Chapter 5
Everyone gasped and turned to Bryan's direction.
'What have you done!' Pearl was the first to find her voice, she walked over to Adrain and planted herself in front of him.
'Whatever you call it'. Adrain hissed and attempted to walk away. Pearl pulled at his clothes.
'You should explain this'. Pearl pointed to Bryan's face.
'What is there to explain? Or, were you perhaps suggesting that I beg him?' Adrian gave a dry laugh, folding his arms.
'You should, if that would make him better'. Beth's voice came out of nowhere.
'Talking of the devil'. Adrain muttered under his breath.
'I have got my hands too. We were only playing a game'. Bryan stood up with his two hands raised.
'Gosh! I almost hit him'. Beth smiled wryly.
'And…' Bryan corked his head sideways, narrowed his glance at Pearl.
'Why are you suddenly interested?' A smirk at the corner of his mouth.
'I.. Me?' Pearl pointed to herself.
Bryan gave her a nod in affirmation.
'What the heck. I was just trying to… to be kind'. Her face was becoming considerably red in embarrassment.
'Kind?' Bryan drawled lazily.
'Don't dare play such games again. You are not kids for crying out loud'. Pearl said sharply before going back to sit down. She wondered what had come over her.
The rest of the day would have been line any other school day until Frank came in. He was wearing a frown.
'I have an assignment for you'. He brought out a long sheet from his book and set it on the table.
'It is a form of group work. Two people will work together to get the work done'.
There were giggling in the class.
'You will all follow orders. I mean, I have prepared a list in that regard. And get this anywhere you wanna put it…' Frank looked around to make sure everyone was listening to him.
'Any group who fails to abide with the instructions of this assignment would be termed irresponsible, not only that. The two would lose access to my class. That means they will not be allowed in my class anymore'. His face wore a frown.
There was a deadly silence in the class as everyone listened to him. Each occupied with different thoughts, mostly on whom they were going to work with.
'Markus and Lilly…..' Frank called the names up until Pearl and Bryan.
'Check this out'. Frank pointed to something he had written on the board.
'Each group should come up with something creative and give me feedback before the weekends'.
There was murmuring in the class.
'But, today is Thursday!' Someone cried out.
'If I was not aware, I would have informed you. You should all comply with the rules here'. Frank frowned again before walking briskly out of the class.
'Hello everyone, who wants to change partners? I hate to have anything to do with an asshole'. Beth pointed in Adrian's direction.
'Are you kidding me? You want someone to miss the teacher's class?' Perth a light skinned girl said, rolling her eyes.
It was soon time to go home. The class was filled up with students who wanted to finish up the assignments before they went home.
'I doubt I will be able to cope with the noise here'. Lilly stared around.
'Same here. what can we do?' Pearl said thoughtfully.
'I hope nothing funny happens between…' Lilly winked at Pearl.
'Of course no'. She defended sharply.
'Hey Lilly, let's go'. Markus's voice shouted, already at the door.
'I got to go. Seems he would find somewhere quiet for us'. Lilly waved, and hurriedly followed Markus who was already heading outside.
Pearl turned around and came face to face with Bryan, not the least hiding her surprise, she moved a few distance away.
'Let's find somewhere to do ours'. Bryan offered.
There was a pregnant pause as they walked out of the class, Pearl wished she would find something to say.
'So, where do you suggest?' Bryan asked as if reading her thoughts. And of course he was reading every one of her thoughts. Especially when they were a few distance apart.
'How about a restaurant? Pearl said excitedly.
She might as well use the opportunity to get something to eat. The sudden rumbling of her stomach reminded her of the little food she ate in the morning.
'Sure, we can try it out'.
'My driver is not here, I need to call him to come and pick me…" she fumbled with her bag to pick her phone, but stopped when Bryan waved his hand in dismissal.
'No need, you had better tell him to stay'. Bryan opened the door to let her in, then with quick steps, he got in the car and sat beside her. Turn on the ignition and make a turn to the direction she mentioned.
'Thought you had a driver'. Pearl muttered, almost to herself.
'Yeah, but I prefer driving myself'. Bryan gave a shrug.
'Oh!' She said sheepishly, hoping she could have said something better.
As soon as they got in, they looked at each other and shook their heads in disapproval. That was surely not a place to reason well.
After driving around for an hour, Pearl felt obliged to voice out the worst.
'What if we don't come across one that is quiet?'
'We might as well do it at home'. Bryan suggested.
'That is true! I should have thought about that earlier'.
'Guess you only use a part of your brain'. He said mockingly.
