"You're late", she began. Really? Can't you at least say thanks for coming?
"Am sorry...long cue at the fueling station..", I lied. I actually woke up late. Was working on another nut model last night so yeah... I didn't want the boss lady to know about it.
"Money over me?", she asked.
Definitely not! But how can I fulfill her hearts desire without money? That doesn't mean I don't love her,I do. Money will just help me show her how I really appreciate her. Whenever people go like love is love without money,sometimes I wonder. That phrase brings and gives birth to laziness in people. How on earth can you live without money? You need money to buy food,to pay water bills,electricity bills and even the rental fee. It all relies on money. So how can you live a happy life with all these? Under a tree,in the rainy season and starve to death? Probably not me. Work hard,earn money and spoil her. That's how it's done. The Omar way. I reached for a bag on the backseat and gave it to her. I asked her to open it and I was so shocked after I saw the expression on her face. I couldn't help but laugh. I was going to say it's just a hairpin but I knew that was poking the bees. I realised Prim really loved it even though she denied when I asked her back in the shop. I could see it on her face that she really loved it. And when she said no,I knew she was lying. For some reason she didn't tell me the truth and I didn't want to get pushy. I just decided to but it for her. If she wanted she'd wear it. If not,she'd probably give it to someone else.
"How goes it?", Liam asked pulling me from my thoughts. He knew I was lost in my thoughts again and he tried to be cool. I grinned and crushed a popcorn grain. He smiled and focused on the movie. I smiled after I figured the grin always worked.
It was a Tuesday and it meant movie night for me and Liam. It was our tradition to out everything aside and finally have some together time. As brothers. Check on each other and all. It was the same with when we used to live with his parents. Every Tuesday was movie night and as a family we'd sit together and watch a movie while crushing innocent caramel coated popcorn. After his parents moved to Florida,we decided to maintain the family tradition hoping they also did the same.
Likewise,every Tuesday was movie night at the orphanage. I really liked it because it served as a way of giving us a break from our pain and sorrow. Life at the orphanage was horrifying and I couldn't really believe that I was done with that place. I just had hope that it turned out well for the other kids that remained. After the movie was over, Liam and I went for a drive. A long drive and he was the one driving.
"I didn't like how the movie ended..", he began.
"...me too",I agreed although I had no idea of how the movie ended. I lost focus on what seemed to be the climax and confusion rained all over me. I kept on thinking of Prim the rest of the last half of the movie.
"I mean...what kind of soldier was Reuben leaving his brother in battle?", he asked.
"I know right?",I agreed. I was even nodding my head.
"Omar you know we were watching a chicklit and had no soldiers", he coughed and made a hairpin bend taking the road that lead to Sander's Camp side...
" Why are we going to Sanders?",I asked changing the topic. I knew I was caught. Red handed. I wasn't paying attention to the movie. Literally. I was off. Thinking about work,life and of course Prim.
"So...how goes it?", he asked changing the topic again. I just knew he was angry. Liam hated changing topics on him and the fact that I just did made him do it too to know just how much he hated it. Firstly,i didnt pay attention in the movie and now here i was changing topic. That was like adding paraffin to the kindle in him...sweet Liam. I kept quiet for some moments hoping he'd calm down and answer my question but to no avail. I guess I was the one left to swallow their pride and act like a real man and reply to his question.
"It's all good. Am all good. Work's good. Life is good. Prim's good. I just finished a nut model last of last night", I explained.
"Really? How much are we talking about now?",he asked curiously. He knew how much I loved money and how I loved spending it. My hardly earned money which I spend however I want.
"Two billion US dollars", I winked as I motioned to him my finger gun and shot. He laughed and I followed after him. I couldn't risk making Liam mad. I just couldn't risk it. He is one if those guys that look like a hungry lion when they're angry. The smooth face turns like a geography map full of contour lines demarcating the highlands and lowlands. Sometimes he'd get so angry that he'd even shake. In those moments,I'd just walk away from his midst lest he takes something and throws at me.
"Am proud of you man....",he smiled and slowly slowed down bringing us to a stop. I looked around and couldn't recognise the place. There was a perfectly built building that seemed to have not more than four floors. Cream paint and perfectly growing flowers all around it. It was really beautiful. I got out o the car and surveyed the place. I walked toward it and saw the signpost right next to the entrance. 'CASSANDRA'S PALACE'
Cassandra's Palace? Did this place belong to Liam? When did this all happen? Anger began to build up in me. I walked toward the signpost and read the tiny words right below the place's title. 'City of love'.
