C-AUght
DABBY:
The new good relationship between me and Damien had been making me so happy, and it felt like we have been friends all this while. Chatting all night was so good that I didn’t feel sleepy at all, and even the next morning was so great to wake up without feeling tired.
The playful talks we had in the kitchen made cooking even more fun, and It felt like Damien was the only reason why I now found the Anderson’s home nice.
Going to school was even nicer because I got to scream all I like while singing, while Damien just vibed to the song and laughed incessantly. It was so crazy to know that we could ever get that close, and be in the same space fighting or hating one another.
I hung out with Mason throughout school while talking and laughing like before, but it wasn’t the same way that I went along with it without thinking about another thing. While we ate lunch together, I couldn’t focus on everything because Damien was in my head.
When he texted to meet up after school, I was training together with Mason at the school pool. I told Mason that I had to do something at home, and rushed to take a cab home faster than I ever thought that I could.
We ate lunch together, talked about so many things we didn’t know we could talk about, laughed about random things, and played video games after making a bet that the loser would do whatever the winner wanted.
I already knew what I would ask Damien if I won, because we already talked about it and he said he wasn’t pushing forward. And when I got my chance to persuade him, he looked fed up and tired of it already.
“You are not a failure, Damien. And your dropping from the games does not define you. You can do better,” I continued to pressure him, while he just remained mute. I was expecting him to get angry with me, but he was trying hard to remain organized without flaring up.
“The thought of starting another game and getting it wrong scares me, okay? I don’t want to make something I feel is perfect, that someone would call bullshit,” Damien finally opened up his mind and shared his fears instead of getting angry the normal way he would have done.
“You know pizza right? Not everyone likes it and it is still a food or snack eaten by a wide range of people. There are people that would still curse at Mcdonald’s and drop bad reviews even if they are serving millions of people food every day. Same with Microsoft and the rest. You are going to do well, Damien. I have fate in you,” I went on and on talking about instances that I could use to convince him, because I didn’t want him to give up.
“I mean, a game that can get to the stage of semi-finals is not a joke, Damien. You are a high school student, and are doing great already. Just imagine how big you’ll be if you put in a little effort,” I said again while sitting on his lap, so that he wouldn’t be able to pretend that he was listening and hear me out for real.
“I love gaming. I love making games, Dabby. Even quitting scares the shit out of me. It is something like I am nothing without gaming,” he continued honestly, and I snickered a bit to lighten up the intense mood.
“You are still you without gaming, Damien. It doesn’t matter what you do or don’t do, you are still going to be the great you even if you don’t play games. You are much better than you know, Damien.”
“Coming from someone who always hides herself every time. How did you change so suddenly to this, Dabby? It is almost like I didn’t know you before now,” Damien stated his surprise as he narrowed his eyes with a look that indicated suspicion.
“No. No,” I laughed, “Trust me. It was hard. Building confidence wasn’t something I had to do in a day or weeks. But I am a better version of myself now,” I smiled brightly with a prideful look, and it made Damien chuckle as he kissed my cheek so endearingly.
.
“So teacher. What do you think we are getting done first? Or would you like to join my company, and be a doctor to sick games with bugs?” Damien asked in a funny voice, and I tittered.
“Damn! You can even joke too? There are so many sides to know about you Mr. Anderson,” I chuckled and stood up from Damien’s lap to go and get water from the kitchen, but Damien picked me up weightlessly over his shoulders before I could even do anything. I laughed so loudly as he turned me upside down, like he wasn’t even carrying anything.
We worked together and talked till evening, and Damien drove me to the cafe for work. He was going to see his Aunt and discuss with her, while I was going to announce my resignation. I felt bad that I was going to leave at such a time, but I had no choice because exams were starting soon.
The week went well and things were good between me and Damien, while Mum and Mr. Anderson were more distant than ever. They came home very late at different hours, probably when me and Damien were still working on his games till midnight.
We were also strictly on the rule; Less romance, more work by me and it was frustrating for both of us. So it made everything we were working on faster.
It was a different weekend because it was only me and Damien that were home alone except when the housekeepers came by, which made everything fun. After all, we were by ourselves.
I was still so bothered about what was going on between the couples at loggerheads, and I have been wading off whenever Damien wanted to talk about them like I wasn’t noticing too.
I also wanted to talk to him about their heated conversation that I had eavesdropped on, but it felt harder to do whenever I reminded myself that Damien hated his father already. I didn’t want to make things between them any longer.
We had more hours to work on Damien’s new game, and I took a break to read in the afternoon while Damien continued what he was doing. He ordered a variety of food for us to eat later which was so satisfying, and we finally took a check in the night for our personal time.
We were in the living room watching a series that I thought would match Damien’s preference, with a big bowl of popcorn, ice creams, and cookies to eat while we watched together. Damien was lying comfortably with his back on the huge couch, while I was spooned in between him and did most of the eating too.
He kissed my face and eyes while I watched the movie to stop me from concentrating, which made me jump on him and bite his ear playfully when he wasn’t going to stop. He faked a yelp and whimpers, while I acted like I didn’t even hear him doing that.
He put his biceps around my throat like he was going to choke me when I didn’t answer him, and I tapped his arms several times that I gave up already, when I knew he wasn’t going to let me be so easily. I scooped strawberry ice cream into my mouth instead, and turned to kiss Damien as we shared the ice cream in our mouths.
We became calm after a few minutes and continued to watch the movie, when the main door to the house suddenly swung open. I jumped and separated from Damien immediately, while he remained so unperturbed like we were not about to get caught.
It was Mum that walked into the house with her heels clanking loudly against the marble floor, as she put on the lights which flashed before my eyes in an instant. The black dress she was putting on accentuated her curves, and she looked like she was coming from a club party.
“Dabby,” she called sharply like someone that was hypnotized already, “To your room. Right, now!” She commanded, and my eyes widened because the order seemed a bit intense.
‘Did we get caught already?’ I wondered.Exclusive content © by Nô(v)el/Dr/ama.Org.
“Mum. What is wrong? Where are you coming from?” I tried to engage her with another talk to be sure that she wasn’t just saying incoherent words.
“To your room now, Dabby. I’ll see you in a minute,” her eyes hardened this time, and I knew that she meant her words.
‘Shit. She probably knew already.’