Call from Destiny | COMPLETED | English

CHAPTER FORTY: Vanessa's Warning

E T H A N

Benedict looked at me with a confused look on his face. His eyebrows were furrowed and his eyes were directed to my food - probably wondering why I haven't touched it yet.

We sat there for an hour and his food was almost done. Mine, on the other hand, remained cold on the plate.

I had too much on my mind. Vanessa was the first thing though.

You see, I won't ever be happy with her here. She might be my girlfriend, as everyone says, but I don't want her to be at all. In fact, I just went along since our parents wanted us to.

Declining her would be like signing a death wish.

"Is there something wrong, buddy?" Looking back at Benedict, I saw his arms crossed as he sat across me. His eyes seem to be fixated on his own phone as I then grabbed it and faced it downwards to the table.

"You seem deep in thought." My mouth slightly opened but closed as soon as I took a glance back at his phone.

I couldn't form the right words at the moment. Everything just left me speechless.

"What gave it away?" I asked as his face almost looked like he wanted to question my statement. In fact, he even showed me his phone and raised an eyebrow.

"You think my phone is yours all of a sudden," he replied before taking his phone and stuffing it inside his pocket.

A loud sigh was the only thing that I could manage to let out.

"It's about...Vanessa." That was the only thing that left my lips as Benedict fixed his posture and sat upright, his elbow suddenly on the table as he nodded.

There was a sudden interest plastered on his face as he listened.

"What about her? I'm sure there's nothing wrong with your relationship. So, you have nothing to worry about," he claimed before his hand takes the cup of water and drank.

Without even slight hesitation, I told him the news.

"She's coming back." There he goes, almost choking on his cup of water. He coughed and put the glass down on the table with a loud noise - almost as if he wanted the restaurant to hear that.

The people inside the restaurant turn their heads in our direction and the only thing I could manage to do was to look down. Benedict finally stopped coughing and immediately apologize.

As soon as the people finally ignored us, Benedict faced me with a frown. "What do you mean she's coming back? I thought she was in the States?"

"Claire might have answered her call," I told him before I scratched the back of my head. "She didn't really expect Claire would be the one to answer her. I mean, my phone was in her possession after all."

He then frowned, raising his hand to stop me. "Hold up, she answered the call? She came to your house?"

"I don't even know if I should say this..." I paused before thinking whether I explain what happened at Claire's house. My reputation as the leader is on the line here.

Well, I can't say that their team captain just became a laundry guy, right?

"Say what?" He then tried to snap my attention back by questioning me.

Letting out a sigh, I then mumbled, "I'm the one who went to Claire's house and accidentally left my phone there."

Benedict's eyes were wide open as soon as he heard that. "Are you insane?"

"That would definitely put you in a tight spot," he added as he then grabbed his phone when it vibrated.

I thought that it was a phone message so I kept on talking, "I know, Benz. But, it's not what you think it is."

His eyes then widened as he stared at his phone so I got really curious. "Why? What is it?"

"It's Vanessa," he told me before handing his phone to me and continued, "Well, you're definitely screwed."

I badly wanted to press the end call but I knew it would only make the situation worse.

"I really thought that you were gonna have my back on this one."

He waved his hands to disagree with what I said, smiling awkwardly. "I don't plan to dig my grave yet, buddy. Sorry."

As soon as I put the phone next to my ear, I heard Vanessa speaking. Judging from her voice, I could really tell that she was infuriated with me.

"Well, do you like my present?" she asked me as I simply shook my head.

There was no way that I would like this. I didn't even want her to follow me everywhere I go.

"It's almost your birthday, love, right?" she added as I couldn't help but put my hand on my head, fingers brushing my hair in frustration.

"Look, I'm just here for vacation, Vanessa. I swear-" I wanted to prove to her that I wasn't really trying to be with anyone so this drama would end.

But that didn't happen.

"Liar." Her tone was laced with hatred. If I was to stand in front of her, I knew I would've been dead already.

A laugh then came from the other line. "You're there to cheat on me."

"I shouldn't have let you leave." Damn, she doesn't really want me to have freedom.

"It's not what you think it is, Vanessa. I was just there-" There was no way that I could tell her that I owe Claire a favor. She'd think of more possibilities.

"Don't tell me that she's your friend. Bringing a girl to your home? Have you no shame at all?" she asked me and my eyes widened at that point.

Jenny didn't tell her?

"Vanessa, love, please let me explain."

"Wait for me there. You'll be sorry that you brought a girl and even let her answer me."

Vanessa quickly ended the call before I could even try to tell her. Benedict couldn't help but look at me with a frown.

"How'd it go?"

"She hung up on me."

"Figures."

Well, my worst fear has been confirmed.

I still can't believe that in a few weeks, Vanessa would be here. She confirmed it already. I just hope that she won't arrive here on my actual birthday. That would be a disaster.

"What do I do?" I asked Benedict in hopes that I could fix this.

He then shrugged, not really knowing what to do at this point. "I don't know. Panic, maybe?"

"You're not helping right now, Benz."

"Well, first, you need to get your phone."

"'Cause I won't let you have mine. I don't want her calling me on my number, you know?" he told me before taking his phone out of my hand.

"You do have your girlfriend's number, right?" I asked him - referring to Sam.

I heard from Claire that my phone was in her grasp. So, I have to talk to her. Benedict gave me a weird look before taking a glance at his phone back at me.

"Sam's not my girlfriend." I raised an eyebrow at him and Benedict gave me another shrug.

"Yet. Alright, I'm still on my way there," he explained as I nodded.

He was still trying to court Sam, probably. I'm not even going to argue. That girl is hard to get. Even if Benedict was a nice guy, he'd probably have a hard time catching her affection.

"Just help a friend out?" Hopefully, he'll be able to help me out. We both don't want Vanessa to come back.

"I'll call her. In the meantime, finish your food," he told me before pointing at my plate.

"You can get your phone at our family dinner," he added before standing up to leave and calling Sam.

Wait, what did he just say?

Since I wasn't really informed, I tried to ask him - grabbing his arm in the process."Family dinner?"

"Dad wants you to come. They don't really mind bringing out other friends too. They aren't that strict, you know."