Beautiful Stranger

Chapter 3: The Date That Wasn’t Simple

She raised an eyebrow. “I thought that the term was more familiar to the male folks.” She

replied as she started to walk.

"Oh well...eh, are you naturally this cool with everyone?"

Toni stopped. "I love people."

"I mean, we should love our brothers as ourselves, but, you are so....so welcoming."

Toni shrugged and continued to walk. "It is a way of life. Life is beautiful, it should be

enjoyed with people. Why can't we all just love each other?"

"You are clearly from another planet. People will mess you up if you trust them too

much." Jerry replied.

"Then you forgive, give people room to make mistakes."

Jerry stopped. "Do you live by this ideology?"

She smiled.

"Of course, you do. I have water." He said with a smile.

"Okay."

Jerry pushed the door open and let Toni in. Tunji smiled as they took their seats at his table.

"Interesting combo tonight."

"Evening man. I would have a glass of-"

"-Water. He would have water and the same with mine." Toni interrupted.

Jerry stared at her. "Me? Water?"

Tunji smiled. “Yeah. Him? Water?" He asked, staring at Toni.

"Yeah. Water." She replied.

Jerry rubbed his forehead. "Okay, water it is."

"Smitten fool." Tunji said with a smile as he turned to get the water.

Jerry stared at Toni. "I... I didn't see that coming."

"We don't always see everything coming. Take for instance, eighty percent of girls

that go out on dates with guys expect to get kissed at the end of the date but when the kiss

eventually comes, they never see it coming." She replied.

Jerry smiled. "Is that a tested theory?"

"Technically, it is my theory." She replied.

He folded her arms. "How come I have never seen you around before?"

"You saw me yesterday." She replied with a chuckle.

He nodded. "I know. I mean, like, I have not seen you around really..."

"I am stuck in between rooms."

He stroked his beard. "What does that mean?"

"I am always indoors."

James smiled. "Are you telling me that I am the first guy that you would be out with?"

Toni laughed. "Of course, not."

"Tell me about you." Jerry said.

Tunji dropped bottles of water on their table with a smile. "Enjoy..." he said and walked away.

"Now that I think of it, water will be saving us a lot of money." He said.

Toni nodded. "You are doing better with your sense of humour."

Back to you, so, tell me about you." He said.

Toni folded her hand. "What's there to know? Nothing..... Actually, nothing."

"Are you from Mars? Are your siblings aliens? Do you speak Mandarin?" Jerry asked.

She sipped her water. "Boring details. I live with my big sister and our parents are long

dead."

"I am so sorry." Jerry said.

She finished her water. “It's fine. I wish I knew them...anyway, let's talk about you. What do you do?"

Jerry blinked. "What do I do?"

She nodded. “Yeah... for work."

"Erm...I work in an investment bank." He replied as he drank some water.

She sat back with a grin. "Investment banking? The last time I heard that, the guy turne

out to be talking about a sperm bank....is that where you work?" she asked raising an

eyebrow.

Jerry laughed. "Come on, can you be serious for like five seconds?"

Toni closed her eyes and counted one to five aloud. "Okay, serious moment is over. But

really, what bank is that?"

"It's a small microfinance bank. I am sure you won't know it." He said as he drank

some more water.

Toni stared at him. "Do you really like water or do you drink water every time you tell a

lie?"

"You are a mind reader too? Psychic?" he asked.

She shrugged. "Instincts."

"Well, I work at a bank and that is that." He replied defensively.

She sat up. "Bank jobs can be frustrating so I think I understand your mood earlier on."

"I thought you said you love people, why would you see it frustrating?" James asked

with a smile.

She drummed her fingers on the table. "Listen to this...A father loves his daughter, right?"

James nodded. She nodded and continued "Good. If the father sees his child with sand in

her mouth, does he like that? Obviously not. So, what does he do? He cleans her up. This

doesn't mean he didn't love her even when the sand was in her mouth. It is just an ideology,

man. People will hurt you, you just have to find your way around everything." She

concluded.

"You are something." Jerry replied.

Toni took a deep breath and checked her wristwatch. "I'll be on my way.”

"Wait, I didn't get a name."

She smiled and took steps away from him. "You never asked."

Jerry sighed. "Please, what is

your name?"

"Stranger." She replied.

His shoulder fell. "Are you serious? I am Jerry. Tell me your name."

"Stranger." She replied.

He blinked. "Remember you love people, we should be friends."

"We might as well be strangers." She replied with a smile and walked out.

Jerry sighed as he sank into his seat. Tunji joined him immediately. "Still didn't get a name?"

"Shut up, man."

Tunji smiled. “Ladies like persistent guys, you should try harder...that is if you have a next

time."

Jerry frowned. "Give me another glass of water."

"Excuse me?" Tunji said as he looked around. “She is no longer here, Jerry."

Jerry stared at him. "I just want some more water."

Tunji laughed. “No man, you are kidding me."

"Are you going to give me or not?"

Tunji nodded with a smile. "Of course."

