“What the hell are you doing here?” I asked with a hint of annoyance as I entered Kei’s private room. “Why did you come here?” I wasn’t really annoyed, I was flustered, actually.
He stood up and pulled out a chair for me. I sat down straight and sipped the coffee in front of him. I didn’t finish mine when I found out he was here spreading rumors that I’m his wife. I came here immediately. Flash would probably be proud of how quickly I got here.
“This is the address you gave me, so I came here. Have you forgotten, wife?” I closed my eyes in frustration. Luckily, we were in the room. My hand moved on its own and I slapped him. “What the fuck, aww!”
“You’re so annoying. What wife are you talking about? I’ll really hit you, you’re so annoying, acting like a man!” I shouted and slapped him again.
“Wait, wait,” he backed away slightly so I couldn’t hit him again. “But it’s true, isn’t it? This was the address you gave me, so of course, I came here.”
“How would I know you were coming?”
“What do you think I am, after searching for you for so long, and when I finally found you, I’d just let you go?” I looked at him and sighed, then leaned back and looked at the fish swimming freely in the aquarium. At least they’re just waiting for their feed.
I looked back at him, he was just staring at me. I straightened up from my leaning position and rested both my elbows on the table. “, if you’re just messing with me, or playing a prank, please stop. I don’t know if I’ve told you this before, but I don’t have parents anymore. I’m the only one my two siblings rely on. I’m the eldest, and I’m putting them both through school. I don’t have a job, I can’t find one, you won’t get anything from me, so please,” I looked him straight in the eyes, “Stop messing with me.”
He didn’t answer, and it seemed like he didn’t expect me to say that to him. Did I hit him right? So, he’s really just messing with me, that’s fine. It’s better for him to stay away. Even though I saw our names listed as Mr. and Mrs. Spencer, I won’t allow him to play with me that easily.
“Wow,” that’s the first thing he said. “Interesting woman.” He mimicked my earlier position, so our faces were almost inches apart from each other. “I didn’t know this is what you were thinking. I searched for you everywhere, and all you thought was that I was messing with you? Listen,” he leaned closer to me, but I didn’t back down, I didn’t want to lose, “I am a busy guy, people were coming after me, they need me, but unfortunately, I don’t need anyone to build myself, so, y-“
“That’s it then, you don’t need anyone,” I cut him off, standing up because I couldn’t handle the tension between us anymore. It’s not fun anymore. “Good thing you said it, you know the way out right? I’m leaving first.”
I didn’t let him say anything else, because he might say something else, I know he’s rich, but I can still work, I’m not disabled, I’m picky even if I’m not that pretty, at least I know where my money will come from.
I don’t want to rely on other people, I don’t need him, nor his money. As long as I’m alive, I’ll make my own decisions in life and take care of my siblings.
———
“Eli, where are you going? Why are you so dressed up?” I just smiled at Dan while he was still busy typing on his laptop. I bought that as a gift last year because his grades were really good, consistently on the dean’s list, just like Jane.
“I’m going to be a business woman now. We’re meeting the supplier of the soaps I’ll be selling. This is the business I chose to do. Lady helped me get cheap supplies for the soaps I’ll be using.”
“Wow, good luck, sis,” I smiled when he gave me a thumbs up, which I returned.
“Where did you get the capital, sis, did Kei lend you some?” Jane suddenly asked, holding a glass she got from the kitchen, sitting neatly on the sofa.
“Nope, I used my savings first, I’m sure it will come back, I studied first before spending any money,”
“That’s good, Eli, take care,”
I nodded and grabbed my bag and left the condo, because I didn’t have a car, I just took a taxi, way too expensive, than being late for our meeting. I believe in first impressions, they last.
When I arrived at the coffee shop, Lady and our supplier weren’t there yet, “Wew, good thing I’m not late for our appointment,” because we still have twenty minutes left, I ordered pancakes and coffee. I’m sure they’ll arrive before my coffee gets cold, we agreed that Lady will pick up the supplier after the payment, then we’ll meet here.
I’m so excited. I used my savings for this, I put everything there to make the money circulate, even if it’s small, at least it’s moving, there’s profit.
Ever since then, we’ve had a business, Mama also taught me because that’s where their money came from and they got rich, I just didn’t follow because so many things happened to us, and I couldn’t just spend money recklessly. I’ve been saving since college, and that’s enough for me to start a business.
I’ll just have to wait for them.
But why, why do I feel like this?