THEIR ΦΩΤΙΆ(LIGHT)

Mr Dominic

JACKY

I took my phone and called Ceci to tell her about the news. I'm currently on my way to Mrs Jones' with Mar's driver.

In a few minutes, we reach and I step out , rushing inside.

I wonder why I feel this giddy and satisfied. I hugged Ceci tightly before Mar.

" Just imagine I got the job, I'm starting the day after tomorrow. I'm so happy!"

I squealed hugging them again and they kissed my cheeks.

" Damn babe, you look hot. I didn't know this pant suit was going to look this good on you. We should go shopping for your formal attire, and a party tonight. "

Mar says. I blush at her compliment on me.

" Don't worry, shopping's on me. What's the use of a rich boyfriend!"

She says happily. I don't argue with her since it'll lead nowhere and I'll never win.

" Babe, you have a visitor, he arrived 10 minutes ago. "

Ceci said and Mar chuckled.

" But..."

I was cut off by a slight push by Mar. She mouthed, 'you look nice, you've got this.'

She pushed slightly but because I had stilettos, I lost my balance and I expected to fall on my face.

Strong arms caught me by my waist as I closed my eyes expecting to feel pain.

I waited for seconds, when I opened my eyes, I was met with a pair of black pupils, straight nose, thin pink lips and angular shaped jaw.

The owner of these features was indeed good looking.

He helped me up and we got into an awkward situation basically because I've never gone on a date.

He was taller than me. Like a lot taller than my 5'6 height. Probably 6'3.

" Hi, I'm Dominic. You must be Jacky right? "

He says with a small smile as he ushers his hand for a handshake.

" Hey, I... I'm Jacky. Nice to meet you. "

He says as I shake his hand too. I must sound robotic now. I glanced back and saw the girls peeking while they showed me a thumbs up.

I shook my head.

" Why don't we go and have a seat, Mr Dominic."

I say to him and he chuckles.

' s**t Jacky, Mr Dominic. Couldn't you have come up with something better?' I mock myself inwardly.

" Yeah sure, please call me Dominic. You look beautiful today by the way, you always do. Who knows you might be my girlfriend soon. "

What?

I almost rolled my eyes. But why does it seem sinister?

' Shut up, you've been feeling everything sinister nowadays. ' I mock myself.

He pulled the chair for me then he went and took a seat. So much for being a gentleman.

We sat and Mar came to take our orders and all I wanted was to wipe that stupid smirk she had on her face.

" Afternoon, what could I get for you today, sir, ma'am?"

She asks and I roll my eyes.

" Come on Mar, we've passed all the formalities . But you can me usual, black coffee and..."

He rolls his eyes dramatically before ushering his hand to me and I answer, "espresso" lazily.

She walks away and comes back shortly. I take my time to study this man.

He seems important as he's clad in black suit with a white shirt inside. His chestnut hair is gelled back.

" So, tell me about yourself Jacky apart from your age and name obviously. "

He says in his deep voice sipping his coffee.

" Uhm I grew up in an orphanage where I met Mar and we're friends until now. About where I work, I just got a job today in Archer Liquor company as a secretary. I guess that's all uhm about me. "

I say as I laugh awkwardly cause what else am I supposed to say.

I did notice how his shoulders tensed with the mention of where I work. Maybe they are rival companies.

" So what about you? "

Feeling awkward that I may have touched a sensitive topic, I asked sipping my espresso to calm myself down.

" I'm Dominic Martins, a 29 year old American man and I'm the CEO of the Nic Inc, the luxury perfume company. I grew up with my grandparents in Texas ranching and all that cowboy stuff. "

He says and he laughs. I don't miss his longer canines when he laughed, they look sharp.

The Nic Inc, interesting. He sounds confident, or maybe he is.

I'm too observant, so I've been told. The date goes by quickly and I can say the guy's funny and fun to talk to.

We finished and exchanged our phone numbers. The guy's rich and handsome but all the time through the date I could feel dangerous eyes on me.

It's like they bore my skin, menacingly. Possessively with a fire in their eyes.

I felt that warmth and it burned my skin, turning it into a shade of pink.

Finally that red-eyed man left my mind and now I'm able to concentrate on other things.

He bids me a good bye and walks out. Immediately Mar and Ceci come and ask me how it went.

" It was quite good. He's fun to talk to. He made it comfortable for me. "

I say honestly and as I kept laughing through the date. I was being myself. Comfortable in my own skin

" Told ya! Now let's prepare you for your date with Dean tonight. "

I groan inwardly having a feeling that it's all wrong.

Mar beams and engulfs me in a hug. Ceci clears her throat and I kiss her cheek, her forehead and mutter an 'I love you'.

I know she feels left out easily. Mar does the same and we crush her in a group hug chuckling in response.

I could live in this moment forever, us being this happy.

Yes we've been through s**t but we've always had each other, which I cherish a lot.

I talked to Mrs Jones about my resignation and she kept on saying she's happy for me.

