Chapter 7
2358 Words
Spending time with Clifford was one of my most favorite moments in my life. I seriously hoped time would stop so I could stay with him longer. But of course, time doesn’t stop for anyone.
“How is your internship, Julia?” Sylvia Black asked me. She’s smiling widely.
Apparently, the dinner happened. But the good thing is that Sage Black is nowhere to be found. That’s good. I hope I won’t see him ever again. It’s always a waste of time whenever I bump into him. He thinks he’s the only man in the world. He’s not even that handsome.
I smiled weakly. “It’s good,” I replied curtly.
Mom looked at me while Sylvia Black just smiled at me. Mom laughed awkwardly. “Sylvia, I wonder where Sage is,” she said, changing the topic.
Sylvia’s smile faltered. She shook her head. “He’s not in contact with us,” she replied.
I stopped and arched my brows. There must be a family drama in their household. Well, technically, Sage is not living with them. He has his own unit in a prestigious building. He’s old enough to live on his own.
But then, I have always thought that Sage was an obedient son even when it doesn’t show. I guess this is his way of rebellion.
“Are you okay?” Mom asked Sylvia.
Sylvia nodded. “I’m okay,” she replied. “Herman is trying to talk to him and I guess he’s replying to his father. But not to me.”
Fair enough. Sylvia detested Heaven and Sage’s relationship. She opposed it. But Herman, her husband, was mum on all of this. He was rather quiet on this one, considering that he’s the rich one. He’s the heir to their family’s wealth. He’s the only son among four children.
Mom sighed and tried to stroke her best friend’s back. Sylvia just smiled weakly. “It will all be fine,” Mom said. “Sage will always come back to you. You’re his mother.”
Sylvia nodded. “I hope so,” she replied, but there was no hint of hope in her voice. She sounded so dejected. Maybe she had a huge fight with Sage.
Well, it’s not like I care about their family affairs. I’m only enduring my time here when I only wanted to spend it with Clifford.
The dreadful dinner finally ended and we were home. Mom kept on ranting about Heaven and Sage in the car. If I could only close my ears so she’d give me a break. She is relentless when she’s ranting about Heaven.
Heaven’s already gone but my mom still hates her to death. Well, I do too. But I choose to not think of her to not ruin my mood. I hope Mom does that too, so, we won’t be ruining both of our moods.
I immediately strutted to my room and washed up. I texted Clifford that I’ll be sleeping already because I need to report to Valeria’s tomorrow. I didn’t even bother waiting for his reply because the moment I lied on my bed, I was already asleep.
***
Clifford:
Lunch?
My eyes widened when this message showed on my phone screen. I smiled and grabbed my phone and typed in a reply.
Me:
Are you free?
I look like an i***t as I was smiling widely in front of my screen. I don’t even mind that I am in my cubicle right now and there is a big chance that the people here would see me.
“Oh, my god. Do you have a boyfriend?” Denise asked me when she caught me staring at my phone.
I looked at her with surprised eyes. “What? No,” I replied.
Clifford is not my boyfriend. Well, he never asked me to be his girlfriend so it’s unfair if I pertain to him as my boyfriend. We’re just dating…and f*****g occasionally. But that doesn’t mean we’re actually in an official relationship.
Denise smirked at me, her brow shot up. “Not a boyfriend…so what? A suitor that you like?”
I pursed my lips in a thin line as I was trying to prevent a huge smile from coming out of my lips. I shook my head. “We’re just…” I paused for a moment. “…friends.”
Denise looked me ridiculously. I don’t know if there was something wrong with what I just said but she’s looking at me like she doesn’t believe me. “Maybe he’s the guy in the club?” she speculated. And was right.
I cleared my throat and looked away.
“Oh, my god! It’s the guy from the club?” she asked me in an excited manner. She even leaned on the divider of our stations. “I saw him and he’s so hot! Is he a model? He looks like one,” she beamed. She was asking me endless questions.
I shook my head. “He’s not a model,” I replied.
“Then? A businessman?” she probed. “He looks so simple, though.”
I shook my head. “Nope, not a businessman.”
Denise narrowed her eyes one me. “Then what?” she asked before sighing heavily. “I am so envious! You have a hot friend when all my friends are gays.”
That I laughed. She was pertaining to most of the guys in the office. From what she has been telling me before, she has been acquainted with gays because he’s brother is a loud and proud member of the LGBT community.
“I’ll tell him to look for your man in the base,” I replied.
Her eyes widened. “Base? Does that mean…he’s a soldier?” she asked me.
I nodded. “He’s a soldier. He’s in the force. Do you like men in uniform?”
She let out a groan. “Oh, my god, yes! Tell him to look for not just one okay? I need options!” she beamed before getting called by Miss Thrina. “It’s the design team. I’ll get back to you later! Have a nice lunch with your soldier!” she giggled before running over to Miss Thrina.
