

‘’We’re here.’’ He notes quietly and I wipe the tear using the back of my palm before turning slowly to look at him. I hadn’t even realized that he had stopped driving. I was way too swallowed in my reverie and trance that I didn't hear him stop. His eyes shoot wide open and his mouth hangs open too when he takes in my wet eyes. He shakes his head unbelievably before he decides to speak. ‘’You are crying, Clarita. Are you okay?’’

Is he honestly asking me if I am okay? Is he mad or something? He saw how his mum treated me back at their home and he didn’t even notice that it hurts?

Anyway, I understand. He’s been brought up in this plushy and ritzy life where there is no rejection. No going hungry. People choose what to eat and they go on vacations while I have never known such. I am the complete opposite of the same. He fits in the society so well that he must be wondering why I couldn’t fit back there.

I scan the area and I realize that he has not taken me back to Aliana’s. Maybe he decided to take me somewhere else. He is treating me like a toddler who can not make decisions on their own.

‘’Where are we? What are we doing here?’’ I ask in a raspy voice

‘’Should I respond to the where or the what?’’

‘’Respond to both,’’ I said in a bored tone.

‘’I wanted to take you back to the ranch, I want you to keep learning how to ride a horse but I figured out that you could be hungry so we are at this restaurant where you and I will bite something before I take you to the ranch.’’ He pauses for a few seconds. ‘’Did I answer your questions?’’

I nod at him. ‘’You did.’’

‘’Hey, stop being sad. I am here for you. I know you somehow rejected my friend request, you didn’t say no or yes. I know you will be my friend someday, but let me be your friend okay?’’ no response.

‘’She hates me, Harry.’’

‘’Who?’’

‘’Your elegant, worldly and sophisticated mother hates me, Harrison. She didn’t even shake my dirty and rough village hands. She sneered in pure disgust when I offered it to her. She looked at me like I am missing the whole point and yeah, I truly am missing the point here. What would a great man like you be doing with a lawless, anarchic and turbulent person like me? Don’t you have …’’

‘’Someone more sophisticated to introduce to them? I am not going to tell you this one more time. You either stick around or stick around. I may know so many people with who I can do this with but you remain my choice. You are the one I choose. My decision remains and I know you can do nothing to get away from me.’’

‘’You think so?’’ I ask my stare capturing his.

He shakes his head. ‘’I don’t think so, I know so.’’

‘’Fine, watch me do this.’’ I don’t wait for him to open the car door for me. I am becoming wiser, opening the door to me is one step ahead. I didn’t know how to do it but today I just did it. I will not go far because I have no tiniest idea where I am.

I boom the door behind me. Then I make several steps towards what I presume to be the gate. I hear his door being pealed but I don’t turn to look behind. The gateman is looking at me like what the hell am I doing in such a fancy place. Actually, I think this whole thing is just in my head. Maybe he just has good intentions in his looks.

I follow his line of sight when I realize he isn’t acting beside me struggling to get the door open and I am surprised to know that he is just a few feet away from catching up with me. He looks serious and for a millisecond, I cower.

His strides towards me are sure, his gaze is seeing through my heart and I have nowhere to hide. I cannot pull away from my gaze because I want to see what the shimmering in his eyes is predicting. I try to move back but he is already winding and spiraling my waist with his long arms.

I relax when I realize that I will not be able to free myself.

‘’That’s not what I meant. You can’t walk away from me, Clarita. Please!’’ I feel guilty for walking away from him. Where would I go anyway? I am green in this city and I don’t understand any corner of it.

Well, how he manages to convince me to go back with him to his upmarket car is still a mystery to me. I am seated on his laps and he is telling me stories. He tells me how his mum is a no-nonsense woman, literally confirming my suspicion. He also tells me how his dad is a successful businessman and a professional doctor who is more understanding than his mum. A good person who will always give you a piece of advice wholeheartedly.

We are eating some food whose name I cannot even remember despite him having told me two times. I don’t bother asking again because it is finger-licking. He took a take away for us and now we are having it in his car. I am very careful not to spill over any foods to the fancy car. Occasionally, he gives me a piece from his fork, I flush terribly but I still end up eating it anyway.

He must be wondering what a glutton I am because he is really stealing glances. I clear my share real quickly and when he offers, I don’t hesitate to take a part of it.

So unladylike right?

I thought so too.

My heart is really excited, and I just want to stay here forever. In this position. That’s not possible though, I have to work and work hard to make sure that I am taking care of myself the best way possible.

We head to the Ranch after that and I can bet anything in this world that I have never had an enjoyable day. He convinces me to accept his friend request and I do. He says his mum can be so annoying at times but also says I shouldn’t feel intimidated by her attitude.

