61

Present time*****
"Do you need a hug?" He asked and I nodded wordlessly. He caged me into his strong arms and squeezed me a little tighter...I rested my head on his shoulder fighting hard the tears that were making my eyes pepperish.
"You can just let it all out..."Just what I wanted to hear.I sobbed profusely for what seemed like eternity and all he did was rub my back soothingly. Even though you have hurt me in the past, I can't stand the fact that I bruised your ego...I hope Ian is right and this torture is worth it...I rather die than see your hurt.That's how much you mean to me.That's it Lisa. He is not worth all those tears you have shed.
"I guess I am already dehydrated..." I pulled back and he handed me his handkerchief.
"I don't mind if you feel you still want to let it all out..."
"I am sorry that your denim jacket is all stained with my tears..."
"I don't mind as long as you are okay..."
"Let me prepare some sandwich, there is some brawn in the fridge. I hope you are as hungry like I am..." I faked a smile.
"I can prepare them, I am a very good chef..."
"You are my visitor and you have been a good friend to me."
"But I hope you don't mind me watching..."
"Not at all good chef" I said sarcastically
"Are you being sarcastic with me?"
"Am I?"
The room echoed with our laughter and instantly went mute the moment we realized it felt awkward. I began preparing the sandwiches when a weird idea came to mind.I let out a strangled scream as blood began oozing from my finger.
"Are you okay?"
"What happened?" He asked when he saw my t-shirt stained with blood.
"I cut myself..."
The pain throbbing from my finger was warm and deep but it didn't fulfill its purpose. I thought it would take over the mental pain but nothing changed...He walked me to the sofa and examined my finger.
"Where is your first aid kit?"I pointed at him where it was and sat there looking at my finger.
"It doesn't seem that deep..." He commented. Every time I hissed or it felt pepperish as he applied the antibiotic cream, he blew some air over the cut.I wish I had cut myself deeper. I wish the knife was sharper. I wish I wasn't scared to feel the pain when I was slitting my finger.
I never thought a time would come when I want to inflict pain on myself.
"All done...." He cheered and I just smiled looking at my bandaged finger
"Thanks..."
"Sweet heavens, why is your t-shirt stained with blood ?" Claire screamed as she stood shocked by the door.We both looked at her shockingly and she dropped all the bags she was holding when she saw Henry. She shook her head, rubbed her eyes, slapped herself severally as if she couldn't believe that Henry was in our house.
"Vee, kindly collect your jaw from the floor..." I chuckled and Henry just smiled. My hand is still on top of his palm.
"Is this really Henry ?" She staggered towards us and pinched his nose.
"Ouch!" Henry groaned and I couldn't help but giggle.
"I am sorry, I just had to confirm it's you...." She covered her mouth embarrassingly as tears dripped from her eyes.
"Do you need a hug?" He asked sweetly and she nodded. As they hugged each other, Claire said all the silliest things to him and I could see Henry smiling from ear to ear. That's the effect Claire has on people's lives, she makes everything around you lively.
"I am your biggest fan. You are so handsome I can never stop drooling over your muscles" She squeezed his firm arms and gasped, "Damn my boyfriend Josh I mean the guy I admire from afar I wish you would see his muscles, they are something to die for..."
"I would love to meet him..." Henry chuckled.
"He is actually your coach, Luca, my brother." I bluffed
"Wow! Do you want me to tell him you like him?" Henry teased her and she shook her head vigorously
"I love to be chased..." She winked and a few seconds later, they high five.
"I loved that. I wish Henry would have the same mindset..."
"I'm rubbing off some of my habits to her but it takes time..." cleared my throat and dragged them out of what seemed like a reunion..
"What happened to your finger?"
"So after taking your time to drool over Mr handsome here, you now recognize me..."I placed a hand over my mouth after I had realized what I had said and looked at Ian and the nigga was fucking blushing.
"I am sorry, short woman. I just got carried away.So what happened?" She asked examining my bandaged finger
"I cut my finger trying to make sandwiches..."
"I hope it's not painful" She blew some air over the bandaged finger.
"I hope you realize it's bandaged..."
"I am so confused as fuck after seeing Henry" She slapped her forehead laughing.
I placed a hand over my mouth after I had realized what I had said and looked at Henry’s and the nigga was fucking blushing.
"So ladies, do you care for lunch? My treat. I think Lisa needs some break..."
"No..." I stated
"Yes, take her out to eat..." Claire smiled at Henry disregarding my answer.
"What about you?"
"I have to be in the bakery..."
"Okay, so Lisa gets ready and we will go have some fun..." Henry beamed. I guess I didn't have a say in this and so I nodded.When I got out of my pajamas, I realized I stunk like hell. I haven't showered in like four days and my breath could send you to a coma. Why did Henry not tell me? I felt embarrassed about myself.
I took a long bath after which I decided to wear a pair of blue jeans, a simple white top, a blue denim jacket and my black doll shoes.I held my hair in a bun and did a simple makeup.'Go and have fun girlie.You deserve it.' I said to my reflection on the mirror before heading back to the living room..
