Damaged (Rúben Dias)

Chapter 2

Rúben's POV

The door closes and I can't help but look at it. Who's this Dani? And why do I care?

"Do you want breakfast?", Libby asks. She looks a bit uncomfortable about me being here.

"I don't want to bother you".

"No, it's fine. I don't have a huge variety of breakfast food so I don't know what you could eat but...".

"Really, it's fine".

I go back to her room to put my clothes on and leave. I'm missing one sock but I don't want to start looking for it. It'd be weird to be caught looking around Libby's things. When I go back to the kitchen, I find her busy taking out pots and kitchen tools from the drawers.

"I...I was on my way out".

"Yeah, sure. I was just trying to get everything ready to make a cake", she laughs. "Not for you, for my sister".

"That's nice of you".

"Well, you clearly never tried any of my cakes. I try my best, though. And Dani is nice enough to pretend it's good".

"Why don't you buy one?"

She lifts her head to look at me like the suggestion hurt her.

"I don't really have the budget to spend on fancy cakes. I wish I did. Dani deserves that and more. She's worked so hard to go to uni", she seems to try and stop herself after that. I can see how proud she is of her sister. But I'm still someone she barely knows.

Five minutes ago, I was ready to leave this apartment and never come back but hearing that...it brings me back to my previous thoughts about Dani. I want to understand her. I don't know why. I guess I'm so used to meeting people who are so simple in a way. So easy to read. She's more of a mystery.

"I could buy it".

"She wouldn't like that".

"She doesn't have to know".

Libby laughs. "You're cute, Rúben. She would be able to tell it's from a shop and will then tell me off for spending the money".

Well, she's a bit complicated then, not just mysterious. "I want to pay for it anyway. Please".

I try to understand the way Libby is looking at me, as if she's trying to study what's behind my offer. And then she smiles.

"Ok. Just nothing too expensive. It'll be harder to explain to her".

"There is a cake shop around here. I could order one and give them your name so you pick it up later".

"Sounds good. She likes chocolate so anything with chocolate is a guaranteed success".

"Great. Maybe I could get your number to tell you the name of the shop and anything else about the reservation".

Libby nods, picking up her phone so we can swap numbers and I leave to go back home.

We took a taxi last night and I could call another one now but I rather walk. The weather is pretty nice after a couple of days of non-stop rain. And the shop isn't far away anyway.

"Hi. I would like to order a cake, please?"

"Of course, any preferences?"

"Chocolate was the only reference I got", I laugh, a bit lost surrounded by all this sugar.

"We have a great three chocolate cake that is our best seller".

"Sounds good. It'll be someone else who will pick it up later. Is that ok?"