?MAY
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(R0m-nce is a Meal)
By Sommy Pearl F.
Chapter 63&64.
☆ ☆ ☆ ☆
“What am I gonna do now?”
“Huh?… What’s it?”
“I think I’m in love with you,, as well”
May’s eyes finally blinked.
Raymond slowly took his thumb off her li-p. He didn’t take off his eyes from her but May’s eyes were looking at his che-st, confused and nervously.
“So… what do you want us to do now?” She asked, still looking at his che-st.
Raymond bit his li-ps strongly. He was aware that Ryder liked May. He even supported Ryder then,, so why was he trying to break his heart and trust.
“You know what?,,, just forget you heard that” He swiftly said.
May looked at him.
“How am I supposed to do that? I literally heard you say-
“I guess we are both done for the day. We are gonna continue tomorrow. Take out your maccheroni to the trash and keep mine in the freezer” He said and walked out.
May stared at him childishly.
“What’s his problem?” She thought and eventually did as she was told.
****
“I’m in love with you, Ryder”
“….. Won’t you say something? You’ve been staring at me? If you think I’m p-ulling your legs, I’m not. I really like you and I’ve always liked you” Coral said.
Ryder inhaled dee-ply.
“Coral?” He called.
“Yes? I’m listening. Please, don’t reject me” She muttered.
“I’m sorry but I have to be straight with you. I don’t think I can reciprocate the love you have for me so its advisable, you don’t love me”
“Why not? Why can’t I love you? It my heart we are talking about here? It has the control to make me love”
Ryder didn’t reply. He looked around and then looked back at her.
“We are done for the day so let’s go cool off” He told her, and started to walk away.
Now, Coral’s eyes were teary. She folded her fist ti-ghtly and bit her upper li-p ha-rd.
“It because of her, isn’t it?” Coral asked, coldly causing Ryder to halt and turn back to her.
“Who are you talking about?” He asked.
“Don’t act dumb! You know exactly who I’m talking about! You like May!” She shouted.
“Hey….” Ryder warned.
“You also shouldn’t waste your love on her because she likes someone else”
“What?”
“You heard me right. She isn’t the one for you. I am”
“Sober up, Coral. I’m gonna take my leave…”
“You think I’m joking, huh! May doesn’t Fu-cking likes you. She likes-
“Keep your trash shut! You’ve been behaving sh!tty lately and bet with me, I don’t find it funny. Keep your love to yourself and don’t frustrate my already frustrated life”
“So, you are gonna confess to May?” Coral laughed, rou-ghing her hair like a lunatic.
“Fool,, you are only gonna get rejected just like you did to me. What are you gonna do then? Will you let her go? Cause I won’t let you go, never!!. I won’t let you go!,, you hear!I’m gonna strive till I get you by the side at all cost” She yelled.
“Everything you just spewed out of your mouth makes no se-nse. I’m out” He said, and walked out of the door.
Coral ran after him and pulled his face,, trying to ki-ss his li-p but he pushed her away quick.
“You just p@$$ed your boundary, Coral. I might kill you next time!” He warned before leaving her sight.
Coral ran to her room and broke down into tears, crying her eyes out like she depended on it.
****
May’s room was now a different one. She stayed in a small room now because Coral said she didn’t want May sharing a room with her.
Coral was blunt about it while May found it absurd. Raymond, being a care free and a kind guy made
Coral’s request come to p@$$.
May was given a small room which she moved into. However, She didn’t own a toilet and bathroom just like the rest so she had to use Raymond’s own or sometimes, the customer’s own.
May fell on her be-d ha-rd and spr-ead her legs and hands,, with her hair also scattered around the be-d.
She remembered when Raymond tou-ched her li-p and gave a small sweet smile. She tou-ched her li-p and began to shake like a child, gushing loudly on the be-d.
“He said he loved me. Why did he have to say I should forget about it? Is he a joker? I can’t even forget about it” She smiled wi-dely.
The Next Day,, Coffee Shop**
Sandra eyes were locked with Carlos hair. He had this eyes down, facing the table while his hand was still on the mug’s handle.
“It’s gonna get cold” Sandra’s voice shook him.
