I stare incredulously at Mom. Knitting my brows together. I had clearly and certainly told her when she asked that we met at a party, and he asked me out on a date. What more does she want to know? Numerous retorts are on the tip of my tongue. They want to use my relationship as a dinner table discussion now?
Mom and her husband were now pushing Freddy to speak with their eyes. I hastily replied before Freddy could speak. "We met at a friend's party. Had drink together. And then he asked me out on our first date."
Freddy consolidates my statement as the thoughtful guy he is. "Yes. That's true. I've had a crush on her for a long time." He says with a sheepish smile. Damn. He is a good actor too. "I was scared to approach her. When I finally got the courage too, I learned that she also had a crush on me too."
God. That was too much. Too much fake-planation.
"Awwwn. That's so cute. It's almost like us." Mom glances at Richard.
"Exactly honey." Richard agrees. "The right person is never difficult to find. It always works out if it is meant to be."
Right person my ass. There is no right person in this world. I strongly believe that. A maid comes in and whispers something in Mom's ear. The only thing I hear in their hushed whisper exchange was "let her in" I tried not to be curious and not think of it. But then minutes later, someone was brought in. Someone who has no business in being here whatsoever. I blinked severally to be sure that I was seeing right. I am seeing right. Clad in a glittery red trumpet gown and channeling all of her queenly aura into the environment is.....
"Solange? What are doing here?" I asked surprisedly.
"Surprise!" She says cheerfully. Surprise? This is a not a good surprise.
"I invited her. I needed to know your new friends sweetie." Mom answers.
I really want to berate her right now. But it won't help. She has already done it. Sighs! She might as well have just invited the whole college lots. I have lost my appetite. I had planned on trying out every single dish. But now I am picking at the shrimps on my plate because my stomach is full and laden with displeasure. Mom and Richard were making small talks with Solange. Turns out he knows her dad too. Solange was going on about how great of friends we are. When in the actual reality that is weeks ago we very much dislike each other. She disliked my closeness with Dylan. But with Freddy now in the picture she is fully convinced that I don't have eyes on her boyfriend. That is what made her my friend now and the happiest of my relationship with Freddy. I find her to be not much of a terrible person. She is just competitive and territorial about things and people that she likes. I wish she channels those qualities into her studies. If there is anything beyond worse, that is what would be used to describe her academics.
I stand up, walking away from the table. Mom asks me where I am going and I tell her that I will be right back. I won't be. My plan is to head outside and text Freddy to come meet me there. The rest of them can go through with the dinner. Once outside, I texted Freddy to come meet me by the peacock fountain. I sit on the bench there waiting. I rub my palm over my exposed arm and shoulders to radiate some warmth because of how cold the night air is. I see a car driving into the compound. The tires screeches to a halt a few meters away from the bench. I put my hand in front of my eyes to shield it from the glazing headlights. I feel like I should have hidden in the rosebush so that whoever it is would not see me. The engines roars down. The headlights turned off as well. A tall figure steps out of the car, closing the door behind him. Even if the entire mansion wasn't lit on every corner, and the place was dark, I still would have been able to recognize this silhouette. His legs in black denim pants are the first thing in my line of sight. Then his build, and his hairstyle. As if sensing my gaze on him, he pauses on making his way into the house and looks in my direction. I could not see his eyes because of the distance of several meters between us. But I can sense his confusion. And he can sense mine too. "Little Whore?" I let out a gasp. "What are you doing here Elion?" I asked him. "I should be the one asking. What are you doing in my damn home, little whore?"
"I told you not to call me th--"
"Fucking answer the question!" I flinched at the venom in his tone. I know he sees me as a pest and someone to annoy but he has never spoken to me so harshly before. It caught me off guard.
"Don't tell me you that slut golddigger's daughter?"
How does he know that? Wait. Don't tell me he is...
"I asked you a question!"
"What is your problem, Mayers?" I snarl. "You just come out of nowhere and start pouring fire on me and calling my mother a golddigger? Your mom is the slut golddigger!"
"What did you just say?" His voice is calm, but there is something beneath it—a threat. Like predators beneath still water. Not seeing his eyes that are no doubt glowering at me right now does a wee bit in curbing my fear. I swallow a a scared lump in my throat. No. As mad as I am for him insulting my mom, I will not be a fool and repeat the words. Instead I blurt, "Who are you to call my mother a golddigger, huh?"