CHAPTER 2 - CALL ME DICE
1329 Words
Dancing wasn’t my thing, but with him, it was easy. We didn’t talk like other debutantes, and their Mr did. We were so quiet. Our eyes did the talking. The way he looked at me. Interestingly, I disliked the company of men, as well as the company of boys and men. In fact, I loved my peace. I preferred being alone. I feared my gender most when it came to having friends. The one whom I called my best friend spoiled my name in school just because she found out her crush also had a crush on me. She was the only one I trusted, the only one I could call a friend and sister. She ditched me. Ever since that day, I’ve treated myself right. My sanity, I chose first.
“Are you okay?” he asked. I nodded in affirmation.
“Are you tired of the dance?”
“No”
“Do you want to switch?”
“No,” he smirked.
“I see you like me already” I blushed.
“Oh please, Mr., don’t flatter yourself. I’m just a girl who is caught by your sweet words, so why won't I blush?”
“Don’t Mr. me, I’m 22” he didn't look it. He was more mature. He’s Damien’s agemate.
“You are my brothers’ agemate”
“That’s interesting. Which university?”
“Why must I tell you? It’s not like you’ll know him”
“If only you knew whom you were talking to” he murmured. I pretended not to hear it.
“Your name?” he asked.
“I’m Jasmine, you?”
“Call me Dice,” he said and bowed.
“Wait, I didn’t even get your-” but he left already.
I kinda felt bad. I thought we’d exchange contacts.
“Ma’am, your father is waiting at home for you”
“Where is Damien?” I asked the driver.
“Not aware”
“Find him, till then, I’m not leaving this place”
“Ma’m, your-”
“Find him, f**k” I said and left his presence.
A few minutes later, he came back saying he couldn’t find Damien. I didn’t want to go home without Damien cause I wasn’t sure of the plans Dad had for me.
“I am going nowhere”
“Ma please, ma, I’d lose my job. Please” I looked at him with pity. I didn't want to go home to meet that beast.
We arrived home and I got down. Dad was in the living room sipping his coffee like he always did after a stressful day just like this one.
“And don’t you know you are a lady?” he said when I headed for the stairs.
“Pardon?”
“Don't you know you are a lady?” He said in a more vexed mood.
“You took me out to the ball and you didn't even tell me you were back home”
“Will you shut up? Shut up!”
“It's a ball, Dad, how then do you expect me to mingle?”
“Do I want you to mingle? You are just 18”
“To be 19, Dad.”
“Well, I used that as an excuse. You are gonna go to Lèman”
“Dad, no”
“Final”
“That's not how things are done. I did what you asked me to do, you can't make me go there, attend a school I don't want to. That's not how things are done! This is not fair”
“Everything is fair. Goodnight”
“Dad!” I threw myself on the floor and cried. I didn't want to go to Lèman. No, it wasn't my desire. I disliked being around kids who dwelled on their parents’ wealth and riches. Elite schools were never my thing. I love my space and I'll never have enough of it because of this.
“f**k” I said as I pushed down the glass vase on the centre table. I ran upstairs and what I saw amazed me. My admission letter was on the table. I checked the wardrobe and saw my uniform there. I screamed and fell to the floor. Nobody cared. Nobody.
“God, I don't want to go to Lèman. I don't want to go to Lèman”
***********
“Ma'm. Ma'm” I opened my eyes.
“You need to come and have breakfast”
“I don't want to”
“Your father-”
“Get! Lost!” I screamed. She left my room. I began crying again. Why? Why?
Damien wasn't back yet. I began writing in my diary as I cried. I wrote lots of things, poured out my heart into it. Then, I remembered him. His eyes, his look. His gentleness. Everything. He was all I needed in a man. I smiled. I was smiling because of a guy, I couldn't believe it.
“What are you writing?” I hid the book quickly under the pillow and turned.
“f**k! Why did you do that?” He laughed.
“You are a fool Damy”
“Lèman huh?”
“I'm really angry with you. You left me last night”
“You cried” I nodded yes.
“I've told you to stop crying. Learn to be strong. The world is wicked and it'll keep breaking you”
“Really, like, really” I said sarcastically because his motivational speech wasn't helping matters at all.
“You need to be strong” Silence reigned for what seemed like ages.
“I'm going back to school today”
“You said that before”
“You'll escort me. I got an apartment off campus”
“Where do you all see money?”
“I thought you worked online” he said
“I do but not to rent an apartment. Renting an apartment that's like five thousand dollars”
“The one I rented is seven thousand and four hundred dollars”
“Damien”
“Calm down. I'm sharing the room”
“Two?”
“One. Just him and me.”
“Speaking of escorting you, Dad won't approve”
“I'll drop you off later and he said he has a business to attend to in Washington D.C”
“Well, if you say so” He left my room and I got dressed. I wore a mini jean skirt and a crop top. I was in the car already before him.
“Men, what are you wearing?”
“Clothes” He looked at me and chuckled.
“You know you can never be a baddie” The argument got heated up till we got to our destination.
“Spare me please. Duh,” I finally said when he rolled over. We got inside. The apartment was actually cool. It was giving bad boy vibes.
“This is amazing. Did you handle the decor?”
“Nah, he did”
“Your roommate?”
“Yeah”
“You need to be here, I want to go see-”
“Amelia. Really?”
“We've not had a hard time lately for-”
“Fine” he left to see his girlfriend, Amelia. I sat on the couch and looked around. The decor is worth it. I couldn’t stop admiring. I decided to watch a movie.
“Yes, but it definitely won’t be today. My roommate is coming in so-” I heard the voice coming from the stairs. His roommate. I sat down like a lady and crossed my legs while still watching my movie. I pretended to be serious on my phone. The door opened and I still had my eyes on the movie to show that I didn't care who it was cause I was sure it would be a spoiled elite kid.
“Look who we have here”
Wait, Dice?
- Writer