“Oh” Carlos flinched and drank the all content at a go which shocked Sandra.
“Whoa. That was-
“I’m… so…rry for being so hasty. I… I was-
“You look and sound so nervous. Also, for the past one week, you’ve been dodging me. Anytime you see me at the agency or anywhere, you dodge. You even ignored my texts and calls. What’s wrong with you? Did I do anything wrong?”
“Not at all” Carlos retorted, shaking his head.
“Then explain the change in your sudden character” Sandra said.
“That’s why I called you here. Sandra,…
“Just be plain, damn. I won’t kill you”
Carlos closed his eyes ti-ghtly.
“I don’t think I can do this anymore”
“What?” Sandra asked.
“I don’t think I can be with you. I guess you were right. Your daughter won’t be so happy that a younger guy wants to date her mother. How will she have to guts to call me her father?”
“Have you called her? Did she say no?”
“I didn’t bother. I simply thought about it. I think it’s best we don’t talk about special relationship or try to form one”
Sandra sighed dee-ply.
“Okay then. I’m okay with it”
“We still cool, right?” Carlos asked.
Sandra for-ced a smile.
“Yeah”
Carlos nodded and watched Sandra drink the remaining content of her coffee at a go.
“So, you still want a date with Percy?” Sandra asked.
“Should I?” He whispered.
“Yours to answer,, not mine” Sandra chuckled.
“Hmm… okay then. I’ve been too lonely for so long” He smiled.
Sandra slowly stood up.
“Okay then. I’m gonna take my leave. Thanks for the coffee and see you tomorrow at the agency”
“Right” He said, and watched her leave.
Immediately, she left,, he looked down and tears escaped from his eyes which he quickly wiped away.
“It’s better I use Percy in forgetting Sandra. Sh*t,, this is ha-rd. Raymond, you should thank me, you know. I Fu-cking sacrificed my love for you” He sniffed and for-ced a sad smile.
****
Sandra entered her room and shut the door loudly. She sat on the be-d and began to cry with her opened palms resting on her face.
She cried as she wanted since Percy wasn’t at home. After crying for few minutes, she wiped her tears.
“It’s over between love and I. I give up. I really really give up. I’m gonna let Carlos go and that’s it. Nothing and no one is gonna bring us together. Amen!” She said.
Sandra inhaled dee-ply and opened her cu-pboard. She ran her fin-gers inside the cu-pboard, looking for something.
The instant her hand tou-ched what she was looking for, she smiled and brou-ght it out,, closing the cu-pboard afterwards. It was a vibr@tor.
3 Days Later****
“What do you mean you won’t be teaching Coral today?” Raymond asked.
Ryder wore his black shoes while sitting on the be-d.
“Obviously, I’m going out” He winked.
“Why? Do you have a date?” Raymond asked.
“Yeah… with May” Ryder smiled.
“Wh…at? May?” Raymond asked, shockily.
Ryder laughed.
“I was just joking. I haven’t even asked her out yet. But I am gonna do that, very soon… What do you think?”
“Huh? What do I think…
“Yes. What do you think? I wanna ask her out”
Raymond scratched his head and looked away.
“I don’t know. I’m not a R0m-nticist”
Ryder chuckled and stood up. He dusted his designers and faced Raymond.
“Whatever. You are gonna help me when I ask her out, got that?”
Raymond didn’t respond.
Ryder tapped his shoulder twice in a friendly manner and took a two joined flask containing Italian pasta and sauce.
“I’m off” Ryder waved.
“Tell me where you are off to, dude?” Raymond said.
“To my sister’s place. She misses me and I won’t deny I miss her more. I promised to see her today and she’s expecting me. She also want to show me someone. It’s a surprise but I’ll tell you about it when I’m back” Ryder replied.
“Okay then. But… what about the food? What’s that for?”
Ryder looked at the flask.
“Oh” He smiled.
“This?… I promised to give them to taste. Well, bye” He added.
“Bye” Raymond replied with a wave.
Raymond sighed dee-ply.
“Guess I’m gonna teach Coral and May today. I hope nothing bad occurs” He thought.
TBC