She Still Wants You

Going Out

Meagan's POV

After two weeks I was at the studio.

"Bye mum, see you tomorrow." Cindy said standing by the door as she was leaving.

"Alright baby girl, go well, see you tomorrow." I replied dismissing her.

"Hope you'll knock off early today, its already getting dark outside" Cindy said after peeking outside, her face looked tired with a touch of worry.

"Oh, I'll be leaving very soon, am just saving some video projects... I'll be done in a short while" I replied trying not to worry her just so that she can leave. Cindy is so caring, she would insist to stay and help me out if was to she know that I still have a lot to do.

"Alright, see you tomorrow" She said leaving.

As the door closes, Photoshop Lightroom finally opens. Time for me to start retouching Shannel's photos. She has been nagging me all day asking about her birthday photos. She was sending me texts every 1 or 2 hours. And today was a busy day for me, there was no way I was going to buy some time to retouch her photos.

I could have gave Cindy to edit the photos for me, but we were both busy, the others couldn't have done a good job, and Shannel is quit difficult, I don't want to have a loud client like her complaining bout my image quality being poor.

At least now am free to work on her photos. I open the folder for birthday photos. I quickly see her folder, it was saved in her name and date of shoot. I import the whole folder into Lightroom. Shortly it was done loading the photos, I grab the mouse read to start editing... then my phone vibrates someone sent a text, and before I could read the text, Shannel calls.

"How far are you with my photos? I want something to post, my birthday vibes are starting to fade. I wanted to post them today when people are still celebrating. What is taking you so long?" Shannel starts complaining as soon as I pick up her call.

"I had a busy day today, otherwise am still retouching your photos. I'll send them when am done.... " I reply putting the call on loud as I get back to editing.

"And I'll appreciate if you let me do my work in peace... nagging me like that isn't helping." I air out my frustration about her nagging.

"Oh okay, then hurry up, I need to post the photos tomorrow... And I'll clear the balance tomorrow when I come to get the photos...." Shannel hangs up after saying her demands.

I groan at her reply, I hate such clients. They are always making commands, bossing everyone around acting like the world orbits round their head. She has been making requests since morning, telling me what to do like I don't have other things to do.

She is even making demands like she has finished paying. I gave her a discount that she hasn't finished paying and yet she is acting like she paid for the premium package.

After she hangs up I get back to retouching the photos while complaining bout her attitude. I try out a couple of presets from my collection, looking for one that will give me a good start for an express retouch. After trying out a number of my presets, I settle for one preset that was quiet appealing though it was not what I wanted exact.

I do my best quickly editing the photos without compromising on my standard image quality.

'I hate express retouches!' I think out loud as the color gradings of the photos frustrate me.

My phone rings instantly catching my attention, as I assume it was Shannel trying to disturb me again. I murmur in surprise, it is Mike calling... I answer the call pausing from my work.

"Hey Mike, long time I wasn't expecting your call." I eagerly start the conversation like am the one who called.

"Shhh yea, how are you doing?" Mike responded.

"Am tired..., was overwhelmed with work today and some petty client is pressuring me to edit her photos ASAP." I reply letting out a sigh.

"Oh I understand, so where are you now?" Mike asked.

"Am at Oscar's, he is bathing right now" I lie to tease Mike trying to see his reaction.

"Ssh, ati he is bathing, when did you move back to Oscar's." Mike chuckles in his reply.

"Ahh, I think it was on Monday or Tuesday." I hesitantly reply trying to recall the last time I told Mike about home.

"Oh, that's good. How's your lil boy doing by the way?" Mike replies sounding like he doesn't mind Oscar's presence.

I later cut out the play, telling Mike am still at the studio. We taIk for a while, Mike was talking like he is within town. And I was almost done editing Shannel's photos.

"I'll call you when am done" I hang up, so I can carefully review Shannel's photos before I export them.

I make a few final corrections here and there, just to polish up the photos before I send them out of lightroom.

