Strings Attached (On-going)

18. PERFECT NOT PERFECT

It had been three days and still no word from Dave. After standing me up he had the annoying guts to actually disappear? I spoke to his friends and still no positive feedback. Honestly, I was getting angry instead of worried, because this time, my calls were going through, but he just wouldn't answer.

Did I do something or say something wrong? Had my insincerity driven him away from me? I cursed myself just thinking about it. I should have just told him the truth. Yes, he might have acted okay, but maybe actually, he wasn't and that maybe he hated liars---like myself.

I had had a session with Dr.Tonia the previous day, but I decided not to mention it. I wanted to work things out myself, but I was just helpless as I had tried all I could. I decided to talk to Beth. Since she left my house that night after the beach, we hadn't spoken.

The first ring went straight to voicemail, I called again and she answered the third time. I decided it was best I apologized since I was the one in need. We apologized to eachother like civilized adults, no bickering here and there this time.

"Dave disappeared on me Beth..it's been days", I announced to her. She asked what happened and I told her all that had happened since the night Dave stood me up at the restaurant and how I hadn't received even just a text message from him and how he'd been ignoring my calls. How I had gone to his apartment and spoken to all his friends.

She asked if I had checked out his workplace, "he's not even at home, how will he be at work?--his friends don't know where he is...I don't know, maybe they don't want to tell me".
She agreed that probably, his friends knew something. Something was very wrong somewhere but then again, I just had to keep my fingers crossed.

*************

I sat relaxed in my chair after Franka and I had had a virtual meeting with a company in Canada that wanted to partner with us for an app. I had promised to review their proposal and give them a feedback the next day.

I daydreamed as I stared at the white ceiling and the fluorescent bulb looking down at me. I was wishing that the loud tone of my phone would just pierce into the silent air and wake me from my reverie. I just wanted him to barge through those glass doors and give me even just one reason to forgive him and I would have, but he didn't. The silence just mocked me till I felt a heated stream crawling down my face. My chest tightened as I closed my eyes, permitting the tears to have their way.

I was just like my dad, so emotional and in my case, so fragile.

"Have you checked out his workplace? You never know", Beth's words came back to me. I sprang up suddenly and grabbed my purse, drying my face with the back of my hand. I headed out and told Franka I'd be back soon. I had no idea what I was doing, but I just hoped to find something helpful.

Anything.

I ignored Raya and went out the door. I entered my car-- Oscar got it fixed the day after the storm--- my saviour. I felt watched, I wasn't sure but I just didn't feel okay. I lifted my eyes to see Oscar looking down at me with both hands in his pocket. He looked good in his checked blue suit, his hair combed smoothly backwards.

Raya must have called him to tell him I was going out, that lady!!

Staring back at him for a while, I tightened my grip on the steer and revved my engine to life and sped off. I had switched from my usual self and was driving at a speed I never thought I could ever go, I knew the police could stop me for over-speeding but that was the least of my worries.

Before I could even agree with myself on where to go, I was already following the map to Dave's workplace. I thanked my stars when I arrived without any police interference. I parked safely and walked in, it was my first time going there.

The firm building was high and huge. I walked through and asked for Bill, the secretary called him on the phone, "your name again please"

"Lisa, Lisa Martin", I replied calmly. She said yes a few times and got up from her seat. She gave me a simple direction to Bill's office and I thanked her. I walked straight ahead past a group of people going the opposite direction, then turned left into another corridor and stopped at the the third office on my right. Bill raised up his head and smiled at me through the doorless entrance. He shared the glass surrounded office with another person who was obviously absent.

"Lisa..hey, come in...what a huge surprise", he got up from his seat and walked up to me. I nodded and kept the emotionless and blank expression on my face. He sighed and asked me to have a seat.

I shook my head lightly, "I'm worried Bill, I don't want to think he's in danger or anything but I'm worried and angry, how could he just disappear?"

"I'm worried too Lisa, but I really don't---" he paused midway and looked behind me, surprise written over his face, I turned on my heels right in time to see the intruder trying to walk away. He wasn't fast enough though. His eyes locked with mine and for a fleeting moment, I didn't know what to do. Whether to run to him and hug him, beat his chest with all my strength, slap him..... Or just stay my ground.

Dave?

The silence that coated all three of us and the howled look on my face could be captured for a horror movie. Dave was no doubt, surprised at the sight of me in his office, clearly. "Dave?.....where in the world have you been?" I asked frantically taking steps towards him.

"I'm sorry", well, that's it? "But I have to go, I'll explain everything to you okay?"

"Dave, what the hell is going on where have you been, where are you even going?" I rushed through my words, forcing the tears to stay the hell back.

He was silent for a while as if contemplating whether to say something. He rubbed his head and sighed a few times, before finally taking a few steps forward.

"I have a child, Lisa, she came back, with her mom. She just wants to spend a week with me and then she'll be gone, I don't want to miss the moment...I am so sorry, she's waiting in the car and I have to go. I really didn't want you finding out like this... I'm so sorry"

Bomb! freaking explosion!!

Thank you for coming this far, I love you. ❤️😩🔥