I found myself on the floor from the impact of the hugs my two best friends gave me; Sonia and Lisa.
"Did you have fun?" Lisa quipped.
"Have fun? Is that even a question? With Arnold I think she definitely did! Right babe?" Sonia challenged.
"Girls!" My mom's voice echoed through and the two girls scrumbled up.
"Sorry miss Loviette" Lisa apologized and then the two made for the dinning hall.
Mom walked towards me and hugged me tight.
"How was your date?" she asked.
"Fine...I guess" I muttered with a sigh.
"Come on let's go have dinner" mom said.
"Mom! I'm just from a 'dinner' date. I already had something. I will be off to my room now I need to rest". I said but mom wouldn't let me go
"No honey, you can't lie to your mother. Arnold told me even if you were to be asked what food you two had you wouldn't be able to tell"
"He did?" was all I said before Loviette, my pretty mom in her forties pulled me off to the dinning hall.
___
I spotted an empty seat by Arnold and sat by him much to my dislike. I mean...the fact that I was in a relationship with him didn't guarantee that I had to sit by him even at family gatherings such as this right? My mother and father didn't sit next to each other all the time at family gatherings so...
Once in my seat, I smiled at him and he took my hands into his onto the table. I flinched. He smiled. And everyone's eyes were on our hands, much to his pleasure and to my discomfort. Mom served us and after praying we started eating. Well, they started eating while I dabbed at a mushroom or two.
Arnold,Arnold,Arnold! I turned to look at his smiley face as he dined and wined with my family, chatting happily and laughing with so much radiance. He loved me so much...too much infact. He loved my family and they loved him back. I didn't want to do this but I'll have to eventually. But the question was...when exactly did my love for him die out? Die out? No not die out. But what exactly would be the exact word for me to describe this feeling that I was feeling now?
"Sarah?" Mom's voice called out and I snapped out of my thoughts as everyone's gaze settled on me.
"Yes?" I answered.
"Are you alright?" she asked and I left my fork on the table rising up.
"Sorry Mom. I think I'm developing headache. I'll just leave to my room and have some rest. Love you...all!" I said and headed towards the elevator to my room. Yes this house was so big it had elevators! =_=
"Did you guys fight on your way back?" I heard mom whisper just before I got to the elevator.
"You know that's impossible mom" Arnold whispered back.
"Maybe she's pregnant? 'cause she's been acting all grumpy ever since Arnold's return" I heard Elsa add as I stepped into the elevator and then the whole table giggled.
Arnold must be feeling like a king right now. Me, pregnant? No way! Not now. For now things like pregnancy wouldn't even be on the top ten thousand things I wanted to do now. My mom got pregnant with me at twenty. Yes twenty! I sometimes questioned her why she had me that early and she replied that it was all part of her plans growing up. Now I'm twenty three and she's forty three.
I got into my room finally and slammed myself onto the bed. I stayed like that, just staring at the chandelier that shone from above until I drifted into sleep.
_____
"Morning sleepy head!" Sonia pulled the curtains wide apart allowing huge amounts of sunshine in. I rolled over, covering my head with a pillow refusing to open my eyes.
"Come on don't be lazy you know you're supposed to send Arnold off to Spain today" she said and I sat up instantly rubbing my eyes vigorously. I rushed into the bathroom immediately when her words resonated deep inside me. I came downstairs later in a simple black top and black polka dotted yellow skirt which covered but only half my thigh. I had my hair done in a ponytail. Arnold's eyes were literally glued to me as I walked towards him and enveloped him in a bear hug. It took him a moment to reciprocate the hug and wouldn't let go of me for about nine minutes before he finally snapped out of it. I would have broken out of his grip if he wasn't too strong on me.
"You smell and look good " he complimented.
"You too" I replied with a smile. (Forced)
He held my hand just as he dragged a suitcase with Elsa and mom following closely behind.
"Bye Sarah, bye Arnold, bye Mom, bye Elsa" Sonia bid while Lisa slept her life away in the comfortable couch in our much to my annoyance ENORMOUS and too much luxurious living room. What a waste of money!!
After Arnold placed his items in the car booth, we set off. The drive was a smooth and silent one. Soon enough we were at the airport and Arnold as usual didn't allow me to do anything to help him. So I sat at the airport with my mom as Arnold and Elsa got everything done. I just scrolled through social media praying no one would spot and recognize me with this feeling of relief washing over me. Relief? Relief over what? I always had this feeling when ever Arnold was traveling back home to Spain. Yes, he flew all the way to the States from Spain just to see me every two weeks. It pained me anytime he came back to see me because he was spending so much on me but I?
Every month he changed my closet. Even clothes I hadn't worn yet were changed and replaced with new ones. I had the latest phones, an expensive mansion, too many cars...I know this would have been any girls dream but to be honest I wasn't part of the 'every' girl.
We were rich already. Not too much like Arnold and his family though but we had eight cars and a very big and nice house (not big like the current one though). We were okay! I really just didn't like all the attention.
Arnold and his father were quite famous. They owned the best tech company ever and when after my father's company had a collaboration that went well for a year with them, a cordial relationship was developed between their family and ours. Arnold came over everyday for a year and asked me out a lot during his visits. Then one-day, he asked me to be his girlfriend! To be honest, I had a little crush on him then. I was nineteen by then and the pressure from friends kinda forced me to accept his proposal rather quickly than intended. But I was happy, he was happy, mom was too and dad thought it was healthy for our company's growth and well being. But then after a year...
I shook myself out of my thoughts and looked up from my phone only to meet a pair of light blue eyes fixated on me. I looked back down and pretended to be busy on my phone and after a while, I looked up again. And he was still staring at me?! I shifted uncomfortably in my seat and turned to see Mom busily taking pictures.
My eyes darted from Mom to the weirdo and he was still staring. So I stared back! No glared, yes that was the word. I glared at him and he stared back. I made sure not to bat an eyelash as I stared challengingly back at him. He blinked but still stared. Was he blind? oh.... Maybe he couldn't see! 'Gosh Sarah' I scolded myself and went back to my phone.
"Baby?" Arn's voice called out as he walked towards me with Elsa behind. We rose, Loviette (my mom) and I.
"All done?" I asked.
"Yup" he said and then this sad look settled in on his eyes.
"I'll miss you" he whispered and embraced me in a hug. Then he leaned in as though he wanted to kiss me so I turned my cheeks and he gave me a peck. He hugged mom and leaned in to kiss her cheeks as well. We said our goodbyes and he left. Before following my family out of the airport, I paid one last glance at where he was sitting. The blue eyed guy I mean.
But he wasn't there. I kind of missed his gaze on me already. Not Arnold. The blue eyed guy. What? Nah. It's Arnold I must be missing...I think.