Chapter 5: Settling Our Differences

“So what if she’s your boyfriend’s niece?” Hazel continued the talk immediately after they got to the hostel. 

“You would have been upset too if it were you. She didn’t give me any family vibes, I swear. She gave me side check vibes. What was I supposed to do?” Alice explained to her friends. And that really got me upset. 

“Alice!” Blue called. They sat at the dining table. 

“Yes.” she replied, facing her direction. “I’ll come back to you.”she raised a dark gaze at Jane. “Jane, Don’t you ever!” she pointed. “In your mother-fucking, stupid, miserable life, try that rubbish that you did this afternoon with me again.”

Jane’s Grey eyes wandered confusedly. The sides of her slim mouth pulled down in innocence. 

“What’s your problem? Must you always talk?! Just because we’ve been friends for over six years doesn’t mean you should talk about me to people I don’t even know at all! You said I don’t have a boyfriend doesn’t mean nobody admires me because you’ve never seen me with a man! Do you know how many guys I chat with online? Do you know how many people I’ve said no to? I came here to study, not to date! I’m focused on my education, not on boys! I have a goal to graduate as at least one of the best students in Columbia University for my future. That’s what I came here for, not to impress you!” 

“sorry, Blue. Just calm down.” Alice and Hazel stuttered. 

“I dare you and your entire generation to repeat that statement again.” She flashed at her. 

It shocked Jane to the bones. She couldn’t remember the scene. 

“I dare you to repeat it!” Jane snapped again, painfully. 

“Aw... What did I say? I can’t remember anything.”

“Did I do something wrong?”

Blue rolled her eyes with hate, giving jane a dagger glare. 

“When? Okay, I take the blame. I’m sorry. I have no intention of making you feel bad. Don’t be upset,” Jane pleaded. “You we’ve been friends for the past six years...”

“Jane, please! Give it a rest.” Hazel cut into the conversation. Also furious. “You repeated the same six years you said at our boyfriend’s house today is humiliating. Does that make any sense?”

“When?” Janice scratched her neck, puzzled. 

Was she acting? It plastered them. 

“I’m sorry.” She begged. 

It’s clear that Jane has an attitude of pissing one off, then she wears a mask of innocence afterwards. Blue is the mature one among the four of them, then Hazel. What made Blue heated about the whole thing is, Roman is a new friend to the guys. She knew for a fact that he was into drugs. It was their first time meeting, and all she wanted was to avoid him. Jane clarified she wasn’t in any relationship. 

Blue swallowed her anger, facing Alice. “You claimed you saw Adam’s niece in his bed, right?” 

“Don’t take out your anger in me. I didn’t insult you.” Alice insinuated. “No one would witness such and not get enraged.”

“Alice, shush!” Hazel interposed. What you did there today was absolutely unnecessary! You acted like you were mentally deranged, Ally! You disgraced the three of us and it made zero sense. You made a lot out of nothing." Hazel stressed on her last words. “You didn’t meet them fucking and even if you did, have you guys exchanged rings? The best you could do was walk away, Alice. Come on.”

“Just take it easy. Take it easy. Jane intruded. A little guilty. Alice, I know what you did there was out of love, but you need to be patient, as they suggested.” She paused for a second. “Should I tell you the truth? All men are pigs.”

Blue and Hazel agreed. Alice nodded in disapproval. “Not my man. Adam is not a pig.” She murmured defensively. 

“Jane,” Blue intervened. “Alice said Adam is not a pig.”

“I heard.” Jane continued. “The guys we are dating are pigs. You know, there are different species. Fir some other people, men are snakes. Some would agree that men are scum. She knows her boyfriend, so she would know what group he belongs.” Jane concluded with folded arms as her eyes met with Blue’s. “I’m minding my business henceforth. Blue, meet me in the room when you’re done.”

Blue went dumbfounded at her words. “I should meet you in the room because your Madam first Lady or Vice president? Imagine!” A hateful hiss escaped her mouth. Jane dragged her lazy legs out of their sight. 

“Let’s tell ourselves the truth,” Blue brought up facing Hazel and Alice. Our character reflects what is happening or has happened in our homes.”

“I don’t blame you.” Alice objected. 

“You're right.” Hazel agreed. 

They turned to her with critical eyes. “It’s like you have learnt nothing. Are you even sorry?” 

“I did nothing bad. I was just trying to mark my territory! Everybody has been abusing me since morning. It’s unfair! I’m going to bed!” Alice whined like a child crying for ice-cream and barged into the room. She was furious at the way they treated her.

Irked about her childish attitude, Blue hissed at her and pulled closer to Hazel. It was only the two of them left at the dining table. 

“You know sometimes, when Alice is on the phone having a conversation,” Hazel nodded in understanding. “She’s always settling fights for her parents. And you mentioned reflection. If shows how one’s hone has so much impact on one’s life. That tells on Alice.” 

“That’s us why I feel parents should settle fights without their kids being involved.” 

“Exactly, you get it.” Hazel replied to Blue and checked her Gucci, diamond crusted wristwatch. “It’s almost 7:00 p.m.” 

“Lets eat, I’m hungry.”

“Should we cook or go to the restaurant for dinner?” 

“I’m famished. Let’s just go out.” Blue agreed. The girls walked into their rooms, took cold showers, and changed before stepping out. 

I went on a date with Luke Daniel. A 45-year-old I met on Twitter three months ago. While chatting, I’d appeared not to be interested in him, but secretly, I’d been. Dark-haired. His tanned skin glowered at the glimmering light in the dark and his labradorite-coloured eyes sparkled with intelligence. Averagely built and 6’5 ft tall. His lips quirked with sardonic humour from our previous chats on the phone. He had always enticed me. Luke is a civil engineer, and we did a one-on-one meeting on the eve of my birthday, finally. 

It was almost 10:00 p.m. We met at the city hall park and then into another corner, followed by a narrow street lined with different restaurants. In a minute, we stepped into one Luke had chosen and they offered us a table in a booth. Separated from the next booth, is a fine-black wood topped by red silk curtains hung on thick brass rods. After the humid warmth outside, the interior of the restaurant was cool and dim. Light came from candles flickering on the silver candlesticks on our table. 

The server handed us menus and, with a smile; I made an order. Luke made his too. After a while, the server served what we’d ordered for. On the table were a plate of Chinese sponge cake with a twist sicilian pastry, cannoli, peppered lobsters, fresh pasta with marinara sauce and two bottles of fine wine. 

“This food looks superb.” I broke the silence that had reigned between the two of us for a minute.