The Masquerade

Chapter 15

Adiva's POV

I breath a sigh of relief when Nancy refuses to come along,i should not but somewhere deep in me,i don't want to share Kevin even though he is a friend.

Derby is more than excited to catch up with one of her high schools' friend at the mall.

I hop in grabbing the door handle to occupy the passenger seat when Kevin honks stopping the car by my side.Derby is seated at the rear seat, adjusting the rear view Kevin puts his hands on the steering wheel,then chattering on the way & exploring new ways we reach to the mall.

"Girls, carry on with your shopping. Mom asked me to deliver a packet to my aunt who puts nearby so i'll join you in a while." he says rolling down his side of window when Derby & i climb out.

"Be quick,ok?" i tell him pouting sadly.

His car travels down the road & he is far from my vision.

Its almost thirty minutes when we are done shopping some basic toiletry & ready to eat food packets. I call up Kevin,since Derby would be leaving anytime now to see her friend. He disconnects my phone call & returns the call within next 5 minutes telling me that he'll be there any moment.

"I think i'll go,he is waiting for me" Derby tells me.

"Ohk, see you then. Have fun!!" I see her off winking.

I hope Kevin is here soon so i don't have to wait here with all the stuff in hand.My eyes wander searching to see if Kevin is anywhere in sight.My patience is wearing thin when my attention is caught by a couple kissing at the rear exit.My muscles strain to form a curve on my face & my imagination takes me to the past far past when i recall about me kissing Mike in the same way some years back in the mall when he tried to make up to me for his silly mistake when i was upset.

I m all in flashback,reminiscing the good old times. Memories play a confusing role,they make us smile when we remember the time we cried & make us cry when we remembered the time we laughed.

I didnot realise Kevin was standing a bit far from me looking at me.My innerself accuses me of cheating on Mike but the other part knows Kevin is just a friend.I am fighting a battle of wits between two sides of my mind when Kevin comes closer makes a puppy sweet face & pleasingly apologises for running late.I know that i am not Mad at him but again my mind battles & reminds me of the kiss between Mike & me from the mall was Mike making upto me for running late.I can feel the difference really but he is just a friend,i tell myself.

"Its alright" i say brushing all sorts of thoughts away.

"where to?" he asks me.

"I feel a little low,somewhere i can breath & stop my mind from taking in more bullcrap" i tell him.

His hand snakes around my shoulder & we walk outside the mall.

"Lets grab a meal & then a long drive to the downcity" he discloses the idea so confidently like he knew i ld love it.

We get the take away burgers & coke put them on the rear seat.He starts the car,engine roars coming back to life. The ride has been a welcome distraction,the time has flown by in a haze of new phase.

"Don't you think i am a little dificult to handle sometimes,there were times when i had been traumatised emotionally,baffled,winded & suffocated.It amazes me how you have been back & forth with me throughout" i blurt out.

"The idea you have about yourself is bullshit,you act like you are strong enough to deal the things alone" he says.

"I cant decide between the right & wrong,choose between the life i had & the one thats now.Things really have changed for me & its so unwelcomingly welcome to a new phase of life." i scoff.