12. Chapter Twelve
Chapter Twelve
Kevin
I stared blankly at my phone screen for the umpteenth time this morning before throwing it back on the bed. I hadn't gotten any response from Licia. She gave me her word that she would think things through.
I wasn’t asking for too much or hoping for the impossible, so I wondered why she was taking forever to decide. Right now, I doubted if she even spared a thought.
“Could it be that she just agreed to give my request a thought just so I would leave her be?” I muttered, parting the curtains to check who just drove into the premises. I didn't know what else to believe.
It had been five days already, and it was still total silence. Five days was nothing compared to twelve years of silence, though. What if she was giving me a taste of my medicine? Could she be that vengeful?
My thoughts were going haywire, and the fact that I couldn’t extricate myself from them was depressing. I would respect her decision, whatever it might be, but she had to say something at least.
The vibration of the phone against the bed brought my attention back to it. I forgot for a second that I was lame and quickly reached for it, twisting my leg in the process. I let out a scream as I felt the bolt of pain shoot up uninterrupted to my brain. I was ready to lash out at whoever the caller was if it ended up not being Licia.
The call came in again as I was nursing my leg.
“Hello.” I tried sounding cool and immune to the pain that was still stinging in my nerves.
“Hello, Kevin. How are you doing?” Licia enquired. Her voice was already numbing the pain. I wanted to tell her how much I needed her and how I hurt myself, but I ended up saying, “I am doing great, dear.”
“That's good to know. So, I have finally made my decision,” she announced.
I felt my heartbeat rise by a crescendo.
What did she decide?
“Let's hear it,” I managed to say.
“I gave our last conversation quite a lot of thought, and I've decided that it would be cool if we could just stay friends. This is like starting the groundwork all over again.
We have grown into entirely different people from the versions of ourselves we were acquainted with years ago, and a lot has happened as well. Hence, my decision.”
I had my fingers crossed the entire time. I dreaded the ‘just friends' situation, but what she said made complete sense. A lot had changed, really. It may not be such a bad idea after all, even though it would be pure torture.
“Okay, Licia, that works.” I tried to cloak my disappointment and act like a perfect gentleman. Did this mean she felt nothing for me anymore? I wasn’t going to push my luck. It might make things worse . I will take what I can get.
“All right, then. I would like to get back to work. I just had to tell you so you could ease up.”
“So, can we talk after you are done with work?” I had to ask. Friends do that, at least.
“Let's see how it goes. Have a great day, Kev.”
“Yeah, you too.”
A knock on the door drew me out of my thoughts. It seemed like whoever it was had been knocking for a while.
“I want to be left alone!” I screamed. I wasn't in the best mood to see anyone. My emotions were volatile at the moment, so the least anyone could do was to stay away to avoid being at the receiving end of my fury.
The door slowly opened, and Melony let herself in gently.
“Good morning, Mr. Brown.” She greeted me, but unfortunately, there was nothing good about my morning. It was horrible.
“I said get out,” I growled, not sparing her a second.
She tried to say something else.
“Are you deaf? Leave this minute!” I barked at her, pointing towards the door.
She was a constant reminder that Licia wasn’t my nurse anymore. So, don't blame me if she was the last person I wanted to see right now.
She quietly turned and left, slamming the door shut. I wouldn’t be shocked if she probably considers quitting at this rate. I was becoming overbearing and unnecessarily irritable at the slightest provocation.
My mom came into the room some minutes after Melony left. My guess was, she must have ratted me out to her.
“Kevin, what was all that about? I heard your voice all the way from the living room.”
“Mom, please… Can you just leave me to myself? I really want to be left alone.”
“Did anything happen to your nurse? Was she the one to be shouting at?”
I scoffed, “Licia is my nurse, not her.”
“Don't be ridiculous.” She was getting pissed as well. “You and I both know that Licia isn't coming back to be your nurse. The earlier you come to terms with that, the better for you.”
“I am well aware of that.”
“If you are, then act like it. Why make the poor lady miserable for trying to help you?”
“I don’t need her help. I will get by just fine. I would do the PT sessions with Corbin. No need for a nurse anymore. I want her off my services.”
“Kevin, that's a little unreasonable. Don’t you think so?”
“Licia wants us to just stay as friends, so forgive me if I'm not in the best frame of mind to be excited about being treated like a handicap by a stranger.”
Mom was quiet. “Is that what this is all about… Licia? Now do you know how Licia would feel if she found out that you are refusing care, or how disappointed she would be if Melony tells her how unbearable you are becoming? Stop acting like a spoiled kid for goodness' sake.”
I hadn’t given it a thought. Of course, Licia wouldn’t be happy.
“I’m sorry, Mom,” I said, calmly.
“I’m not the one you should be apologizing to. I would send Melony up in a bit. Apologize to her, be nice, and stop sulking like a sissy.”
I reluctantly consented. “Fine.”
***
I had woken up bright and early, a little extra thrilled. Licia had sent Lexie and me an invitation to her birthday dinner. Of course, I didn’t need a reminder for her birthday. I knew it like I knew my name.
I could still vividly remember how we celebrated her eighteenth birthday—we practically spent the whole day together. She had prepared a wish list, and I made sure we checked off every item and activity on the list, except one which I planned on fulfilling today—a race car.
