Unemployed Hearts

Chapter 7

May 29, 2012
Why did we fight at small things?


After a long tiresome day at the fair all I wanted was a nice long sleep but it seemed like I was running out of space.
“Brandon.” I whispered half wakened. “Move.” I was on the edge of bed. “Brandon, I’m falling. Move a bit.” I was about to rolled down but before that I felt an arm wrapped around my waist. My eyes widened. I felt a body cuddling next to mine. My heartbeat started racing.
I could feel the soft breaths near the back of my neck and the smooth inflating movement along with that felt so tender. I just couldn’t disturb it. I somehow managed to turn my head to see the person lying beside me.
Brandon’s face never seemed so peaceful. He was sleeping like a baby. Looking at him like that seemed so cute, a smile formed on my lips. Instantly, I felt so comfortable.

‘What the hell, Liana! What are you doing? Come back to your senses.’ My inner voiced call. My smile disappeared and a scowl replaced it.

“Brandon!” I shouted. He got startled and raised his head in involuntary response. I forgot my head was hovering over his and as a result our heads collided.
“Ouch!” Brandon and I cried at the same time.
“WHAT?!” he asked me. I lit the side lamp.
“What is this?!” I pointed angrily at his hand around my waist. The grip was intact. “What are you doing on my side? Didn’t I make it clear how you’re supposed to sleep?”
He stared back blankly. “Can you please move now?!” I spat at him in annoyance.
“Ohh! I’m sorry” he shifted his hand and lied on his back and his hands behind his head. My eyes went from his face to his bare chest.
His broad shoulders, muscular arms were visible. My eyes went down to his abs. I didn’t know he had those. I never saw him working out. Maybe even they were inherited along with his dad’s money.
“Stop checking me out and shut the light.” He said with closed eyes. I thought he was asleep.

I picked my pillow and threw at his face. “I wasn’t checking you out and I told you not to sleep shirtless with me. Move back to your side.”
“shush!” He blocked my mouth with his palm. He leaned over me. For a while I felt so exposed (and he was half naked). I sighed in relief when he turned off the light. He lied back on my side and again tugged his arm around me. “What are you doing, Brandon? Leave me! Let me go!” I kept protesting, fighting his strong arms.
But he just put his finger on my lips. “You know it kills me to see how adorable but at the same time annoying you are. So shut the hell up and sleep.”

I was spellbound. I couldn’t believe his words. My mind was again playing games with me. Brandon pulled the blanket to cover me properly.
I felt a deep wave of emotions flowing through my heart. ‘Why is he doing all this?’

I closed my eyes feeling the warmth.
“I hate you for this.” I said with closed eyes. A smile soon formed on lips. I slowly drifted to sleep.

I heard dishes rattling in the kitchen. I immediately opened my eyes and sat straight on the bed. I ran my hand through my hair and tried to untangle them. But I got hung in between; the knots were just too complex. I let them be.
Brandon came in with a tray in his hand. There was sly smile on his face. “You’re up.” he chirped. He kept the tray at the coffee table near bed.
“Yeah.” I said awkwardly. “You made breakfast.” Everything felt so different. For some reason, Brandon was making me feel nervous. He handed me the cup. “Thanks.”
I took a sip of my coffee. We both were silent, avoiding each other’s gaze. When our eyes met we just exchanged few weird smiles.
“I have to go for an interview today.” He told me with a hidden smile. I was surprised. I loved this whole new idea of seeing Brandon working outside home.
“That’s Great Brandon.” I kept the cup aside and stood on my knees. “Why didn’t you tell me earlier? I’m so happy for you. Where is it?”

“I received the mail today itself. Woods corporations.” I was shocked. I felt like I was dead. My orbs couldn’t move away from his face. “What happened? According to me you don’t seem happy at all. Are you jealous?” obviously he thought I was jealous. I had been unemployed for more than a month, I was living on the pocket money I received from my grandma and he knew nothing about my past. Except for what my family had spilled to him about me.
“I didn’t know they started hiring men. Maybe Jason has got new taste.” I spat in annoyance with a fake smile.

“You never told me you knew Jason Woods.” He asked in suspicion.
“I don’t.” I said swiftly. “Just read about him in tabloids.”
“He’s a very close friend of mine; maybe that’s why he’s helping me even after what all I did.” He sat next to me.
“You two know each other, as in personally?”
“We were like best friends in high school but then he went to UK and we weren’t in touch for a while. He’s a nice Guy.” He said in deep thought.
“Yeah, very!” sense the sarcasm. I stood up and went to the washroom. When I came out I heard Brandon was talking to someone on my iphone.

“Yeah sure. I’ll tell her as soon as she comes out. What do you mean it’ll kill her? Really?” he was laughing, smiling, ‘whom is he talking with?’ “Okay Mrs. Smith. Fine sorry! Rose.” Then he saw me coming out. “Wait! Rose, she’s here.” then he directed the phone in my direction. “It’s your mom.”
“Hello! Hello!” No one was answering on the other side. “There no one.”

“I think she hung up.” Brandon said. “She was saying your cousin Lily is getting married this weekend and you have to be there.”
“What!” ‘How can it be?’ was the first thought that came to my mind. “This weekend! I bet she’s pregnant.” I said with a devilish smirk.
“Now I get why your mum said ‘it’ll kill you’.” He said that and jumped on the couch.
“What? She said that? Why would she that?” she thought so badly of me.
“And she even asked me to be your date to the wedding.” He grinned at the thought.
“She’s crazy. Not going to happen.” I rolled the towel around my hair to soak all the water.
“But what I think is she’s just fed up. All the girls of your age are either getting married or have a nice boyfriend. And most importantly they are independent.” I was about to defend myself on that one but before that he said, “That means they don’t live in a gifted apartment and on the monthly grace given by grandparents.”
“It’s so weird to hear it coming out of your mouth. Last time I checked it was you who was irresponsible enough to screw thousands of life. I guess you’ve forgotten how that punch felt.” I laughed a bit. But when I saw his serious expression my laugh faded. “Sorry. I did not mean-”

“No Liana! You are right. It do sounds weird coming out of my mouth. There’s nothing wrong in thinking so low of me.” He got up from the couch. His upset mood was visible in very part of his face. He opened the knob of the door. “And most of all, it clearly justifies your unwillingness to go as my date to the wedding.” He went out and slammed the door behind him.

I felt bad for what I said and how I made him feel. ‘I should have thought before saying that’ for me it was our first serious fight. Well I wouldn’t call it a fight, but it was the first time I realized I was the one at fault. I should have known how emotionally vulnerable he was at that time. He had recently tried to kill himself.
I waited for him the entire day, waiting patiently to apologize. I tried to call him several times but he wasn’t responding to any of my calls. I was getting worried. At night I decided hunt for him myself.

I stood in front of my apartment building, clueless where to go. After a much needed deliberation I decided to call David.
He picked the phone at the first ring. I had no time to think what to say.
“Liana. How are you?”
“David.” That was the first time I called him with his name.
“Yes Liana.” I guess he noticed that. “Is everything fine?” he asked in concern.
“Brandon hasn’t reached home till now. He left at ten in the morning and it’s around midnight now. He’s not responding to my calls. I don’t know what to do David. Can you please help me?” a tear drop ran down my face.
“Wait. Brandon lives with you?”
I answered. “yes.”
“You hold on. Don’t go anywhere.”  He hung up. “Don’t worry Liana. I’ll be there soon”
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