Searching for Love, Found Wealth

“Hey, Kiera. Do you need a ride home?”.

I assumed it was Charles cos of the manly voice but turning, I saw Reuben. Dressed in a deep neck suede shirt driving a red Mercedes.

Almost making my head spin like I was staring at a movie actor.

I put myself together and walked to him. I remembered that the owner of the supermarket could be his mom. It was J-twins’ aunt after all.

“You came to buy something?” he asked. I stared down at the trolley and made the “of course” face.

“Oh, then hop in, I’d give you a ride home”.

I was waiting for that but then I faked like I wasn’t stranded. Note that I was.

“I don’t want to bother you though” I said calmly.

“No, you aren’t. I actually came out to take my cousins to a party, their car broke down. But you don’t leave far, or do you?”.

I shook my head. If he wanted to drive me, I’d let him.

He didn’t mention his mum being the owner of the supermarket or not. Quite modest. I’d say.

The songs blaring from the radio was a hip hop music at first. He changed it to some endearing blues when I got in. Suspicious.

I tried to talk about anything but the songs but he still boiled down to them.

“You know, Lionel Richie is a national treasure. Especially his sing “Hello”. It’s my mom fave” he had said.

I was really a fan of Lionel Richie but never had been so less enthusiastic about talking about him.

“I’m more of a Kpop, Cpop and Jpop fan sometimes” I made an excuse. I was anyway.

“Oh, I heard one. It’s Kpop. “Got my number” by Monsta X. You’ve heard them?” he replied quickly.

I didn’t need a prophet to tell me that was another romantic inclined song. I gave a nod.

“What was the party about?” I blurted before he jumped to the significance of the songs.

“Wanna come? It was a girl’s birthday party. The Martinez. Creepy people so I can pass the party. Lol”.

I unconsciously glared at him. Was I being defensive cos it was my family? I’ve called them worse.

But for them to be known as creepy means they’ve done something deserving of such title.

Reuben and his cousin shouldn’t be coming to any party. The last thing I wanted was anyone pinpointing me as a relative to the Martinez.

But if Reuben and his cousins were invited, what if they’d be other people I know that could be invited as well?

I picked my phone and texted my mom that some of her colleagues might be at the party. All in a bid to make her call it off.

We took the last turn to my house. Reuben offered to drop me at the gates.

I was reluctant, he could help me but my mom shouldn’t see me stepping out of his car.

I don’t know but I don’t want her misunderstanding. And maybe telling Charles. She had this habit of telling him almost everything these days. And he was acting weird lately.

“I’d be okay. You don’t have to get to the gate” I got out of the car, two houses away from mine.

I dragged the trolley from his booth and dragged it with me to our apartment but mom zoomed out of the house and began waving at Reuben.

“Um.. Mom, what’s wrong?” I pulled her hand down.

“Is he a taxi, dear? Our car broke down, we can’t leave” she seemed disheartened. I wanted to dance for joy but I stopped myself to handle her. Reuben was looking at her, confused.

“A Mercedes being a taxi, mom? He’s Reuben, a classmate that helped drop me here” I introduced.

Reuben could already decipher that it was my mom so I didn’t bother. He came down from his car and introduced himself as one of my close friends that wanted to know where I lived.

Now our introductions were different and mom gave me an eye.

“Well, would your close friend be so kind as to give us a lift?” she was buying his introduction. And a lift to where? To the party?

Didn’t the universe just give us a sign not to attend the party by breaking down our car?

“Mom, no. He’d know we are related to them” I whispered discreetly to her.

“I’d bring my bags and the kids” she said to Reuben and went inside. So she just ignored me? I face palmed.

“What, you don’t want your mom to get to know me?” Reuben wasn’t helping. I glared at him and dragged my eyes away.

Was there something else to this party that I wasn’t aware of that made my mom so enthusiastic about it?

“Where are you guys going to then?”

“None of your business. Just take us there” I wanted to say.

“The Martinez party for their grandchild” I said instead. His eyes widened.

I nodded, “You might as well attend”.

“Cara will be there. She’s friends with Isabella” Reuben announced.

I bet Isabella was the celebrant’s name. Even sounded like one a Barbie royal would be named. And she being Cara’s friend, she’d sure be nasty.Nôvel(D)ra/ma.Org exclusive © material.

I was not gonna have another bully in my family home. More reasons not to get acquainted with them.

“Why are you sounding worried about me? Will Cara and her friend eat me?” I couldn’t help but hear the worry in his voice.

“Well, she embarrasses people who come to her birthday unannounced to seek favor from her father, the current head of Martinez” Reuben explained.

Then why were we invited? I knew this was a trap.

“Since you’re invited, move with your invitation card to shield your self from embarrassment. What are you going to do there though?” Reuben asked the one question I dreaded.

Gladys came out of the house with her baby brother. She seemed excited as she thought it was Charles, she frowned when she realized it wasn’t.

“Why, at one glance you don’t like me?” Reuben frowned. I laughed while helping baby Paul to his new trolley.

“No, I thought you were Charles. I like Charles” she giggled. I rolled my eyes. Just cause he wore a barney to surprise her doesn’t make Charles all that cool.

“Let’s go” mom came out from the house and ushered us into the car.

I stayed out for a bit trying to show her my acute unwillingness to make this journey. But she was adamant so we all left.