3: Manwhore

Faye was already at the venue they agreed to meet when Camilla arrived in her new flat sandals. Alvin was waiting in the car for her to show up. This meeting wouldn’t last long if she had her way. It was early in the evening, and the ceiling was lighted by green and blue lanterns. Her feet ached, but not as much as it did earlier. Murmurs from the other diners in the closed garden had her rethinking her manner of approach.

Her best friend wasn’t alone. Faye was at a round table of three, but one seat was empty. The other person was backing Camilla. She could bet it was Vanya. The idiot didn’t bother changing his black suit. She stormed to them, ignoring waiters and other people as she approached the table.

Faye smiled as she stopped. “Hey—”

Camilla interrupted by dropping her bag on the table. Vanya frowned. He was going to pretend he didn’t ransack this same bag hours ago? Alright then. She unclipped her earrings, almost stabbing him in the eyes with them.

“Cam,” Faye began, but Camilla didn’t give her a chance to talk. She had business with this man, not her best friend. “Cam.”

“Really?” she told Vanya, who flicked his hair to the back. “You’re going to act like we didn’t see each other minutes ago? That you didn’t grab my bag? Steal my shoe?”

Vanya laughed. “Hi, Camilla.” He had that accent, but his voice sounded airier. Was it possible for voices to change in hours? He shut the menu and leaned back in his seat. “I’ve heard so many lovely things about you. Faye says you’re an actress. Great acting.” He looked around, and she almost smacked his head. Faye tugged on her dress, but she ignored it. “Is this acting?”

“Is, is this acting?” Camilla murmured.

A waiter approached their table with a tray holding two glasses. Once he set it down, she picked up the glass with cold, red liquid, removed the straw and slice of cucumber and emptied the content on Vanya’s head. A chair screeched behind her, but she didn’t turn. Vanya’s mouth hung open in shock and she bit into the cucumber with relish. This was payback for the shoes. Payback for her phone would come later.

“Are you insane?” Faye screamed.

Around them, people held their phones to capture the moment. Flashes of different phone cameras were aimed at them. Camilla flipped her hair so they could get her best angle. People would come up with theories about this moment, but she would worry later.

“Apologise,” Faye said.

Camilla turned to her best friend and pointed a finger at the young man, who was frozen in shock. “If anyone owes anyone an apology, it’s that man. He’s a beast. He’s the insane one between both of us.”

“Apologise. To. Him,” Faye insisted. The cameras were still on, but none of the women seemed to care about that. “Now.”

Heaven would open before Camilla did that. She snatched her bag off the table, making sure she smacked it across Vanya’s forehead as she took her leave. Alvin was in the car when she sashayed to the parking lot. Before he could get out and open her door, she wrenched the backdoor open.

Slumping into the back, she threw her legs over the seat. “Are men stupid?” she said, more to herself. “Men are stupid, right?” 

“Some of them, ma’am.”

“Vanya is stupid,” Camilla declared.

What did Vanya expect? That she would pretend nothing happened? He ruined her phone. Stole her shoe. Her eyeshadow palette was ruined because of the bastard.

“Am I taking you home?” Alvin asked.

“Sure.”

Eyes closed, Camilla rested her head on the seat. The car started, the vibration running through the interior. As the car began its journey to the house, she replayed that last scene with Vanya. He didn’t see that drink coming. Today was a not-so-horrible day, after all. Shopping could happen later.

“Radio?” Alvin asked.

“Hmmhmm.”

Music filtered into the car, and she sagged further into the seat. It didn’t take long for her to fall asleep. A knock on her window jerked her awake. She blinked slowly, her feet dropping to the car floor. Why was she wearing sandals? The knocks sounded on the window again. She looked up, and the memories rushed back. Vanya. Faye. Her phone. The reminders left a bitter taste in her mouth as she unlocked the door.

“Thank you, Alvin,” she murmured.

Stumbling out of the car, she held onto the door until her vision cleared. Alvin neared her, and she shook her head. She didn’t need him to carry her again. Once was enough. Besides, babysitting her wasn’t in his duty. If he was working for her parents, she couldn’t worsen the embarrassment.

Alvin followed her into the condominium. He was a quiet, looming figure behind her as she punched in her floor number into the wall panel. The elevator opened, and she entered, giving him a polite smile before the doors shut and she was left alone. She patted her purse for her phone and stomped her feet on the floor when the realisation sank in. She hadn’t got herself a new phone.

Fuck you, Vanya.

Camilla’s chest rose, rose, and fell at the first signs of an incoming panic attack. She placed her hand on the metal wall, her head bowed as she struggled to catch her breath. It was just a phone. She could get another. 

The door pinged, and she shot out of the claustrophobic box. Dragging herself to her apartment, she plopped down on a couch and hugged a throw pillow to her chest.

A slap on her feet made her stir. She threw her legs off the couch and sat up. Her best friend stood at the other end, her fists clenched and her lips set in a thin line.

“What the hell was that about?” Faye asked in a soft voice that had Camilla adjusting on the couch. “What the hell was that?” 