She smiled, but then raised her head at him sharply. 'What! You just said….' Wide eyed.
'You didn't mean it, right? Of course you didn't' Pearl said as if convincing herself.
'What if I meant it?' He stared at her tauntingly.
'You wanna die?'
'That sounds like a threat'. He muttered.
'Whatever'. Pearl shrugged.
Pearl stared at the road in front of her, it was not the environment she was used to.
'Where the heck is this?'
'We are heading to my house'. Bryan muttered absentmindedly.
'You should ask me first! And why on earth would you go to your house and not mine?'
'Because I am scared of girls, especially those whose faces burn at a glance from men'. He drawled lazily.
'That sounds absurd. What girls anyways?'
"Who else? You of course!' Bryan sent her an ominously hard eyed and inflexible stare.
'Do I? I haven't noticed it'. Pearl hoped her voice held the flippant message she had intended to pass across.
'And, do you like me?' Bryan said suddenly, catching her unaware.
'Wow! It's hot here'. Pearl looked outside, pretending not to have heard him.
She was not aware that the car had stopped, she only noticed a hand grab her chin. Bryan pulled her face to his, staring into his blue eyes, Pearl felt lost in them.
'You had better not like me. Hate me as much as you can'. He growled coldly.
The change of attitude made Pearl think she had done something wrong. Her eyelashes blinked repeatedly as he released her.
Pearl got out of the car, and walked after him inside. She suddenly felt like smacking his head for holding her. She could feel a flutter in her stomach. How on earth was she supposed to stay in the same place with Bryan with that attitude of his? Especially with her face often burning under his glance.
'You have got a nice house here'. Pearl smiled and tried to forget what had happened earlier.
'Would you love to look around?' He offered, coming towards her.
'If you don't mind'. She gave him a smile.
'Here is the pool, when you get hot, you can come here'.
'I?'
'No, I was talking generally'. He laughed, with a smirk already forming at the corner of his mouth.
Gosh! - Pearl thought - the way he laughed pulled a magic on her.
'Here is the way to my bedroom'. He pointed to a corridor, with a sliding glass door which led to a corridor.
'Thanks, I don't want to look'. Pearl said sharply, a dirty imagination already popping up in her head.
'Not suggesting you should'. He grinned.
Pearl sat down on a sofa in the sitting room, she made sure it was a one sitter, should Bryan find it fun to sit beside her.
'What can I offer you?' He leaned forward on his seat.
'Coffee will do'.
He soon came back with the cup and handed it to her.
'I want to change, I will be back soon'. He said and walked inside.
Sipping the coffee slowly, Pearl stared around. She appreciated the magnificent sitting room, and wondered how he felt living alone. Or maybe he was used to it already… like her. She added.
'Hello. What can I offer you?' A young girl came toward her. She was in uniform, her hair was made neatly in a braid.
'Nothing, I am okay with this'. Pearl smiled, shaking the cup of coffee for her to see.
'I am Lizzy,' The girl offered, returning her smile.
'Nice to meet you lizzy'
'Can I take you round?' She leaned toward Pearl as if pleading with her to agree.
'No… er.. Yes' she finally decided.
'I am Pearl'
'I am happy you are here'. Lizzy smiled.
'Why?'
'Master Bryan doesn't bring anyone in here, apart from a few times when he comes back from a party'. Lizzy looked around as if to check if anyone was listening to their conversation.
'How do you cope with him?' Lizzy asked.
'I don't get you…'
'I mean, he is cold-hearted, would not even reply greetings. The only thing about him is his face. His cute face'. Lizzy demonstrated, swinging her hands widely in the air.
'Wow! He is different at school. Seems he hates to talk at home'. Pearl shrugged.
'I hope you come here often'. Lizzy winked at Pearl before walking her back inside.
She was going to object, but Lizzy was already off.
'Sorry for coming back late'. Bryan's voice made her turn to look in his direction.
Pearl drool at the sight of him, but blamed herself when she felt the heat rising up on her cheek.
'This is kinda complicated'. Pearl mused at the book in front of her.
They had been working on it for hours, with Bryan refilling his cup often, he was soon done with a bottle of gin.
Pearl had not expected him to drink, she only stared at him as he gulped his cup down his throat.
'So are you'. Bryan said huskily.
'What do you say? Were you talking to me?' She pointed to herself.
'Who else little witch'. Bryan replaced the cup on the table and moved closer to her.
'I can't believe you are drunk'. Peal said, not the least hiding her disgust.
'I am not. I can show you'. He stood up in front of her.
