Della's eyes sparkled with satisfaction as she heard how downcast Eric has become as he walked away with his head lowered. this how she wants him to feel. For him to know that the tables have turned.
She thought of her new boyfriend, who wanted to meet Eric in person, and smiled smugly. But her triumph was short-lived.
Eric turned back, grinning mischievously, and said, "Hey, love-sickened patient, thanks for the beautiful meal." Della's eyes widened in shock as she saw Eric holding a portable take-away bag from who knows where, filled with the $3,000 worth of food she had ordered to show off.
"You... You're so shameless!" Della's face reddened with anger, her eyes blazing with fury.
Eric's grin grew wider, his eyes glinting with amusement. "Stingy as ever," he said, before turning and leaving the private room, leaving Della seething.
Della gnashed her teeth, her mind racing with anger. "You act like you don't care about your predicament, but you can't hide that from me," she muttered to herself.
Eric's expression changed to calmness as soon as he left the room, his mind already thinking about his next move. He thought about how to leave the city without his aunties and uncles knowing, how to escape their suffocating grip.
A BMW pulled up beside Eric, and a middle aged Man, leaned out the window, his face stern.
"Shit!" Eric muttered under his breath, caught off guard.
"Lad, who are you cursing?" Mr. Sowa asked, his tone angry.
Eric chuckled, "Hehe, Mr. Sowa, you're perceptive as always... I deliberately did that to test if..."
But Mr. Sowa cut him off, his voice rising. "Fuck you, lad! You think I'm a kid to..."
Eric didn't wait for him to finish, opening the door and hopping in with familiarity. "Hmmph... Why are you getting inside without my consent again? Do you want to cause an accident like the other day?"
Mr. Sowa glared at him, but Eric shot back, "Mr. Sowa, you can eat any food you like, but you can't slander an upright person like me with the words that come from your mouth..."
Mr. Sowa retorted, "Idiot!"
"Hmmm, what's that delicious smell?" Mr. Sowa asked, his curiosity piqued. He glanced beside the gear lever and spotted a neatly wrapped bag emitting the enticing aroma. "Ooh, is that beautiful madam trying to win me over with another serving? Did she secretly give me another treat?"
But Eric quickly interjected, "Mr. Sowa, please, don't get ahead of yourself. I brought this bag."
Eric's response had caught Mr. Sowa off guard, and the old man's pride was slightly wounded. His straight face and stern tone hid a hint of amusement and curiosity about what Eric was up to.
Here's a rewritten version of the dialogue:
"And where did you get that money from?" Mr. Sowa asked, his eyes narrowing slightly. "Ooh, I know what you did." He paused, his expression turning knowing.
Eric shifted uncomfortably, sensing where the conversation was headed. "What's with that face, Mr. Sowa?"
But Mr. Sowa pressed on, his voice firm but laced with concern. "Although you're strong and energetic, you can't sell your body to women, even at your young age, okay?"
Eric protested, "Mr. Sowa, I didn't—"
But Mr. Sowa's words hung in the air, his implication clear. He thought Eric had resorted to questionable means to get the money, and his expression showed a mix of disappointment and worry.
Mr. Sowa, a middle-aged man with a rugged, weathered face and a kind heart, His thick, gray-flecked hair was always cropped short, and his bright, inquisitive eyes twinkled with a mix of warmth and authority.
A scattering of wrinkles around his eyes and mouth spoke to his years of experience and wisdom. He was a man who had seen his share of struggles and triumphs, and his gruff demeanor belied a deep loyalty and compassion for those he cared about - like Eric, whom he had taken under his wing after his father's passing.
As Eric's friend and benefactor, Mr. Sowa had given him a job on his construction site, it's was where Eric had getting some money for the upkeep of the family.