You're back? When? How?
Chapter 4
Kiea's (P.O.V)
After leaving the university, I returned to my apartment, where I began ironing my clothing in preparation for a visit to my former residence—the orphanage. As I carefully adjusted my belongings, my phone suddenly rang, interrupting the quiet atmosphere. I glanced at the screen to see a text message from Angela, a close friend of mine.
"Girl, I got the book you told me you needed to buy. Come take it," her message read.
Surprised by her quick response, I decided to initiate a direct video chat call with her. Her face appeared on the screen, and my brows furrowed as I spoke, a mix of excitement and confusion in my voice, "Oh my God, Angela! Why did you buy it? I specifically told you to stop buying things for me."
She burst into laughter, unable to contain her amusement. "Chill, gurly! I know you've asked me to stop, but did you tell my brother to stop?"
Confusion clouded my expression as I replied, "Wait, you told him about that book? I haven't mentioned a word to him about it, Angela. I wanted to keep it a secret."
"Hey, hey! What's up with that face?" she playfully teased. "Okay, alright, fine. I accidentally stumbled upon this book while we were at the mall, and I couldn't contain my excitement. I ended up blabbering about it, saying you needed to buy it. HEHE," she explained, raising the book in her hand for emphasis.
I couldn't help but smile at her genuine enthusiasm, and she returned the smile with even greater radiance. "See? There's no stopping us, Angela. Anyway, I'm on my way to the orphanage now, but I might drop by your house on my way back," I informed her. Suddenly, someone appeared on the screen, causing me to tilt my head in surprise. "Ryzen, you surprised me. I'm sorry."
Ryzen, with a charming smile and sparkling eyes, addressed me through the phone, "Hey babe, I'll come and get you."
Angela reacted with a mixture of annoyance and disgust, snatching the phone from his grasp. "Ryzen! Give me back my phone. And what did you just say? Babe? Ew, brother. You're not her 'boyfie,' so go away and get lost."
Ryzen playfully mocked his younger sister, "Oh, come on, Angela. You're just jealous because you don't have someone to call babe. Your crush is sadly not available."
Sensing that their banter was about to escalate, I bid them farewell and ended the call. I knew it was best to avoid getting caught in the crossfire of their sibling squabbles.
Leaving my apartment behind, I stepped outside and made my way towards the designated taxi stand. The journey to the orphanage was a lengthy one, spanning two hours from my current residence. As I settled into the taxi, I braced myself for the nostalgic memories and emotions that awaited me at my former home.
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As the taxi continued its journey, I found myself lost in thoughts, staring out of the window and observing the world passing by—people bustling about, buildings standing tall, and the vibrant tapestry of life unfolding before my eyes. Suddenly, my phone began to ring.
Ryzen's name appeared on the screen, followed by a message from Angela. Before opening Angela's message, I decided to answer Ryzen's call.
"Hello? Ry?" I spoke into the phone, but there was only silence on the other end. Curiosity piqued, I dialed his number.
He chuckled mischievously and said, "So this time, it's you calling me first." His refined tone contrasting with his playful nature. I couldn't help but retort, "Tell the driver to stop!" as I noticed his car trailing behind the taxi I was in.
Letting out a sigh, I realized this wasn't an unfamiliar situation. "Umm, sir? Could you please stop the taxi? You can drop me off here," I requested, flashing a grin at the taxi driver. "Okay, alright, I'll tell him," I nodded as if Ryzen could see me.
The driver seemed puzzled by my sudden request, but he obliged and brought the vehicle to a halt. Stepping out of the taxi, I noticed Ryzen parking his sleek Ferrari alongside me. This man, always finding a way to make an extravagant entrance. Shaking my head, I watched as he approached.
I quickly asked the taxi driver, "How much?" and reached for my wallet, but Ryzen intervened and handed the driver some cash.
Ryzen smiled warmly at the elderly man and said, "You can keep the change. Consider it a tip for driving this lady safely."
"Well, thank you, young man," the driver replied gratefully before driving off.
