His SALVATION

Chapter 3

Elijah’s P.O.V.

As soon as Matty got settled in her seat, Breakfast was served, and everyone got busy stuffing their face with egg sandwiches. Matty was babbling about something with her mouth. Even though she is my sister, I was still disgusted by the sight of it and finally decided to point it to her by saying, “Don’t talk while you’re chewing, Matty.” And because of some crazy coincidence, Sofia said the same thing. Same words at the same time. Our statements were in sync, which was weird. I turned towards her, only to find her staring back at me. We were both busy staring, none of us dared to look away first, and that’s when we heard Matty saying, “You both sound so creepy when you do that.” I took that as an opportunity to look away first and responded with, “That was a coincidence” hearing this, Grandma chuckled. I turned toward her and asked, “Why does it feel like you guys don’t agree with me?” Without even wasting a second, Grandma answered, “Because we don’t, sweetie.” I grumbled a “Whatever” and continued eating. As I was conscious of my surroundings, Sofia grabbed my attention every few seconds. The way she was eating or drinking or just breathing around me. Everything about her was distracting me now. So, I did what I thought was best. I got up, dusted my jacket, and went straight to work.

It was around 10 am when I reached work. I was going through some files when Ethan walked in. No knocking, No asking for permission, nothing at all. He settled on the couch on the left side of my table, resting his right leg over his left; he asked, “Why so grumpy, bro?” I ignored his question and kept going through my work when he decided to walk closer and settle on the chair right in front of me. I peeked at him over the file and asked, “What are you doing here so early?” He chuckled and asked, “Isn’t that what you’ve been asking me to do for so long?” “Not the point,” I said, dismissing his sarcasm. He leaned over, pulling the file from my hand and reading it himself. I relaxed back in my seat, waiting for his opinion on it, when he asked, “Why are you going through this one? DIdn’t we finalize it last week?”

I’m shocked by his statement and reach out to grab the file. He didn’t get time to respond fast, and I could successfully grab it. I quickly look at the file, and relief washes over me. I close the file and stare at the i***t, trying hard to control his laughter. “Grow up, Ethan. We aren’t ten anymore.” He laughs at my comment and says, “You should have seen your face. It was hilarious.” I shake my head, ignoring his comment as I am about to open the file again when he says, “I heard Sofia was at your house today.” Hearing his words, my eyes dart toward his face, meeting his eye as they sparkle with excitement.

I have a theory; I think my best friend is in love with my sister’s best friend but lacks the guts to say it out loud, maybe. He talks to Sofia whenever they come face to face, he even has her number, but I’ve never seen him confess his feelings to her. I find this weird, as Ethan is too outspoken. The connection between his brain and tongue is broken, which is one reason why he never thinks before speaking. But that never happens in front of Sofia. He is one of the most sophisticated men you’ll ever see with her.

I’m trapped in my thoughts when I see Ethan snapping his fingers in front of my eyes. I look at him and ask, “So she informed you before coming, huh?” A smile latches onto his face as he asks, “Why? Are you jealous?” My eyes widen at his statement, and I’m quick to reply, “Why the hell would I be jealous?” He shakes his head before responding, “Don’t get your panties in a twist. I met the Rodriguez twins on my way here, and they told me about it.” The famous Rodriguez twins. I’m quick to ask, “Her cousins? Where did you come across them?” He shrugs before continuing, “At Cafe Di Bella.” I think about what he said and ask, “What were you doing at the cafe so early in the morning?” “Mrs. Cooper couldn’t come today. Her son is sick and needs to be taken care of. So, I told her to take a break from work and stay home with her son. But since she isn’t coming, I no longer have edible food at home. Hence, the cafe.” I nod at his words and reply with a small “Okay,” moving my attention back toward the file. But he doesn’t seem happy with my reaction and continues, “Mateo and Diego were on their way to your sister’s Boutique.” That grabs my attention, and I ask, “Why?” He shrugs, saying, “Something about Sofia's medicine. They didn’t say much, just that she left for your place in a hurry and forgot about it. So they were going to give it to her.”

“Medicines? What medicines? Is she sick? She didn’t look like it?” I replied. Ethan looked at me, giving me the stink eye as he said, “Forget it. Why are we bothering ourselves with it? It’s between Sofia and her brothers. So, moving on to the meeting that we have in the evening about that redevelopment project. What have you thought about it?” I look at him, a little pissed, as I ask, “How can you be so normal about Sofia forgetting her medicines? If you keep up with this, you might just die single. Because I’m sure, Sofia would want herself a man who cares about her and not some stupid boy who is too ignorant about his surrounding.”

“WOAH! Hold your horses' man. Why would who Sofia wants to be with affect me?”

“Aren’t you in love with her since high school?”

“What? NO! I’m not in love with her; I’m in love with….”

“What? You don’t love her?”

“NO! For God's sake, man. Who else knows about this deluded thought of yours?”

“No one. But are you absolutely sure about it?”

“YES! I’M NOT IN LOVE WITH SOFIA RODRIGUEZ.”

“HOW CAN YOU BE SO SURE ABOUT IT?”

“BECAUSE YOU ARE!”

“What the f**k, dude?”

“What?”

“I’m not in love with her. I don’t even talk to her. I’ve never spoken to her, man. How can you even say that?”

“Okay. Let me rephrase it. You don’t know yet, but you are in love with her; you always have been. She is the one for you; deep down, you know it, and that’s the only reason you never encourage other women.”

I am frustrated by his words, so I use my right hand to point at my left and scream, “I DON’T ENCOURAGE WOMEN BECAUSE OF THIS.”

He goes silent for a minute, but then he looks me in the eye and says, “You don’t know it yet, but you do. And deep down, you know it.”