บท 10: 10. Separation.
"You look great!" Rose sounded enthusiastic as Rissa approached her dressed casually, a black pants and a brown sneakers with a fitted white blouse and her furry coat hanging on her arm.
She smiled. "Thanks" She said.
A knock came in and Rose went over while Rissa was behind her. "Hi" She greeted with bright smiles.
"Hi" He also seemed filled with all the happiness in the world.
Her dad still looked fit and strong, he was always crazy about fitness. He never joked with his morning jogs and weekend workouts which he took Rissa along and she felt really lucky having such a strong dad, he would be there to protect her anytime but she had been wrong and life didn't work that way.
"Hi" He said turning to her. "Ready?" He kept a keen smile.
"Sure" She smiled back. "Bye mom" She kissed her cheek and walked out while Steve shut the door behind them.
Rose felt really pleased with this new development and according to Rissa, it was all Luke's doing. She owed it all to him.
They had arrived at the park and only few people were out probably because the weather wasn't warm which was understandable but the few people who was there seemed to be enjoying themselves.
"Let's go get some hot dogs first" He suggested.
"Sure" They walked over to the hot dog stand and got one each and a can of soda each to go with the snack.
They found an empty bench just right close to the little lake where the swans were feeding on the treats the children were offering to them.
"Been a while here" She let the breeze sweep beneath her nose and around the park, Rissa put on her coat noticing how everyone seemed to be well covered because of the chills. "I never came here alone" She said again.
"Yeah" He nodded looking at her, he was really happy right now. "I stopped coming here for so long" He added taking a bite of the hot dog.
She smiled and also bit into her hot dog then popped the can and drank the sizzling can of Pepsi. "We always came here, just the both of us because mom wasn't a park person"
"Who wasn't?" He laughed. "Everyone loves the park" He watched the swans flap together and the children giggled.
"Buh--why?" Her mood changed. "You both looked in love? Why did you get separated?" She asked because she had been meaning to get an answer from her dad.
He sighed sorely as he thought about it. "We only pretended that we were so in love whenever you were around but when you aren't, it's chaos --" He gulped in his soda. "We were basically always arguing".
"Why is that? What went wrong?" She didn't know they were pretending all this while whenever she was around.
"The attraction didn't take us longer than that anymore like we thought it would. I didn't marry Rose because I loved her.." He stated.
"Then why?" So why did they get married if they had not been in love.
"It was a match made marriage by our parents, Rose's father and mine were close friends, so somehow when I was still schooling in the UK, my father had arranged for Rose and I to meet and get to know eachother and to be candid. I felt attracted to her immediately, so did she, our parents made us get married after our schooling." He smiled, he didn't seem to regret it though. "It was an early marriage for both of us, I think I was only twenty-three and she was two years younger. Poor us, we didn't know much.." He had explained with a large bite and a mouthful of soda.
She knew her parents got kind of married early but she didn't know this was the reason for that. She felt bad for them and felt really ignorant. How did she not see all these??
"I'm sorry I made it difficult for you " She sounded really remorseful.
"Oh-no" He dropped the can of soda and held her hands. "You had every right to, it had to happen during the period you obviously needed me the most but I am really proud of you" He rubbed her hand gently. "I love you" He pecked her cheek like a child and it felt warm.
"I love you too" She was tearing up as she gathered her hands around his neck to hug him, it had been a while she had held her father or even hug him.
"Shh--" He smiled still hugging her. "Don't cry, people are watching" He teased as they broke free.
"Stop it, dad" She wiped the tears about to well up.
He laughed. "It's all thanks to that young lad, Luke" He reminisced their previous meeting
"Yeah" She nodded.
"What did he actually say to you?" He seemed curious.
Obviously, he had no idea about the recording that Luke had made and she was in no position to tell him that anyways.
"I'm not sure either " She only said.
"Oh-well" He gave up. "I'm just glad you love him" He said and took the final bite of the hot dog.
Rissa felt startled. "Love him? Did I ever say that?" She asked.
"Huhn?" He seemed taken aback. "Marissa? Don't tell me you don't love him?" His eyes were accusing rather than in doubt.
"I don't" She said immediately. "I'm sure that I like him but love, it's way deeper. When I love someone, I wanna spend the rest of my life with them" She explained.
"The way I had said his name here, you were smiling like a proud wife. It's so evident that you love him, stop lying to yourself" He didn't want to believe her because he knew what she was scared of.
"I'm not, dad" She crossed her legs smiling when her dad said she was smiling like a proud wife.
"Yeah-right" He smiled too. "What are you exactly scared of?" He asked.