Okay....
"You like it?", he asked.
"Er....am not sure...what is this place?", I asked back.
"Remember my dream to built a rehabilitation centre? Well....not exactly a rehabilitation centre but just a place to change mindsets and create a whole new dimension of thinking...",
I gave him a quizzical look.
"...to help people with several health problems. To restore their hope and make their loves better like when they didn't have the disease. A realm of dreams and change. People are breaking out there. They have no hope,no expectation...just pain. So I thought why don't I build this place....and make it a place for them to find friends,family and interact...making their lives better... Be there for one another...through sorrow and joy", he explained. He kept looking at me hoping I'd say something motivating and in agreement but I somehow felt offended. I was one of his target persons. Liam must have been aroused to do this by me...somehow...the fact that I had a mental disorder made him do this. To make sure I meet reliable people that would help with my mental self that was constantly breaking down. He thought I was a threat that needed to be vanquished. He wanted to get rid of me. He didn't want people like me around everybody that's why he created this place to make us feel less of the world and more of the death zone. These people just don't understand. It takes someone like you to really understand you. I completely understand now. I turned around and was about to leave when Liam called me back.
"Man...already making your exit?",
" Yeah...",I replied clenching my fist. He must have seen it but he didn't seem to get intimidated.
"Omar I need your help with this place....",
" My help?",I cut him. Why did he need my help? He built this whole place alone and without me why would he need my help now? Oh Liam the Great.
"I need your support. You didn't say anything about this place. Don't you like it?",
" I don't know about that but I don't like the whole idea of this place. You're exposing people's private issues here...how many would like to come and announce to the world that they have health issues and need help with? Not many...people are afraid of being discriminated...afraid of being feared and stigmatized. Did you even think this through?", I asked completely losing it.
"Yes I thought this through. I wouldn't come this far of I didn't think it through. As far as your points are concerned,I thought about that. I addressed this issue among the American health council and they confirmed my idea. They liked it. We sent proposals to hospitals and different health sectors and they were willing to participate and help in whatever way possible",
" We??",I asked. We with who? I wasn't involved. Cass was obviously involved. Prim? Was Prim involved?
"Oh...Prim didn't tell you?", he asked uncomfortably.
" Oh my word",I rubbed my chin and lightly squeezed myself. "She knew?"
"Yeah...she's the one that motivated me to come up with all this and..",
"Hold up... For how long has this been in progress...?",I asked
"About a month now..."
"A month!? I didn't know their was a construction for a month??!!", I flared up.
"Omar am sorry but.."
"But what? You thought I wouldn't approve of it... You thought I wasn't in the right state of mind to hear all this,right?", I asked.
" No....that's not it..."
"Can we leave...please", I managed to murmur. When am angry,words become superfluous. No word can manage to express how the anger is making me feel so....I just murmur it out at my moments of strength at its peak. Without hesitation...Liam took me to his car and drove off.
" To Prim's restaurant... ",I told him.
" Aye aye",he replied.
The fact that he didn't fight with me kept my conscience high and apology glands ready to secrete apologetics. I was feeling bad. I wasn't there for him and this is how I repay him? This is how I act? This is how I behave? Not fair. Not fair Omar,not fair. I told myself that again and again. I noticed the car was moving very fast and it hit me I'd really hurt Liam. It's always be a dream of his since we were kids to come this far and now that he was finally going to live it,I decided to break it down for him to the very last stone. I was a meanie. A bad ill mannered grumpy rich handsome maniac! I didn't even bother stealing a glimpse and looking at Liam...I knew he was very mad and angry. The sad thing was he was on the wheel and it scared me that we may crash. I couldn't even talk to him about it. Fear was all over me like goosebumps.
"Um...", I uttered but just then he brought us into an emergency break and turned the car off.
"We're here",he said without even looking at me. He got out and speechlessly I followed his lead. We went into the coffee shop and found a busy Prim delivering orders. She smiled when she saw us and waved. I looked at Liam and he waved back at her. I didn't. She noticed and the smile faded from her face. She went to drop the cups in the kitchen and came back,rubbing her hands on her apron.
" Hie..",she said hugging Liam. "Are you okay buddy?", she asked with her hands on his cheeks. She was wearing her hair up and pinned it with the pin I got her. Oh she looked so beautiful. Brown hair and an M & J accessory. She looked stunning. Her pink lip gloss was doing a good job exposing the perfect heart shaped lips she had. Her eye lashes dipped in mascara and waved the wind as she blinked,kissing the air and making it pure for us to inhale. Her eyebrows awesomely tweezed and increasing her glow.
