Rose turned to see Linda, her step sister, staring at her with a mischievous smile.
Linda! What the hell are you doing here? Rose uttered with her hands fisted and her jaws clenched.
I'm asking you a question: Damn it! What are you doing here?Rose probed.
Rose! What kind of stupid question is that? It's a birthday party, of course I have every right to be here just like you.
The atmosphere was quite tense and Riele had been trying to get Rose to calm down upon sensing her agitation when Oscar walked in with two glasses of wine.
Hey! I'm back, what's going on? Oscar asked as he squinted his eyes sensing the uneasiness in the atmosphere.
Oh wow! Let me guess, you've gotten yourself another man to toy with right? Did you tell him you cheated on your ex-fiance?, Linda retorted to Rose unapologetically.
Shut up! Linda, just Shut up.
Or what? Or what Rose? What will happen? Why are you acting like I'm telling lies? Go ahead and tell him. Tell him how your ex-fiance walked in on you naked in a hotel room. Tell him how shameless you really are, Linda mocked Rose.
Rose was fighting really hard to stop herself from bursting into tears.
A night of fun huh.... What a fun night indeed Riele, Rose expressed sarcastically as she reached for her bag to leave the birthday premises.
Come on Rose! That's not fair, I had no idea Linda was going to be here, Riele pleaded with Rose who was making way out of the birthday party.
Oscar, seeing Rose was almost out of the venue, dropped the glasses of wine in his hands and gently pursued her.
Rose, pls wait up, Oscar remarked as he ran after Rose.
Rose! Rose, wait up!, Oscar kept yelling while he was right behind her.
Rose stopped walking and gently turned around to look at Oscar.
Rose's face was now covered in tears. She had been sobbing silently.
Are... Are you okay?" Oscar asked Rose with a gentle tone.
"No Oscar, I'm not okay," Rose with a shaky voice remarked.
Let me take you home. You don't look like you are in a good position to drive yourself home.
Why? Rose queried Oscar.
Why what? Oscar responded a bit startled by Rose's question.
Why are you being so nice to me Oscar? You barely even know me.
Because I know what it is like to be hurting and need someone to talk to. Let me be the one, Let me... Let me be the person you open up your pain to.
Look Oscar, you seem like a really great guy, you really do but I don't think I'm worthy of your concern and care.
Oscar, I've done some things in the past I'm not proud of and I would really like to be left alone right now.
Fine…..Can you at least give Riele a text when you get home so that she knows you got home safe?
Yeah, I'd do that. I'll be fine, you guys shouldn't worry, I just want to be left alone right now, Rose retorted and walked into her car, started the engine and zoomed off.
Following the turn of events, Riele and Oscar left the birthday party to their respective homes a few minutes later.
Riele eventually got back home and was extremely worried about Rose. She had left several texts, voice notes and phone calls but Rose hasn't responded to a single one yet.
Riele was tapping her fingers on the table repetitively while she contemplated going to Rose's place just to ensure Rose got back home safely when a notification popped up on her phone.
It was a text from Rose with the words "just got back home".
Riele heaved a sigh of relief upon receiving the text because she had been extremely worried.
The following morning, Rose was busy working on her laptop when she heard a knock on the door.
Rose got to the door and gently opened it to see Riele with a bunch of flowers while wearing a white shirt with the inscription " I'm sorry".
Rose smiled at Riele's gesture and they hugged each other tightly.
I'm so sorry Rose, I had no idea that Linda was going to be at the birthday party. Please forgive me.
I know Riele. I know that you weren't aware. I was just angry at the moment and blamed you because it was easier. You only wanted me to have fun.
Riele entered Rose's apartment and sat down on the sofa with Rose sitting opposite her.
I was surprised to receive your text yesterday cause usually when you are angry you barely text me.
Yeah, that wasn't my idea, Rose blurted out.
Duh! So who was it?Riele asked while looking at Rose suspiciously.
It was..... It was Oscar, Rose replied avoiding eye contact with Riele.
Ooh! I can't believe Oscar made you text me while angry, that man has gotten quite the grip on you, hasn't he?
Stop! He was just worried about me getting home safe, that's all, Rose retorted.
Whatever you say miss Rose but I'm sure you'd agree with me that he's a great guy.
Uhm!... He's alright, Rose chuckled.
Look at you, just admit you like the guy already, just by mentioning his name, your cheeks are turning red. Who would have thought that you'd be blushing over a guy?
I'm not blushing.... It's just my makeup, Rose lied.
Oh right! You must think I'm pretty dumb huh!
Now that we are talking about oscar... Rose, I did something wrong but before I tell you, you have to promise to forgive me.
uh-oh! Riele! What did you do?
Rose! Promise you will forgive me?
Okay, fine, I promise. Now stop making me uncomfortable and just spill it already.
I gave….. I gave Oscar your phone number.
What! Riele! You know how I feel about giving my numbers to strangers without my permission.
Yeah! Yeah! I do but Oscar asked for it and I just couldn't refuse to give it to him.
I'm really sorry and besides, you and Oscar aren't really strangers anymore so I thought it won't be an issue.
Well the deed has been done already. Getting mad at you won't change anything now would it?
Rose and Riele spent the rest of the day gisting with each other and when evening came, Riele went back to her place.
Following the aftermath of Riele's confession, Rose began closely monitoring her phone in case Oscar reaches out because she didn't want to miss his call but Rose overtime began to get worried when a week had gone by and Oscar was yet to give her a call.
"It's been a whole week. He should have reached out by now," Rose thought to herself.
Rose texted Riele, trying to clarify if she wasn't mistaken about giving Oscar her phone number but Riele clarified that Oscar indeed had her phone number and this made Rose more worried.
"Did something happen to him? Isn't he interested in me anymore? Did I do something wrong?," all these and more are the questions that roamed Rose's mind.
Eventually, two weeks passed and Rose was still yet to hear from Oscar. Rose at this point already believed that Oscar probably wasn't interested in her anymore and he would never reach out to her.
It was a Saturday afternoon. Rose was busy cooking in the kitchen when she heard the doorbell ring.
At first Rose was hesitant to go open the door but upon the persistent ringing of the doorbell, she paused her cooking and quickly rushed to get the door.
"Hold on, I'm coming,"
Rose remarked as she ran to get the door.
Rose gently opened the door and was shocked to see Oscar standing right outside.