A Prince's Love

Chapter 45.

*Unedited* (I--)

2 days later...

Gifty casually strolls out of the drugstore, holding the small, white paper bag in her hands. Her mother had sent her to pick up Paracetamol, so she quickly left so that she could return home early for her and Maadwoa's fake fashion show. There was nothing to do, and Gifty needed something to preoccupy Maadwoa because everytime she was bored, she would become despondent from thinking about Danny. Maadwoa was still putting up a semblance that everything was alright, but Gifty could easily see through it. She would smile all day as if she didn't just have her heart broken into two and she'd avoid any conversations that implied anything about the prince, royalty, or marriage. But when she was alone, Gifty would sometimes catch her crouched in the corner of the bedroom, with her head buried in her hands. It hurt Gifty to see her best friend this way, but at the same time, she believed that maybe talking to Danny would help her get some kind of closure or assurance. She would know because she had multiple opportunities to do that but she let her anger get the best of her.

Gifty swings the paper bag in her hand as she swiftly crosses the street, looking at both sides first. When she reaches the other side, she passes in front of Opoku, one of the three filling stations in the village. Gifty rolls her eyes at the uncreative name, as she glances at the petrol pumps. She slows down when a familiar shirt catches her attention. Squinting her eyes, she comes to a halt and cocks her head in bemuse. Tyler was standing by the pumps, filling a minivan with gas while having a cordial conversation with the person in the car. Gifty was in shock after he gratefully took money from the stranger's hand. Unless she's mistaken, if he's filling a tank with petrol and getting money for it, then he definitely works there.

To quell her curiosity, she makes her way towards him, biting on her lip because this was the first interaction she'd have with him since he came to her house. She still doesn't know what came over her and why she let her jealousy take over. Hearing Tyler assert that she was treating him like an enemy really made it dawn on her that she was not being fair to him. Regardless of whether they are currently together or not, Tyler was first her best friend before boyfriend, and nothing can change that. She still cares about him and she hasn't been showing that.

Tyler stuffs the money in his pocket, waiting for his boss to return from his errands so he could give him the money. He looks around to see if any other cars were approaching and he pauses when he sees the thick, petite girl walking towards him. His eyes grow wide as he quickly looks away, hoping she hadn't seen him. He still hasn't told his friends about his job here, and he especially didn't want Gifty to know.

He hadn't seen nor communicated with her since their little argument. To be honest, he was pissed. He tried to be the bigger person and actually talk things out with her, but she wouldn't let him speak, and she accused him of moving on. It's not fair for her to be jealous of his relationship with another girl if she won't even let him explain himself, especially since he wanted to give them a chance again.

Unfortunately, Gifty had seen him and she stood right in front of him, a nervous grin on her face.

"Hey Tyler." she whispers, rocking on her heels anxiously.

He stiffly nods, still a bit pissed to actually respond to her.

She sighs disappointedly. "Um, how are you?"

Well, this was new.

"Good. You?" he responds, almost generically.

"I'm okay, I guess." she replies with a shrug before looking around them. "Um, why are you here?"

He sucks in a breath, thinking of something believable to tell her.

"I-I was just... admiring the petrol pumps. I like the intricate design on them."