“Look, I’ve been trying to tell you,” she replied. On her feet, she reached for Faye, who jumped back. “I saw him today at the store. Before you called me. He was—”

Faye stretched out her hand. “Evidence?” 

“I don’t have that because he took my phone before I could leave,” Camilla tried to explain. “He even pulled my hair. He’s a violent man. I don’t know how you cope.”

“So Vanya took your phone?” Faye began, listing out his offense on her fingers. “He pulled your hair. And what else did he do?” 

“My shoe,” Camilla added. “He stole it.” 

Faye nodded, her lips twitching into the semblance of a smile. “And your shoe.” 

“Yes. Did you break up with him?” 

Disgust curled Faye’s lips as she eyed her best friend. Without a word, she stormed to her room. Camilla followed behind her, stunned at Faye’s reaction. She didn’t understand. She was trying to protect her from a man who would lie and cheat. She met Faye stuffing clothes into her bag. 

“What are you doing?” Camilla asked from the door. “Faye, stop. What are you doing?”

Faye shoved a dress into the duffel bag without folding it. “You know, I wonder if it’s because you let me stay here rent free that makes you think you can butt into my life.” Pointing a shaky finger at Camilla, she continued, “You embarrassed me. You embarrassed him. You have always complained that my boyfriend is absent, and now I plan a meetup and you do that?”

“Vanya is not who—”

“Enough,” Faye screamed. “Want to know what I’m doing? I’m going to a place where I don’t feel the need to hide my boyfriend from my roommate. I’m going away, Cam.” 

Camilla’s knees weakened. Faye still had a few months until her MSc program ended, and she promised to house her for the entire duration. The house was too big for one person. She clung to the door until her feet no longer felt wobbly. Getting to the bed, she pulled out the clothes Faye had already packed in. This was their first big fight.

“I’m not in the mood for this, Cam,” Faye warned. Neither was Camilla. She wasn’t losing her best friend to a man. Not Vanya.

Backing away, Camilla folded her arms on her chest. “You are going to throw away a childhood friendship because of a man?”

“If you would go about emptying drinks on his head, then maybe. What the fuck, Cam?” Faye yelled. Her hair fell out of its bun, but she didn’t bother packing it. “I understand you don’t like him. That’s fine. I don’t need you to like my man. But for you to do that? In public? People took videos, Cam. I can’t be around you now.”

Rushing to Faye’s side, she held herself back from hugging her childhood friend. “Faye, I was only trying to protect you.”

“That’s not how I want to be protected.”

“Where?” Camilla started, rocking on the spot. The blue bedsheet she helped Faye pick out no longer looked attractive. She wanted to rip it off. “Where will you go?”

“Anywhere. I don’t know. I need space.”

“Wait, what if I left the house instead?” Camilla volunteered. She was the one who fucked up. She should be the one to leave. “KJ and I are meeting up today. I’m going to his place. No need to leave. I’ll crash there. But I’m telling you, Vanya—”

“Stop it. If you’re leaving, leave now.”

“But I’ll need to call him on your phone.”

“Okay,” Faye replied.

They stared at each other for a long while without speaking. Camilla exhaled, her head bobbing in a shaky nod. Faye didn’t back down, so she picked up her best friend’s phone and walked out of the room. 

KJ’s name was saved on Faye’s phone, so she didn’t have to worry about the number. She struggled to keep the tears at bay as she sank down to the floor, her legs folded underneath her. KJ picked on the second ring, and she sniffed as the tears came.

“Faye?” KJ said.

“It’s me. Cam.”

“Are you okay?”

“No,” Camilla replied, wiping the tears that leaked to her cheeks. Faye’s room door was locked, so she didn’t have to worry about her best friend witnessing this moment. “I need a place to crash tonight.”

“Oh. Why? Are you okay? You can come over, but I won’t be home. I’ll leave my keys with security. I’ll also inform them.”

Camilla rolled her eyes. She didn’t need a genius to know her youngest brother had a dick appointment with some chic he would never see again after tonight or tomorrow. The man was a community penis. Maybe not community, but still a womaniser.

“Where are you going, you prostitute?”

“They don’t pay me for sex, Cam,” KJ said. Laughter coloured his voice, making her smile. She was right. It was a dick appointment. “I just fuck cos I like sex.”

“Manwhore.”

KJ laughed. “That’s more like it.”

“Fuckboy.”

“Yeah, that works too. Will you be fine on your own for a few hours? I’ll be back early. Or wait, let me see if I can cancel.”

“No, no, no. I’m fine. I’m a big girl.”

“Indeed. See you tomorrow? Don’t break or touch stuff that doesn’t belong to you.”

“Oh, please,” Camilla replied.

“Just stay away from my designer shirts.”

“Hmm.”

“Camilla May McKenna, I mean it.”

She tutted. “Don’t speak to your big sister like that. Besides, design shirts feel better.” KJ tried to speak, but she didn’t let him. So what if she ruined a few of his shirts the last she visited? He always let his fuck toys have his hoodies. That was only fair. “I love you, and thanks for helping me. Bye, KJ.”