" Yeah am fine....I'll smell you later okay?",Liam said kissing Prim's hand and then left. She got shocked. She looked at me. I looked away before we could even face contact.
"What's wrong with him?", she asked.
" Yoh Prim! You're at work we have more orders!",a cranky lady came our direction speaking in a nagging voice.
"Isn't she the accountant?",
" Trust me I also wonder.....",Prim shrugged her shoulders and looked at her.
"Hey.....I'll handle it. Go..", a pretty brunette whispered in her ear. I have sharp ears so I heard.
"Thanks Maddie",Prim smiled hugging her friend and exiting with me.
I opened the door for her and she winked while I ran to the drivers seat and took off.
"Pizza Pun-Pit", she grinned.
"Uurrgg! I hate that place...the name is lame....", I whined. I looked at her with puppy eyes hoping she'd change her mind but apparently it didn't work on her.
" Pizza morning ",she relaxed herself against the chair. " So what up?"
"Cassandra's Palace. City of Love....", I said with no hesitation or delay. It just had to come out of my chest. It just had to. Just had to.....
" Oh...he told you?", she asked in a rather much different tone as if me knowing meant trouble for the world.
"He showed me", I corrected.
" Really?",she asked in delight."I've never seen it before.. "
"I never knew about it...", I began. " You guys never told me a thing about it." I stopped the car and we both got out.
Went into the parlour and made ourself comfortable. Prim was busy looking around the place. Drooling over every piece of pizza she sees and kept me wondering if we were at all going to leave the building in one piece. But hey,that's what you get for falling in love with a woman ..... lover of the kitchen.
"Prim!!",I called in my most authoritative voice. She squeaked and came running after she heard me.
" We're here for.....me...not necessarily pizza",I raised my eyebrows and made sure she took me seriously. This was a serious issue to me and I had to get the answers I needed hoping to maybe understand these friends of mine.
"Can we at least order pizza?", she asked while raising her hand to call the waiter who also came running after he just saw her raise her finger.
" We'll have the Mexican remedy...full of meat...and add extra toppings..",she grinned at him. He laughed and left after I gave him the 'she's mine' look.
"Why didn't you guys tell me about this?",I started the conversation.
"I was also shocked when he said he had not told you about it. I wanted to tell you but it wouldn't give a proper picture of Liam so I ditched that idea. You guys are brothers so why should I come between?", she defended herself and took a slice of pizza after the waiter brought them. I didn't even see him come. They are that fast I guess.
"What about you? Why wouldn't you tell me? I am your.... friend right?",I asked. I was about to say 'boyfriend' but that would be too soon. I tried my best not to let that word come out.
"Yes Omar....you're my friend and I didn't lie to you...I just didn't want to complicate matters. Why are you so angry anyway? Am pretty sure it's more than just Cassandra's Palace", she nodded as if she was in agreement with something and I was confused because I missed that something. Prim was right. It was more than just Cassandra's palace to me. I felt this whole thing was just another way to attack me and expose people with problems like mine. I just couldn't understand the whole need of having this place...unless someone helps me understand otherwise I'll still remain in the negative team.
" I feel like this isn't a good way of helping such people. Maybe they hide their problems because they don't want to be known.....maybe they are afraid of being misunderstood, afraid of being feared and considered harmful..... dangerous or anything else bad",I let it all out with all hope that Prim would understand. I looked at her hoping to see a clue that she got what I was driving at. I longed for understanding. I want to be understood...who doesn't?? Liam didn't seem to understand and here I was hoping Prim would understand.
"Omar.....all those are just...who you are...", she stammered while making sense of what she was saying. I looked at her defenselessly and tried to maintain my pride. I wasn't afraid of being misunderstood. I wasn't afraid of being afraid of. I wasn't. I was just measuring the level of insecurities that I saw would arise due to this plan. She was looking at me with caution and precept as if telling me not to dare look away.
"My father died a day after I was born. He died of a brain tumour....", she began.
"Am sorry....I didn't..",
"Of course you didn't know...how would you know...",she cut me and laughed. I knew she was sad and hurt but she tried to hide it and talked about it anyway.
"His condition deteriorated because my mother was constantly nagging him for not being a good husband and father to my big sister Daisy.It wasn't her fault though,she had issues with her mind plus he was a workaholic and never really had time for her....until one day when she was in the hospital for my delivery.... he just collapsed at work and later was admitted to the same hospital my mom was...the nurses say before he died,he was chanting 'prim.....prim'..so my mother gave me that name...", she smiled. I couldn't believe she had such a sad life. A father that died a day after she was born. He never even saw her and she never even saw him. A mother that when misunderstood can be blamed for causing the husband's death.
