NMW I Love You

Chapter 6 Shattered Illusions

The sun hung lazily in the sky, casting long shadows across the room. Imogen lay cocooned in the realm of sleep, unaware of the passage of time. The clock on her nightstand read 3 in the afternoon—a testament to the restless night that had preceded this moment of reprieve.

Outside, a known figure approached the doorstep, hesitating for a moment before knocking. Mr. and Mrs. Wilson greeted Basil with a mixture of warmth and caution.

"Basil, we're glad you came," Mr. Wilson offered, his voice a blend of sincerity and concern. "We believe all that you need to do is talk frankly and sincerely to her. It's not difficult, Basil. You can fix things up with her today."

Basil's gaze, a wave of emotions, met the eyes of Imogen's parents. He understood the gravity of the situation, the implications of the choices he had made that had brought them to this crossroad.

With a deep breath, Basil followed them into the house, his footsteps echoing through the hallway. As he neared Imogen's room, he felt a knot of nerves tighten within him. The door opened, revealing Imogen's slumbering form. Basil's voice was soft yet persistent, "Imogen, wake up."

Imogen stirred, her eyes fluttering open to meet Basil's gaze. Confusion flickered in her eyes, mingling with the traces of sleep that clung to her consciousness.

"Basil? What are you doing here? Why are you here in the first place?"

Basil's voice held a mix of earnestness and vulnerability. "I'm here because I need to talk to you, Imogen. There's something important you need to know. It's about what happened last night."

As the room began to come into focus, Imogen realised that her parents were present as well, a silent support system that held her in their gaze. She nodded, her voice still groggy. "Okay, go ahead."

Basil's words tumbled forth, a rush of emotions encapsulated in his explanation. "Imogen, the reason I wanted to celebrate my birthday with Fiona is because her birthday was yesterday as well. I wished to spare you from witnessing us together and feeling perturbed. But I want you to know that it's not what you think."

Confusion furrowed Imogen's brow as she listened, her voice a mix of scepticism and disbelief. "You didn't trust me, and that's the main issue. You believed I was the type to overreact, like a breadbasket who'd go bananas upon seeing her boyfriend with another girl. What was wrong with simply telling me that you and Fiona share your birthdays, and that she's a special friend of yours and you wanted to celebrate together? I wouldn't have been ruffled by that idea. Instead, you opted for a different, more hideous approach."

Basil's gaze met hers, his eyes holding a depth of honesty. "Because... because yes, I didn't believe you with everything. That's my mistake. I'm sorry, Imogen. But I'm here to make things up for you. You know how much I love you and I'm here just for you. What happened yesterday was one of my very few mistakes."

"Oh, really? Then tell me one thing, Basil. Did you snog Fiona by accident last night?" Imogen inquired, confident that what she had witnessed in the pictures was accurate, and that Basil's explanation was utter hogwash that she couldn't endure any longer.

Imogen's parents were left utterly speechless by her words. Their gaze shifted to Basil, who looked at them in sheer bewilderment. They found themselves unable to do anything but maintain a hushed silence while the two of them conversed.

Basil was taken aback by her words. "What on earth are you on about, Imogen? Where did this come from? Why on earth would I snog her? She's just a mate, nothing more."

"It's over, Basil. I wish you'd never set foot in my house, you prat. I talked to Wanda in the morning, and she sent me photos of you and Fiona snogging at the party last night. Let me just show them to you. Take a look, and see for yourself what a lousy player you've been," Imogen declared, her phone poised. With a few taps, she opened WhatsApp, scrolled through the chats, and presented two snapshots that captured Fiona and Basil locked in a fervent kiss.