Shadow Play

07. Elizabeth

     Sally was waiting for me in her car, I saw the suspicious look she gave me and braced myself for a whole round of questioning.

“Soo...what's up with you and that officer?”She asked, looking at me like she wanted to see the depth of my soul.

I gave her a cool look.“I don't know what you are talking about.”

She laughed not taken by my curt explanation.“Then what was that all about? The eye contest,  the glare and tension between you too?” She asked still eyeing me.

“Stop getting wrong ideas; that was all nothing,” I said, looking out the window, trying my best to keep a straight face.

"Gosh, Liz!  I know what you are doing and you better stop.”She scolded.

She would soon start ranting about how I played with people's feelings and then probably use Felix as an example, and then how I went out with men giving them the impression that I was into them.      

   Then when they've fallen so deeply in love,e I would end the relationship.

     She wanted me to settle down just like my parents, I understood that. But she didn't know about Dwain, and I felt bad keeping it from her but I did not want to open wounds that were close to completely healing.

“I don't plan on doing anything, yet,” I said.

She sighed heavily.“He doesn't look like the type that's interested in women anyway.”

Another reason why he caught my eye.

I shrugged.“ Uhh...yeah.”

She scowled .“But still, it's not right. If you are not interested in him, don't get his hopes up.”

“Hey, relax. We're just going to be good friends, and it's his fault if he gets interested in me.” I said bluntly.“ Besides, who knows, he might be my Mr right.”

“Everyman you flirt and toy with is your Mr right! Just stop playing with people's feelings. Maybe that's why you'll never find someone to settle down with.”She snarled.

I picked up a nail cutter and started cutting my nails.“I was never and will never be interested in settling down.” I said flatly.

She sighed again.“Just let that man be.”

" Too bad. He already fell into my sticky trap.”I grinned, an evil glint in my eyes.

We stopped by our usual cafe to get some snacks and coffee. I ate mine and headed home. My house was like 2 streets away. It was a bit far but the perfect excuse for an exercise.

It took me more than half an hour to get to my street. I was already sweating as I got closer to my house.

I noticed there were two cars parked outside. One I recognised as my parent's SUV, and the other was unknown.
     My mum had the key to my apartment, I had given it to her a few months back when she had a fight with my dad and refused to stay in the same house with him.

I had regretted it. Because ever since they made up, my mum would waltz in and out of my house invading my privacy, mostly to nag me about giving her grandchildren.

And now,  she brought her husband and a total stranger to my house.

I walked in and met my parents sitting in my living room with an old man whom I recognized to be Felix's father.

I sighed. My day just got worse.

They all fell silent as I walked in.

I cleared my throat which was a stupid thing to do.“Mr Sanchez, it's a pleasure to have you in my home.”