"Huhh, Finally am done!" I let out a sigh stretching myself, at least am free from Shannel's claws.

I start preparing myself for home, as Shannel's photos were still exporting. I take a peek through the window, it is so dark outside. I think I can use a lift from Mike to get me home.

I dial Mike's line while I am moving Shannel's exported photos to the desktop preparing for tomorrow morning.

"Hey come pick me up before the blessers in town start treating me like am lonely" I say out the first thing that came across my mind.

"Shh, that's cause you always look lonely.

Don't leave the studio am coming for my photo shoot." Mike replies making fun of me.

"Alright hurry up." I reply turning off the lights before closing the door.

I lock the studio, waiting for Mike in the corridors as I chill chat with the security guard. The chill chat turns into a catch up, its been a while since I last had a decent conversation with our guards.

Mike shows up after 10 mins cutting short my chat with the guards, I say my goodbyes to the them as I head to the car.

...............

"So what would your lil boy do if he was to find us together?" Mike's question felt a little awkward, we were talking about something else and he brings up Oscar into the talk.

"Mmm I don't know, but he will obviously be jealous and upset with me." I reply while picturing Oscar reaction, I bet he would want to blame Kate as well.

"Why you asking? Have you seen Oscar nearby?, I ask wondering why Mike would ask about Oscar when he always acts like he don't mind about him.

"Nothing I just saw someone that looks like him." Mike said with a smiley face like there is nothing to worry about.

My heart was about to start race, I was thinking of what I would have done to convince Oscar that it is not what it looks like. It would be close to impossible to convince him that it is not what it looks like.

"He is my ex, he found me on my way home and he gave me a lift to take me home, it is nothing serious, I swear." it would need a miracle for Oscar to believe that statement.

Mike stopped by a shop to get some groceries, I insisted that I will remain in the car. I thought of Mike's question, what if we run into Oscar in the shop what will I do?

Cause words wouldn't be enough for him to believe me, its 9 PM and I am getting groceries with my ex and then I say nothing is happening between us.

'Love makes people act obtusely, but this is too much. You need to stop flirting and messing with Mike behind Oscar's back.' My guilty conscience starts rebuking me as I wait for Mike in the car.

My guilt conscience compels me to pull out my phone and check up on Oscar, after realizing that I didn't talk to him today.

I give him a direct call, I let out a sigh while his phone is ringing. The phone rung till it cut itself. Maybe he also had a busy day and now he is sleeping. I tell myself trying not to think that Oscar is with someone else.

I call him for the second time, while its still ringing I minimize from the phone app to go check his what's app status for clues on how he spent his day.

My calls go unanswered for the fourth time, it now starts to agitate me. His status update is clueless it is the same as always work and his big project.

"I don't like how he started talking about Emmie in his statuses. I have to keep an eye on her." I say to myself when I saw a photo of Oscar and Emmie on his status.

I quit calling Oscar after the thirteenth time. Mike even started making fun of me about it. He even drove slow to tease me.

I finally get home, and am still anxious about Oscar's behavior. He never sleeps before 11 PM unless he is ill or he is very exhausted.

Mike helps me carry the grocery bags into my apartment. I am feeling sleepy I just want to sleep, I'll start saying my night prayer as I lock the door.

"Hey, don't forget about Carmila's program, she will be very happy to see you there." Mike reminds me about Carmila's event before leaving.

Carmila is our former school mate from junior secondary school. Next week she is celebrating the graduation of her pupils who are in reception. And now as the founder of the pri-primary school, she wants to motivate the children. She thought of using help from her successful old friends from school to show the pupils the importance of education.

"Alright I won't..., good night Mike see you." I yawn as I reply. I try my best to pay attention but am too tired

"Alright baby girl" Mike left, and I sleep walked to my bed, I was half asleep as I was talking to him.

I lock the door going straight to bed. I finish my night prayer by the time I reached my bed. I fall into sleep in no time.

.......