I smiled and shook my head as I looked at my phone again. There was already a reply from Clifford.
Clifford:
Yes. I’m free today. So, lunch?
I bit my lip and typed in a reply before typing a reply.
Me:
Sure. I’ll be done in fifteen minutes.
I looked at the office clock and prayed that it moves faster. I just want to see Clifford again. He’s going back to the base tomorrow so I would want to see him before he serves again. He can only come out once a month for a few days on a regular basis. He can only get long furloughs when he comes back from an overseas deployment.
Clifford:
I’m waiting at the cakeshop beside Valeria.
I bit my lip and replied “okay” before working double time to finish more than what I have set for myself. I don’t want to think about work when I am with Clifford so I need to finish more. The more I finish, the more relaxed I will be.
When the clock struck twelve, I immediately grabbed my things and walked out of the office. I dashed towards the cake shop and immediately saw his car parked in front of the cake shop.
He’s sitting near the balcony while watching the people on the sidewalk. I smiled and ran towards him excitedly.
“Hello. Did you wait for long?” I greeted him.
Clifford looked at me with a smile. He held my face and gave me a quick kiss. “I miss you.”
My eyes widened as my heart started to beat faster. What was that about? I didn’t expect him to say that to me. Not when I just told Denise that we are not dating.
Julia, get a f*****g grip. You are not dating him. This…maybe this is how he is towards the girls he’s seeing.
I bit my lower lip and looked down. “I miss you too,” I replied in a small voice.
I mentally cursed at myself because it’s so obvious that I am under his spell. I wanted him to think of it the other way but I guess, I am very submissive when it comes to him.
He’s just…irresistible. I don’t even know how female soldiers survive every day without having a heart attack upon seeing him.
Wait…there are female soldiers. What if someone likes him? She’s going to have an advantage over me because she is the force. She can see Clifford even when he’s in the base.
Something in my chest ached at the thought of that. I looked at Clifford and saw him looking back at me with narrowed eyes, confused.
“Is there anything wrong?” he asked me softly as he pulled my chair closer to his. He slung his arm around my waist and pulled me closer to his body. “You look conflicted.”
I licked my lower lip and shook my head. “Nothing,” I replied.
He leaned in and kissed my temple. “Why does it sound like it’s nothing?” he asked, sounding like he’s trying to calm me down when in fact, he’s already hypnotizing me. “You can tell me, baby.”
Baby. There it is again. He’s calling me baby again. My heart is beating faster again.
I sighed and leaned on his shoulder. I held his hand and he linked his fingers with mine. “I was just thinking that you’re going back tomorrow,” I started. “I won’t be able to see you in a month.”
He chuckled weakly. “Don’t worry. One month is fast,” he said before kissing the top of my head. “I’ll try to text you when I can.”
I frowned at him. “Aren’t cellphones prohibited?”
He smiled and pinched my cheek. “I can send you a text when my seniors are not looking,” he replied. “Don’t worry. I’ll try to connect with you while I’m inside.”
He was already trying to pacify me but my head was still on the fact that there are a lot of female officers in there. Now, I suddenly want to have a change in my career. Can I train for Airforce, too, so I could see him more often?
“What if there’s a beautiful female soldier?” I asked him with a small voice.
He furrowed his brows at me. “What did you say?” he asked.
I sighed and pursed my lips. I looked into his dark brown eyes before sighing hard once more. “What if you see some beautiful soldiers?” I hate that I sound like a jealous girlfriend when it was me who kept on denying our relationship.
Clifford chuckled and shook his head. He reached for my face and caressed. “Are you jealous?” he asked me in a playful voice.
I bit my lip and looked away. I shouldn’t be jealous. We’re not even in a relationship. What right do I have to get jealous? I have no right to get jealous.
He leaned closer until his eyes are on the same level as mine. “You don’t have to be jealous. There are female soldiers but I don’t really look at them the same way I look at you,” he replied and I hate it that he’s starting to sway me now. He ran his thumb against my cheek. “I don’t like anyone else but you.”
I swallowed hard after hearing his words. My heart started beating erratically once more. His words seemed to echo in my head, continuously making me crazy with every single time it repeats.
“Y-You like me?” I asked in disbelief. We kissed and f****d over and over again but never in my imagination had I thought that he’d like me. He already told me before that he doesn’t do girlfriends. He’s not the type to have girlfriends, so to hear him say he likes me brings me into a huge disbelief.
He licked his lower lip before drowning me into his brown eyes. “Isn’t it obvious that I like you since the moment I met you?” he asked me.
I pouted. “I haven’t had someone confess to me that he likes me.” It’s true. I don’t know if it’s because I am not really friendly to anyone or if I really lack charisma.
He smirked and kissed my cheek. “That’s good. I don’t want other men telling you they like you. I get jealous easily,” he whispered before leaning in to kiss me on the lips.
Am I dating him now?
- Writer