"What if he breaks my heart? What if he doesn't love me and all this is just for fun? What if he's just having fun with me? What if he doesn't want to spend forever with me?" She threw the questions in the air, not exactly expecting an answer since they were all rhetorical. "Those are what I'm scared of" She stated.
"What Ifs" He smiled. "So being guarded is what you are settling for?" He asked again.
"Mmm" She nodded quickly.
"What if he loves you with all of him? What if he can't wait to spend forever with you? What if you are the one doing it for fun? What if you mean the world to him? What if he's not Ryan? Or your parent? " He countered back, he knew she still thought about what Ryan did to her considering the way she had genuinely loved him which broke her and her parent's separation. She hated separations!!
"I--uhm--its not for fun for me" She started, tackled by what he said back.
"Why don't you think of that version of What Ifs, Marissa? " He asked again. He took her face. "Let those guard down and find out the sort of What Ifs waiting for you" He said gently.
"What if I get hurt?" She asked gently too.
"What if you don't? " He asked back still holding her face.
Rissa didn't know what to think or say now, should she listen to her dad and let her guard down. Should she trust Luke with her heart and be more opened to him? It sent chills through her spine because it didn't sound like a good idea at all.
Luke had a hectic week coming along and two mails just came in, one was from brazel and the other was from Amazon, he had ordered an item from the website and it had been delivered.
The one from Brazel was his required documents and visa, yes, he was taking the offer. He had realized that he needed to work on himself first if he wanted to work on any other thing. He knew his decision was going to come with some consequences which he was ready and prepared to face wholeheartedly.
He didn't know how he was going to tell her about Brazel because if he told her and got her reaction, there was no way he would leave anymore. He had figured a way to tell her and probably make things less miserable because he knew how Rissa hated separation at least from someone she liked, he didn't want it to look like he was leaving her or something. It was just six months which wasn't long or maybe it was and he was trying to pat himself that six god-damned month without getting to see Rissa was fine.
"What is the occasion if I may ask?" Lola sounded excited for her friend as she adjusted on the couch.
Lola was always spending a night or two at Rissa's these days and she really appreciated it, at least no dreams and Rose loved her too but they had returned home after their morning shift and Rose made a fruit shake for them.
"I honestly have no idea" She admitted sipping her shake. "He said he just wants a proper dinner date since we have never really had that" She added.
"Oh" She smiled. "That's so sweet of him" She said back dropping the shake on the table. "Where's mom by the way? " She stirred her head around.
"Having her siesta" She replied.
"Okay" She took the remote to change the channel.
"Can you put Keeping Up With The Kardashian?" She requested. "Been missing it for a while" She insisted.
"Fine" She change it to it. "What do you like about the show since you started watching it or what have you liked so far?" She fixed her eyes on the big screen.
"First of all, I started following all of them on Instagram and I saw on the internet that people actually hate them, but how come they have so much followers, it's just crazy. I like the fact that they are strong and money-minded like I honestly don't mind being born into such family but the critics are crazy and depressing " She said and turned to the TV.
"I never really watch the show but I think no one could say they never at least mistakenly bumped into it, just like I am doing now and as for the critics. The Kardashians-Jenner clan are very controversial individuals, they practically show us their daily living and they make money off that so it's only normal people criticize, I'm sure they are fine" Lola smiled.
"Well-on a second thought if I am going to make money off criticism then let them talk" She smiled and made to focus more on her favorite show.
It was forty minutes past nine when Lola finally finished the make-up on Rissa.
"My God! You look gorgeous" She felt fulfilled as she stared at Rissa's face.
"The make-up or me?" She rolled her eyes teasingly at her.
"Both darling" She dropped the brush. Rissa looked at herself thoroughly at the mirror and she actually liked it, it wasn't heavy neither could you say it was nothing. It was just perfect on her.
"Why aren't you a make-up artist?" She got up still scanning herself.
"I know right" She stepped away, so Rissa could take her whole detail in, she was wearing a knee drop black silk gown, she loved wearing black for her dates, the dress was sleeveless and just beautiful. She had worn white heels to go with it and had made her hair packed in with gel and some baby hair styles just above her forehead and beneath her ears, she looked beautiful.
"I should leave now" She grabbed her black purse off the table.
"Final touch" Lola placed her white furry short jacket on her shoulder. "You look really classy and I'm sure he's going to trip hard" They both stared at themselves into the mirror.
"Thanks babe" She smiled and walked out the room while Lola followed behind like a bodyguard which was somewhat funny.
"Whao" Rose gasped as she saw Rissa walk down the stairs so elegantly. "Honey" She went over to her.
"How do I look?" She asked.
"Lola, you did the make-up?" She gave her a quick glance. "You did this?" She asked again.