******** rushed downstairs as soon as she heard the dogs bark. Nora was back. She wouldn't

miss a detail of her sister's date. "Nora." She said with a smile.

Nora closed the door and approached the stairs with a sad face. "Good evening."

Toni swirled as she watched her sister ascend the stairs. "Good evening? What happened to

you? Did the police bust you?"

"That would have been better.” Nora replied as she stopped to stare at Toni coldly.

Toni blinked. "How... How is James?"

Nora smiled cynically. "James? Of course, you had to ask."

Toni nodded. “Yeah. Why are you looking like this?”

"Don't you get it, Toni?" Nora shouted. "It is always about you! When James is not

talking about how I happen to live in a mansion when I work as a customer care

representative, he is talking about you."

Toni swallowed as she stepped back.

Nora pushed forward. "Oh...your sister is so gorgeous, she is so cute. Damn attractive...she is

a stunner...every guy's lady and blah blah blah...Does it always have to be about you, Toni?"

"Take it easy, Nora." Toni replied.

Nora scowled. "Oh really??? Easy? Why would I take it easy when I don't have

anything...you have everything!" she said panting heavily.

Toni raised her eyebrow. "Everything?"

Nora wiped her tears. "For once, Toni, can you not always turn the guy I like from me?

Please." She said and walked away.

Toni took a deep breath.

Toni pushed her weight against the leather seat and focused on the Television. Nora was

going to be fast asleep by now. Nora never took long once she hit the sheets. Toni took a

deep breath as she reflected on her sister's words. She had never seen herself as selfish, she

had only seen the men in her sister's life as the wrong men. James was new though and it

might seem too quick to judge him, but he already got off on the wrong foot with his

admiration for her. This was never going to please Nora.

Nora couldn't sleep. She didn't feel right after yelling at Toni. Toni had never been

responsible for anything that happened to her but it was just convenient to blame it all on

Toni. Toni was happy. She wasn't. Toni's happiness came from within, it was so beautiful

that it confused everyone around her. Nora knew there was no sleep for her this time, on a

good day, once she hit the sheets, she was gone. But today, it isn't one of those good days.

She prayed that the door would open and Toni would come in to apologize as usual so as to

make it easier for her, but the door wasn't going to open. She stared hard at the door and

eventually forced it open.

"How long are you going to keep staring at that thing?" Nora asked as she

descended the stairs.

Toni grinned as she heard her sister's voice. She then straightened her head with a frown.

"We both know that you don't like Fashion Police." Nora added as she joined Toni

in the living room. "You think it is a waste of time, the clothes have been worn and awards

have been..." Nora paused with a smile waiting for Toni to pounce on their mantra.

Toni stared at Nora coldly. "Every girl loves Fashion Police...and I am no exception."

"Really? Since when did my sister fit into the majority? I mean, that is so not Toni.

Did you lose some nuts in your head when you went for your evening walk?" Nora asked.

Toni ignored her.

Nora took a deep breath and drew close to her sister. “I think we should watch football, I

know you like to watch it. There should be a match tonight, right?"

Toni ignored her.

"Cristiano has the biggest abs, right?" Nora continued.

Toni sighed. "Quit trying. It just takes five letters. One word. I don't need the full three

words."

Sorry." Nora said with a frown.

Toni smiled. "I can't hear you."

Nora nudged her sister. "I am sorry, Toni."

"I need you to be a little more audible." Toni said as she stuck her tongue out.

Nora smiled. "I am sorry."

Toni nodded and hugged her. "The good guys will come. Always remember that."

"It's just that I really like James."

Toni rolled her eyes. “And you really liked Nathaniel too...and what is the name of that

other douchebag?"

"Ude."

Toni laughed. "Yeah...you liked him too. You liked them all, but eventually, you let them go.

The heart will eventually forget unrequited love, Nora. It doesn't matter how long it takes."

"Why do I always have to be the one giving out all the love and not getting any?"

Nora asked.

Toni shrugged. "Probably you think you have been giving out love....maybe it is lust."

Nora hissed. "Are you saying that I don't know the difference between love and lust?"

"There is a thin line between." Toni replied. "Anyway, just so I am not a spoiler, I

actually think that James might like you, so you can be optimistic about it, but I'd advise

you not to get your hopes up." She added immediately.

Nora sighed. "Just one question... why do guys like you?"

"Isn't it evident? I am alive." Toni replied as she rose to her feet.

Nora frowned. "And I am dead?"

"Technically, you are dead...and to think I am the walking corpse." Toni replied with

a smile. "Live life a little, Sis. Let down your hair, play in the sun...maybe the rain, I won't

totally advise the rain because it is not as romantic as the movies make it, but Nora, you are

beautiful and you have the right and ability to be happy. Don't waste it."

Nora stared at Toni. "You know I don't like it when you talk like this."

Toni smiled. “You know better, Sis."

Nora nodded slowly. "We should go to bed now, I am tired of this day, I need a new one."

"You will always need a new day, Nora. You don't do anything with the one you

have."