Farmilar Faces
Writer
The atmosphere was tense, as questions loomed around their faces. The sudden silence after the name color made it tenser. Their gaze moves around staring at each other with unsaid questions and unknown answers.
“What’s going on?” Mandy finally spoke, her eyes fully locked on the cuffs around her best friend’s hands. She didn’t need to be told but it definitely stuck with her that this wasn’t good.Copyright Nôv/el/Dra/ma.Org.
“What are you doing here?” Maliah looks at her, the surprised expression not leaving her face. “And with him” she pointed at Christian, giving a quizzical look even before Mandy could respond to her…
“You two know each other,” Edward said with a calm face, a little smile tugging on his lips at the thought of that.
“Do we all know each other? Am I missing something here? What’s going on Edward?” Christian rushed his words, not taking a break as he threw his questions at Edward.
“Breathe! Why don’t we have our seats and talk civilized,” he smiled and looked at Maliah whose eyes were fixed on Mandy, as they took their seats.
“Christian, what’s going on?” Mandy whispered to him. “Just follow my lead, you don’t want to get in his bad shoes,” which only scared her more instead of calming her nerves.
“So how do we all know each other?” Edward started, staring at Maliah.
“She’s my best friend, the one who went missing and we wanted your help. But right now it seems like she’s been with you all this while,” Mandy gave him a judgemental look, not hiding his displeasure.
“Forgive my fiance’s utterance. She meant to say we were here to ask for your help in finding Maliah, who happens to be cuffed to you,” Christian found it weird, but explained either way taking his eyes off the cuff.
“Fiance. You guys are a thing now like you got a name tag attached to it and all,” Maliah laughed and one would wonder how she got that humor even in this crazy situation she was in with Edward. But a part of her felt safe, she felt relieved and almost free having to see them here.
“What’s with the cuff, by the way?” Chris asked, pointing at him.
“Taking extra measures with my girlfriend,” Edward said with a shrug, as he threw a berry into his mouth. Maliah looked at him shocked, confused, and scared at the same time. She couldn’t understand him, but it scared her that he made such a claim over her.
“So you cuff all your girlfriends like this?” Mandy asked not hiding the anger in her voice.
“It depends. But if you meant having them this close to me. Then no, just Maliah,” and Christian burst into a peal of hysterical laughter completely aware of what he meant, while Maliah gasped understanding.
“You’re crazy,” she scoffed.
“Yes. For you I am crazy,” he responded loud enough for the hearing of everyone on the table, and Maliah was confused if he was just messing around with her.
“Okay! I need the unedited talk of how you met and when you got in love,” Christian said laughing, while Edward laughed too.
“You are right? I’m in love, but she ain’t in love with me,” he looked at her, who almost choked on her food, and he quickly rushed to give Maliah a glass of water.
“Yes, so right? Cause people go around cuffing their girlfriends,” Mandy ruined the moment, not hiding the displeasure on her face.
“I can tell you don’t approve of me,” Edward said, smiling at her. And at that moment, Christian rubbed her thighs to make her chill a bit.
“I’m so glad you got the hint,” she responded, pushing his hands away.
“So! How do I change that? Cause I’ll definitely want to get approval from you,”
“Why’s that?”
“Cause you’re an important person in Maliah’s life. I can see that” he smiled, and damn was everything he said getting into Maliah and she couldn’t tell if he is playing around with her or is joking.
“Hmm,” she said trying not to act fazed
“So how do we change that?” He asked calmly.
“We can start by taking off the cuff,” she stated and raised her brows, while Christian chuckled…
“All done,” he said and dropped the chains on the ground. He looked at Maliah, and grabbed her hands, kissed her palms, and whispered sorry to her.
“That’s not all. I’m going to keep my eyes on you,” she pointed at him, while everyone burst into laughter.
“My love,” Maliah cried out, as she rushed to hug Mandy, who rushed onto her feet and engulfed tightly into her best friend’s warmth.
“I missed you so much. I needed you and you’ve got so much to tell you,” Mandy said, still hugging her tightly.
“Same here, a lot to fill you in,” Maliah whispered to her while they chuckled before disengaging from the hugging.
“It’s nice to meet you, Mandy Rodgers,” Edward said and she gave him a quizzical look.
“You know who I am?” she asked him…
“It’s hard not to. You have quite a reputation,” he chuckled while Christian agreed to that.
“Oh really! A good one I suppose?” She was enjoying it, while Maliah rolled her eyes knowing damn well Mandy was having fun with this conversation.
“Yes, a good one? The dominant businesswoman? The girl who keeps winning,”
“I mean I can go on and on, but you know too well,” he added and Maliah laughed, nudging Mandy’s shoulder…
“You like that, yes girl?” She smiled at her best friend…
“I guess I might like you after all Edward. It’s nice meeting you,” she said smiling, and he smiled back at her, while they cheered.
“Alright If you’ll please excuse us, I really want to catch up with Maliah, if that’s okay with you Edward,” she asked while winking at Maliah…
“Of course, you ladies go have some fun, while Christian and I do some catching up too,” he stated.
“I’ll see you later, babe,” she said in a low tone, while she went to kiss his cheeks, causing Maliah to look at her widely.
“See you later babe,” Christian responded, hiding the shocked expression on his face…
“Babe? Do you both call yourself that casually, eh?” Maliah asked Mandy as they climbed the stairs…