That’s gonna be very complicated but I will try.

Then he takes me back to madam Aliana’s house.

‘’Thank you for spending time with me.’’

‘’Thanks too. I had a great time.’’

‘’I am happy that the feeling is mutual, I did have one of those times I feel are the greatest times. Thanks once again.’’ I nod at him. Take care of yourself, my friend.’’ He says as he gets out and opens the door for me. ‘’You are the most beautiful company ever.’’ I don’t know if I should say thank you or just keep quiet. I choose the latter. He is or maybe could be making fun of me for all I know.

He drives off and I watch his car until it disappears before I walk straight inside the house. I walk straight inside the house and I stealthily walk to our bedroom.

Janet is arranging some clothes and humming some nice songs. I like the tune and I will ask her to teach me how to sing it later.

‘’Hey,’’ she jumps high when I greet her.

‘’You scared me, Clara! Why the hell would you wanna do that?’’

‘’I missed you too thank you, girlfriend,’’ I tell her sarcastically and she rolls her eyes visibly then she laughs loudly.

‘’Your cousin was here, and she promised to come back.’’ Right on cue, the doorbell rings and I stand to go get the door. Tabby walks in looking all cute. She is quite relaxed. She hugs me tightly before deciding to walk past me, towards our bedroom.

‘’Let it out, babe. You have been so absent in my life that I am wondering if you and I are still cousins or maybe even friends.’’ she doesn’t look happy.

‘’Hey, you promised to be here today and here you are. What would you like to hear?’’ I ask her politely as I follow her to the bedroom. She flops her hips on the edge of the bed after saying hi to Janet and I follow suit.

I sit cross-legged in my bed facing her directly. Janet moves to my bed too and I know what that means. I am going to be grilled right about now.

‘’What are you and that Harry guy up to?’’ Janet takes the opportune moment to ask the question which I dread so much. I don’t want to respond to that because it is even I don’t know what we are up to. I cannot respond to it because that super mysterious guy, doesn’t say anything except wanting my friendship.

I don’t know what that’s going to help him with.

‘’Speak up, babe. Do you know you are even drifting away from me, just because of that Harry guy?’’ this sounds serious.

‘’How did you find out, darling.’’

‘’I am serious, babe. You and Harry are making me worried, I want to know if I still have your friendship. If not, I would like to make you bring it back because I cannot live without it.’’ we all laugh at that.

‘’Relax. You and I, nothing will ever separate us, okay? Harry took me to see his parents.’’

‘’He what? What are the two of you? A boy and a girlfriend? Are you dating? Are you gonna get married sometime soon? Are you two …’’ I cut her off. The questions are becoming too many.

‘’Nothing close to that he just wanted me to know where he lives and introduce me to his parents as a friend.’’

‘’A friend? Stop being too naïve, Clara! For that guy to introduce you to whoever, he must be having very concrete reasons. Please understand them before you go doing things that may come to haunt you, later.’’

‘’Like what?’’

‘’You’ve only known him for like what ….. A few weeks? Does that make you wanna know his people?’’

‘’I don’t like his vibes.’’

‘’You sound jealous.’’

‘’Tell me how that sounds.’’ She says jokingly. ‘’Now, I want to know about the family.’’ I take my sweet time telling them everything about the family and how welcoming the dad was. I don’t live any details out at all.

‘’His dad is so civilized, unlike the mother. She is almost as arrogant and conceited as her son. After all that, he took me to a big restaurant bought a takeaway lunch, and then to the ranch. To be honest, I have never been as happy as I was today.’’

‘’I am happy for you, babe. I don’t have to be super intelligent to know that you are smitten. Be careful, baby girl.’’

‘’What do you mean I am smitten?’’

‘’You are in love.’’

‘’In your dreams,’’ I tell her and when I glance at Janet, she is looking at us blankly. She seems to have nothing at all to talk about.

‘’Keep convincing yourself. Anyway, good luck, babe.’’ I smile when she says that. I don’t know if I am in love as she claims. I have never fallen in love before so, being in love with Harrison the great is some sort of history, right?

What do I have to do with that rich guy? Nothing completely.

‘’How do people feel when they are in love?’’

‘’The way you are feeling right now, look at yourself blushing and reddening all the way when his name is mentioned. Don’t beat yourself about it though, it is normal to fall in love but be very careful, okay?’’ I don’t want to agree with her but I nod either way as she turns to hug me.

‘’Clara!’’ Madam Aliana calls from the living room and we all exchange a knowing look before I stand on my feet to go see her.