Lisa
I let my emotions settle for a while before heading back inside, physically rubbing at the spot in my chest where I have this weird feeling deep down that I can't shrug off. That was probably the last time that I'd ever see Nini again, or speak to her at least, leaving me to hurt all over again. At least I knew this time it was coming, but that doesn't make watching her leave hurt any lesser.
When I head back inside, my mum is at the kitchen counter waiting for me with a look on her face.
"Mama." I sigh, tiredly. I already know that she's going to want to play A-Million-and-One Questions.
"Lisa." she counters, her voice soft with just enough firmness to make me plop my butt down in the stool across from her. She gives me a tender once over before firing off her questions. "Why was Nini here tonight?"
I can only imagine the assumptions running through her head, most of which probably include Nini only coming here to try to win me back.
Oh, mama. How sorely mistaken are you.
I sigh, scrubbing a hand down the side of my face. "Remember that engagement shoot that I had to go to the other side of the city for? The test run to see if they want me to shoot the wedding or not?"
She nods intently, and I give her a few seconds to fill in the blanks. "Oh!" Her eyes go wide in realisation. "Why didn't you tell me? You told me that you didn't know who they were when you came back!"
"I didn't want to upset you." I shrug, answering honestly.
She purses her lips in disapproval. "So she only reached out to you to photograph her wedding?"
"No, mama." I groan, rubbing at my forehead where I feel a headache coming on. "Bam got a request from some lady who happens to be Nini's fiancé's mother. No one knew anything at the time going into it. I just showed up and then there was Nini. Trust me, she was just as surprised as I was." I grumble.
"But why was she just here?" she asks again, probably thinking there's some deep meaning.
Knowing my mother, I think deep down she's still rooting for Nini and I to get back together somehow. Even though Nini hurt me real bad, my mum knows that Nini is the love of my life and I'd probably run back to her in a heartbeat if she asked. I know that it's pathetic and I probably need some more self-preservation but it's the truth.
I know it will most likely never happen, especially now that she's engaged, but I'd be lying if I said that I didn't spend a few sleepless nights wishing that she'd show up at my door to give our relationship one more chance.
"She was just here to pick up the pictures I had developed." I explain.
"Are you going to photograph her wedding?"
"No, mama." I say flatly. "She wouldn't even ask me to anyway."
She gives me a long look that I can't quite decipher, and before I can ask what that look is for, a soft knock comes from the back door. We both look in that direction, puzzled that anyone would be knocking on our door this late at night.
Before mama can even take two steps towards the door, I hop off the chair and swing the back door open cautiously, surprised at the sight before me. Nini stands just outside, with her heels in her hands as she shifts anxiously on her bare feet.
"Nini." I breathe, surprised that she came back.