Henry and Claire were so engrossed into talking about only God knows that they didn't realize I had been standing there for ten minutes now.
I cleared my throat when I realized that this conversation was never going to end.
"Lisa, you are back?"
"Yes I have been standing here for the past ten minutes. Shall we go?"
“Shall we go?"
"Yeah..."
"Have fun short woman," Claire whispered as I hugged her," I see you finally found yourself a male best friend." I teased and she just chuckled.
"Take care of her Henry" She outstretched her hand for a shake and Henry had her arms outstretched for a hug.Awkward!
"Take care too..."After moments of confusion between them, they finally hugged.
"Hope to see you soon handsome..."
"Me too, my biggest fan..."
*****
We went into his favorite Chinese restaurant and he ordered us some sushi. Just a few bites and I was already full..
"Henry, can they wrap this for me? I am already full and I would like to take some home for Claire..."
"But you have barely eaten..."
"I am not hungry..."How can I eat when all I can think about is Chase. He has invaded my thoughts like a plague.
"I will buy Claire some sushi and then you two can eat them later..."
"Okay..." After lunch, he took me out shopping but I couldn't choose what to buy. Everything was expensive and beautiful.
"I don't know what to buy Henry..." I groaned as we walked around the tenth boutique. I thought he would be bored to death but he didn't seem to mind.
"So what's your favorite color?" He asked.
"White...No black...no I don't know..."
"How can you not have a favorite color? Every girl does...."He raised a fraction of his eyebrow at me.
"I am Lisa, not every girl. Let's go with white then..."
"What about this?" He lifted a similar dress like that Chase bought me but it was white in color and I curled my nose.What games is fate trying to play with my mind now? Was it a sign?
"You don't like it...It would look perfect on you..."
"Why don't we grab some ice cream? Shopping is tiring..." I faked a yawn.
"Sure, anything you want. Today is your day to shake it off..."
We went to Cravings ice-cream parlor and I ordered chocolate flavor as Henry ordered Neapolitan flavor (mixture of strawberry,vanilla and chocolate with some sprinkles....)We sat at the corner by the window,admiring the sunset. It was beautiful. Before I could dig into my bowl of chocolate ice-cream, my phone pinged with a message.
Bae:I need you more than ever. Please come to me.
"I need to go to Henry..." I stammered, standing from my seat when Henry held my hand
"What did Chase say?"
"How did you know?"
"He is the only one who makes you look so f*cked up.You look pale and there is worry in your eyes..."
"What if he is in trouble?" I stuttered..
"It would have been all over the media by now.What if it's a way to make you run to him? He knows every time he needs you, you will go running..." He said harshly with no filters at all.
Ashamed and agreeing with the probability he is right, I sit and look down embarrassingly. I didn't have the strength to do this, I don't think I can stay away from him like Henry advises me too.
"What did he say?" He finally asked after a weird silence between us. I pushed my phone to his side of the table and continued looking down.
"That asshole. He is probably lying..." He said Icily. I remained silent as worry weighed me down.
"I know how to make him know that you are not as cheap as he thought you were..."
Cheap!Ouch!That hurts my self respect."Okay..."
"Text him, don't string me along in your drama..."
"What?" I asked in disbelief.
"Do you want him to think you are always there waiting for him"
"But that's mean. It's too harsh..."
"The world is harsh Lisa. Did he consider your feelings when he stood you up and went to LA? Did he consider how you would feel as he comfortably got interviewed?"
I didn't know what was right anymore. All I knew was Henry was helping me out as a friend and he knew what would work since he is dealing with this issue from a man's perspective."Text that jerk for me Henry..." I whispered and a smile formed on his lips.
"You should definitely resave his contact from bae to Chase. The bae is giving you ideas in your head..."
"Okay..."
"Here, put your phone in your pocket and don't reply no matter how many messages he sends..."
"Okay..."
I looked at his reply and I widened my eyes in shock.
Me: Don't string me along in your drama...
I wanted to scold him how heartless it was for him to send him such a rude message but then he knows what he is doing. But what if he is not lying? What if he needs me? What if something happened to him?What if he is really sorry for standing me up and lying to me about not having a girlfriend...What if...what if...what if he loves me...what if I am the only girl he thinks about.
But Henry might be right, maybe he is lying as always.What if Henry is wrong, he is human and we are prone to making impaired judgement.I felt light-headed just thinking about everything.
Chase, your ice-cream looks like porridge now..." Henry commented, dragging me away from my disturbing thoughts.
"What if he is not okay?" I lifted my eyes up to look at him and realized it was already getting dark.
"What if he is?" The thought of him being in trouble and me not being there for him weighed me down with no mercy.
"I will take you to his place, you go see him. Maybe then you will relax..." I felt a sigh of relief hearing those words from him. My Chase, your Lisa, is coming. He read something on his phone and smiled before shoving it in his pockets and we left.