Marcus was dumbfounded at Lily's tears but more at her words. As they held each other later that night on his bed, as he listened to the pattering of rain on his window and the steady rhythm of her heartbeat that signified she was asleep, he realized he was more dumbfounded at her words than her tears. He was troubled as her last statement rang in his head..her words had carried such genuine sincerity and had sliced through his heart deeply.
"You bring sanity to my world…" Lily had said and Marcus recalled.
MARCUS' POV
I quietly untangled Lily's hand that was tightly wound round my waist. It was like she was cautious of letting me go in her sleep as it was quite a hassle to remove myself completely. I even had to place a pillow in my stead in her arms and she had snuggled closer to the pillow. She looked so adorable!
I went to my wine cellar and chose a wine with higher alcohol content. As I drank the wine, her words kept resonating in my head and I felt like smashing the wine cup in my hand. Was it possible that she likes me that much? Or could it be that she knows I am sort of on to her and this is a strategy? She sounded like someone whose world is upside down and I could not help but wonder if there is something wrong with what she told Martha and I about her identity. If there is something about her that troubles her. Something just felt awfully wrong!
I almost emptied the wine bottle as I sank more in my thoughts and it was when I had checked the time and noticed that dawn was drawing close, that I snuck back in bed. I pecked her forehead and a big smile appeared on her lips despite the unconscious state that she is in and it brought a fluttering feeling at the depth of my belly. Some seconds later, fatigue won over my mind and I slept off soundly.
***************
LILY'S POV
I woke up to see Marcus' beautiful face. What more could please my morning than this? I placed my palm under my jaw as I stared at his sleeping form with his lips partly opened. I think I had put him through so much stress yesterday. I remembered the kiss we shared last night, it was amazing and felt right… too right. He had not kissed me like it was a random kiss or because his and my hormones were acting up and we needed something to douse it. The beauty of the kiss, his touch, felt tangible and a broad smile covered my lips as I reddened like a ripened tomato. I just could not believe that Marcus Ranks, whom I have always known liked Martha, would someday, tell me to my face that he likes me and wants me. I pinched myself to be certain that I was not in a realm created by my hyper imagination and the pain from the pinch confirmed the fact that it had happened. That he had held me and told me that he wanted me and his eyes had reflected something I had never seen in the eyes of other men, in my little years of dealing with the opposite sex.
When those other men who thought I was interested in them - I was only interested in the information I could get from them in exchange for my father's acknowledgement - told me that they wanted me, I knew what I saw in their eyes, body actions and smile…it was carnal lust. It ended there, it never crossed any boundary because there was no border in the first place.
I checked the time and it was almost 7am. I needed to get back home to prepare for class. Suddenly my phone started vibrating and Marcus stirred in his sleep but did not fully wake up. I moved swiftly like a ninja and attacked the phone whose ringtone almost woke Marcus up. Who had the temerity to call at such an odd hour of the morning? Of course, it was Martha Jordan!
"Where are you?" Martha screamed immediately I picked the call. I removed the phone from my ear to prevent getting deaf and I listened to her rant from afar. Always being a mother, Martha!
"Check your call log, you would be surprised how important you are now Miss Mark, because I called you numerous times yesterday. I had to use the phone of my roommate to call also. I almost went mad when I tried to reach you and I could not. I called your roommate and she said you were not home. When I get to see Marcus, he should prepare for an earful because he also was not responding to my calls. Where are you? Where have you been? Where did you spend the night?"
"Relax momma bear…" I said as I quietly opened Marcus' door and went to his living room.
"I stayed at Marcus' and before you say anything or try to tease me, know that it was because of the rain. The rain was so heavy that he could not bring me back to my room." I said in one breath.
"Alright, as long as you are with Marcus, I am fine. You are coming soon right?" Martha asked.
"Yes I am "
*Send my love to that friend snatcher" Martha said with mirth in her words and I laughed.
"See you later"
As Martha hung up, I checked my call log and true to Martha's word, she had called me crazily because how does someone sane call another thirty four times. I was walking back to Marcus' room when my phone vibrated again. I thought it was Martha but as I saw the name on the screen of my phone, my heart began to beat.
'Has my father known that I stayed at Marcus' house? Does he know I like Marcus? Did they trail us in the rain? But I did not notice any!"
I checked the window and tried to see if there were bigger buildings around where a sniper could spot us from. I was a little relieved when I saw that the houses around were the same height as Marcus', which meant we could not be easily targeted. This is solely and purely a residential area.
I mustered up courage and answered the call.
For five seconds nothing was said but I knew he was there. That was his method of instilling fear but I was used to it and I just want the conversation to be over before Marcus wakes up.