With a gentle gesture, Ryzen guided me towards his car, opening the door for me and asking, "Shall we continue our journey?"
He made sure to protect my head as I entered the car, ensuring I didn't bump it against the frame. Giving me one last look, he concealed a smile, and I couldn't help but reciprocate the subtle exchange.
At first glance, one might assume that he is childish and carefree, but that couldn't be further from the truth. Ryzen is a sweetheart, a true gentleman, and a romantic at heart.Despite my discomfort with the idea of returning to my previous residence with him and in his luxurious car, I couldn't help but voice my thoughts, "Are we really going to my old place in your car?"
He apologized sincerely, knowing me well enough to anticipate my reaction. "Why? Are you feeling embarrassed? I'm sorry, I was in a hurry to catch up with you and grabbed the wrong key from my drawer." We had grown comfortable in each other's arms over the past two years since we first met.
I couldn't help but smile, fighting back laughter at his silly mistake. "No worries, it's fine. Let's go ahead." His hand scratched the back of his head, and a slight furrow formed on his brow. "Let's hit the road," I said. As soon as he heard those words, his face brightened, and he nodded enthusiastically, grinning from ear to ear.
He started the engine, flashing me a wide grin, and said, "We'll be there in just 20 minutes." My eyes widened in surprise.
As he accelerated abruptly, I almost shouted, "Hey, hey! Don't drive so fast!" But he just laughed it off.
Turns out, he was right—we arrived exactly 20 minutes early. It felt like my soul was still back there, left behind. This man never ceases to amaze me. He even timed our journey to prove his point, and now he's grinning as if something has tickled him. I lightly slapped his arm, urging him to stop his uncontrollable laughter.
He cleared his throat, trying to stifle his laughter, and asked, "Are you okay?"
"Do I look okay to you? Goodness, I thought for a moment my spirit had left my body," I scolded him, which immediately silenced his laughter. "You're lucky the police didn't chase after us."
He offered me his own unique smile, a smile that I can never get enough of and always crave to see. "Okay, okay. My bad; I'm sorry, babe." It's as if you can never tire of that smile and always find it endearing. He chuckled again and added, "The police won't chase us. It wasn't that fast, darling. We didn't even come close to the car's limits."
I glanced at the speedometer, or whatever it's called, and realized that we had indeed stayed within the speed limit. "We didn't what? You've got to be kidding me," I exclaimed, feeling a tad embarrassed as he burst into laughter once more. He quickly stopped laughing and grew serious as I shot him another glare, signaling for him to stop. "Are you going to stop laughing, or should I just get out and leave you alone?"
He maintained a serious expression and mumbled, "Where shall we go? Here? There? Which way?" I couldn't help but laugh at his words.
I smiled at him and said, "Alright, you win. What do you want now?" And he grinned in response.Only the two of us fully understood what was happening and could truly comprehend our little game. We were always like this. We would engage in a game, whether it was something new or something we made up, and after someone won, the loser would always ask what the winner desired.
He opened his arms wide for an embrace and asked, "A hug? A tight hug." This was his way of seeking my favor, never asking for anything grand. Simple gestures like these brought him immense joy. He always acted silly in front of me, but he knew his limits and when to stop. He was an old soul.
I grinned and gave him a warm hug, pulling him close. "How's this?" I asked, tightening my embrace.
"That's the best hug I've ever received," he whispers, leaning his head gently against mine. "I can wait, Kiea. No matter how long it takes for you to decide. I'll wait." He doesn't pressure me or rush me into an agreement. He continues to seek me, never diverting his gaze to anyone else. For nearly two years since he admitted his feelings for me, his eyes have been focused solely on me, and I'm grateful for his unwavering dedication.
I release my embrace and lock my gaze with his. I peer into Ryzen's eyes, brimming with love and understanding, and express my gratitude, saying, "Thank you so much." He shakes his head, his hand gently caressing my cheek.
"No, Kiea. It is I who should be thanking you for entering my life and allowing me to court you," he replies softly. Once again, my heart skips a beat as I smile back at him.