Dear Laura 2

Chapter 4

He came back to the bedroom an hour later and found me texting. I was texting Emma to tell her that I was not feeling well so I called Abdul to come pick me up. And that I did not want to cut her fun short. I also apologised for leaving her behind.

He sat on the bed and gestured for me to give him my feet. He placed his hands on them and started massaging them. His apologies were always the sweetest. If you were me, you would forgive him too.

"I'm sorry about the dress. I just don't want my girl to dress like that and live at the club. It really pains me when I see that other men think that they can have you. You're mine Mia, I dont want anyone else to have you."

His girl? My heart fluttered at the sound of those three simple words "you're mine Mia". I was? Did that mean we were official? I could not be sure until the words came out of his mouth. His massages paired with the effect of the three simple words made me forget how upset with him I was a couple of minutes ago. I suspect that he knew the power that he had over me.

"Can I ask you something?"

"Uhuh." He responded without lifting his head.

"Why did you throw the flowers away?"

"I was hurt. It was out of impulse. I'll get you another one." His tone was flat yet remorseful. Rich boys huh.

"Okay." I responded, making sure he knew that I understood. It happened. "Can I ask you another one?"

"Sure." I remembered that at some point he never wanted to answer my questions. He said that he hated it when I interrogated him. Things had definitely changed for the better.

"What are we? You called me yours. Does that mean we are officially a couple?" He paused on the massage for a couple of seconds before continuing. I was scared that I had pissed him off. I saw him take a deep breath before responding to my question.

"No. We are not a couple. Not officially at least." As much as I was grateful for his honesty, it was making my stomach churn.

"So, is it okay if I see other people?" I asked. Without reluctance, he shook his head to say no.

"So, let me get this straight. You won't officially claim me for yourself, but you also don't want anybody else to be given a chance to do that?" I furrowed my eyebrows in confusion.

"Precisely." There's that stomach-churning honesty of his. I attempted to stand up because I was mad, but he instantly grabbed my hand to stop me. I flinched because it was the injured wrist and he apologised.

"I love you Mia, believe me. But I also care about you so much that I don't want you to be a rebound. I just got out of a relationship, and it hurts me to hear how not understanding you are being towards my emotions. Do you not care that I recently just got my heart broken? You're so selfish for only thinking about yourself. I just want to process, and I want your help to do that. That's disappointing." He then got into the duvet and closed his eyes.

I took a deep breath after realising how inconsiderate I had been the whole time. I also said the title did not matter so why was I being an inconsiderate bitch when he did not deserve it. He just wanted someone to offer him safety after the heartbreak he endured and going to a club and dressing the way I was just put him in more agony. He deserved better than that.

"I'm sorry. I didn't realise how self-absorbed and inconsiderate I had been. I am truly sorry Abdul." He did not respond.

In fact he did not talk to me until the next evening when he told me that he forgave me for "the pain I caused him." At the time, the forgiveness meant so much. I was glad that the silent treatment would finally be over. I clung to that forgiveness, not wanting to do anything that would upset him again. If walking on eggshells was how I would keep him, then I better practice how to tread lightly, I thought to myself that evening.