"A week later,my mom introduced a gathering that still lives to date. It motivates and provides support of every kind to people who were mentally unstable like her. She helped them control and handle themselves", she smiled. "A lot of people like you are living lives they ain't supposed to be living out there. Some are always locked in,some have to wear a disguise which is sad. Let's help them....just like we helped you. I can see a change in you....", she widened her lips into a beautiful curve as she smiled completely blowing my mind off.
"Really?",I asked as if I needed whatever she was going to give me with those pretty things.
"Yeah...if it where in the old days ,I bet you'd rip that waiter's throat just for smiling at me", she laughed and I followed. That was really true. One hundred percent. I never really took it into thought. Since I told Prim about my disorder,I have experienced less convulsions and attacks than before. She really helped ....I don't know how but she did.
Just then,I began to think...Liam's idea wasn't bad after all. Talking about our problems actually helps to solve them. Having this place will be one of the best ways of helping out people...like me. As a person living with the bipolar disorder,I could even motivate some people with the same that there sure is hope. It doesn't mean you are a monster when you can't get a hold and control of yourself. Hope is always there. Sometimes we just chose not to notice it.
"I need to talk to Liam...",I said after a deep breath. I really needed to.
" You sure do",she said licking her fingers which I found disgusting but since Prim was doing it...it turned out okay. Guess what? She finished the whole pizza by herself.
"You ate the whole the pizza?",I asked pretending to be shocked.
"Oh...you wanted a slice?",she grinned as if she'd just snap her fingers and boom pizza would appear on the table.
" No...am good",I lifted my hands. I really wasn't into these kinds of food. To maintain my physique I had to stay away from junk and pizza is just that kind..... Well that's my thinking.
"Please drop me at work...", Prim requested while leaving her seat. I followed her outside the pizzeria and into our car. Yes...our car!
" You're really good at it..",I bit my lower lip as I changed the gear lever from parking to drive. I was now using my C257 Mercedes-Benz CLS. I loved showing off my cars. Mercedes is who I am. I don't do anything but Mercedes. I was using X253 GLC-Class last month and didn't like the fact that it was using too much fuel although I really didn't mind spending all the money to buy it. I just didn't want to get pushy with the car and apparently it's now in my garage waiting for when my instincts will tell me to use it. I loved C257 because it was fast. So fast it'd drive you a five hour journey in less than minutes. It was more of flying. Most definitely and I loved it so much. I was a proud honour and one of the few of those who were owning it. Some were still struggling to get a C197 SLS AMG and I was like get a life people. That model is not the deal anymore. Are you really in the 21st century? Think modern.
I don't mean to brag but I just like moving with the season. That's more like life itself. What if breathing was the old way of living and currently all we do is ingest a well built technical chip that did all the breathing for you? Some still wouldn't know. Definitely!
"Good at what?", she blushed and tried to hide it. I know she knew what I was talking about. I definitely do.
"You know what am talking about ",I laughed.
"I don't..",she threw her hands in the air. She raised her eyebrows at me and then gave me this look that got me confused. She knew what I was talking about but just wanted me to say it.
"I know you're being naïve", I stepped on the accelerator.
"Am not",
"Yes you are",
"No am not ",
"Fine you're not",I aberrated her mind. I knew she was going to give in eventually.
"Yes..I am", she agreed and I quickly pointed at her. I knew that would work. It's a trick people use to get you caught in your own words. They just suddenly agree with you and you end up disagree,which in actual sense is agreeing to them.
"You admit it..!!!.",I screamed and pointed at her again. I knew she was being naïve. Trying to act all ignorant when in actual sense she's actually fully equipped with knowledge. Bringing confusion in my head and scattering all my ideas. Well it wasn't happening this time.
"Fine I admit it..", she laughed while looking outside the window. She was wearing her hair down which took me by surprise as she's not supposed to have it down. She was coming from work. But what the heck? Good for me right? I put my car on auto drive. I had to make sure no accident happens as I was about to do something unbelievable. With my right arm...I touched the tip's of Prim's hair. It was soft and silky. And it smelled good like that smell of lemon and white rose luring me to her,forcing my heart skip a bit and swallow the nervousness that was beginning to creep in me.
