The Wrong Crowd [Wattys 2020]

Chapter 31

Author's note: Please listen to the song above and enjoy this chapter. It's titled Surrender by Natalie Taylor ❤️

Ore watched Dami's side profile in full blown admiration. His jaw was clenched with a thin line of beard running down the length of it, his well carved eyebrows were furrowed in concentration and his hand was splayed over the car gear with the other on the steering wheel.

It seemed the car was automatic because all Dami did was to change the gear anytime speed breakers were near or when there was a thin line of traffic. His hand on the wheel was only a pretend that Ore could see through.

Dami seemed visibly disturbed about something, he kept on flexing his stiff fingers on the steering wheel and blowing out a sharp breath.

Ore began to wonder what had happened between the lady at the restaurant and him. Whatever it was looked to run pretty deep and had left a scar on Dami for some reasons.

Dami occasionally glanced at Ore and offered a tight lipped smile before focusing his attention back to the road. Ore rubbed her arms repeatedly, the air condition was becoming a bit too harsh even though she was putting on a long sleeved dress.

She licked her lips and her teeth clattered silently. Dami was quick to notice, he turned off the air vent and told Ore to retrieve his jacket from the backseat. Ore squirmed as she stretched to collect the jacket. As soon as she turned, she was met with Dami's intense gaze.

Ore smiled shakily as his lustful eyes settled on the parting of her breast, she hurriedly slipped into the thick fabric before Dami whined down the windows.

The fresh salty air from outside slammed Ore as she peeked her head through. The littered streets were busy with market women juggling their loads here and there and the masses stood in front of either one of the clustered stalls with a nylon bag, buying whatever foodstuffs they needed.

Ore excitedly watched the heated exchange between two teenage boys whose shirts were already off and ready to fight. The first boy grabbed the second by his neck and threw him a punch which the other easily dodged with a swift uppercut. The guy with lean muscles and a dry chest fell on the muddy floor, holding his stomach and groaning in pain.

Passersby didn't spare them much attention even though the boys had an intent on strangling themselves. They only shuffled about the market with sack bags on their head with the determination on getting home before dusk approached. The sun was slowly disappearing behind the puffy clouds and the sky was streaked with dots of blue and orange.

Dami made a sharp u-turn passing by different finely lit restaurant and gorgeously decorated shopping malls on the way. Ore gushed at the magical sight and wished in her heart for her to step into any of the shops on a good day.

If only she was earning enough money, she thought sadly. The buildings passed by in a blur. Dami saw the way Ore stared longingly at the window and he snickered in his mind.

Those malls were nothing compared to the life of luxury he was going to give Ore but that was if she was willing to accept his proposal. Ore gulped suddenly remembering home. Her little brother would be watching cartoon now on the tv while mother prepared dinner and got the table set.

Her papi (that was what she called him because he acted very much like an old man even though he was in his forties) would be reading a newspaper in his room or fixing one of the leaking taps.

Ore was mostly in her room for the rest of the day apart from the time she came downstairs to eat, her parents never allowed her the luxury of meeting up with her friends outside school or going out on a few occasions. All they knew best was for them to constantly drill her with how much they wanted her to go to the university, graduate and become somebody known in the society.