AFFECTION

ELEVEN

(◍•ᴗ•◍)✧*。

What is love?
May be jumping off a cliff while knowing there is a deep abyss below, but still finding the darkness alluring.

HOPE RICCI

"Here's your order sir!", A waitress kept our cold coffees before us, and left after stealing glances at the man before me.

I sighed.

I wish he grows old and wrinkly soon, so these women can finally move on.

"So Hopeless? Was that all you were worried about? You are so silly!", He commented taking a sip from his glass.

I gave him a skeptical look, "And you tell me! What worried you so much that the seduction tricks by your PA couldn't work?"

One thing with David is, one cannot survive being insecure or jealous or feeling hurt at his outgoing behaviour. If women pounce on him, he is no innocent. And knowing him since he was still a teenager, I have come in terms with the fact. In a real hard way.

When he heard me, he looked up in my eyes, and I read something. He was troubled.

"Nothing significant!", came his reply.

And my knowledge of David says this is utterly false.

"Tell me..", I nudged and I saw him sighing to himself and then shrinking back in his seat.

Right now, I have a bigger problem at hand. My mother's presumption. I have seen the worst of my mother. And if Harry ever comes to know about David being 'the guy', then I am better off dead.

"Uh..", he couldn't say it. Something was hindering him.

And so out of pure friendly instinct, I kept my hand on his and squeezed it gently.

"I won't judge you even if you have fucked up badly. We are friends."

I saw a slight smile on that handsome face at my words and then he began, "I met with Jefferson today about Oliver's case. And he says the deed proposed by Eric is really strong and I barely have any way out."

"Barely you say. What is that way?", I asked.

He chuckled but was not amused, "I'd have to marry a potential woman who could be a good mother to Oliver. The deed says I am unlikely to marry in the future and if I contradict this point by marrying, then I will have some substance on my side of case."

Inside I was being a volcanic mess, but outside I pretended like it's no big deal. Like it doesn't bother me that he may be soon owned by another woman. Like it did not hurt me seeing him with Venus all those years. Like I didn't want to just stand and ask him what wrong did I do to go through all this and when I will finally get rid of him.

I smiled gently, gentle enough to make him feel it's no big deal, "Then what is wrong with that. I can see you want Oliver very much, and so for him...and for yourself... marrying someone is no big deal."

He looked at me in disbelief, "No Hope No! You don't know how I feel. This is not even an option right now. I can't think of standing with another woman lest marrying them. I have loved Venus too badly to even think this."

"I understand..", I say, "..but..."

He shook his head, "No you won't understand. You have not loved anyone yet. You won't understand me."

His words made me chuckle humorlessly.

If only you knew Mr. Wellington!

I would admit his words hurt me, offended me even. He has no idea about my life. But I still maintain my composure.