Just then, she turned and looked at me too. I became motionless. It felt as if I was caught in the very act of theft. The moments where you have no explanation that could actually defend you. She turned around and sat properly while gazing in my direction. I didn't understand what was going on but all I knew was our hearts where communicating. With our eyes studying each others faces like a puzzle,we kept on. I felt like I was levitating. Like the gravity around me had weakened and I was falling into a deep with no driving force. Just slowly and swiftly. Physics wasn't working this time around. It had been chased away by the cosmic energy coming from two hearts in love. Through it all, I wasn't troubled. I was at peace because I knew what lied at the bottom of the deep. Exactly what my heart needed. Love. I knew I'd find it there. For as I fell in.....I found everything I lost. I was falling right into Prim's heart.
"Omar....", I heard a whisper and I knew it was Prim's voice. I blinked to slap myself into reality and see why she called me.
"We're here",she said opening the door.
"So soon?", I whined. Honestly that was soon. Besides,how did my car even stop?
"Unfortunately... ",she added.
"So unfortunate... ",I shrugged.
"But hey...it's okay...look at that..",she pointed outside the window in my direction. I followed her gaze but quickly turned back around into something sweet after I figured it was just a trick like before.
"Gotcha!", I winked at her and she laughed a bit embarrassed after I declared her plan a total failure. Of course. Don't mess with me. If you're to trick me,don't use my tactics. I know them very much better than any other. Every in and out I know. So don't use them against me. Who offers the king his own throne? Just who?
"You are one naughty boy",she said messing my hair and then leaving. "Come at three sharp",
"Will do....",I smiled as joy jumped up and down inside me after what just happened.
I kindly drove off to my house. I got in and found Liam on the couch. He lay lifeless as if he was no more. A glass of vin rosé in his hand, slices of pizza on the floor in a huge mess. Toppings all over. I picked a piece to verify if it was beef masala or grilled silver. Unfortunately it was beef masala. I spit it and threw it in the bin. I'd worry if it were grilled silver. I sat by Liam and closely looked at him. He was producing a pungent smell and I immediately took the glass from his hand and sniffed it only to find it had liquor in it. Liam doesn't drink liquor!! So he claims.....he says he only drinks wine and not liquor of which I wonder what the difference is.
"Liam....", I gently shook him so that he wakes up but he didn't.
" Is he awake?",a feminine voice asked from behind me and I quickly turned around to find Cass. She was bringing some hot towels and kept me wondering what happened in here. I moved aside and she came through to him. I watched as she massaged his head with the towels,one after another until they where all done. She slowly took the tumbler from his hand and placed it on the table. Trying her level best not to make noise because even a feather drop wakes Liam up. Slightest things seem to be having power and work on him. I followed Cass to the kitchen and inquired from her what had happened.
"..Catastrophe after chaos is what has been happening in here. Your friend got angry and began tearing things apart. He almost brought the house down right when I came in and helped him. So I gave him liquor. I tainted his drink with liquor..",she explained and shocked me.
" What??", I fumed. "You gave him liquor? He doesn't drink!!",
" I know that...I was just helping him...",she said full of defense as if I'll just keep quite and go with her flow.
"No!!! You almost killed him", I shouted as I walked toward her after I noticed she'd walk a step away from me but I didn't care. She was afraid of me. I knew that pretty well. Wholeheartedly. It used to bother me at first that my friends were afraid of me but now I don't mind. Prim doesn't fear me so why should I worry. I know one thing for sure she'll always be here and that gives me confidence. I walked toward Cass and all through the while she kept looking at me with fright as if I was some lion after her throat. I noticed as she looked around for something she'd throw at me to buy her some time to escape as she was getting closer to the wall and they'd be no way out.
" He...does not take Liquor...and don't you ever dare give it to him!",I stopped after I noticed she was becoming even more frightened with every step I took towards her.
"He is my boyfriend Omarion Green. I would never wish ill for him. I was just trying to help him calm down and relax", she explained. Cass always had this thing of running away from responsibility. She always ran away from it. She escaped the penalty that came with not being responsible. Each time she did something wrong,she would hate it if you counted it on her. She always thought we'd blush it away and make it seem as if it never happened. On the other hand,that didn't go well with me. I didn't like escaping the wrong. If you've done something wrong,I'll have to show you you've done something wrong and you must see it so that it doesn't happen again.
" Well... Your boyfriend is my brother...he was my brother first even before you became his girlfriend.... So I will stand by him even if it means being at loggerheads with you",I tried my level best to say it in a nicer way so that I don't end up hurting Cass although I knew I already had. No one offers poison and wishes for the effect to be of lesser strength although you know there's no such thing.