'So why did you say that the other time?'
'What?' Feigning innocence, Bryan narrowed his eyes on her.
'About… forget it if you don't remember'. She shrugged somehow irritatedly.
'Do you like me?' He said suddenly.
'I don't understand what you are saying. Can you be fast with this? I need to go home'. She tried to change the topic.
'Forget it'. He took the pen and worked out something.
Pearl stole a glance at her phone, it was getting late. She was worried she would go home late, or she would spend the night in Bryan's place. She shook her head at the thought. Not when he was drunk!
'I hope we finish this fast'. She fell on the sofa, exhausted, with her head facing upwards.
Bryan bent toward her, his face some disturbing distance away from hers.
'How do you expect us to be fast with it, with this attitude of yours?' He stared searchingly into her eyes.
'What are you up to?' She muttered huskily.
'Something you would not like if you keep up this attitude'. He drawled lazily, touching her eyelashes.
She pushed him and sat up.
Cupping her cheek in her hands 'You are acting funny and I don't think this is funny'.
'It is pretty hot here'.
'Let's take some fresh breeze outside'. Bryan suggested and offered her his hand.
She shook her head in negation and walked outside first.
'I doubt you will go home tonight'. Bryan said, once outside.
'Why? Even if it takes midnight to finish the damn assignment, I will make it home by any means'.
Bryan chuckled.
'Talking of which, let's get back to it now. I have got to go home'.
Reaching out for her hand slowly, Bryan took her hand.
'Stay here with me tonight'. He said childishly.
'There are a lot of reasons why u cannot stay here'. Pearl was not going to say anything at first, she found herself talking, against her will!
'Mention them. I am ready to count'. His hands are now back in his pocket.
'My clothes. Or do you think I can sleep on this?'
While they were still talking, someone came to them, head down, he handed a cloth to Bryan. He collected it and gave it to Pearl.
'Wait! What is a woman's cloth doing here in your house?' She grasped, wide eyed.
'You….'
'Keep whatever you are going to say to yourself'. He held up his hand.
'Explain this, or are you a pervert?'
'What!' He used his hand to cover her mouth.
'I kept it for situations like this'.
'You were expecting a woman to come to your house without clothes?' Pearl said when he finally let go of her mouth.
'You are misunderstanding everything. Can you just keep it to yourself and wear it?'
Looking outside, Pearl felt she had no choice than to spend the night there, especially when they still had a lot of things to do.
It all started with droplets, next It was coming regularly, until the rain started to fall heavily.
'You are not expecting me to wear this when you are still here'.
'Sorry, I forgot'. He turned his back to her and waited for her to change into the clothes.
'What do you think you are doing staying there?' Pearl voiced out after expecting him to leave.
'You make a fuss about everything'. Bryan growled.
'It is cold'. Pearl wrapped her hands around her body when she finally wore the clothes.
'Here take this'. Bryan threw a hoodie to her.
'Thank you'. She muttered.
'Aren't you hungry?'
'Sure I am'. Pearl stared around.
'You care for hamburgers?'
'Yeah'. She nodded her head in affirmation.
As they are in silence, Bryan realized he had not felt hungry ever since he came. Wondering if it was because of his busy self, he sighed and brought out his phone.
'Thanks for this'. Pearl said once she was done eating.
'My pleasure'.
They were soon done with the assignments. Pearl gave a sigh of relief, at least she could go home.
'I will go once the rain stops'.
Just as if the rain had heard her talk, it continued heavily.
'You should go and sleep, honey. Save yourself the stress, the rain might not stop till tomorrow'. Bryan closed the distance between them.
'I am really not sleeping here'. She said stubbornly.
She could feel his intense stare on her.
'What is up with this?' He touched her cheek,the reaction made her cringe.
Bryan looked at her narrowly, as if expecting an explanation. And of course, Pearl was not going to say anything, not when he was that close.
Leaning down, he brushed his lips against hers, and as if asking for her permission, he looked into her eyes, but they were already closed.
Pearl could feel her heart beating fast, threatening to burst as she felt Bryan's lips come on hers. His lips brushed her lower lips lightly. Pearl nearly melted at this contact, just as he was about drawing her closer, his phone rang. He jolted back from her and fused with his pockets for the phone.
Pearl made use of the opportunity, Pearl, unable to hold her breath for much longer, took to her heel. She didn't stop walking until she was inside the room Bryan had shown her earlier.
She wondered how she was going to face him again, especially when she had welcomed his kiss back.
This assignment was making a way for a new start for both of them, and again opened a chapter in their lives that they would never forget.