The Honeymoon Game

It's you!

“It's you!” He turned to me, the corner of his lips shifted upward in a mocking smirk.

“You both have met already?” Mr Louis asked. The whole eating ceremony paused as everyone was now focused on us.

”Yes. We've both met already.” He went on to answer, dragging his tone to lay an emphasis on our meeting already.

“Wow, isn't that nice then?” My mum called from her seat. I could feel her eyes on me, wanting to know what mischief I had committed.

“It is. You know, I would never have guessed that you're Mrs Maria's lovely daughter, my step sister, huh?” He simpered.

“My name is Fiona ,” I said, facing him defiantly.

He stretched out his hand, “it is lovely meeting you again, Fiona .” It didn't make any sense to me that he was acting all nice after our unfriendly encounter. Was he trying to hide the fact that he spilled my drink on me?

‘You slapped him for that.’ my inner mind reminded me.

I was going to leave his hand hanging, but then, I wouldn't have an explanation for my rudeness and since everyone on the table had their eyes on me, i decided it was wise to play along. “The pleasure is all mine, Darnell .” I stretched out my hand with a lovely smile on my face. Two could play his game, I reasoned.

The shake wasn't supposed to last more than a second, but being the jerk he was, he pulled my hands up to his lips, pecked it gently, and even when I struggled to pull free, he held on nicely, giving everyone else the impression that we were cool.

”Let's get back to our meal,” Mr Louis announced. And at last, the jerk was seated, right opposite me.

The atmosphere was suddenly uncomfortable. I could feel his peering eyes steadily on me, from opposite the table. When I lifted my eyes to grab a plate of roasted beef, i stumbled upon that simpering look on his lips.

“You have really pretty daughters, Mrs Maria.” He turned to my mum.

“Ohh, that's a sweet thing to say, Darnell .”

“What do you do Fiona ?” He eyed me.

I batted my lashes disbelievingly at him. “Huh?” who told him he had the right to ask me questions?

“I figured since we're getting to know each other, you could tell me your occupation.” He repeated.

Mr Louis got interested in the chat and joined in, he laid down his fork at the side of his dish before chipping in. “I think that's right Darnell . You know I never had a chat with your mum about what you do,” he directed the question at me.

“I umm...” I cleared my throat. “I am a social right activist,” I answered, raising my glass up to my lip for a sip.

“Oh, that's lovely,” Louis complimented. “I know Dianna here owns a fashion brand, which is also exquisite. I must commend your hard work ladies.”

“Thank you Mr Louis, we're glad you invited us into your home,” Dianna answered, looking about her, as though she was just stepping into the house for the first time.

“No don't thank me. This is also your home now, we're families.” He replied, picking up his cutleries.

“It's dreadful to know that we are,” I murmured, my head bent over my meal. I had lost my appetite the moment Darnell came down and I remembered who he was.

“Did you say something?” The jerk asked?

I raised my head sharply to catch all eyes on me, i didn't realize my murmuring had sounded out. “Oh I said that this meal is nice... Really nice,” I stuttered.

“Is it?” Darnell peered at me, in an attempt to taunt me.

I was done taking his bullshit for a day. I pushed my plate aside, wiped my lips with a sovereign and rose to my feet. “I would be in my room mum, Louis,” i bowed slightly.

“You not done with your meal Coz,” Dianna noticed, probably because she was already eying for more.

“I think there's more than enough food on this table to be done with, Dianna.”

"Baby are you okay?" My mum asked with concern caressing her brows.

"I'm okay Ma," I pushed my chair out gently and hurried over to the steps, needing so desperately to disappear from their watching eyes.

I slammed the mirrored door and leaned behind it once I was in my room, taking deep, calming breathe. How on earth am I suppose to put up with this annoying jerk for a whole month? Why did it have to be him? Could this be karma?