"Well Don't forget I was your sister FIRST!Even before you met Liam...or Prim...you met ME first!", she shouted emphasising on the first First and on the me. I knew where the story was going and I just had to avoid it. I didn't like sticking around to my past. I didn't like it and Cass was trying to pull me back to it. I knew where she was driving at and I didn't want to go there.
I laughed after I fully got the glimpse of what she meant. The best I would do right now is to leave her. She saw me laugh and shrugged her shoulders. She rolled her eyes and took out a deep breath as if she was tired of putting up with my drama. Actually I was the one who was supposed to be doing that.
"It won't happen again...",I said passing by her and climbing the stairs to my room. I didn't want to apologize. I only apologize to Prim. No one else is an exception. I slowly walked up the stairs to my room. I heard a tray fall but I didn't look back. That was Cass cooking up some drama and trying to get my attention. I wasn't giving in. I knew her pretty well than that. Pretty much. I walked all the way to my room and threw myself on my bed,buried my face in my pillow and began to do what I do best. Think!
Cass was right. I met her first before I met the everyone else. She was the one that came first in my life. Even before Lily. The one that first taught me how to love. I know it's weird because she is my bestfriend's girlfriend now and it seems as if I handed her to him when I was done with her which isn't the case. Cass was cool. She was amazing. She was a pretty cool friend. I don't like to use the word girlfriend when referring to her because it cracks me up. She might have been at a point....but then I just couldn't anymore. I knew Cass and loved her as a sister not necessarily as a lover. She agreed to it too and we became only friends. That's when she met Liam and they went on their own journey.
I've known Cass since I was little. I can't explain my past without her. She's one of the people that built me to who I am today. She's really one of a kind, hardworking and persistent. I still remember the last time we went on a date. We decided to breakup in a much better way so we went to a concert. Domio Anteloquez's very first concert. We went on time and managed to secure seats in the eighth roll. I so badly wanted an autograph by the band's lady but I couldn't really get through due to the crowd. With Cass around though,it seemed so possible. She took my white leather jacket,were I wanted the autograph. She waded into the mayhem,elbowing taller men to work her way to the front of the crowd. I saw her disappear in the multitude. I got scared because I thought she had been trampled on. I wanted to follow her but decided to wait after several attempts that led to failure when I also tried to wade through. I felt a tap on my shoulder and turned abruptly only to find her with an autographed jacket. I exhaled heavily and quickly put my arms around her.
"I was so worried", I whispered. I don't normally speak properly when am scared or nervous. It's as if my voice goes away and all I remain with is the energy to make a whisper. I clung to her tightly as if I was told to do that or die. I felt a bit cold after she didn't hug me back. I held her arms and directed then onto my back while maintaining my position.
"Oh..",she chuckled and freed her hands so that she would do it all by herself.
"Time stopped for a moment...", she whispered to me. I knew what she meant. I just didn't want to talk about it. I slowly let go of her. She gave me the jacket and I wore it as we went out of the hall. It was snowing and unfortunately we didn't carry an umbrella. We walked quietly down the street. The atmosphere was saturated by this presence I couldn't even understand. I wasn't sure if breaking up with Cass made me happy or sad but I just knew I did the right thing. I've always been drawn to her. Always had affection for her.....always wanted to see her happy.....always wanted to see the pretty smile on her face.....always wanted to see how she blushed each time she caught me looking at her... Yet not as a lover,only as a sister. I admit I always loved it when we played her favorite game catch me. She always ask for a five minute head start each time we played. After I did that, she'd always scream 'Catch Me' and I'd ran after her. Whenever I caught her,which didn't even last minutes, we'd fall together on the ground and I'd always tackle her and tickled her sides. She squealed and squirmed trying to get away from me. She would laugh hard and encourage me to chase her more...and I wouldn't deny. Who would? Her laughter used to be music to my ears. To top it up,I'd tell her stories and jokes that would make her laugh even more. I never wanted it to end. Never at all....and it did! Sad.. So sad. Everything really comes to a stop. Everything.
"May I come in?", I heard a feminine voice ask as my door opened. I was half asleep and my vision was blurred so I couldn't really make out who it was. She walked toward me and sat besides me. I didn't get what she was saying as she was speaking lowly. Almost whispering. She ran her hands in my hair in a circular motion. I knew who it was definitely. I forced myself to wake up. I didn't want it to get awkward after I woke up with a surprise attack expression on my face freaking her out.
