Rider
Two months. It's been two months since she left, but it feels like yesterday. I can't get her out of my fucking head,and it annoys me so much. Lenah keeps on asking about her, and I literally have to lie to her that she's okay and has sent her regards. I fucking deleted her number from my phone. Why is Lenah so bewitched by the woman anyway?
I seriously don't get why I can't stop thinking about that woman. I can't let go of my anger towards her for that night. I swear I hate this feeling of longing to see her, to hear her voice, see her face, get my fill of her lips again and maybe go a little further and punish her for fucking slapping me. Yes, I keep grudges.
Sitting in silence in my office, I remember that my princess's birthday is coming up. I have two days to prepare everything. Just two days. Milcah had been handling everything, but she isn't here anymore. I have to invite Lenah's friends and their parents, then my business associates for my own comfort. This can be done by my right hand, Tony.
All I do is call up the decorators, catering services and entertainment services. I know she'll want Britah to be there, but I can't stand her presence. I'll not let Lenah feel that Britah isn't around. She doesn't need her,and neither do I. She's having a bad effect on me, and so she must stay wherever she is.
I do some shopping and get some new clothes for Lenah, shoes and other stuff I know she loves. This time, I also involve her teacher, Britney. She's helpful and knows Lenah quite well too.
Saturday, her birthday, I wake up earlier than usual and make breakfast specially for Lenah, then take it up to her room myself.
"Is the birthday girl still asleep? " I say when I get inside.
"Dad?" Lenah mumbles as she wakes up.
"Happy birthday, princess!" I smile and sit by her on the bed.
"Thanks Dad" she beams as she gets up, giving me a hug after.
"It's nothing,princess. I made you your favorite, white chocolate cupcakes and chocolate milk." I say. I don't like to show it,but I cook.
"Yay!" You're the best, Dad. " she says and starts eating.
*****
Since the party is in the evening, I take Lenah out as the necessary preparations are being done at home. We go to the water park, a hotel for lunch and as obviously the arcade.
Getting home in the evening, Miss Rosa takes Lenah up so she can get ready. The guests start to arrive at seven, and by then, I'm already dressed up for the party. Lenah arrives and whoever comes in congratulates her on her birthday, gives her gifts and all those formalities involved. As I stand somewhere away from Lenah, someone taps me from the back.
"Hello, Rider." she says.
On turning around, I notice Tina, one of my old friends from way back. "Tina, you?" I say in shock.
"Well I had to come this year. Last year I couldn't make it to Lenah's birthday, so here I am." Tina smiles.
I'm glad she's here, but she's not really the one I'd say I want to converse with. She'll obviously tell me how much she regrets not coming to Milcah's funeral and all that. I'm not in the mood to listen to that.
I find an excuse and leave Tina there so I can have my peace of mind. Moving about, I spot Lenah speaking to someone, very happily. She seems really happy, which immediately makes me feel it's Britah she's speaker to. Britney is there too, but she's only standing there.
"You like the gift?" She says.
"A lot. " Lenah says.
The sound of that voice immediately makes me feel Britah's absence. Am I hallucinating? This woman could be Britah Laleramo. I think as I approach them. "Dad, look at my brand new bracelet." Lenah says, showing me the silver bracelet on her wrist. The woman turns to look at me, and just as I expected, it's Britah.
I'm rendered speechless at the sight of her. She looks more beautiful than I remember. Her eyes are still the same, but they seem to be more sparkly than before. Her skin is still flawless,but she's glowing more. She's dressed in a simple floral off-shoulder dress, ending just slightly above her knees, with white sneakers that match her outfit. She has a black cross bag that complements the black hairband she's wearing. Bellissimo...(Gorgeous...)I say in my head.
"Dad, what do you think of it?" Lenah says, breaking the tension between Britah and I. I realize I've been staring at the woman for too long, just to make sure I wasn't imagining in 3D.
"It's beautiful." I say, realising the word engraved in it. Luce del sole (sunshine) It's really beautiful. But my attention quickly reverts back to Britah. "Look there... Isn't that your friend Sam?" I ask Lenah, pointing at the little blond girl mindlessly roaming about, as though she's looking for someone. If I'm not mistaken, she's Sam.
