CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE
MICHAEL X MICHELLE
They stopped in front of an expensive fine-dining restaurant. Michelle knew because the exterior alone screamed luxury and the caliber of people she saw walking in and out were no ordinary people. Michael took her to a seat and there he sat with her. There were people around since it was the weekend but everyone was relatively minding their business and partners. Even the lights were a bit dim, giving the place a cool vibe altogether.
The waiters served them what they ordered and left the table.
"Michelle!" He called out after some moments of silence.
"Mmmh!" She answered looking at him. She could see his face clearly. He had taken off the face cap he used to cover his face when they had walked in earlier. Now the hair fell below his neck. She looked into his eyes. She noticed they were somewhat sad.
He tilts his head to the side a little, "If your parents do something you don't approve of, what do you do?"
She wasn't expecting that but she shrugged and answered,
"I guess, I will talk to them about it. Why do you ask?" She takes a sip from the cocktail.
"I don't like the woman my Dad wants to date. Because of me, he called off the relationship. It was bringing issues between us. At a point, I began to wonder if I was being selfish. If I'm considering my feelings before my Dad's. It's just all in my head, and I'm not very happy about it," he told her.
"If something gives you a bad feeling, I think you don't have to go on with it. Since you made your opinion known, it's better than bottling up those feelings until it separates you from the one you love. Well, I can't say much because I've never had such feelings. I don't even have opinions to start with," she said, her expression changing.
"Can you tell me about it?" Michael was curious but he didn't want to show it.
"They didn't tell you?"
"You know those guys. Kelvin and Sylvester know what they keep together" he chuckled softly.
"I'm an orphan. Or maybe it's like this." She adjusts herself on her seat. Michael had all his eyes on her. "My mom died when I was eight and my dad left after her burial. I haven't heard from him or seen him since then. My uncle was the only close relative that took me into his house. He is a good man. And he's been the one sponsoring my education and all since then until now"
"Ivy's your niece. Is that his only child?"
"Three. He has three children. His first son is an attorney now in Germany. The second son is at the University of Dallas. And then there's Ivy who's in a boarding school. She's home because their school is on a break"
"I don't know what it feels like to have siblings cos I'm the only one" he smiled. "I've heard people say it's an experience"
Michelle chuckles.
"My aunt doesn't like me and I'm not very close to her children except Ivy–sometimes. My mom left an inheritance for me but the lawyer says I'll have it when I turn twenty. I just asked my aunt to be patient with me until then. I'll be leaving the house." She sighed and continued eating.
"That would be nice. You have college plans?"
"Yeah! But then it's one dream at a time. Let's be done with high school first" she smiles. "I want to be a gynecologist, you know"
Michael smiles back, "That would suit you. You're very good with people"
"Am I?" She asked about taking another sip of water.
"Mmmh! Mmmh!" Michael nods.
She looks around the place.
"This place is so nice"
Michael sits up and looks around too.
"Yeah! It's my second time here and I can say the experience with them always brings a new feeling"
"You've been here before? With your date?" She dared to ask.
Michael looks at her, "No. I came here with someone for a business dinner. It's my first time outside business with a woman"
Michelle choked and coughed. Michael was just looking at her without a word.
Blinking severally, "Oh! What's your routine like in your former school?" She immediately asked to ease the suddenly tense atmosphere.
Michael smiled. He was enjoying what he was doing to her.
"Routine's same. Wash up, prayer time, school hours, meals at the canteen and then what we call 'Boys Time". There are also sports, but I don't participate in most of these activities. Especially sports"
"You pray too?"
Michael chuckled softly. He loved the innocent tone she was using to ask him all these questions. He took up the water glass and drank from it.
"Of course I do. Who doesn't?"
She shrugs.
"We go to church on Sundays," he said.
Michelle nods slowly, "But then—" looking straight at him. "Which one do you like the most—this one or that one?
The school was fun back there. At first, it wasn't so. School kids snubbed me because they felt I was also a snub and I entered the school with the name Watts. They all knew me, and they felt like, this rich kid's not gonna be talking to anyone anytime so,," he shrugs.
"You were like that when you first came to our school. Except that we didn't know you were Watts"
Michael laughed, "I was talking to Kelvin and Sylvester. I wanted to talk to you...I don't know why I kept restraining myself. I felt like if I started, I couldn't stop"
Michelle looks at him. Their eyes met and stayed like that for a while before Michael broke the silence,
"I think I prefer this new school" he smiled.
Michelle giggled before saying, "You're very handsome, Michael"
Her voice was a bit low. Almost shy.
"Handsome, you say. Thanks. You're very beautiful, Michelle" he was looking at her.
She gave him a shy smile before saying,
"Those times... I really wanted this handsome guy to talk to me," she said, looking down at her fingernails. "You were one person that didn't look my way or even talk to me. I almost believed you disliked me. We could have been seatmates too" she laughs.
Michael laughed, "I didn't dislike you. You're always busy and people are always around you. I didn't like it. Was just trying to figure out who this Michelle girl is, mmm!"
Michelle smiles.
"It's mind-blowing to know I was also in your thoughts"
"Yeah! You are!"
She smiles again. She looked at the watch on her left hand.
"It's late already"
"Okay. Let's go," he said, and they got up to walk out.
When they got to where Michael's car was parked, Michelle paused when Michael wanted to open the car door for her.
"What is it, Michelle?"
"Kelvin once told me that there's a defibrillator in your body. He says it helps your heartbeat. Pacing and rhythms"
Michael nods slowly, unsure.
"I heard it makes beeping sounds...sometimes" she blinked.
"Yes...it does..." He answered trying to figure out what was going on in her mind.
"Can I ... Hear it?" She requested softly.
Michael looked at her and gave a half smile. Then nods.
Immediately, she got the confirmation she wanted. She quickly covered the distance between them and placed her head on his chest. Slowly, she wrapped her hand around him and closed her eyes as she cuddled up to him.
Michael smiles as he hugs her back. Slowly disengaging, he bent forward and placed a kiss on her lips. With his lips still on hers, he smiled. She felt it too and smiled also. After a while, they disengaged, but he still held her.
"WattsHouse will be holding a board conference very soon. The press will be there. It's gonna air privately, and I'll be speaking on behalf of my dad," he said softly. Looking at every part of her face. Street lights illuminated where they stood, so he was able to see her facial expressions. There were also fewer people around. Just cars and passersby.
"That would be nice. It would also put an end to the weird rumors, right?" She was looking up at him. So much for being about three inches shorter.
"Mmmh!" Michael was still rocking her gently.
"I'll be the one cheering for you the most, Michael!"
He chuckles softly,
"Mmmh!"
"When does it air?"
"The day after tomorrow"
She nods smiling.
****
When they got to her house, she alighted. Michael too. He hugged her again, and he gave her a light goodnight kiss, which made her giggle.
Michael waited until she had entered the house before he turned to enter his car.
Inside, his driver looks at him from the rearview mirror.
"The house or the company?"
Michael thought for a while,
"Is Dad at the office?"
"Should I call him?"
"Call, George. But then, drive to the company first. If he's not there, I'll just pick up some files to work on tonight and then we will head home"
"Okay," his driver replied, and they drove off.