“Aren't you ready yet?” I asked, knocking on Lexie's door. “We are only shopping, not you contesting in a beauty pageant.”
“Easy, Kevin… looking good is good business.” She answered from within.
“Not at the expense of my time.” I retorted, taking a quick glance at my watch.
“Stop nagging. Ladies don’t like nagging men.” She teased. “Just give me ten minutes tops.”
“I will be waiting in the car,” I said and left.
True to her words, Lexie was downstairs in exactly ten minutes. Impressive.
“So, this is why you kept me waiting?” I asked, once she got into the car.
Lexie understood what I was implying. “I would take that as a compliment.” She beamed with an adorable smile.
“Whatever.”
We picked up the gifts that Lexie, in her wisdom, insisted would appeal to Licia. She was the one in charge while I followed her without complaint, footing the bills. After that, we drove over to the car shop to pay for a Lamborghini Sian. By the time we were rounding off the mini splurge, it was already 4 pm.
“Kevin, what time is the dinner scheduled to start?”
“6:30 pm. Why do you ask?”
“It’s just so that I will start dolling up in time. I don’t need you breathing down my neck.” She stated matter-of-factly.
“Oh… that. Thirty minutes should be enough for such vanity, right?”
“That’s preposterous, Kevin.” She glared at me like I just blasphemed. “I will only forgive you because you are my brother.”
“What’s the big deal? You aren’t even a celebrant.”
“How do I explain this to you?… It’s just like an artwork. The time taken by the artist to come up with a masterpiece isn't taken into consideration. Everyone's attention is on the finished work.”
“What’s the conclusion of this analogy, Lexie Brown?”
“The conclusion is that you are intractable. My God, I can’t believe I was trying to make you see reasons with me.”
I guffawed, “Are we good to go now?”
She pouted, “Yeah, I think we are.”
We arrived at Licia's place a little later than the slated time, and I immediately got nervous, struggling to get out of the car. Lexie noticed my hesitation and placed her hand on mine as they were still clutching the steering.
“Kevin, you are not proposing to her today, so just breathe. Get the nerves out of the way.”
I nodded and took a deep breath. It worked. “I feel better.”
“Okay then. Let's join the others inside.”
The dinner table was already laid out with Licia's favorite dishes and a strawberry cheesecake. I was happy that not many people were present. Basically, she only invited some close friends and colleagues, alongside Lexie and me.
“Where's Licia?” I asked Joey, darting my eyes around the living room.
“She will be out in a second.
Just make yourself comfortable.” She smiled.
“All right.” I handed her the bottle of champagne as Lexie and I got seated.
Licia appeared a few minutes later, looking breathtakingly gorgeous in her olive green silk strap gown. The slit ran up a considerable distance to her thigh; not revealing too much, but enough to show how smooth and tanned it was.
Her hair was perfectly styled in a low bun, making her neck stand out like an ivory tower over the strap dress. I was in awe of her beauty.
I didn't realize I was gawking until Lexie nudged me, pulling me from my reverie.
“She's so beautiful, Kev.”
I smiled coyly, “Yeah, she's perfect.”
Everyone glued their attention on the celebrant, felicitating and handing their gifts to her. I summoned the courage and walked up to her. “Happy birthday, Licia,” I said, giving her a hug. I wasn’t keen on letting go, but I had to.
“Thanks, Kev. I'm glad you honored my invitation.”
“I wouldn’t miss it for anything.” I smiled warmly. “By the way, you look exquisite.”
She blushed, “You aren't looking bad yourself.”
“We just make an effort.”
“Look who's trying to act modest.”
“Can I steal you for a few seconds?” I requested.
“What are you planning on doing, Kevin?”
“Certainly not stealing a kiss, trust me.”
She chuckled, “Okay.”
She obliged, and we stepped outside. I had just gotten the notification that the car had been delivered. The timing was perfect.
“Happy birthday once again, Licia.” I said, presenting her with the keys to the Lamborghini.
She was dumbstruck. Her expression was out of this world. She didn’t see it coming.
“Kevin, what did you do?” She shrieked, already tearing up.
“Fulfilling your wish, my dear.”
“You remembered?”
“Like it was yesterday. Yes, I did.”
“I don't even know what to say. I'm speechless. Thank you.” She hugged me in appreciation.
“You are welcome.” I was glad she didn’t turn it down. It would have been heartbreaking.
Lexie soon joined us to tender her felicitations. I thought she had gotten caught up with something else, but I was wrong.
“Lexie.” Licia excitedly called out, wrapping her in a warm embrace. “Thanks for coming. You knew about this too?”
“Guilty as charged. Congratulations, Licia.” Lexie giggled.
Why did Lexie choose now, of all times, to butt in? Couldn’t she have waited inside for Licia and me to have our moment?
“Thank you, sweetheart.” Licia replied, smiling radiantly.
“Everyone, please, let's come over to the table.” Joey announced from the doorway.
“That’s our cue.” Lexie said, with a chuckle.
I leaned closer to her, “Happy now?”
She shrugged, “But, it wasn't my fault.”
I rolled my eyes at her, “Of course, it's not.”
“You have made my day, Kev.” Licia said as we made our way inside.
My heart leapt for joy.
“I’m glad I could.”