“I know you know you wouldn’t even try such,” that look wipes off Audriana's face, she knows she can’t even try such a thing.
It wasn’t even about her parents getting mad, but they would be scared...like her Mum, she can’t afford to let what happened the other time happen again. She still feels bad for what happened.
“I know and that’s the problem, my guilt will eat me up...not a daredevil like you” she poked Sofia's side.
“Yeah, yeah...but you are aware marriage is a lifetime thing? But wait… will there be a divorce? We agreed on no divorce, remember?” Sofia asks many questions.
“I know, okay...I hope there will be, even though I will be breaking a vow I told myself I wouldn’t ever break”
“Okay, let’s stop talking about divorce” Sofia states in a final tone “What if you guys come to get along? What if you both finally fall for each other?” Sofia nudged her friend.
Audriana let out a short laugh “Me and that guy?” she asked with a scoff “Never, never...I agree he is good looking but not a husband material”
“His parents should know he isn’t the husband type, why then make my innocent friend suffer his wrath?” Sofia asked, still confused about her friend’s sudden marriage.
“His parents think a proper and decent woman can change their son from his wayward ways” she shrugged.
“And that decent woman is you. Strange” Sofia put more chips in her mouth “How about Philip? Does he know about what is going on now?”
“Nope, he texted then called minutes before you came” she paused for a while “Wants a second date...thinks I enjoyed the first which in all honesty I did but with how things are now I need to just end things with him and let him know, it would be way better to handle if I was the one who told him about my marriage...it would hurt if he heard it from someone else”
“Totally agree with you” Sofia crunched more chips “I really need some liquid down my throat but we need to make sure you’re all good before that”
“Thank you girl”
“I wonder why you are thanking me” Sofia playfully rolled her eyes.
Audriana let out a little laugh, she checked the bowl and saw that the bowl was almost empty, a frown formed on her face and she looked at her friend who was just munching the chips.
Sofia felt a gaze on her and stopped midway from putting the chip she scooped to her mouth, her mouth was hung open as she looked to her right at Audriana who had a little frown on her face.
She put the chips in her mouth and chewed “What?”
“You are eating this more than me, it's me who needs this more” Audriana states.
“Oh please I need it better, are you feeling good?”
“Yes I am, let’s get some drinks. My throat feels dry already” Audriana said and stood up, Sofia followed suit and they went downstairs.
***
Philip was waiting inside the Le Femour restaurant, which is located two blocks from the university he works in. He looked at his watch again… ’she’s taking too much time he thought.
Just as he raised his head to take a look at the door to check if she had arrived, she stepped into the restaurant in a simple pink floral dress just beneath her knees, her hair was tied up in a loose bun and she had a cream purse in her hand.
A smile formed on his face, it was like he was seeing her for the first time, she looked so beautiful. She was not wearing any makeup but looked radiant as always.
When she spotted him a small smile let its way to her lips and she walked up to him, he was looking great. He had his glasses on and his red hair was slightly gelled to the back, his red checkered shirt complimented his hair and concluded he looks good.
She sat down when she had reached his table, he kept looking at her in adoration, she could see it in his eyes...but it would be for a while once he heard what she was about to tell him.
“Hi Audri, you look beautiful as ever” Philip compliments when she is properly seated.
She blushed at the compliment “You look great also” she says.
“Thank you, would you like to order anything?” he asked her and raised his hand to call the waiter.
“Oh no, that won’t be necessary,” she stops him and he puts his hand down.
“Really? What about drinks? Water? Juice?” he asked
“No Philip, I appreciate your concern but I am fine...i...I just need to tell you something”
“Okay I am all ears,” he said then put his hands on the table resting his chin on his palm and looking into her eyes.
She sighs “Philip, we can’t see each other anymore” she states.
He let out a short laugh and crossed his hand then relaxed on the chair “What do you mean we can't be seeing each other? You mean we can’t look at each other or what are you trying to say?” he asked.
“I mean, whatever you may think is happening between us can’t go further than this, we have to stop...it’s for our good,” she says.
“Not seeing each other is good for both of us?”
“Philip, how do I explain this to you?” she sighs not knowing how to tell him that won’t sound upsetting.
“I am getting married, Philip in a few months” she let it out and watched his reaction.
He didn’t flinch or move a muscle, it was like he didn’t hear what she said, a frown formed on his face before he asked “getting married? To whom?”
“A man you don’t know, I am so sorry Philip...I would have to-”
“You’re getting married? How long have you guys been dating? How did you meet? Were you with someone else the time I took you on that date?” he asked, a look of disbelief written all over his face.
“I am so sorry Philip, I didn’t mean to lead you on or hurt you...please try to understand”
“No wonder you refused my advances all those times” he looked hurt.
“I am so sorry Philip, we...we had some issues and…” she trailed off looking down at her hand, unable to look at the hurt written on his eyes.
He sighs and looked away from her running his hand through his hair. Suddenly he stood up and her eyes followed him and he took another look at her before shaking his head and leaving her in the restaurant.
She sighed at how things turned out, not like she wasn’t expecting him to go ahead and say it’s cool… he had been chasing her for almost a year now, and knowing about this put him off.
She would have canceled when she got to know about her supposed marriage, maybe it wouldn't have given him hope of any sort. She just hopes everything will be okay.
She has to talk to him again, she doesn’t mind any backlash from him, he is her friend and she can leave him in that state, she stood up from the chair and made her way out of the restaurant.