EVER AFTER ECHOES

TIMOTHY

Walking out of Hallie’s office without turning to look at her is the hardest thing I’ve done this year, she looks so pretty, I can’t but stop imagining the image of her hair in that messy bun out of my head, that’s my favorite hairstyle and she knows it, I was not expecting to see her today or any day for that matter and she can’t plan my wedding.

I opened the door for Anna and walked to my side of the vehicle to drive, Anna turns to me with a questioning look, obvious she is contemplating if to ask or not.

“Speak Anna, stop looking at me like that.” “alright if you insist, why were you looking at the wedding planner like you saw a ghost when you first walked in.?”

“ I don’t know what you are talking about, she looks like someone I use to know” “hmmm.. and is she?” “no, she isn’t” “hmm” Anna turns towards the window.

I turn to her tapping her “Anna, are you jealous?” she turns and started laughing so hard “I will rather scrub the floor with my face” “excuse you i’m very handsome” “yeah right you wish, but sorry to disappoint you, you are not my type” shaking her head and adjusting her lip gloss.

“you know, for someone who is so invested in the preparation for this wedding, I find that very hard to believe” “oh please, I’m so invested because this might be the only wedding I will ever I get to plan in my entire life” “come on this marriage is just for a year, you can still get married”

My marriage to Anna is a marriage of convenience, I need a contract from her father and she needs a husband, so her family can get of her neck about getting married. We have been friends since my second year in college. We met when she tried to steal my pen at the library. Since then she’s been the only female I allow in my personal space, when she brought the idea of us getting married, I tried my luck in finding Hallie again, but it was the same dead end, since its just for a year, it shouldn’t be that bad. But luck not being on my side she’s planning my wedding.

“ I think you are the only person I will ever get married to in this life”

I parked my car in front of her building. “don’t say that Anna, you are very pretty, any guy will be stupid not to fall in love with you”

“hmm, you think so?” “I know so”

“remind me please why are you not in love with me Tim?” she turns giving me a side eye “oh right, that’s because to me you look like a buffalo” “what!! You piece of s**t” she smacks my arm “is that really all you got” “I hate you Tim, and for the record, you look like a monkey to me” “oh please, you know that’s a lie she got down from the car and slams my door “feel free to break the door” “send the bills to me” she said and swayed her hips towards her entrance, I waited for her to go in before I zoomed off.

Anna is my very close friend, but I’ve never felt any form of romantic emotions towards her, the only woman I ever loved was looking at me today like she doesn’t know, who I am. I know I f****d up, but I tried explaining to her, I was young and stupid, I even went back home to look for her only to be told she and her dad relocated, she vanished from all social media platform, I couldn’t find her anywhere, now she’s back looking beautiful as f**k, her glossy lips to the red dress, her radiating skin, I really can’t get her out of my head. I know what to do.

I don’t know why I’m here, I couldn’t sleep throughout the night, Hallie’s face was rooted in my mind and I couldn’t get it out of my head, when I got a mail from her P.A that I have a meeting with her for 1pm, i was so happy finally I get to see her, but I know she will try to keep it professional as possible. That’s why I think i will be here by 8am this beautiful morning. I got down from the car and made my way inside her office building, “good morning, Mr Timothy, your appointment is not until 1pm” her P.A. said to me, “yeah I know that, is she in?” “yes sir,” I walk towards the door, without waiting to hear whatever she has to say.

Hallie is sitting behind her desk, looking at something on her computer, her hair was in whatever they call that spiral thing ladies do with their hair, she looks so pretty in what I assumed is a dress, her lips looking glossy as ever, dear lord this woman is so pretty.

“when you are done eye f*****g me, can you tell me what you are doing here, because my appointment with you is not until 1pm” crossing her hand and giving me more view to her cleavage. Ignoring her question, I took my sit in front of her.

“is this how you talk to your client?” Well my client don’t just badge into my office without an appointment” rolling her eyes at me

“what did I tell you about rolling your eyes at me princess” I saw something flash in her eyes maybe hurt, I really didn’t get the time to understand, cause it disappeared soo quickly

“what are you doing here Timothy?”

“so you know my name”

“please leave, I’m begging you, I don’t meet with my clients without an appointment and I have things to do so please, leave and I will see you by 1”

Adjusting myself properly, “I cant leave because we have a lot to talk about”

“anything we need to talk about the wedding plans, starts by 1”

“you know I don’t want to talk about the wedding”

“there is nothing to talk about then” she says with a very straight face I can see her fighting whatever, emotion trying to cloud her expression, before I could reply her, someone walks in and interrupts me

“Sunshine, I thought we were supposed to have breakfast together this morning and you sly me by having a meeting?” the stranger says as he strides in like he owns the place, he got to her side and kissed her forehead

“who the hell is this fucker” I could barely hold the anger brewing inside of me

“He is actually about to leave, aren’t you?” giving me her side eye

“actually I wasn’t”

“yes you are” still giving me her very serious face, the pest decides to speak again

“what is going on here?” before I had the time to reply, Hallie interrupted

“what is going on here is we are going to get breakfast and Mr Timothy here is leaving and will be back by 1 the time for his appointment with me.”

With that, she is up on her feet, picks her bag which the pest took from her hand, the fucker had the right to place his hand on her lower back, the jealousy brewing in me is about to burst out. The moment they got to the door the pest turned with a very knowing smirk

“see you around Mr Timothy”. He shuts the door and all I see is red.