"Lily! Lily! Do you know what the Bible said about lilies?" My father's voice finally came alive.
On a normal day, I could have followed his lead and talked like the child he expects me to act like but not today…not now. Because, I knew that at that moment, if the conversation should stretch to twenty five seconds, my location would be revealed…even now, I am being tracked.
"Sir, I have a major lead on Martha to know if she is truly related to Nathan Martin and as we speak, this call is making me lose sight of her. Once I make my proper findings and I find out she is the one, you'll be the first to hear of it. Later tonight Sir!" I blurted like I was in a hurry before I disconnected the call. Bloody twenty four seconds! That was close! I almost brought harm to Marcus!
I opened the door to his room to see him in a seated position in his bed. He is up already?
"Good morning Marcus. I'll get going now!" I said and rushed to his bathroom to wash my face and get the hell out of his house.
Immediately I emerged out of the bathroom, I was held on my shoulder and pushed to the wall.
"What happened Lily? You look pale!" Marcus said as his eyes searched mine and roamed around my face and body to know if I am hurt or get clues on why I was a bit shaken. Blood drained from me when I knew that though the call period was not attained, there were other means by which they could get to him.
"Talk to me!" Marcus said as he shook my shoulder.
I composed myself internally and blinked back the tears at the corner of my eyes. I was getting too emotional around him - insane!
"I'm fine Marcus. This is just how I look in the morning and I was just a little startled that you were already up. I wanted to leave without disturbing you" I said, my chest constricting as the lies fell out of my lips.
"Uhmmm. Are you sure?" Marcus asked, staring at me in the eyes. "Yes" I replied with a forced smile.
The next thing he did shocked me as he hugged me. "You are and will never be a disturbance Lily. So, never say that again" Marcus warned. My heart felt warm and the warmth spread throughout my body. Even if this thing between us seemed like it might never yield a happy ending but I would make sure, it ends with him alive.
After standing there for a few seconds, he finally broke the hug. He held my hand and pulled me to his mini kitchen. I just stared at him like a dummy.
"I can't let you leave my house on an empty stomach. Have breakfast before you leave" Marcus said.
"But I.." I began, ready to come up with an excuse but Marcus cut me off.
"But nothing, you are having breakfast…Nowww!" Marcus said and drew out a chair for me that was underneath the counter and I sat with a smile on my face.
First, he washed up some fruits like berries and pineapple and diced them into mouth size pieces and placed them in a white plate and a fork by the side, before placing it before me.
"Thank you" I said with a smile and he nodded. I thought that was the breakfast and gladly picked up my fork, till I saw him bring out a frying pan from a cupboard below.
"What are you doing?" I asked.
"About to make you breakfast," Marcus replied.
"What, but I am having breakfast already" I said with a piece of pineapple in my mouth and my words were a little muffled.
"I don't speak fruit language…. sorry!" Marcus said and laughed and I narrowed my eyes at him. I knew he understood what I was saying.
"You need vitamins young lady. Just eat and stop complaining"
He broke four eggs into a bowl, took out the yellow part of the eggs - the yokes - and placed them in a separate bowl. He added some onion, some chilli pepper and a slice of green peas and carrots with a pinch of salt and beat everything together.
I watched his beautiful fingers slice the ingredients like a professional and I could tell that he was not doing it to impress me but because he was used to doing such. I almost laughed at myself because I knew how much of a mess I am in the kitchen. He was so organised and nothing was out of place.
He rolled the ingrediented egg into fried omelettes and placed them in a plate before he added the remaining carrot, green peas, onion and chilli pepper to the yokes. He did same to them and in a white dish was white and yellow rolled omelettes. He made sweet coffee for me and placed my meal before me - Sweet coffee and double coloured rolled omelettes. Never had the combo before but I loved it.
"I'm sorry this is all I have in my house but I just needed you to eat because I know of you and Martha's bad habit of not having breakfast" Marcus said and I nodded. Truly, Martha and I rarely have breakfast and we usually have unhealthy and huge lunches to make up for the breakfast. We had bad eating habits but we still maintained good body shapes - that in itself, is a miracle…we should be obese!
"You gave me everything. What of yours?" I asked.
"I want to watch you eat. I would make mine once you leave" Marcus said and I angled my head as I stared at him unbelievably.
"Stop staring and start eating!" Marcus said as he picked a white omelette and pushed into my mouth.
"I think I would just feed you!" Marcus said and I rushed to pull the fork from his hand but he raised his hand up.
"Sit young lady. You can hold your coffee in your hand while I feed you your omelette" Marcus said and took the plate in his hand.
I had no say as I enjoyed the rest of my breakfast with Marcus feeding me.