21

We saw Liam sitting on the couch in the living room, pressing and smiling at his phone.
    "Is Mark not around?" I asked Helen but Liam heard me and replied me.
    "No he is. I wondered where that dude went to" He said without turning to look at me.
    "What's going on here? Helen whispered into my ears.
  " Kitchen " I nudged her into the kitchen and closed the door.
    "Now tell me what's going on?" Helen asked again.
    "What do you mean, what's going on?" I asked her.
    "Don't pretend as if you do not understand" She rolled her eyes. "Liam is warm"
    "You should ask him why he is" I told her.
    "Really Eve?" She stood at an akimbo angle and I gleamed.
    "Seriously I don't know why he is like that. That is why I included him as part of those people I met since I came here and has been good to me"
    "What? Go straight to the point, don't beat around the bush. Liam is not like that" Helen said.
    "Okay, remember I told you that Liam loathe me after our first encounter" She looked at me, she was really expecting me to go straight to the point but I guess I have to explain in details because I also don't know what got into the hot tempered Liam, he suddenly changed towards me.
    "I don't really know Helen, he still overreacted in a bad way to me this morning but he suddenly changed while we were on our way back home" I told her.
    "Are you sure that's all"
    "I'm serious.."
    "It's weird though, Liam seemed happy and different today"
    "Do you think it's because of his girlfriend?"
    "Who's that?"
    "Clara, you don't know Clara?"
    "Oh of course I do, are they still together? I thought he moved with someone else in college""
  "Well he met with Clara today and ever since then, his attitude changed towards me"
    "Whao I don't know what to say.." Helen said dishing out the foodstuffs we are gonna cook with.. And I joined her in unwrapping and sorting out some of them.
    
    ****
    
 Writer's POV
    
    "What's going on? what's happening?" Liam looked at his phone, switching from one app to another, looks like he was waiting for someone's call.
    "Should I call her?" He asked himself 
    
    Liam's POV
    
   "No... She promised she will call me as soon as she's less busy" I gleamed.. remembering our outing today, we met again after four good months.. and she really look so different and more beautiful.
    
    I stared at her pictures on my phone, and recalling the good memories we had together, how far we've come, I remembered how I asked her out quickly before she left for college. Actually, we both planned to attend the same college but it was already late when she decided to change her college due to some reasons I tried to understand. Now where she attends  is very far from mine.
     That was how our long distance relationship started but I'm used to it now. As far as we trust each other, which we do. I think we are good to go.
    
  But nowadays she is always busy. 
    
    I yawned and checked if there is at least any message from her but there was none.
    My heart was racing really fast, I needed to hear her voice again, and then I'll set an outstanding date tomorrow, get her flowers and some precious lovely gifts that women loves.
    
    I smiled as imagined the expensive date in my head.
    
    Just then, the aroma of whatever Helen and Eve were cooking pass through my nose and gingered the spirit of hunger in me.
    
    I continued admiring Clara's pictures. 
    "Since she's more beautiful now; I need to get her recent picture and we might even take some pictures together tomorrow", I said..
    
    The entrance door suddenly opened and Mark walked in..
    "When did you arrive? I didn't hear the engine of your car. didn't you drive home?" I asked him.
    
    "I didn't drive, I flew" Mark said sarcastically and I gave him a silly look.
    
    "Didn't you say you would be at home throughout busy doing your one man's business stuff?" I sat upright and asked him.
    "That was the plan until she changed it"
    "Who is that?"
    "Who else? If not Jasmine, she's such an extrovert. She forced me to go out with her today" Mark said, feeling stressed out.
    
    While here I am; forcing interactions between Clara and I. She wasn't like this before.
    "I'm glad your girlfriend is killing that introverted spirit that is in you" I told him and stretched his hand weariedly.
    
  "What about you? Were you able to reach through Clara?" He asked me. 
    Oh! I told him last night, that Clara and I haven't communicated since I arrived, that's why he is concerned right now.
    
    "Uhmm.. We actually did, we even hangedout today" I told him happily.
    "Awwn... Look at you, you're smiling excessively"
    I touched my cheek, I didn't know I was smiling.
    "Clara has really changed, I'm happy we met again...i'm very happy Mark" I told him and he showed me his thumbs up.
    "But...." I sighed and glared at my phone again.
    "But what?"
    "We have not spoken since we departed today" I told him.
    "It's nothing, just call her then" 
    "I would have done that, but..but she said I shouldn't call her until she calls first. She is yet to tell me what is taking all her time "
    "Maybe she forgot to call you back or something is wrong... It's evening time; she can't be busy with anything right now"
    
    "Do you think she forgot to call me?" I asked him, feeling a bit downcasted.
    "Yeah, what if she actually did. You know what Liam, call her now and just say you want to check up on her" Mark advise me.
    
   "Uhmmn" I bit my finger.
    "C'mon. Call her" He repeated.
    I stood up and tried to put on a smile.
 "I will" I said and dailed Clara's number..it began to ring.. I grinned, waiting for her to pick up the phone but she didn't, it stopped ringing.
    
    "She didn't pick my call Mark, maybe she is really busy" I told Mark.
    "Call her again" He urged, I sighed and dailed her contact again, it rang and I waited for it to stop ringing again but Clara picked the call this time.
    
  ~  "Hello love" I smiled, revealing my teeth.
    ~"Hey Liam" She responded, sounding definitely not alright.
 ~"What's wrong with you dear?" I asked her.
    ~" I told you not to call me until I do"
 ~"Yeah but I just wanted to check up on you dear" I told her but she didn't say anything. I checked my phone to see if the call was still connected, it was.
 ~"I'm thinking we could go on a date tomorrow, do you remember our popular private location? We could meet there, oh! my bad! I would pick you tomorrow. Babe, make me drop dead as soon as I sight you.." I rushed my words yet still trying to be a romantic and loving boyfriend.
     ~"Uhm... Liam" She mentioned my name.
~"We didn't have the time to spill out the lot of things we want to say to ourselves. Clara, we need to get back to the way we used to be..." She interrupted me by calling out my name.
    ~"Liam" 
    I heard her sigh heavily.
    ~"Liam I'm getting married very soon" She said.
I chuckled and asked her;
~"Do you want us to get married very soon?"
    ~"Gosh, No Liam. I... I am getting married next month" She said.
 ~"What?" I exclaimed as the curve I formed with lips reverse to form a straight line.
    ~"I'm sorry Liam. It's been a while I got fed up of our relationship, I couldn't tell you. I moved on already and the guy is ready to start a family with me. It's time for you to also move on  Liam, I'm sorry" With that, she hung the call.
 ~"Clara!" I screamed her name, my phone slid from my hand and fell to the ground..
    
    "What is it Liam?" Mark asked me.
    
    "Noooo" I screamed and flung myself on the floor.
    
    "What's that?" Eve and Helen rushed out of the kitchen.
    Even Robert rushed inside because of the way I screamed.
   I couldn't control myself, tears began to roll out my eyes profusely... And the only words that was coming out of my mouth was; "No Clara...why? don't do this to me Clara. Nooo"
    
    
  ********
    *****
    
    To Be Continued