Love At Last

FEELING OF DESPONDENCY

The next morning, I woke up feeling alive for a change. I had high hopes for the day and a number of things I hoped to sort out of which clearing the misunderstanding with Lily was one of them. I got off bed and carried on with my morning routine as usual.

After I was done with getting ready, I set out with Lily’s shop as my choice of destination. While I drove down there, I pondered on what I was going to say, if I was going to say sorry first or wait for her to say sorry first. After a while of duelling with the voice in my head, I gave it up and just saved my strength for when I saw Lily.

On arriving at her shop, I walked in and sat at a corner, waiting for someone to approach me or better still, for Lily to make an appearance. In no time, one of her staffs approached me – the smallish looking lady that came up to me the last time.

“Hello?” I greeted cheerfully and she smiled. She recognized me instantly.

“What is your order going to be today? Same as last time?” she joked, not necessarily expecting me to say ‘yes’ but I did…

“Bingo!” I affirmed. “I’ll have the same thing as last time,” I was referring to Lily.

“Ummm…,”

“What?”

“I’m sorry your order won’t be available today,” she said politely.

“Why? Isn’t she in?”

“No, she isn’t.”

“She isn’t?” I was asked with a perplexing tone.

“No,” she repeated.

“Any idea where she went to?”

“I really don’t know. I haven’t seen her today.”

“Oh okay, thank you.” I said not to bother her again.

“Nothing else?”

“Not really,” I shook my head slowly.

“Okay. I’ll be inside then.” She walked away.

I stood up and made my way to Lily’s house hoping she was going to be home since the lady said she’d not come to the shop the whole day.

It only took a measly amount of seconds for my hopes to be dashed on getting to her house.

“So she’s not at home also?!” I exclaimed.

“No, she went out,” Mrs. Anie repeated for the umpteenth time.

“Where could she have gone then? Ma’am did she by any chance inform you of her whereabouts?” I asked meekly.

“No she didn’t.”

“Any idea of where she could be? Is any phase of the competition happening today?” I asked consecutively.Content property of NôvelDra/ma.Org.

“Not really but…,” she paused to think.

“But?” I was hopeful something useful came to mind.

“She left earlier with someone who came over to pick her up,” she revealed.

“With someone?”

“I’m certain of that much,” she affirmed.

“No idea of who this ‘someone’ is?” I pestered gently.

“No idea,” she shook her head affirmatively.

I decided not to bother the old lady with my interrogative questions anymore.

“Okay ma, I’ve heard you. Do you mind if I wait for her?” I requested.

“Not at all,” she consented.

“Uncleeee….,” Jared came running from inside the house.

“Hey there Lil man,” I decreased my height – by kneeling – to match his and welcomed him into my embrace. “How are you doing?” I played with him.

“Seems you’re not going to be bored while you wait,” Mrs. Anie chuckled. She was clearly referring to my new partner – Jacek. “I’ll be inside,” she announced and walked inside.

“I’m doing good!” he replied all giggly.

“I have this new game on my device, you’re definitely going to love it.” I kept Jacek on my lap and played with him.

For the next one hour, Jacek was my company. He helped my stay a lot by keeping me company and not letting me feel bored, which in turn urged me to keep waiting irrespective of the fact that I’d been waiting for one full hour already.

I checked my wristwatch again and it was already one hour, forty -five minutes gone! I tried calling Lily for the umpteenth time but her phone was still switched off. ‘Where could Lily have gone? I told myself that if I waited for an extra fifteen minutes and she still wasn’t anywhere to be seen, I’ll take my leave.

Fifteen minutes later, like I said, I wanted to leave then since Lily wasn’t yet back but my lil company didn’t seem to be fund of the idea. “It’s okay, lil one. I’ll come over some other time and take you away with me , okay?” I consoled.

“I don’t want you to go,” he cried out stressing the latter part of his statement. I felt sorry leaving him behind but I just had to go; I had other activities to attend to. Just when I was about to call Mrs. Anie and inform her I was leaving, I heard rattling sounds of keys from the other end of the door like someone was trying to get in. There was no need for assumptions, it was clearly Lily.

She opened the door from outside and walked in. “Lil…,” just when I was about to exclaim, someone else followed suit behind her. On seeing the intruder, my spirit was downed yet again. I really didn’t expect to see Lily walk in with him – the annoying guy who insulted me at the play park!

“Cayden?” she called but was interrupted by Jacek who greeted her. She cuddles Jacek and asks him to go inside for a second. She turned her attention to me again. She looked fazed; she was taken aback by the sight of me. “Have you been waiting for me?” she asked.

‘Never mind that, missy. Why is this guy walking in with you?’ I said in my head.

“Never mind that, ma’am. Why’s this guy with you?” I voiced.

“Ma’am? Does he work at your bakery?” he asked Lily. “Nice to meet you,” he beckoned for a handshake of which I seemed the least interested in.

“Worker?” I scoffed.

“He doesn’t work for me. He’s just a friend,” she babbled causing me to stare at her in dismay; I felt really hurt.

To think I waited for Lily to come home while she probably just had fun with the same guy that led to us having a squabble the previous day.

“He doesn’t?”

“No,” Lily shook her head.

“My bad then,” he returned his hand to his pocket.

“Cayden you’ve been here all along?”

“I waited for you, Lily,” I replied, heartbroken.

“For me? Why?”

I really wasn’t in the mood to even look at her, let alone talk to her, I was utterly disgusted. I walked out of the house, ignoring Lily’s calls.

I spent quality time I would have used to so something meaningful hoping to patch things up with Lily but she not only shattered my hopes, she squashed my spirit completely. I was too devastated and downhearted at the time to even think straight. The other plans of the day were jeopardized completely – it was an irrefutable fail!

That evening, still drowning in sadness, I headed out for a drink or two; I intended to get myself drunk actually in a bid to ease the throbbing pain I felt. I went clubbing and purchased drinks and ladies. I bought enough to knock me out for the night and as for the ladies, I paid them to just lay by me even though I initially intended to have real fun – sex.

We – I and the Ladies – came home with all the drinks I got from the club and drank stupendously. Before we knew what was up, we were completely knocked out – my goal had been achieved.

The next morning, I woke up with a piercing headache.

“Arghhh…!!” I groaned as I held unto my head tightly. I tried to spread myself out on the bed but instead of feeling the entirety of my duvet, I felt bodies! I turned to my side and saw two women who laid on each side of the bed half naked. I instantly remembered what happened the previous night – that I was the one who invited the ladies in.

“Wake up, wake up,” I shook them aggressively. The sight I beheld was rather appalling now that I was all sobered up. “Get up!” I kept tapping the two violently.

“Good morning handsome,” one of them tried to touch my face when I hit her hand off and ordered them to get up and leave.

After the house was rid of the ladies, I finally had some peace and quiet to think – about Lily of course. It became pretty obvious I was completely smitten by her. I had fallen for her but she didn’t seem to like me in the tiniest way, seeing how she went around causing me needless pain. I felt instantly disgusted at myself – the ladies’ man – for falling head over heels for a woman who wasn’t shaken my me.