It wasn't Prim,for sure. Prim played with my hair in a completely different way that I couldn't even explain. In a manner that would make me hold her hand so that she doesn't stop. This... This was different. If I were to hold her hand,it was to make her stop. Not that it was infuriating... just unbearable . Without opening my eyes clearly.. I still managed to hold her hand and take it off my head. I got off my bed and rubbed my eyes. I stood on the window facing the outside exposing my face to the blowing wind hoping it'd chase the sleep away. I heard her footsteps walking toward me. She stood behind me. I could feel the heat waves as they moved forth toward me and all the way outside the room through the window from where she stood. Her presence really sparked me up sometimes. Not the love spark though,the terror spark. I just got intimidated and a bit nervous at times;and I couldn't understand why..
"Hey Cass", I began.
"How did you even know it was me?",she asked in a tone which I couldn't really understand whether she was delighted that I could sense her presence or if it was one of those random questions you ask just to keep with the flow of the mood.
"How could I not know it's you?", I turned around to look at her. I leaned against my window with my hands in my pocket,I looked right at her.
"Aw",she nuzzled up. I scratched the back of my head trying to think if what I just said was worth a nuzzle. She stood there and beamed. I found it a bit awkward but hey,it's okay. A little bit of joy won't hurt.
"What up?", I asked trying to pick a conversation as this whole thing was beginning to get me sick.
" Nothing...just came to say am sorry for making Liam drunk...there's a lot of ways of helping him than doing that. Am sorry...",she signed. She looked like the little girl I always used to play catch with. She so resembled her so much that I almost wanted to walk toward her and work my magic to make her laugh... Just like she used to...
"It better not happen again", I said trying hard not to say it's okay. It wasn't okay for her to do that. Totally not.
" It won't... ",she smiled. I smiled back.
I turned around and looked outside the window. I just didn't know what to talk to Cass about. Sometimes it just makes me feel weird about our whole friendship. We used be the world's best friends and now when we meet we go like who are you? The fact that she used to be my girlfriend and now she's dating my best friend just really gives me the freaks and hanging around with her like this; all alone,rubs salt to my wounds.
" So...what's up?",she asked standing beside me.
"Nothing much....just waiting for the day to get old so that I can go see Prim", I replied. I didn't say that to chase her away but just to bring a sense of belonging in my mind. To clear the confusion within me and make me understand that I belong to Prim.
" You won't leave her alone,will you?",she shrugged her eyes and leaned on the window pane looking outside. "I'll never leave her alone", I snapped "Not even in the next lifetimes to come"
"You've turned into God now...knowing who will be and who won't be at a particular time in life? Maybe she won't be there in the next lifetimes....",
I laughed after I just heard what Cass said. I so laughed. She gave me this weird gesture and I knew she was annoyed. I just found it funny. How can she think of me minus Prim? How? Where I exist,Prim will also exist. Where she exists,I also will. You can't speak of Omar without mentioning Prim. One hundred percent impossible.
".....I am not God and I never will be, but I know one thing,an Omar can never live without a Prim.... that's so IMPOSSIBLE to even think about. That's just a condition incompatible with life", I replied while looking right at her. With no hint if irony,I fully expressed it all. That was the truth. I just couldn't imagine myself without Prim. I know it was sick because I just met her like a few months ago but it didn't matter. All the times I never knew her,she still existed and would still make her way to me. Although she was absent to me,she was present somewhere and on a special day I met her. No matter how far away she can be,I'll always meet her. Always meet her....always meet HER.
" You never said that about me.....",Cass mumbled trying to make sure I don't get what she said but fortunately for me I did. Unfortunately for her too. She was still looking outside the window and her short hair swayed in the breeze that was blowing in. Her eyes became teary. I didn't know whether it was from the wind or from the issues of the heart.
"What?", I asked not to make it obvious that I heard her.
"Nothing....",she grinned. She faked it but I was skillful and wondrous enough to see through it and tell that it was a lie. Something was going on with Cass. I just didn't know what but something was definitely up. I couldn't ask her about it yet only after sometime maybe.
"Um....I'll go check on Liam", I excused myself and left. I don't understand what happened but I just don't feel hyper around Cass anymore. We are friends Yes but it just gets awkward each time. Now that I have Prim, it gets even worst when you try to balance time between them both. I thought of it as I walked down the stairs. We used to be very good friends even after we broke up. We would have coffee afternoons together and go for long walks as she liked those. We would visit the karaoke each Friday and would have lunch out in her favorite hotel, the Golden Palace. It really was one golden place. One of those were you would go for breakfast and have it with celebrities, lunch with ministers and at times dinner with the royal bloodlines. Golden Palace was an expensive hotel. A single cup of coffee would go at a price ten times higher than those at regular coffee shops. Their food was really one of a kind and worth the price but I couldn't understand why their bad coffee was do expensive that it was spoiling the coffee reputation. Each time I tasted it,I'd be like is this coffee or milk in water? Seriously. I didn't mind though. When it comes to spoking a lady,I can spend almost a fortune just for that.