"Oh yeah." Lenah says. "I'll go say hi." she adds and rushes towards the girl.
Once she is far enough, I ask Britney, "What is she doing here?"
"She's my plus one." Britney answers. "Remember you said I could bring any guest of my choice?"
I didn't know you'd bring her as your guest. I say in my head. "Why did you choose her?"
"She's my sister." Britney smiles. "And Lenah really wanted her to come."
I look at Britah, whose eyes are fixed on me, like she would rather be anywhere but in my vicinity. Her stare makes my heart skip a beat. Unbelievable! I exhale deeply. "As soon as she does anything that annoys me, I'm gonna kick her out." I warn Britney and walk away.
Did I really have nothing to say to her? I don't even know how to feel. It's like I kinda....missed her. I don't like this feeling at all. I can't stand her, I don't want to miss her, but she has never left my mind. I'm not in the mood to disturb myself at all.
Britah
I can't believe this man. I'm not here for him. How can he just throw me out? Anyways, I'm glad Lenah loved my gift. I've really missed her. A lot. So there was no way I could miss the opportunity to see her. Britney called me up yesterday, and she said, "Britah, can you come to Rome tomorrow?"
"Why? Anything wrong?" I asked her.
"No. Actually, I want you to be my guest tomorrow. It's Lenah's birthday."
"Really?" I asked.
"Yeah. Are you in?"
"Of course. I'll meet you at your place." I said.
"Thanks a lot" Britney said and hung up. The invitation was on short notice, but it was for Lenah. I could surely compromise. I got a beautiful bracelet for her, and a nice outfit for myself. Personally, I loved the outfit. The past two months were okay, but I vividly felt Lenah's absence. And the problem with that was that as I thought about her, my mind unknowingly traveled to Mr Vitale.
I tried so hard to forget that man, but I couldn't. His face was stuck in my head, and so was his voice. It was so frustrating. Today, when I saw him, I felt so awkward inside. I wished the ground could just swallow me at once. It suddenly became hot, and I think I was sweating. My heartbeat actually quickened, and I found it difficult to utter a single word.
He was towering over me, his strong cologne filling up the environment. His green eyes darkened as he slowly analyzed me, and his jaw was clenched. I saw his hand roll into a fist, but he relaxed after Lenah showed him her bracelet. Luckily, he couldn't speak to me as Britney was standing there. Though he gave a serious warning to me. And now, he'll find all possible reasons to kick me out of his house. I just know it.
"What's with you and Mr Vitale?" Britney asks me, and I shrug.
"I don't know." I say.
"Britah?" Someone calls me from behind. On turning, I recognize him as another friend of mine.
"Eric?" I say. He's smartly dressed in a black suit, looking as good as responsible as he really is. I'm happy he's here. Him and I studied the same course at the university, but his future had already been confirmed. He took over his dad's firm. So he's a successful man now. He comes to me and hugs me so tightly.
"I'm so happy to see you, Britah." Eric says.
"Me too. " I reply. "This is my sister, Britney. " I say, pointing at Britney. Eric's one arm is still around my waist, but I'm used to it. He's really touchy towards his friends. Laura and Alice can testify.
"Nice to meet you, Britney. You're pretty." he says.
"Thanks. Nice to meet you too,..."
"Eric. I'm Eric Di Fazio. " he says.
"Well, nice to meet you, Eric Di Fazio." Britney says. "I'll go make this call quickly. You two can talk."
"Alright." I say and she leaves. It's been long since we last spoke, me and Eric. And tonight as we talk, we catch up. So he's one of Mr Vitale's business associates, and they've been working together for some good time now. Interesting. Eric tells me about his girlfriend, but says she was unable to accompany him to the party.
I stick with Eric through out the party, even as the cake is being cut. Lenah feeds her dad first, then calls out to me. It's such a great honour that I can't refuse. She feeds me cake, and I do the same before I hug her and kiss her forehead. "Happy birthday, sunshine." I say to her and she smiles.
As the cake is served, I notice Lenah looking tired. I go and spend some time with her, and eventually tuck her in her bed. As I sit there and watch her, I put my bag on her bed and go downstairs, looking for my sister cause its starting to drizzle outside.
