CHAPTER TWENTY THREE 23
WHEN THE PHONE CHIMES, THE HEART BEATS
Rita's POV
“Again Rita, I will be confessing my feelings for you for the third time” Finn resumed, breaking the unpleasant silence between us in his car.
I cleared my throat in an awkward way when he placed his fingers on mine while he drove with the other hand.
“I love you so much Rita, what are you gonna do about it” He said
“I don’t know” I swear, that slipped way too fast outta my tongue. But seriously, I do not know what to do about his sudden feelings for me, it’s not even mutual.
“I guess i’ll just give you enough time to think about it. When next I talk about my feelings, I would be asking you out right away and I won’t take no for an answer” He said.
I looked at him, cringed and puffed out heavily.
“Oh no, I do not mean it that way. I’m not forcing you” He added, yet I didn’t say anything. I sat upright and gawked through the window instead.
“You are not comfortable around me” Atlas he figured out.
“I.. I am. I am comfortable around you” I replied, avoiding not to stumble over the words.
“No. My presence has always made you uncomfortable since day one. I meant since before I became your boss”
Oh no! We’re not going back there.
“Well, we’re getting along now, aren’t we?” I managed to say.
“No dear, you are faking it” He suddenly pulled the brake, packing his car by the roadside, then he adjusted to face me squarely.
Oh no!
“I am no fool Rita. I know you do not like me one bit, talk more of love even in your fake intimate interaction with me, it shows it all”
I saw a hint of anger on his face and I shuddered, he noticed it
“Listen Rita, calm down. You don’t have to be scared of me anymore” He added.
“Oh geez, I caused this" He swept his front hair to the back and groaned coldly.
“Rita, I want you to be genuinely free with me, don’t fake it. In as much as I want us to be cool, don’t force yourself to be comfortable around me”
“Are you regretting that you stooped so low to my level? You are the boss and iam an ordinary employee”
“No. No one is stopping low … whatever. I am only telling you what I have observed so far” He responded.
“Well, looks like the fake intimacy has brought about our friendship afterall” I deduced and he grinned.
“I promise I won’t be harsh on you anymore and I won’t fire you. Please be comfortable” He pleaded. I observed a hint of sincerity in his voice and even the look in his eyes.
His smile was so contagious, that I finally put on a smile.
He started the car and drove me home, straight up.
“Do not forget about what I have discussed with you” He reminded me when we arrived at my place and he opened the car door for me to alight.
I squinted my eyes, evoking on what it was because we literally just concluded our discussion and there’s nothing to worry about or think of.
“I’m talking about my love for you, think about it” He recalled.
“I’m yet to like you as a friend but you keep reminding me that you have feelings for me” I murmured, he didn’t hear what I said because he was on his way back to the driver’s seat.
I faked a smile and waved bye, as I watched him drive away before walking into my house.
Poor Finn, there is no room my heart for him.
Instead I recalled the sweet dream I had earlier today and I couldn’t wait to tell Zane about it. I dailed his number right away.
“Hey baby boo” I voiced into the phone.
“Hi love, uhm can I call you back later. I’m caught up with something at that the moment” He said.
“Take your time baby” I disconnected the call, smiling to myself and swaying around the room happily.
I’m sure that this dream has just revealed that Zane and I are meant to be together. Somehow, I just feel so sure that we’re fated. I have never ever dreamt about Jared or perhaps, I only had this dream because I love Zane so much and he’s been in my head all day. He deprived me from having a good sleep during the night only for me to have a replacing long nap during the day just to dream about him. And it was not just a random dream, we got married!
My phone chimed and I picked it up swiftly thinking it was Zane but it was my mom.
“Hello mommy” I said into the phone; grinning from ear to ear.
I knew that she called me to query as usual.
“Rita, my lonely daughter” She mocked and I scoffed. “ Funny how I still share the same last name with my own grown up daughter”
“How are you and how is Dad?” I changed the topic immediately.
“We are fine. Except that we’ve never heard from our daughter in a long time now just because she is married to her Job”
“Oh mom..”
“Your Dad and I are paying you a visit during the weekend” She suddenly announced.
“What? Mom, I am not having anymore meetings with you guys”
“We really need to talk to you Rita!”
“I know right? about finding a partner”
“What’s delaying you! You are twenty seven for crying out loud!” She hollered.
“Mom! I have a boyfriend now” I announced in the same tone.
“Haha, you just said that to shut me up!”
“Seriously mom, his name is Zane and we’re still trying to figure ourselves out and a whole lot of things before discussing about marriage” I informed her.
“You’re serious!” She exclaimed. “ So when are we meeting this Zane?”
Huh.. I haven’t even met him yet.
“Uhm.. mom, In addition to what I have just said, when it’s time I’ll definitely introduce you to him” I said.
“Okay! We’ve got a wedding to plan and that’s what matters”
“So uhm.. you are not visiting me during the weekend anymore, right?”
“Of course not darling. Take good care of yourself and my regards to Zane” Oops! I don’t think she will ever ever forget that name.
I hung up the call.
Not quite long, Zane called me back like he promised, I told him everything that happened at work, we discussed about other random stuffs and laughed over it. As usual, we switched from call to chat, and chat to call discussing about everything.
******
To Be Continued