I would go for a sleep over at her place only that I'd sleep with her little brother Carlos. When she got a boyfriend,we would still hangout but not as we did before. She belonged to someone else and I had to give him his pride as a man. I wouldn't take her out for lunch when he planned to take her out for dinner. With that attitude their relationship wouldn't even last a week.
"Liam....", I shook his shoulder trying not to frighten him. He needed handling with care as a single mishandle would have him shattering. Liam was a man but deep inside he was as much a delicate apple as a woman. You would even wonder when a single hair of his in the wrong place would create havoc in his whole being. Sometimes I just laughed as I often joked with him that am surrounded by ladies. Cass ,Prim and of course him.
"Mmm", he mumbled as of his tongue got numb cause of the liquor.
"Get up buddy,am hungry...let's make some lunch",I said trying to help him get up which apparently was one of the hardest things to do. Waking him up required expertize. You just couldn't erupt out of nowhere and say you'll wake him up. It never worked. I spent almost half of our lives developing the skill on how to wake him up. I figured all he needed was a gentle nag and he'd come running from his sleep. He slowly opened his eyes and got up.
"What happened?", he asked me while running his fingers across his face. I looked at Cass who was standing at a distance. She gave me the am scared look as she knew what befell her for tainting Liam's drink with alcohol.
" You fell asleep",I replied.
"Yeah I know I meant how?", he asked freeing himself from my grip and looking at me with a much more sensible look. You'd tell he was awake now and he wouldn't tolerate any grumpiness.
"... Look man..", I began while looking at Cass. I didn't want him to shout at her for what she did. I just didn't want to. "... am sorry for how I reacted after you showed me the whole....", I paused after a thought occurred to me. What if he hadn't told her about it yet? Maybe it was going to be a surprise as their anniversary was nearing.
"... the whole..C-O-L...", I abbreviated it hoping he'd understand what I was trying to say.
" I should've been more supportive and a very good brother. I shouldn't have brushed it off and disregarded you like that. I take it upon myself,that was bad of me to do. I am so sorry",I said it with no hesitation . He nodded and made a slight arc on the corner of his left lip. He knew how hard it was for me to say that. How hard it was for me for the words to come out. It was a journey to the moon and back. Just couldn't on a silver platter. He smiled at my achievement and pulled me into a hug.
"I can't believe you actually said that", he whispered.
" Trust me it was hard,so let's not talk about it lest I take it back",I joked as I drew us apart. He laughed and I followed his lead. Feels good to have him back.
" Yeyyy,am happy that the bromance is now back on track ...can we make lunch now?", Cass interrupted walking toward the kitchen. I dragged Liam along and we both went in. I looked around and the thought of cooking quickly left me. I had to meet Prim and cooking would definitely take time. I couldn't wait that long. I only had like three hours and that was not enough for me to wait until I meet her. On second thought,why cook when you can just order? Why spend hours in the kitchen when your meal would come in less than twenty minutes?
"On second thought,let's just order", I took my phone out of my pocket and dialed the number. Le bouffe. The French restaurant. We all pressed our orders although Cass didn't really approve of it. In no time,the delivery man came and I quickly signed it. I got the food and raced to the dinning table. Took out my portion and started eating.
" Where are you rushing off to?",Cass asked after she noticed what I was doing.
"To meet Prim remember?", I replied with my mouth full. I got nervous. Something about this meeting got me nervous. I didn't know if I had the guts to do what I wanted to do. I didn't know if there was the drive in me to achieve what I wanted. I was just hopeful that it all goes as planned.
" Why? She's not going anywhere you know!",Cass raised her voice. I didn't have time to argue with her so I ignored.
My phone rang and I quickly picked it
"It's all set sir...", the man on the other line spoke.
" Everything??",
"Everything".
" Thank you so much ". I jumped in delight and said my last prayer. I couldn't go ahead without a talk with my God. He gives the strength to do all things and so I needed it now. I walked toward the door with all the confidence in me being built by each step I took.
" Where is he going?",she asked.
"...to the girl who stole his heart....", he replied.