Love Beyond Borders [ON-GOING]

CHAPTER 2: DRAVEN

People believe in love. Well, I have my own perspective on it; love is just a game.

DRAVEN'S POV

"Babe, would you like to pick me up later at Jenna's party?" Maurice asked, her voice laced with expectation.

"What do you mean, babe?" I replied, already sensing the impending conflict.

I was just not interested on this girl, so i just said

"Well, I'm breaking up with you because you're just not enough for me. Honestly, I don't even like you anymore."

Before she could say another word, I pushed past her and left her standing at the door.

Having casual sex with various girls makes me feel good, but I've never truly been in love. To me, love is nothing more than a distraction.

"Yo, Draven! What happened to your face? Let me guess, you broke another heart?" Noah joked as I strolled in.

"Well, you know me. I just moved back from a nice city in Australia, so expect me to do the opposite of nice," I replied, a smirk playing on my lips.

"Listen, I need your help with something. I just made a Tinder account, but I hate myself, so I used your name and photo. There's a hot girl in New York who matched with me. Can you help me out?" Noah said, his eyes pleading.

"What are you doing, bro? Catfishing someone?" I replied, incredulous at his audacity.

"Just help me out, man! Log in to my account while I study, and if I don't have a class, I'll chat her up myself," he urged, his expression desperate.

"Fine, give me your account. I've got to go; my mom is probably looking for me," I said, rolling my eyes.

"Thanks, bro! I owe you one," Noah grinned.

Well, Noah must have forgotten that he owes me a lot more than just one favor.

When I got home, the only person there was the maid who I'd been hooking up with for the past two months, but that ended when I found out she was married.

I dropped onto my massive bed and sighed. What a lovely day. Before I forgot, I logged into Tinder using Noah's account. Wow, what a faithful and dishonest friend he was.

Only one girl was actively chatting with 99+ match requests. Her name was Eileen, and I couldn't help but stalk her profile. Wow, she was really hot, and she just popped into my notifications...

CONVERSATION

"Hey, how's the weather there?" Eileen asked.

Why was she asking about the weather? Such an easy question, but I knew how to play my cards right.

"Well, the weather is beautiful, just like you," I replied, flashing my signature charming smile.

"Wow, nice joke, Draven!" she laughed.

"I wasn't joking, Eileen. It's true you're really beautiful." I'd used that line countless times; I was practically a pro at it.

"Well, I have to go. It's late here, and I have work tomorrow," Eileen said, her tone shifting.

"Sleep well, babe," I replied, but she didn't respond. She logged off.

She seemed interesting, but I remembered my friend liked her. It wasn't fair that he used my photo; if I ever met her, she might go for Noah instead of me.

"Sir Draven, your dad is looking for you," the maid announced, interrupting my thoughts.

Damn that old grumpy man. I was sure he'd scream at me again.

I hurried downstairs and found my father waiting for me, his face a mask of fury.

"What a disgrace to our family! How dare you hurt her?" he barked, pointing an accusing finger at me.

"Dad, you set me up for this arranged marriage with someone I don't even like. And now you call me a disgrace?" I shot back, anger bubbling inside me.

"How dare you speak to me like that, you ungrateful brat?" he snapped.

He raised his hand as if to hit me, but Mom stepped in, her expression fierce.

"Alfred, you're not going to hurt our son! He's our only child," she defended.

"Well, you should teach him a lesson. You both give me headaches," Dad replied, dismissing her.

"Do you know why I hurt that girl, Dad? Because I learned it from you. If anything is wrong here, it's your fault." Just as he was about to retaliate, I rushed back to my room, heart pounding.

"Draven, we're not finished talking! Get back down here!" Dad shouted after me.

Bullshit. He acts like a perfect man in this world, but nobody knows how he treats my mom like garbage. Exhausted, I collapsed onto my bed and fell asleep.

Buzz buzz

I woke up to my phone vibrating with notifications. An Instagram alert caught my eye: Eileen had followed me. How did she find my account? Did she see our conversation on Tinder? Noah must have given her my details.

I checked her profile and noticed her posts featured books she had bought and places she had traveled. Was she rich? I mean, she seemed plain, so maybe not.

She messaged me, asking if I had woken up, and I replied that I had. But then she went silent. No one ever ignores my messages.

Well, I'll play with your heart, Eileen. You won't even know because you're so far away.

I headed downstairs, expecting to find no one at the table, not even Mom. They had left me alone again, as if I didn't matter. They had business meetings to attend.

Bored, I messaged her.

"Hey Eileen, are you still there?" I typed.

"Well, I was just out of the shower and preparing to go somewhere with a friend," Eileen replied.

"Oh, where are you going?" I was just curious. Maybe she was like Maurice, always out partying.

"Well, it's my best friend's birthday, so you know, girls' slumber party," she said.

"That sounds fun. I actually had a bad day!" I replied, trying to draw her in.

"Let's talk about that later. I'm really in a hurry," she responded.

"Well, have a nice night!" I typed, but she didn't respond. That was kind of harsh.

I will make you fall in love with me, Eileen Smith...