❤LOVE ME NOT❌
(Ageless R0m-n-ce)
By: Nuri F. Chisom Pearl ✍️
???EPISODE 21???
ru-by looked at Mrs Scott as they both drank their wine from the gl@$$ cu-p.
ru-by looked around, She couldn’t believe she was in an expensive hotel drinking the most expensive wine. She looked at Mrs Scott again and threw her face to the other side.
“Why do you like Ryan?” Mrs Scott words se-nt electric shocks to ru-by’s whole b©dy.
ru-by coughed loudly and hitted her che-st to calm herself down from the surprising terrifying word she had just heard.
“Ma–I’m sorry but I don’t un-der–
“You, of all people should know what I’m talking about, My son is just 19 and has been never been in a serious relationship so he made it obvious that he was in a relationship with you, I’m a mother you know, Mrs Smith also noticed–
“What?…Mrs Smi…..Smith?” ru-by exclaimed surprised with wi-de opened eyes.
“Why are you surprised? My husband doesn’t know about this though, So why do you like Ryan despite a lot of differences which we all know” Mrs Scott asked raising her left eye brow.
ru-by sighed and bit her l-ip, She couldn’t reply.
“Leave my house, I’m politely telling you this, I alre-ady found you a house close to school so it’s won’t affect you much”
“Oh! Huh…. Thank you so much ma”
“I’m not done– Mrs Scott paused and drank again from the gl@$$.
“My son, Break up with him”
“Huh? What?”
“My son is just 19 and isn’t really for a sugar mummy R0m-n-ce– Mrs Scott paused and turned to steal a stare at ru-by who was however staring at the table embarr@$$ed.
“Well… As I was saying he is just 19,So…Break up with him, He has a lot to do… It’s been 3 good years since he last went to school,He missed a lot in his academics and he is also preparing for his final examinations to get into the higher institution, A relationship can hold him back so Just let him be”
ru-by looked at her and finally nodded.
“Thank you ru-by, You did well… Should I give you a spoiler alert?” Mrs Scott asked.
ru-by stared at her.
“My son is going to the States to study in the best high institution there…. So, If you guys are still in a relationship…. You can guess what will happen, I’m his mother and I want the very best for him… And ru-by, I’m sorry but you aren’t…the right– woman for him”
ru-by sighed dee-ply in utmost sadness.
***************
After Ashley’s phone rang about 5 times, She finally picked it up.
“What?!” She yelled.
“Come outside” Marco said.
“Why?”
“Please, Huh?”
“You will have to wait”
“I will”
Ashley sighed and cut the call. She looked at the mirror in her room and nearly screamed.
“I’m in a mess, My eyes are all red and puffy” She said angrily.
After dressing and adding lots of powder to her face, She went outside.
She met Marco ru-b-bing his palms together and bl-owing cold air from his mouth. He was damn cold.
“Hey” Ashley called.
“Oh, Ashley…” He smiled as he waved.
“How did you know I live around here, Did you stalk me?”
“No, No… Stalking isn’t the right word, I followed you here”
“As if you did, Uhh.. Are you– She paused and coughed awkwardly.
“You were saying?” Marco asked.
“Cold? Are you cold?… If that’s what you wanted to hear”
Marco smiled and nodded.
“Good for you then, So why are you here?” Ashley asked as she sat down on a bench.
“I was worried, I’m sure you kept thinking about what Barbara nearly did”
“She hates me huh?”
“It’s obvious”
Ashley sighed dee-ply.
“Would you believe if I said I wasn’t the one that posted it?”
There was a long pause before Marco replied;
“I know you are quite rude but you have a good heart in there, You wouldn’t do that, I trust you and believe you”
Ashley tried to hold in her tears as she slowly turned to face Marco.
“She doesn’t believe me anyways, That what matters, I don’t know how I can settle it with her and find whoever did this” Ashley said as tears started running down her cheeks unknowingly.
Marco sighed heavily as he heard her loud cries. He sat down closed to her and patted her back as he gently placed her head on his che-st.
“It’s okay… Ashley, You will be fine”
**************
Barbara sighed again and again as she checked her wrist watch, She looked around the resturant once again.
She ate the chips in front of her as she brou-ght her phone from her bag which she placed on the chair.
“Where are you? I’ve been waiting like forever?” She texted.
“Beep” She heard a phone sound close to her, She looked up and saw Peter standing alre-ady with his phone on his closed palm.
“I’m late right, Sorry” Peter said as he sat down.
Barbara looked at him and sadly faced down.
“It’s obvious why you ask for lunch” Peter said as he brou-ght out his chips and began to eat.
Barbara sighed once more.
“Why then?” She asked.
“It’s our last meal together, right?” Peter asked as tears started forming in his eye ba-lls.
“I’m sorry, Peter” Barbara said as tears flowed from her eyes. She tried cleaning it but it was useless, They kept flowing.
“So, Just say it alre-ady… I’ve alre-ady gathered my strength and courage, I can hear your words now, Say it…. I can bear it” Peter said.
Barbara kept crying and crying that she started making babyish sounds.
