No Strings Attached

Chapter two

Reynaldo’s blood was boiling and the words of Mr Davies went by, adding to the fire of his resentment.

“Look Rey, I have heard enough of what you have to say. You just...need to snap out of your past.” Mr Davies said weakly.

“Rey, Darling.” Mrs Davies called out, as Rey turned and caught sight of the weak tears and he sighs. She had stepped down to the middle of the stairs, wiping away her tears.

She had reached the end of the stairs and walked toward them, still at the dining table.

“Rey, darling, you should let yourself embrace the thoughts of your Dad. Okay?” She said, touching Rey’s face.

“There are harmless.” She continued, “He just feels disturbed. We are your parent, Rey, and we care a lot more than you can ever know.”

Reynaldo looked at her. The tears wetting her lids, the cloud in her eyes and the uneasiness of being pressure, laid him with no choice than to reluctantly agree.

She leaned forward and hugged him. But the next moment carried displeasure to his heart.

“I would help you find one myself, if you are unable to keep up with the search.” She said smiling, with her face at the nape of his neck, while Rey’s happiness died into a thin line. He untangled out of their embrace and paced in bold steps to the door.

“Rey!” Mrs Davies called out in shock.

“Reynaldo... Can you just listen?” His footsteps thudded out.

“Rey!” The door hummed close.

“Oops! He’s gone, I guess. He’s got a temper I must say.” Mrs Davies commented, shrugging her shoulders and raising her brows. She sank in one of the comfy couches.

She looked toward the glass wall of their living room into the glaring evening lights outside. She could see the silhouette of her son move in control steps toward the parking lot.

Rey swept into the thick soft leather driver’s seat, gasping. He picked the container of water next to him and poured its contents into his mouth and gulped down. He had lost it back here. The words of his mother bit at the tips of his mind’s fingers and it angered him. His heart still ached after seven years. Was one not allowed to grieve for as long as he wanted to?

He remained still for few minutes as the car’s engine steamed to life. The droning sound of the car’s engine gave him some sense of peace. Maybe it was able to draw him out of the quicksand of his mind. Maybe it was all he needed.

The incessant nudge to drink something engulfed him. The mental nudge to drink away his pain came and he gave into her ghost. Soon, his Rolls Royce phantom was swerving smoothly on the asphalt towards Juniper Street. He turned on the jukebox on his phone and connected Jordan’s Kehlani to the speakers.

He drove into Juniper Street and stopped in front of Fluxx, a classy bar. As he turned off the car’s engine and stepped out. The music from the bar came welcoming her ears. The smell of alcohol and high laughter jarred as he opened the doors.

“Hey Rey, what’s good, Man? How’ve you been?” A Blondie with full arms snake-skin tattoos called out, scanning Rey seductively.

“I’ve been good, sexy.” Rey said, smirking.

“Ah see you been growing sassy all up in the TV screens throughout California, uhh?” She smiled, mixing different wines into a glass and handed it over to Rey, as the music chimed softly in the background.

“Nahh... it’s just work, honey, you know my dad’s company...just worked.” He laughed.

“Ah see! Then that ain’t no work Rey Rey, Ah mean look at those eyes, juicy biceps and full lips! Those eyes could make a woman quiver, man! You make such a TV fine wine, dude!”

“Oh please! You know just how to flatter me!” His lashes hooded his eyes as he stared at her, taking his wine glass to his lips and gulping down the contents.

“Oh! That was a quick one.” The Blondie said.

“Another shot, sexy? Make it stronger.”

“Man! Hope you good?”

“Yeah...I think I am.” He responded, his gaze a little distant.

After a few shots, he came out of the bar, a little tipsy in the haze of alcohol and plunged into the driver’s seat. In a few minutes, the car was swiftly speeding up over average on a deserted street a few miles away from Rey’s modern villa. The car swerved a little side wards and he stiffened his hold on the gears.

The moon light glowed on the smooth surface of the vehicle as he pulled out his phone. Swiping through his contact list and his phone began ringing. He had dialled his cook, Mia’s number in his subconscious state.

“Hello, Sir” Mia’s voice came through the speakers of the phone.

“Mia.” His voice rose deeply from the throat.

“Good evening, Mr Reynaldo, is there any way I can help you?” She asked, but there was no response.

“Heello!” she called out again, yet the silence welcomed her.

From the corner of a car flashed its headlight into Reynaldo’s eyes, causing him to tilt his direction to avoid hitting it. In the cold air of the night’s calm, Rey sat in driver’s seat, a low sound of his car’s engine steam swerved into a roadside tree.