"Yeah" She said excited. "It's good right?"
"Hundred percent" She smiled at her.
Rissa rolled her eyes at them. "You both gotta be kidding me" She went towards the door.
"You look magnificent!" Rose said aloud after her laughing and they all laughed .
"Thanks" She opened the door. "Bye" That said she shut the door behind her.
Luke had chosen a really fancy and expensive restaurant, tonight meant a lot to him and he could not wait to see his date, there was a bottle of whiskey on the table but it was in a wine bucket filled with ice.
"Hi handsome" He heard and looked up from his phone, the most beautiful woman on planet earth, okay, maybe except Beyonce was staring at him looking breath-taking, he practically froze on the chair since he didn't move and just looked at her beautiful face.
"Do I have to stand for so long?" She smiled brightly.
He got up immediately with smiles and went over to pull out her chair. "I'm sorry" He said as she sat down gently. "You just look really captivating" He went over to sit.
She couldn't help but feel really flattered and she definitely knew her face had to be red hot because she felt the surge of heat through her face.
"You look really handsome" He was actually looking great, he was wearing a plain designed white and black shirt with the buttons of his chest unbuttoned revealing his broad chest. He had worn a black custom made pants to go with it and he had also waxed his hair, he was looking like a charming prince and she couldn't get enough of him right now. "You are just fiercely goodlooking without even trying" She flirted with his eyes as it lazied around her.
"Thanks" He smiled. "You look out of this world" He said opening the whiskey.
"Lola might have influenced that " She said, she was going to give her best friend her flowers, she did a great job.
"What could we possibly do without Lola? " He smiled as he handed her a glass of the brown colored whiskey.
"Possibly nothing " She smiled back twirling her glass and watching the whiskey dance in the glass.
Just then their foods was brought in by a waiter, he had everything planned. He really out did himself and she felt really happy about it and special too.
The waiter placed the two large plates on the table before arranging their serving plates.
"This here is chicken piccata" The waiter pointed at the first plate. "While this here is Lobster Mac and Cheese" He held up a candid smile.
She was marvelled as she wandered her eyes around the meals, yes, Lawrence had did a great work with his but then Luke went really out of his way with the way the waiter had at least named the meal meant it was a classy restaurant.
"Thank you" They both said.
"I hope you enjoy it, they were all well cooked" He smiled and went away.
Rissa began serving it and she started with the Lobster Mac and Cheese which caught her sight the instant it was placed on the table.
She took a bite of it. "It's nice" She took another bite, she liked the fact that it was broiled well with probably garlic butter because she could taste it all in.
"I had to make sure the food was nice" He also took a bite and nodded in agreement. "I know how much food means to you, I couldn't fail in that part" He said again.
She laughed, what was a date without good cooked meals, she thought to herself.
He wasn't ready to say much, all he did was stare at her as they ate and she chuckled always. It was a lovely moment.
He suddenly bent below the table and took off something, he was holding a gift bag. Whao, he really went hard on this date and it took her unawares. "Here" He passed it to her.
"What's this, Luke?" She peered into the bag feeling enthusiastic.
"You can't open it now until after two days" He stated sounding serious.
"Oh-boy" She laughed placing the bag on the floor. "I can't assure you that because I am very inquisitive and why though?" She was smiling.
"I knew you would get somewhat inquisitive, so I made a custom made combination box to protect the gift" He winked, it had cost him a lot to get the combination box made and perfect for the gift.
"You did what?" She opened her mouth. "Luke!!" She grumbled.
"Sorry darling" He smiled and took her hands in his massaging her fingers. "Rissa?" He turned emotional.
"Yeah?" She dropped her spoon.
"Will you please be my girlfriend?" He peered into her bright blue eyes. "Please?" It came out more as a plea rather than a request.
"Uhmm--yes" She smiled. It was not like she was letting her guard down or something but it was about time that she did things right and so it doesn't look like she was the one playing because she wasn't.
"Really?" He seemed happy.
"Definitely" She nodded affirmation.
"Thank you" He kissed her fingers so softly and delicately.
She stretched over and pecked his lips, she didn't want to ruin her gorgeous make-up too quickly.
The rest of the night had gone smoothly and wonderful, they ate to their fill and had a large sponge cake with strawberry toppings which was so sweet. How did it feel to be called the girlfriend of a Pastor and a good-looking one at that, she wasn't sure how to feel but all she knew right now was that she felt good and she could not wait to begin this journey with him, wherever it took them.
What do you think about the Kardashian-Jennner clan in general?
What's your say on this chapter? What had taken you off guard?
Let's celebrate Rissa and Steve reunion 🥂
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