“I’m sorry, I’m so sorry Peter– She paused.
“Let’s break up” She finally said which made the tear run from Peter’s eyes. He couldn’t look at her anymore, He looked at the table and saw his tear drop down on it.
Barbara stood up, took her bag wanting to leave when Ed Sheeran’s Music called “Gimme love” pla-yed. It really to-uched their hearts that they began to cry.
Barbara kept standing and Staring in space as tears flowed. Peter also cried as he stared at the table.
Barbara finally summoned courage and decided to leave but Peter held her arm.
“Dont…Don’t leave, Ple–Please, I still love you, Wha–What am I going to do without you? I was lying…. I’m not strong, I’m not courageous, Without you… I’m nothing,Please,Don’t go… Please” He said holding unto her arm as he cried the more. He sat down on his chair looking dejected. Barbara squee-zed her face and eyes, Gnashed her teeth trying to hold her heavy bitter tears. She turned to him and gently re-moved his hand from her arm.
“I’m sorry for hurting you this way” She said as she left in tears. The music still pla-yed on as Peter could be seen pitifully crying as he bent his head on the table.
**************
(THE NEXT DAY IN SCHOOL)
“Sém?” Ryan called as he hurried down the hall way.
ru-by turned to him, she couldn’t look at him in the eye, She kept blinking and pacing her eyes to and fro.
“You didn’t come home last night, and when I checked…. Your bags weren’t there” Ryan said.
“Oh, I found a new place, Sorry–for not telling you” ru-by retorted
“You should have told me, I feel bad… I won’t be seeing your face anymore, Your cute Face” Ryan said as he tried to tou-chher cheek.
ru-by however dodged his hand from to-uching her face. She shifted her head in time.
Ryan was puzzled.
“What is it?” He asked sadly dropping his raised hand down.
“Ryan, Can we meet up this week Saturday at The Main Mall?”
“Huh? Why are you changing the topic all the sudden, Anyways… I like it, Is it a date?”
ru-by smiled and nodded.
“Alright then… Expect me there, The one close to this place right?”
“Yeah, We meet at 2pm…Okay?”
“Aye Aye Captain Sém” He replied as they both laughed. Soon, They walked out of the hall way.
Martha came out from where she hid afterwards.
“What are they saying? Did Sém live with Ryan?! Oh Goodness, I’m really pissed off! At least, She has gone from that house… However, about their stupid date… Maybe I should escort them secretly” She thought as she chuckled.
**************
Ashley was walking to the cafeteria when she saw Barbara. They hesitated at first but finally walked past each other.
Barbara stopped and called;
“Ashley?”
Ashley also stopped immediately and turned to Barbara who didn’t even bother to look back at her.
“I guess you are happy now?” Barbara asked with her shaky voice.
“Barbara… If only you could listen to me” Ashley replied softly.
“I trusted you!! Even though Many people hated you, I didn’t… Well, Your plan worked anyways, You should win an Oscar for this?”
“What do you mean?”
Barbara sighed and turned to her.
“You were jealous of I and Peter and decided to ruin our relationship because yours didn’t worked out well like you wished it would –with Ryan”
“Barbara! Hear me out!”
“No, I don’t want to, I really hate you and wish we never cross paths again….Now, I un-derstand why Ryan and Peter really hates you… Right from the very beginning” Barbara said as tears began to flow from her eyes. Ashley looked at her and began to cry too.
“You shouldn’t be Crying! All you ever know is to Pretend! You’ve finally ruined my relationship with Peter….We have broken up thanks to you” Barbara said.
“I’m sorry but I swear–
“excuse me please” Martha’s tiny sweet voice chipped in.
Barbara looked at her,Then at Ashley, Sighed sadly and left the scene.
Ashley began to cry that she even had to sit on the floor.
Martha went to her in order to sympathize with her.
“take heart dear, It’s okay” martha said stro-king her hair.
“I guess it’s my fault” Ashley said as she cried louder.
“it’s okay ashley, you might make me cry too” Martha said as little tears from her eyes.
Ashley sighed,slapped away Martha’s hand from her hair, stood up and left while Martha looked at her from behind and quickly cleaned her crocodile tears.
“Aiish! Seriously, My precious tears just got wasted like that, She couldn’t even look at me… She’s so rude” Martha thought as her evil smile came once again across her l-ips.
*************
Phil-ipwas in his office checking some paper work when he heard a knock.
“Come in” He said.
The door opened and a young man probably in her 30’s entered. Phil-ipstood up immediately.
“So, How was it?” Phil-ipasked.
“I got it sir” The man said as he placed different pictures on Phil-ip’s table.
Phil-ipsmiled heartily.
“You did a good job, But who is this young guy with her?” Phil-ipasked noticing a picture of Ryan and ru-by together smiling.
“They were once neighbors” The man answered
“Neighborhors?”
“Yeah….But She has left his place, She is now living in a different place….Her new address is at the back of the picture”
Phil-iplooked at the back and saw the address. He nodded his head holding his jaw with the tip of his fin-ger. He turned back to the picture and said;
“I don’t know…. But to me, They look more than just–neighbors”
TBC