As I move around, I hear her voice, and she sounds agitated. When I get closer, I hear everything. "What did she do?" Britney asks.
"I don't have to explain it, but I don't want her here any longer. Tell your sister to leave right now." Mr Vitale says.
As they argue about it, I get so angry, I just interrupt their argument and say, "I'm leaving."
"What?" Britney asks. "Why?"
"He didn't want me here in the first place, and Lenah is asleep. So I'm leaving." I say. Immediately, I storm out of the house without looking back. It's still drizzling, so I can handle the weather. As I walk along, the drizzles gradually turn into serious rain. What am I thinking? I can't just walk to Siena. I'll surely fall ill. The rain increases, so I have to run and find shelter immediately.
That's when I remember I left my bag in Lenah's room, yet in it are my phone, inhaler and other important stuff. Fuck.
I stand on the veranda of a nearby supermarket, hoping I can find a cab that will take me home. I'm soaked with rainwater and it's extremely cold, my asthma is most likely going to attack me and I'll probably end up in a coma or something. Just great!
As I stand there shivering immensely, a black Rover pulls over, and I see a man come out of it. Thank goodness! It's Eric. "What are you doing here, Britah?" he asks.
"Going home." I reply.
"Come with me. I'll drop you off." He says.
"Thanks." I say as I get into his car. He grabs a thick shawl from the backseat and covers me with it.
"How can you walk in the rain when you know your condition very well, Britah?" Eric asks.
"I'm sorry. I mindlessly walked out. I didn't know I'd end up like this." I reply.
******
Eric accompanies me to my apartment, just to ensure I get there safely. Once I open the door, my eyes land on the shock of my life. Mr Vitale is seated in my living room! He looks at me, then at Eric, and back at me. Eric gives a polite nod and Mr Vitale returns it. Eric looks at me and whispers, "Are you gonna be okay?"
I nod my head and he leaves.
Immediately the door shuts, I sigh. "What are you doing here? Wasn't throwing me out of the party enough?"
"What were you doing with him?" he asks and stands up.
"What do you even mean? Why are you questioning me?"
"I remember I clearly told you, I don't want to see you with other guys. Ever." He says furiously, standing close to me.
"What gives you the right to decide who I'm supposed to be with?" I ask.
He comes closer and raises my face with his index finger, the coldness of his ring driving chills down my spine. My eyes meet his penetrating green ones, and his eyes become difficult to read."Did he touch you?" He asks. I look at him in shock, and he repeats his question. "Answer me." he adds.
"What happens if he did?" I answer without thinking. Mr Vitale clenches his jaw and takes me to my room forcefully. "What are you doing? Let go of my hand, Mr Vitale. You're hurting me." I say in resistance. I don't know what he's planning to do, but I hope he's not planning on raping me to justify his anger.
He takes me to the bathroom and turns the shower on. "What the hell is this, Mr Vitale?" I exclaim, trying to push him away. He puts me under the shower and I struggle with him. "What are you doing?"
"I want his touch off you. "
"Don't touch me! Let go of me!" I cry out.
"So I can't touch you, but other men can? Is that it?" Mr Vitale growls in anger and probably jealousy. He looks at me like he's holding back and trying not to kill me, but he mutters a "fuck this " and pushes me to the wall, instantly violently smashing his lips on mine. My eyes widen in surprise at the intensity of the kiss, but as I move my hands, he grabs them and with his one hand, pins them against the wall.
His free hand grips my waist as he continues to kiss my lips. I resist and bite him, but he bites back harder and draws a pained moan from me. He consumes me completely, not even bothering to know if I'm still breathing. His kiss is too feral, I think I may die...for real.
By the time he pulls away, I'm gasping for breath. However, that doesn't stop him from putting me in a choke-hold. "You're mine, Britah Laleramo." he growls over my lips, his pupils dilating as he looks into my eyes. "All of you, mind, heart, body and soul- everything belongs to me. And if I see you with another guy again, you don't want to know what I'll do." he warns.
I look at him in awe as he leaves the bathroom and soon, the front door slams closed. You're mine, Britah Laleramo... keeps on ringing in my head. What the fuck was that?