Lucia's House
2:30pm Sunday
Lucia laid motionlessly on her bed, she stared continuously at the ceiling, never taking her eyes off it. Her mind wandered off to the events of the previous day.
" What a jerk... I pray I never meet someone like him again in my life " Lucia soliloquized
Her phone rang abruptly causing a jump in Lucia's heart.
" Oh my gosh... " Lucia shrieked, placing a hand on her chest.
She checked the caller ID and it turned out to be Jada who was calling her.
" Oh God help me " Lucia muttered what seemed like a prayer.
She accepted the call and placed the phone close to her ear
" Yes? " Lucia said when Jada kept silent for a long while.
Jada maintained a perfect silence in an attempt to steer up Lucia.
" Jada I know you're there if you don't say anything I'm going to end this call... I'm pretty stressed right now and I have a big day tomorrow " Lucia spurted but Jada remained quiet.
" Jada! " Lucia yelled
" Are you at home? " Jada's voice came in from the other end of the line.
" Yes " Was Lucia's short reply
" Open the door " Jada said
" Are you at my doorstep? " Lucia asked, surprised.
" No Luce I'm at the bus station close to your house " Jada said sarcastically
" Wha... " Lucia walked towards the closed door and pulled it open, surprisingly Jada really stood there holding her phone close to her ear.
This was a surprise for Lucia because she knew all too well that Jada wasn't the type to visit people... Not in the morning, that's for sure.
" Ain't you gonna tell me to come in? " Jada spoke through the phone even though Lucia stood right in front of her.
" Come in " Lucia replied also through the phone.
Jada hung up and put her phone in her bag, Lucia made way for her and she walked into Lucia's apartment.
" What brings you here? " Lucia asked surprised
" Your terrible lies yesterday " Jada fired back a reply, she made herself comfortable on the bed
" Where did you go? " Jada asked seriously
' Damn I can't tell her about yesterday, it's already evident enough that she does not like him... ' Lucia wandered off in thoughts
' Telling her would be shooting myself in the leg ' Lucia concluded in her head
" Lucia I'm talking to you " Jada yelled
' Nope I can't tell her ' Lucia told herself once more
" What lie did I tell? " Lucia played dumb with Jada
" Fucking stop it Luce " Jada fumed
" I was uncomfortable at the gala " Lucia lied
" I was going to keep you company " Jada said in anger
" And what would that make me?
... Hmm? What does that make me Jada?
A bother " Lucia talked back at her, anger evident in her voice.
" I don't see you as a bother Lucia " Jada replied
" I never said you I don't want to see myself as a bother Jada " Lucia plopped onto her bed taking a spot beside Jada
" You should have told me if you were feeling insecure " Jada's voice went low as her anger left her
" And say what exactly? " Lucia questioned
" Everyone in there knew each other. I was the only odd one out... So I thought it was better to leave " Lucia explained, an atom of truth in her lies.
" I'm sorry...I...I should have stayed with yo—" Jada was saying before Lucia interrupted
" No... It was big chance for you to soar higher in your career I'm not angry with you " Lucia shaked her head furiously to let Jada know she's fine
" I'm sorry too I shouldn't have left you... I ended up regretting it anyway..." Lucia trailed off on the realization that she had said more than necessary.
" Regretting what? What happened yesterday? " Jada asked, filled with concern
" Huh? What happened yesterday? " Lucia tried to figure out what to say to Jada
" Stop beating around the bush Luce " Jada said, her voice rising higher due to concern.
" Oh yesterday on my way back there was no cab, and the subway weren't running I had to walk for a long time before I finally got a bus " Lucia lied
" That one's on you I told you to let Parker drive you but you didn't " Jada scoffed
" I didn't want to inconvenience you " Lucia replied
" Now that that's resolved down to my second reason for being here" Jada stood up abruptly.
" What's your second reason for being here? " Lucia asked confused
" To help you pack your clothes, today's moving day have you forgotten? " Jada asked
" Let's move next weekend. I have a big day tomorrow, remember? " Lucia said, laying back on the bed.
" Down to my third reason I guess " Jada smiled widely
" There's another one? " Lucia said wryly
" You'll like this one I promise " Jada assured Lucia
" What is it? " Lucia asked
" Shopping " Jada grinned and Lucia's face lit up like street light in the evening
Shopping was the only thing that made Lucia look like every other girl.
" Where are we going? Another one of your boutiques? " Lucia asked excitedly and Jada nodded
" Gimme two minutes " Lucia said and ran off into the closet to get changed
***
At Henderson Villa
7:30 pm Sunday
Liam found it impossible to focus on work, his mind kept wandering off to the memories of the previous day, the look in Lucia's eyes after he threatened her, normally he wasn't the type of person to get affected by the actions or emotions of others but somehow this woman had an effect on him.
" This isn't good " Liam muttered to himself and put away the laptop on his lap.
He walked out of the room and headed for the kitchen, he reached out for a wine goblet from the cupboard and grabbed a bottle of wine from the refrigerator.
He corked open the bottle of wine and poured its contents into the cup. He left the rest of the wine on the kitchen counter and walked to the terrace where he Stayed for a long time slowly sipping his wine.
***
Lucia returned home feeling tired, she had gotten exhausted by her afternoon activity with Jada. She plopped herself onto the bed. A rush of excitement enveloped her as she thought of tomorrow. She shrieked in excitement and kicked her leg in the air.
" No, I must not exhaust myself any further. I have a big day tomorrow " She said to herself abruptly stopping her craziness, and laid back quietly in an attempt to drift off to sleep.
" Light, " She muttered out loud, surprising herself. She covered her mouth with her hands, feeling embarrassed although no one was there with her.
' No Lucia not now go to sleep and forget about him you'll never see him again ' Lucia's subconsciousness said to her
' Yes I should think of tomorrow ' She agreed with her subconsciousness.
And so, though hard but not impossible, Lucia finally drifted off to sleep thinking of her Big Day tomorrow.