I felt a motherly love when she told me she's proud of me. Those have always sounded foreign to me.

Someone who was always reminded how unworthy she was that she couldn't deserve love is now having two loving best friends at her disposal.

A wave of happiness surged through me that I was this lucky to have them. She was wrong when she said I didn't deserve love.

The rest of the day passed in a blur and I hung out with the girls in the cafe.

…

After my happiest and last day at the cafe, we were now seated in the car. Heading to Ceci's place singing sadness out of us.

It's been so long that I've felt this happy. We were singing Dandelion by Ruth B.

I'm in a field of dandelions

Wishing on every one

That you'd me miinee, mine

I see forever in your eyes

I feel okay

When I

See you smiillee, smile

Wishing on Dandelions all of the time

Praying to God that one-day you'll be mine

Holding my phone as the speaker, while Mar's head out the car. Ceci is singing louder than us her eyes on the road driving.

I'm sure the pedestrians think we're crazy but I have a feeling today is my last day to be this free spirited.

Both fear and fulfillment are gnawing my heart pressing my lungs like a heavy stone.

I don't dwell on that, I don't want to. Today is my day to let go and have permission to be myself.

Remembering our date later with Dean, my stomach churns with repulsion, again.

It feels wrong.

He's my psychiatrist and I'm very glad he was there for me and I respect him, but something is off about him.

I've always struggled with saying no that's why I'm hesitantly doing this.

I push the feelings and worries to the back of my mind and try to focus on tonight.

So I go back to singing and after a while, we arrive at Ceci's place.

It's a 5 floor building. She has a two bedroom apartment, one her bedroom. I've never really entered the other as it's normally locked but it always run shivers down my spine.

Her apartment is maximalistic, filled with things around. It makes her room charming and yet homey.

Her walls and ceilings are green with leaves hanging from them, a light bulb hanging from it with some tendrils around it.

A three seater sofa welcomes you with pictures above it, a small table with daffodils carefully placed on a vase, two more couches and an armchair.

If you ask me, her room looks like that of a collector with shells, some around in large vases that look like artifacts.

Those African huge ones, showcasing a different cultural heritage.

Cute handbags hanging from her wall, a portrait of a small boy smiling. Charming.

His eyes drag you in as they stare deep into your soul, a smile reaching his eyes making him adorable.

A book shelf stacked with different books. My eyes always catch a giant looking book. It looks ancient, knowing Ceci, she must have collected it somewhere.

I walk around to make myself home with a cup of water. Heading towards the water dispenser.

She's only here to fetch her dress and she'll dress at my place. Same goes to Mar.

Mar follows me and serves herself a cup of water too. Her kitchen is small, enough for two.

Her white sink, brown cupboards, a small bulb, vases on the window carrying the most beautiful lavender and daisies.

Her kitchen is well equiped with all the necessary things a kitchen should have.

My mind drifts back to Dominic. A small voice inside my head tells me to run away from him.

My gut doesn't trust him, like at all. Mar is oddly quiet today leaving me with a whirlwind of thoughts.

Sprinting in my mind, chasing my racing heart. Knowing Mar, she can't be friends with someone untrustworthy.

So I just shrug it off and try to think about something else.

" Hey Mar, are you okay? "

She seems out of it as she's zoned out completely.

" Earth to Mariah Sebastian Williams. "

I snap my fingers before her as I notice a cute shade of pink slowly forming on her cheeks before the pull into a shy smile.

She loves her surname.

" You were saying? "

She says tucking an invisible strand of hair behind her ear, her smile still there so does the pink hue

It's spreading slowly and I wonder what kind of thoughts she's having right now.

" Are you okay? You're oddly quiet today and I thought something had happened to you and Seb. Is everything okay baby? "

I asked concern laced in my voice as I cupped her face. Her eyes seem lost again etched in worry and fear.

I wonder what she's afraid of.

" I'm okay, just worried about something. Seb and I are okay there's nothing to worry about. I'm just feeling bad since I'm going to miss you. "

I pout at her playfully as I kiss her cheek. I hug her before kissing her forehead.

" Don't worry, we'll be still seeing each other. I'm just half an hour away. I'm going to miss you too. "

Her shoulders tensed when I said something about seeing each other.

I suddenly felt sick that something is wrong.

" Are you sure you're okay? Talk to me baby, are you okay? "

She bit her lip nervously and I already knew something's wrong. Before she could answer, Ceci walks out of her bedroom towards the kitchen and clears her throat loudly.

Why do I have a feeling they're something very big from me?

" Mar's okay, she's feeling abandoned. Don't worry babe, we will never ever leave you. "

My heart eased a little bit hearing they weren't hiding anything from me.

Mar sometimes feels abandoned since her mom abandoned her.

Engulfing her in a hug, we both kiss her cheek and forehead as we assure her.

She smiles appreciating our efforts to make her feel better. Taking our hands in hers, we lead her to the car towards her place.

I sigh in contentment loving what we've become for each other.