PRIDE AND HIS HEART

Chapter 4

Frank sighed and folded his arms. “David?”

“Yes David, the project manager.” She gave this ‘what's it?’ look. “I saw him this morning and now I can't see him any more.”

He managed to move back a little. “What's so special about this David of a guy?” He said, almost screaming in the silent city area where only few people passes by. His voice was quite audible.

“You heard me right when I said he is the one managing this construction and so he's supposed to be here. I manage this company and I have a contract with him.”

Meanwhile, David was still under his shower, multiple thoughts running through his mind. He held his knee tight with his arms and his back was against the wall.

‘I’ve never seen Kiara with any man before,’ he thought again. But then he stood up, turned off the shower and headed to his bed. He sighed then pick up his ringing phone with his towel placed on his neck. Kiara's name was boldly written on the phone. He stared at her name for a moment. He sighed and slid the green telephone icon.

“Hello,” the voice came in almost worried. “I didn't see you at work today?” Kiara said.

He sighed, not wanting to say anything. “Hello?” She said again, doubting if anyone was on the other line. “Hey?” She said again, almost worried.

But then he managed to say something, “Yeah I'm fine. I'm just a bit stressed so I rushed home in the afternoon.”

This time, she was relieved but started to act strict again. “You didn't make an excuse before leaving! You were paid for this so you should do your work professionally.” She said, and cut the call. David breathed some air in and then out. His mind slid into the day the friendship stopped.

Five years ago, Kiara was pleased to hear from him after the call. He was happy he would confess his feelings and probably maybe she would become his girl. All the doubt and thought would stop. He went to the saloon for a shave, put on his best clothes, wore his favourite scent and a pair of shoes she got him for his birthday. He would stare at the mirror, smiling again and again to make sure he looked his best.

He took his phone and dialed her number. He kept smiling while staring at his screen with her name boldly written on it. His heart was beating fast, and for a moment he doubted if everything would go fine. “Hello Kiara, I'm almost done. I will be there soon.” He said.

“Okay, I'm home waiting for you. Don't forget to buy me my favorite chocolate.” She said, smiling, from the other end of the line.

He sat on his bed for a while to think.

‘What if she turns me down,’ he thought. He stood up and roamed around the room for a second then came back to reality to believe in himself like he always does. He became optimistic about it all like he always does to his life.

‘But we are friends, why am I preparing like I'm going on a date with someone I don't know before?’ He asked himself.

The room was filled with silence for a moment, the plastic nylon on the floor stopped making noise like it knows what's going on at that moment. Different thoughts ran through his mind.

‘Am I doing too much?’

‘No, this is not bad.’

Different voices in his head. For a second again, he remembered how kind she used to be to him even though she can be tough to other boys, especially in high school, using that to convince himself that Kiara couldn’t reject him.

Finally he stood in front of the mirror, holding his jacket firmly and breathing out some air like he had concluded everything. He took his glass to make it all look cool and headed out of the room while booking a cab. He smiled again, staring at his screen.

“Bye mum!” He said to his mum before closing the door.

The day was bright like any other sunny Winter. Cars passed through the city, the street was cool, not too busy, not too quiet.

A quiet reminder hit him while waiting for the cab, Kiara's chocolate. He didn't want to miss the cab even for a second so he stood by the road, patiently waiting for the cab. In a few seconds the cab arrived.

He smiled and got in without a single word. The driver looked back at the passenger seat and nodded. He started driving in the direction, “You are heading to Mark's mansion, you must be wealthy to have such a connection. Why not call your driver to drive you?” The chubby man said, looking at the mirror to see David's reflection.

“Well,” David replied, almost hesitantly. “..well, I just have a friend there. Yeah, a close friend, that's all.”

“I see, who would that be…?” “The children… well. He is a popular businessman so he's quite popular…” At this point, David was no longer interested in the whole conversation and it spoilt his mood entirely. He barely listens and the whole talk now sounds like some sort of blabber.

“I'm taking a break here, I'm getting down to get something from the mall.” He got down and proceeded to the mall by the roadside. “Just a minute,” he said to the driver. In a flash he came back with a carrier bag containing some items no one can tell. “I'm back.” He said, panting slowly.

In a few minutes they got to the Marks mansion. He grabbed his wallet and headed to the mansion. He got in and Kiara was there on the balcony, just there, smiling and waiting for him. She ran down to hug him and welcome him to the living room. The entire space was quiet like no one was in the house.

“My chocolate?” She snapped, smiling effortlessly. David handed over the bag to her while trying to sit and there she was, unpacking the whole stuff. The first thing she grabbed was the chocolate. The next was a letter. She became confused like 'what's the letter for?' she thought