Loveless♣

Chapter 15

  Joshua struggled to stand and limped towards the kitchen,touching the walls for support.His condo had been customized to his liking.The walls were painted deep blue like the sea,the pillars painted white like clouds.He had souvenirs from various places he'd traveled attached to different parts of the house.The kitchen was L-shaped,and there were large equipment everywhere.He had no idea why he'd bought them when he lived alone.He hardly touched the oven,had never even cooked anything on the large gas cooker.Maybe he wanted them around for when he had a family.Maybe he wanted them to just fill up the space in his house,hoping it'd help him fill up the space in his heart.He simply didn't know.
He touched the cold empty kitchen sink.
You only apologize to someone when they're hurt,quedira,and what you said to me..pfft.. I've been called worse.
He sighed.
Why did his thoughts always have to travel back to her?
His phone rang. He groaned audibly and placed his head on the sink.
Why couldn't this girl just leave him alone?He knew the effect he had on females he'd gone to bed with,but this was too much.He snatched his phone out of his pocket.
"Damn it,Penny,I swear I-"
"It's Patti, J.T,"a soft voice replied.
Joshua's head snapped up.
"Patricia.What's wrong?Is Joshua okay?Are you okay?"he asked frantically.
"We're fine,we're fine.Josh's at the neighbor's,"she said."Uhh..how are you?"
He sighed."A little hurt.I sprained my ankle,I think,but I'll be fine."
"Oh,okay."
Joshua frowned."Patti,is something wrong?You never call at this time."
"Uhm."She paused."J.T..."her voice trailed off.
"Come on,Patti,"he said,turning to lean on the sink."Is it Terrence? Is he bothering you?"
"No,no.I haven't seen him.Err,J.T,Penny's here."
Joshua frowned."Penelope?"
"Yeah.She's in my living room.I had to come outside to talk to you."She paused."J.T,she's in a terrible state.She came here wailing and said you didn't want her back.It took me a full thirty minutes to calm her down.I had to listen to her,dry her tears,which were endless by the way,and I even made her some chamomile tea."
"Oh crap,"Joshua said and closed his eyes.
"J.T,"she began softly,"J.T,what'd you do to her?She's not herself."
"Penelope's gone too far this time.How dare she go to you with her nonsense!I'm gonna-"
"She's in love with you,that's why!"she replied."Don't you get it?"
"No,she's not,"Joshua said matter-of-factly.He was slightly irked by the thought of that even."I'm gonna talk some sense into her."
"She's nuts about you,brother.The same thing happened with Kate and Johanna,remember?"she asked,sounding a tad annoyed."They fall head over heels,and you don't reciprocate.Then,they all come crying to me,J.T.Me!"
"Calm down.I have an arrangement with my female friends,sis,and they all know it.I make it absolutely clear to them that I don't want any romantic entanglement.In fact,they're the ones that pressure me for something more."
"J.T.."
"Patti."He sighed."I'm sorry about this,a'ight?"
"I know you,J.T.You're too kind,that's why they don't leave.Do you remember Kate?"
"Patricia.. don't remind me."
"She pinned her pregnancy on you,and because you didn't want her to face any shame for it,you accepted.You'd only slept with her once,and we all knew she was the neighborhood slut,so why'd she pin it on you?"she asked."Because she knew you wouldn't reject a child.Ever."
"Patti.."
"At the end of the day,J.T, we found out she wasn't even pregnant!"Patricia scoffed.
"And I was mighty pissed."
"Well,yeah,but that's not the point.You've never loved Penny,but you endured her crazy ass for three months cos you didn't want her to get hurt.This has gotta stop.You've gotta be firmer."Her tone had turned stern.Joshua smiled slowly.He could imagine how she looked right then.She was a little short for her age,but she made up for it with the extremely long braids she carried on her head.The braids would be in a large bun on her head with a few strands escaping to frame her slightly chubby cheeks,Joshua imagined,and her hand would be on her hip.She'd also have that scowl on her face that made her look about as dangerous as a baby chicken.Patti hated her child-like features because it made people coo over her and never take her seriously whenever she was aggravated.
Growing up,she'd always tried to stand up for Joshua whenever their father beat him.It never worked,but Joshua had greatly appreciated her undying love and support.At least someone was making effort.
"You should talk to her,"Patti was saying,bringing his thoughts back to Penelope.
"Give her the phone."
"Be gentle,J.T. You might be kind,but your tongue is caustic,"she warned.
"I'll try not to make her cry a river,"he said,drawing his brows together in seriousness.
" J.T..."
" Just hand her the damn phone."There was a pause.Then he heard her walking.A few seconds later,Penny was sniffling in his ear.
"Hello?Josh?"
Joshua pursed his lips and took a deep cleansing breath.
"Penn,I'll see you tomorrow. Eight o'clock.Chillies.Don't be late,okay?"
Sniffle."Do you still love me?"
"Chillies.Tomorrow.Eight.Do not be late,"he repeated.
Sniffle.Sniffle."Okay.I love you,Joshua."
"I know that,Penn.We'll talk tomorrow.I gotta go,a'ight?"
"But do you still-?"
"Penn,someone's at the door.I gotta go."
He hung up quickly and sighed heavily.He hadn't even realized that he'd been holding his breath.
The doorbell rang.He raised one eyebrow.Someone really was at the door.He straightened and walked slowly to the door.When he opened it,his mouth fell open.