No, I didn't do anything wrong. Slapping him was a reflex action for what he did and anyone could have done the same. He didn't have the right to make me feel bad about it now. I paced the room for a while thinking if it was too late to back off from this so called honeymoon plan.

I pulled off my jacket and hauled it towards the bed, kicked my shoes off my legs and kept pacing. I had promised Ma that I would try to get along, but how does one pretend to get along with someone like Darnell ? That's definitely going to be impossible.

Maybe I should just leave. I could pack my bags and apologize to Louis and my mum, tell them I can't be under the same roof as their son and to avoid dramas that could disrupt the peace of their honeymoon, it was best I left. Surely they would understand that I mean well for them.

I pulled out my bag, a portable square bag that had been arranged neatly into the closet earlier on. I removed the few clothes that had already been hung on the hanger. If only he hadn't spilled my drink on me and made me slap him, just maybe, things would have really been different. But right now, i really can't stand someone making me feel like a terrible person for their carelessness.

I was done folding my stuffs, I wandered into the bathroom to check for any personal belongings that I might have left hanging. There was a knock when I returned to the room. “Dianna go away please,” I answered.

“It's me” I heard the masculine voice. There was no way that could be Dianna. It didn't sound like Mr Louis either, it had to be Elvis.

“Elvis what do you want?” I called back. There was no response. “Look, I really want to be left alone.” I added, resuming my packing.

”I need to talk to you,” the voice came back sounding really urgent.

“Why?” I turned the knob, pushing the door open, then at once closing it back after seeing who it was.

“What the hell!!!” He screamed, making me open the door again. I had jammed his fingers in my haste to close the door.

"Oh my God!" I reached for his hands subconsciously.

"I swear I didn't see you put your hands there. I only wanted to..." I stammered to a stop, when he looked down at my hands still holding his.

Chapter Nine

Darnell 's Pov

I smiled as she jerked her hands away from mine. It was fascinating watching her reaction towards my touch. The pain I had felt was momentarily forgotten as I watched her struggle to explain her action.

"You always hurting people it seems," I asked her.

"You were trying to barge in," she defended.

"Because you wouldn't let me in."

"What do you want?" She freed the door, putting both her hands on her waist.

"We need to talk," I insisted.

"There's nothing to talk about, Darnell or whatever you're called," she turned around, moving inside. I followed behind her, still rubbing my finger that was jammed in the door.

"I am leaving already," she sat on the bed, working the zip on her bag.

"You don't mean that, do you?"

She stared at me, not responding. "You obviously don't care about your mum, because if you do, you would know how much this means to her and my dad and you wouldn't just pick up your bag and walk out, simply because I happen to be the same guy you slapped at our parents wedding.” I pointed out to her.

"You don't know anything about my mum and I. You do not have the right to judge my actions either! It was you who spilled drink on my clothe, ruining my look. It is the same you who has tried to barge into my room, yet you stand here to speak as though you were a saint and..." she stopped, took a deep breath and sighed.

"So why are you leaving?" I settled on the bed.

"Because I can't stand you!" She gritted through her teeth, shifting away from me.

"And why is that?" I asked, enjoying the look of frustration on her face.

"Because..." She sighed again.

"See," I threw my hands in the air. "You do not even have a reason for your hate. Look, unlike you, I care about my dad and I'm really concerned about the things that makes him happy." I was conscious of the frown that deepened on her face at my statement, but I went on nonetheless. "And if you must know, this are one of those things. Having you and your noisy cousin here as family is really important to him and I do not intend to ruin that."

"That's strange, since it looks as though the only thing you know how to do is ruin things," she objected.

"I want you to stay," I went on, ignoring her comment.

"Why?"

"Are you so daft? I just explained that a second ago."

She blinked quickly, not believing I had called her daft. Then in a split second, she was hauling her bag and moving towards the door. "Hey... Wait, wait, wait..." I stood in the way, trying to stop her. "Please don't smack me on the face like you did the last time, that slap was version changing." I reached for her hands slowly.