Chapter 9

CHAPTER 9✍️

          

We all sat down on our chairs, conversing cause they were all throwing questions at me and I answered all swiftly. The idiot, Seven, kept on staring at me and Ella kept giving me this side eye that felt annoying. “Why is she looking at me like that?” I mumbled to myself.

 

So she finally muttered to Tania to swap chairs with hers, they did, and she immediately pulled the chair closer to Seven.

 

They began talking, “Hey, Seven! I’m Ella, It’s so great to finally meet you.” He responded with his name, and Ella tried pushing it more, but he clearly wasn’t interested in whatever she was saying. But Ella didn’t mind, all she wanted was to strike a conversation with him by all means, she wanted his attention at all cost.

 

But he was still seated, looking uninterested. She didn’t let that deter her, though. She flashed him a bright smile and asked another question, but he just looked at her and gave a warm smile.

 

We all kept on conversing, except Seven and Ella. After what felt like half an hour, the waiter finally came to our table and asked us what we wanted to have. We all gave him our orders, and he left, few minutes later, he came back with our orders.

 

Lizzy leaned over and whispered something into my ear, I pretended like I didn’t hear anything, cause why would she be telling me that she thinks Seven likes me, cause he has been staring keenly at me. And honestly, it’s beginning to scare the hell out of me.

 

We finished eating with bickering round the table, they asked me about my job, and other things, which I responded to and I was already tired I wanted to go home to my laptop and continue working. Till suddenly, the waiter came again, but this time he wasn’t called.

 

 

He held a beautiful bouquet of flower in his hands and a smile on his face. As he stopped at our table, he asked, “Please, who’s Starr amongst y’all?”

 

I was taken aback, wondering who could have sent me flowers. I looked around the table, but everyone seemed just as surprised as I was. Ella raised an eyebrow, Lizzy looked curious, Chris and Jude seemed puzzled, Gab too While, the proud duck just sat there with no expression on his face.

 

The waiter waited for my response, his eyes scanning the table. I hesitated for a moment, then spoke up, “I’m Starr.”

 

The waiter smiled and handed me the bouquet. “These are for you,” he said, his voice friendly.

 

I took the flowers, I didn’t bother to inhale it, I just stared blankly at it cause I hated it. I didn’t want anything that was associated with love, All I wanted to know was who sent them and why?

 

Everyone kept on looking at me, and I had always hated being the center of attention.

 

 

I noticed a small paper attached to the bouquet, and I quickly reached for it, opened it, and immediately I felt something I hadn’t felt in years build up inside me. Although I couldn’t describe that feeling, it was like a mix of emotions, shock, confusion, and a hint of nostalgia. Why would he send me a message? Why? Just why would he freaking send me a fucking flower? My ex! Charles? Oh, my god!

 

As I read the note, my hands began to tremble. It was a simple message, but my heart was pounding. I didn’t want any of this. I regretted coming out on this date that instant. Lizzy kept on rubbing my arms asking me what was going on, but I kept mute. “Maybe I should just stay at home, cause this wouldn’t have gotten to me.” I muttered lowly, but Lizzy heard me.

 

“‘Time may have passed, but my feelings remain,” I hurriedly read. “You were my sunshine in the darkest of times. I know I hurt you, but I hope you can find it in your heart to forgive me. I still think about you every day. Yours always, Charles.”

 

I felt like I had been punched in the gut. Charles, the one who had broken my heart into a million pieces, was reaching out to me after all these years. Why now? What did he want from me? I thought he had moved on and I had too, but this note brought up all the old feelings I thought I had buried.

 

I looked up to see everyone staring at me, concern etched on their faces. “Starr, are you okay?” Gab asked, but I just shook my head, unable to speak. I felt like I was transported back in time, reliving the memories I thought I had left behind.

 

 

And with annoyance, I shredded the paper into two, the sound of tearing paper filling the air. Everyone was staring at me keenly, wondering why I was acting like an insane person, but I didn’t care. I was beyond angry. After tearing it into pieces, I crumpled them up in my hand and gave both the bouquet and the papers to the standing waiter, who looked at me with a mixture of confusion and concern.

 

“Take it,” I said curtly, not even looking at him.

 

I grabbed my handbag and walked out of my seat, my eyes fixed on the exit. I could feel the weight of their gazes on me, but I didn’t turn back. I just kept walking, my heels clicking on the floor.

 

As I reached the door, I heard Lizzy call out, “Starr, wait!” But I didn’t stop. I pushed open the door and walked out of the restaurant, into the cool evening air.

 

I took a deep breath, trying to calm myself down, but my heart was still racing. Why had Charles sent me that note? And why now, after all these years?

 

I hailed a taxi and got in, giving the driver my address. As we drove away from the restaurant, I couldn’t help but wonder what the hell he wants from me.

 

As the car kept on moving, I noticed a tinted car trailing behind us. “No, no, I didn’t want this,” I murmured lowly to myself and told the driver to speed up. He did, but the car kept on moving fast behind us and, that minute, I knew I was being followed by my past. The past I’ve tried so hard to bury, and thank God I successfully did, but now it’s hell bent on resurrecting.

 

We pulled at the front of my gate, and I saw that man that looked familiar run out of his car to meet up with me, but I didn’t look up to meet his gaze. I never wanted to see him again; then he did something that I never thought he would dare do, I turned around to face him immediately, my eyes bulging out of its socket with anger clearly plastered on it. “How dare you?”