In the morning I woke up to several missed calls from my friends and Finley. Definitely Anne had informed both August and Finley that I just stormed out of the store. The difference is that August was informed about my argument with Lucca and Finley knew I was just angry and nobody knew why. So all the three were worried about my whereabouts and since I wasn't picking up my phone I'm sure they thought something tragic had befall me. When I got to home, neither of them was there and since I was kinder tired I decided to abscond my classes and sleep. In the afternoon she came back in a hurry to check up on me she had met up with the boys in class and they told her everything
'What's up girl? What really happened? We were sick worried Groaning loudly with a heavy headache I turned towards her asking what time it was. She checked her phone and said "it's a quarter to one.' 'Fuuuck!' I groaned loudly again. 'What's wrong? She worried.
Have you seen Lucca from yesterday? I asked and she shook her head. I sighed out loudly. 'I really need to shower,' I headed to the shower. I pensively stood under the shower and in nostalgia I cursed every moment I agreed to be acquainted to him. At the same time the thoughts of this might be my first physical boyfriend made me want to apologize. I couldn't face him to his face and say I'm sorry. I decided to get him some chocolate. For starter's I bought two of them and gave them to August. I asked her to give them to him then we went out for a walk with Anne. I really needed it, it would do me some good or so I thought. We were enjoying some ice pops when my attention was attracted to this girl across the streets. Our eyes met and locked so I had to turn away quickly before she noticed a thing. 'I think I've seen her somewhere,' I thought out loudly. Who? She asked and I pointed at her. She was wearing an Orange crop sweater with black high-waist rugged trouser with black sneakers. 'I think I might have seen her around school,' she agreed with me. We kept walking but I was perusing through my brain to see whether I'd find out anything about the girl.
'Wooow! She exclaimed and that brought me back into reality. She was standing in front of a boutique looking at some friendship necklaces. 'We have thousands of those,' I said but she didn't seem to care about what I said. She pulled me into the boutique. How much are this? She asked the shop attendant.
The attendant was this friendly old man; if he had an age mate I'd say Santa. He had white beards just like him only that his were way too short.
Are you best of friends? The old man inquired. 'Is it that obvious? She smilingly asked as he handed them to her before saying "since they are the last ones, I'll give them to you as a present.'
Thank you! She screamed at the top of her voice. Naya did you hear that? I was walking towards this necklace that had caught my attention as well. How much does this cost? Pointing at a white with black strips horn like necklace of African Origin. It doesn't cost that much, its costs two hundred only," he said as he pulled it out. Should I pack it for you? . With some puppy eyes and a doubtful grin I told him I was short of fifty cents. He wrapped and handed them saying "I hope whoever you're taking it for he's worth it."
I smiled at him humbly and said "I guess we are about to find out," as I handed him the cash. I helped Anne to put on hers and she helped me as well. We bid the attendant goodbye and as we walked out she asked whether the necklace was for Lucca. I nodded , she sighed out loudly with a lot of disappointment "hope so he is worth the effort ," I didn't mind that it made her angry , the only thing that I seemed to care about was winning him over. I thought that this was going to be my first physical boyfriend, not just online and not fooling around. When we got to the stall we bragged to August who clearly wasn't pleased with the fact that we didn't get her one. She was even more pissed with the fact that I bought Lucca a gift. But both of them couldn't be mad at me for so long.
Immediately he walked outside I noticed him before he could I shouted his name 'Lucca' and jumped under the counter. I'm sure the other customers wondered what my problem was. He purchased whatever he wanted and he came to pay. August gave her the chocolates I had given earlier on. 'From Naya,' he took them and walked. I really wanted to see his reaction. His facials, maybe just then I'd realize whether he'd forgiven me. I popped up again once he left.
'What did he say?' smilingly
'I don't think you're deaf, you never heard anything,' disappointedly she answered and kept attending to other customers. I smiled weirdly and walked out to get some fresh air. The whole night I kept glancing at my phone. 'He hasn't texted,' 'Not him' 'I'm sure he'll text in the next 5, 4, 3, 2,1' I comforted myself like a fool. The next morning before going to class I gave August another pair of chocolates. 'You'll give him,' I said with a lot of enthusiasm and she shook her head as they looked at each other with Anne. I was in class but my mind was on Lucca's facials after being given those chocolates. A sheepish smile and the eagerness to see me. After class I rushed to the Bodega.
'What did he say?' enthusiastically.
'He'd appreciate it if you gave them by yourself,' sarcastically
That's it, I thought. This is the time to give him the necklace. I just needed to give it to him when the two were away. Smilingly I took my spot by the counter. Shortly after August received a call and she had to go. Ten minutes after she left, August received a call. Her new boyfriend was in town and demanded to see her. 'Good luck knocks once,' I seized the opportunity and called Lucca. He didn't seem excited picking up my call, anyway I asked him to come by immediately. Most afternoon's the store was never that busy. So we had the store ourselves for five minutes at most without disturbances from customers.
'I'm really sorry, I never wanted to be the nagging girlfriend...' he looked at me in surprise once I said 'girlfriend' but I didn't care whether I had labeled myself 'his girlfriend' I went on '….. If given a second chance I'll prove I'm worth it, you might find that I'm your missing rib.' He never seemed impressed or moved by my words. Maybe the rib part was too much so I withdrew it and put the necklace on him and he went away. The only thing he said was a basic thank you and that was it. As usual I didn't see a big deal out of it. Moments after he walked, the girl we had seen two days earlier on walked in. There was something weird about us locking eyes every time we met, I just couldn't tell what. I swear I had seen her somewhere not once, not twice I just couldn't tell where. When they came back before they could ask I told them I had handed him the necklace. None of them commented anything. So I told Anne about that girl.
'You're obsessing over a stranger.' She drew all attention unto her phone. I wanted to shout 'I'm not' but her thoughts were somewhere else.
Clearly everyone had depicted the red flags apart from me. I was deeply and blindly in love. I was dump than an actual ass thinking he would reciprocate the same. That week whenever he dropped by, I tried to see whether he wore my gift. But every time he showed up he never had it. I kept telling myself he will wear it, he will wear it. But every day my expectations became my bigger disappointments. I wouldn't tell either of my two friends. The following week on Tuesday I received a call from my mother.
Hello my daughter, she said in a toned voice that raised concern. "Hey mother, is everything okay? I asked as I took my seat in the house sipping some milk.
'All is not well my daughter. "Mhh! What do you mean? I was concerned, putting the glass of milk aside and my thumb in my mouth. I did this whenever I was nervous. Your dad is sick and has been admitted in the hospital, but it's nothing to worry about. Was she being serious? How is my father being admitted in a hospital not something to worry about? I mean that was a lot to process and I wasn't going to sit around and do nothing. Well I never had much to do apart from, calling Finley and maybe heading home early first thing in the morning.
'My dad has been admitted in the hospital,' I cried. He used his entire energy to calm me down. 'Baby, calm down all shall be well.' The calming down wasn't what I needed at the moment so I hanged up on him and switched my phone off.