Chapter 39

Triffany got home, she didn’t bother going upstairs, she ate dinner first before going into the room she shared with Carlos. Carlos was going through some files at his desk.
“I’m back.” She announced.
Carlos lifts his eye to look at her, he frowned slightly. “Can you please not let me noticed you next time.”
“Am I a mouse?” she scoffed.
“You should be one.” He said coldly looking down at the file he was going through.
Triffany heave a sigh and sat on the couch. “I can’t, get that straight.” Carlos looked up at her. “What?” she asked when she notices his cold gaze that doesn’t seem to affect her.
“Can you let me focus?” Carlos pointed at the file on his desk.
“You’re free.” He continues what he was doing. “it would be four days remaining, I should come up with something, but how can I do that, why can’t I come up with any better idea?” She thinks out loud to herself.
“Cause you think with your mouth and not your brain,” Carlos answered her question.
She glared at him. “I was not talking to you.”
Carlos exhaled softly. “Can you please think with your brain, you thinking out loud is distracting me.” He frowned.
“I need a solution and I’m trying to solve it since you don’t want to help.” Triffany was not going to let him have his way.
“fine. Think, but please don’t do it with your mouth.” He continues his work as Triffany sighs and went out of the room.
Gabby saw her and walked over to her. “Triffany you’re home.”
“Yes.”
Gabby studied her. “You don’t look bright.”
“You too.”
Gabby leans on the pillar she was standing close to. “Just a little stress.”
“Me too.”
A nasty idea popped in her idea. “Should we go and dance it out?” Gabby grinned as she waited for Tiffany's answer.
Triffany looked at her, she knew that look on her face. ”At where?”
“A club party.” She looked at Triffany expectantly.
Triffany shakes her head. “No.” She smiled briefly.
“Please, it would clear our mind.” Gabby looked at her with a puppy eyes smile.
“No please.” Triffany knew Gabby likes a party, but she doesn’t like the idea and whereas she hates the sound of loud music and she knew if she goes there she would have to drink.
“I’m serious. Or is it because you’re married to my brother?”
“No.” Triffany scoffed, why would it be because of that man. “We mind our business.”
Gabby smile at this, at least one person doesn’t give a fuck about her brother. “Good then. You’re going with me.”
Triffany looked at the time on the wall clock. “Gabby it’s late.”
“The night is young at the club party now.” She said joyfully, she was determined to take Triffany along. “I will be right back.” She hurried upstairs to go tell Carlos, Triffany just stood still watching the happy Gabby run upstairs.
Gabby happily knocked on Carlos room door as Triffany came upstairs and stood close to her, he opened the door and looked at gabby who was giggling to herself. “Gabby, what?”
Gabby looked at her brother whose brow was a little furrowed, but she was too happy to care if he was angry or not. “We are heading out.” Gabby pointed at herself and Triffany.
Carlos looked at Triffany who looked away from him, he turned his eyes to Gabby again. “To where?”
“Where else.” She looked at her brother like he was supposed to know where she always goes to.
Carlos seems to understand that look on her face, he knitted his brow. “No club parties today Gabby, for love sake stay at home!” He raised his voice.
Gabby stooped smiling. “You told me two days ago to go to a club party and now you are saying something else.”
“Gabby no nights clubs for you today and it's final.” He said looking at her coldly.
“When would you stop treating me like a kid Huh!” Gabby was in tears already. “I’m twenty years for crying out loud.”
“But, you’re still my responsibility Gabby, I can’t risk that, and who knows what those men out there would do, they are damn dangerous.” Carlos took a deep breath.
“They are not!” Gabby snapped. “They are more fun. How then am I to have fun when all you do is work and you’ve got no time to go out on trips with me.” She covered her face and sniffled. “Don’t you think I would be bored to death, only that keeps me alive.”
Triffany looked at them, but Carlos was serious about what he was telling her. “Then get yourself a female friend you would hang out with. I’m tired of blocking the press from saying things about you and your clubbing, like I’m damn tired Gabby, get that straight in your head or I will send you to Canada.”
Gabby looked at him with hatred in her eyes. “I hate you!” She ran out in tears.
“Gabby,” Triffany calls out but Gabby couldn’t hear her. Triffany turned and glared at Carlos. “You’re the worst!” she turned and ran after Gabby while Carlos stood still gazing at the empty stairway with slight regret.
He runs his hands through his hair, now wishing he hasn’t said what he had said. He knew how much Gabby hate Canada, he also knew she was right about him being occupied with his job.
Outside the garden, Triffany saw Gabby standing in tears. She hugged her and pats her back. “Don’t cry Gabby.”
“I miss old times.” Gabby sobs on Tiffany's shoulder. “I miss my mom too, things weren’t like this, who told him I didn’t want a friend, who told him I don’t hate what I do with my time, I hate all these.” She closed her eyes crying uncontrollably.
This was the first time she had seen Gabby crying this way. “Gabby, it’s okay.” They refrain and sat down on a bench as she watched Gabby silently sob until the tears in her eyes seem to t=dry up.
Gabby looked at Triffany and cleans the remaining tears on her cheek. “I’m sorry you have to see all that.”
“It’s okay. I’m family now.” She looked at Gabby. “My life is just like this too, all my friends drifted, I only talk to my cousins who are annoying at times.” Gabby looked at her and they both smiled.
“I got to act like I don’t care what others think of me and the worse is that I act strong when I’m not. Sometimes, I wish I could have the perfect life where I will just have fun every day.” She looked at gabby who was silently watching her.
“But, things aren’t that way, many people out there pretend to be what they aren’t and no one else notices.” she smiled slowly.
“My brother Carlos, he’s one of them.” Triffany looked at her surprise to hear that. “Yes, he acts like a gentleman, but he isn’t, he acts strong outside but he’s soft and more especially he’s stupid at night.”
They both chuckle, Carlos watched them from the balcony and wonder what they were talking about and what was funny.
He was relieved that Gabby was no longer crying, he watched Triffany smile and he smiled too. “This Triffany isn’t so bad after all.” He thought to himself.
“Guess what?”
“What?” Triffany looked at her curiously.
“You would be surprised tomorrow.”
“What would happen tomorrow?’
Gabby flashed her a smile. “My brother, your husband, he’d be so cool tomorrow.’
“Really.”
“He always does that whenever he annoys me.”
“Then, I will look forward to that.” They both looked up watching the twinkling stars, Triffany was happy to be out here. In this quietness, away from Carlos, she was glad that Gabby was no longer crying now.