Chapter 39
Becky finished with her shower and got out taking a towel to dry off. She had called for room service after her call with her sister for her lunch. She decided to have a quick shower after she ate.
She dried off her body and went into my bedroom. She put on a simple top and jeans with short knickers. She dashed into the kitchen to pour some fruit juice in a tall glass for herself. She wanted to go and continue reading her novel under the gazebo outside.
She was just sitting down on the seat when her phone pinged with a message notification. She picked it up. A smile spread on her lips seeing that it was her man sending her another message.
This time, he told her that the meeting was about to come to an end and he would return to her soon.
She sent a reply to him, telling him how much she was missing him.
She leaned back in her seat to continue reading the novel. She was already in chapter ten.
Helen woke up with a start! She reached out to stop her alarm clock, then she realized it wasn’t the alarm that woke her up. It was the persistent knock on the front door. She rolled out of the bed and went to the sitting room.
Peeping through the peephole, her heart galloped when she saw it was Tommy that was knocking. He knocked twice again.
She debated between asking him to go away and opening the door for him. In the end, she opened it.
“Hey,” he smiled tentatively and walked in when she opened the door wider.
“Hey you too,” she smiled brightly and shut the door.
“Did I wake you up?” He asked her when he noticed her bleary eyes.
“Yes, you did,” she walked to the middle of the sitting room. “It’s nothing.” She smiled at him.
Tommy took a sharp intake of breath and nodded.
“How are you doing?” He asked, “how have you been?”
“I’m okay.” She shrugged and gave him a wry smile.
He averted his gaze, feeling a knot form in his stomach. His mind was whirling in different directions. He had visited to make an offer to her. He hoped and prayed that she would accept his offer.
“Helen,” he called out, his heart pounding in his chest. “Ca.. Can we still be friends?” Tommy asked before he sat on the single seater couch. While she sat facing him on the double seater couch.
Keeping away from her for the past few weeks since she got married had been a great torture for him. He couldn’t even concentrate on his studies, or anything. He had thought he would get better by keeping away from her, but no, it didn’t work for him.
Helen kept quiet for some moments and smiled slowly. “Yes, we can be friends. We will always be friends, Tommy.” She shrugged.
She looked at him very well now, giving him a once over. Tommy was no more himself at all. He was looking so lean and he didn’t have that light that he used to have in his eyes anymore. He used to be bright and fun to be with. Helen felt so sad knowing she caused it. She remembered how he used to look happy and at peace with the world.
“Tommy, have you been feeding well?” She looked into his eyes with concern. “You are so lean.”
“What can I do?” he shrugged. “I’m trying. Edward is complaining too.” Edward was his cousin and roommate.
Helen sighed sadly and said to him, “give me a minute,” she stood up. “It’s okay,” he said.
She went back to her bedroom and came out minutes later, wearing a longer gown.
“Can I cook for you?” She asked and plugged her phone for charging at the dining area wall socket. She also put on the TV.Nôvel/Dr(a)ma.Org - Content owner.
“You want to cook for me?” He asked excitedly. It had been a long time since he’s eaten a good meal.
“Yes,” she replied. “I will make your favorite.”
“Yes, thank you,” he said thoughtfully and reached out to squeeze her hand.
His touch was like an electric shock; it sent unexpected tingles around her body. She had to move away from him.
“Tommy!” she called fondly, “see the way you are so excited because of food.”
“You know your food is to die for,” he replied to her. As she walked away to the kitchen.
He sank back on the couch and reached out for the remote control to change channels. He was happy that he decided to be friends with her. At least with that, he could still be close to her until they write their final exams and leave school.
The past few weeks were hell on earth for him. It was so difficult for him to exist without Helen. He knew she was going to marry another man because of her parents. He understood Helen had no control over what had happened.
He stopped flipping through the channels after some time and exhaled deeply. Standing up, he walked to the kitchen to meet her.
She had already set out the ingredients for spaghetti stir-fry. She was chopping the vegetables.
“What can I do?” He placed his hands on the countertop. “Let me help.”
“Okay,” Helen gave him the knife. He took it and started chopping.
She set the fire and put a wok on the burner to start cooking. She was already parboiling the spaghetti on another burner.
“I am so glad you agreed to remain friends with me,” Tommy said when they were done with the cooking minutes later. “It’s not been easy for me to stay away all this while.”
“Hmmm,” she scooped the food onto their plates. “It’s okay Tommy, I’m sorry for all the despair that you’ve been going through because of me.”
“I understand.” He gave her a pat on the back. “I know your hands are tied.”
“Thank you for your understanding.” She grimaced.
Tommy carried their plates of food to the dining table.
As Helen and Tommy settled down to eat, he said, “what about Jane?” “She’s with her boyfriend,” Becky said. “She should be back any moment from now, though.”
“Okay,” Tommy nodded.