Tolerating The Player

I watched how she spent almost two hours trying to fix herself up after spending thirty minutes in the bathroom. I noticed she had changed after we started to date, she suddenly loved to dress up and look good. I’m sure she was doing that for me or probably got out of depression and needed to look good but I loved it.

“We’re leaving this room in a week’s time aren’t we?” I teased and she looked at me from the mirror with a smile on her face.

“Take a chill pill bro, I’m just being a woman here” she responded and I couldn’t hide the small chuckle that left my mouth.

After some while of waiting, she was finally ready to go out with me. I had no idea where to take her to but I guess I would treat us a nice meal before showing her around. She should love it.

We entered my car as I drove through the streets of Brazil. My mind wasn’t at rest as I kept on looking at the mirror hoping no car was following mine.

She noticed I was stressed and a look of worry flashes on her face for some minutes before she brushes them off. I really appreciated that she cared for me but I hope she isn’t in danger according to the threats I’ve received.

I pulled over by the restaurant and came down first to open the door for her, she had a smug smile on.

“Couldn’t you just pretend to be romantic for once” I rolled my eyes as she raised her hands in defence. It wasn’t really the fanciest restaurant but I loved the food being sold here. It reminds me of my mother’s cooking.

We both sat down on a table for two as the waiter came for our orders, after we both had our orders he left to bring what we ordered for.

I balanced on the chair when our orders arrived and she looked surprised to see me happy over the food. I dug into the plate of food and she stared at me with amusement, she wasn’t eating her portion yet.

“What?” I asked with a mouth full of black bean and pork stew.

Her smiles became broader but she still didn’t say a word, “I’ve never seen you so excited over a food” she placed her spoon on the table and folded her arms to watch me.

“Go on” she motioned at me to continue and I did until I realized she still wasn’t eating but her eyes were fixed on me.

“Creep, your food will get cold” I scolded and she chuckled, it was all a fun moment until I spotted a man in all black sitting alone at the table behind ours. He was putting on shades but I could tell he was staring at us and his eyes were never leaving ours. I was getting uncomfortable and thoughts of the threat earlier today came to my head.

“We have to go!” I said immediately and stood up with my hands dragging Bella’s. She was shocked and surprised at my sudden change of mood.

“Hey what’s wrong, I haven’t even tasted the food yet” she complained but it was for her best. I could order us a lot of these later on but we had to leave here first.Nôvel(D)ra/ma.Org exclusive © material.

“I’ll explain later, I promise” I begged before we finally left the restaurant.

“Okay I’m listening” she pouted in the car. I knew I had said I would explain later but I couldn’t bring myself to explain to her. She would want to know everything and I’m not ready to let her know about my deep past. What if she doesn’t look at me the same way again.

“Uhm, I was going to take you to the movies and the film will be on in ten minutes, I didn’t want you to miss it” I lied.

“What the hell! Seriously? I could have at least tasted the food before you rushed me out of the restaurant.” She yelled.

“You would have gotten the chance to eat it if you weren’t staring at me all through ” I grinned and she smacked my arm really hard. I don’t know how long I could keep doing this especially when they are after Bella.

We arrived at the movies and I bought a ticket. Luckily the tickets weren’t sold out. We entered the room and only a few people were seated. The movie had not started yet.

“Well, goodbye to the beautiful food I saw earlier today” she sighed before sitting at a corner of the room.

The movie started sooner and I brought my hands to hers, giving it a gentle squeeze. She seemed to still be upset about the food issue so I placed a soft kiss on her lips. Her face softened a little but I could still tell she was sad.

We were half way through the movie when two strange men in black entered the movie hall, they weren’t on black shades this time and their eyes were sinking into ours. Isabella didn’t seem to notice them as her eyes were glued to the movie with a smile on her face; she seemed to be enjoying it already.

“Isabella we have to go” I whispered into her ear but her eyes immediately showed anger as she removed her hands from mine.

“Nope, I’m not leaving here again. Not just when I’m starting to enjoy the movie!” She snapped and folded her hands under her breast.

“Isabella we need to!” I whispered trying to bring my voice down in order to not disturb everyone’s moment in the movies. I tilted my head to see the men still staring at me and it was fucking obvious.

“I don’t need to!” She instantly replied. She was being stubborn but I totally got her point, at this time I had no other option but to drag her out of the room. She tried to resist but I was stronger, I hated the fact that I could be hurting her with the tightness of my grip on her.

After dragging her out of the room, I let her release herself and she was staring at me with flames in her eyes. I have no excuse to give her this time but I hope she understands.

“Why the fuck did you do that?” She yelled as I buried my head in my hands and ran my hands through my hair.

“I’m sorry Bella ” I sincerely apologize since I was short of words and excuses.

“Let’s go back home” she put stress on the word “home”, it was clear she wasn’t accepting any apologies but at least we’d be safer at home. Perhaps meeting with them earlier today would have been the right choice rather than making Bella mad at me.

We got into my car but she didn’t say any word to me despite the amount of times I tried to talk to her or cheer her up. Her face was as cold as stone and there were obviously dark clouds of sadness hovering around her face. I turned on the music and played her favourite musician’s song but she didn’t even sing along with it, I tried to sing along to it even though I got the lyrics all wrong. Perhaps it would make her happier but still no sign of happiness on her face; I eventually gave up.

I parked by my apartment, she came down from the car the second I parked and made way for the building. I ran my hands through my hair in frustration as I watched the angry goddess walking into the building. I spotted a black car that was unusual but I guessed someone in the building must have bought the car since we were so much in the six floored building.

I reached to enter the building in order not to keep her waiting in the elevator but as I was about to enter, the door of the car opened and the same man from the restaurant was there. With fear all over my body I ran into the building but was almost late as the elevator was closing.

I yelled her name out loud telling her to stop the elevator, fortunately she listened and I entered the elevator almost out of breath. Hugging her tightly she seemed surprised but immediately pulled away.

“Hello” A man’s voice rang in the elevator and I realized I hadn’t been paying attention to the other passenger in the elevator. He was also on a black suit just like the rest of the men. Being protective, I held Bella tight to shield her from the man.

“What the fucking hell do you want?” I snapped at him but he didn’t say a word.

“Answer me!” I yelled at the top of my lungs in frustration as I held his collars tightly.

“Zach can you just stop this behavior of yours!” Isabella pulled me away from him but immediately visited my face with a hot slap.

“You’re going crazy!” She cried.

Her eyes were burning into my soul but at this point I was dumb struck.

“I’m so sorry Bruce” she apologized to the man who was adjusting his glasses and I was dumbfounded. The elevator tinged and the doors opened. She rushed out of the elevator while I was still in it in shock.

The man had a grin on his face that I wished I could smack off but I let him go and ran after Bella who was at my door trying to open it.

“Bella!” I held her hands but she flinched and removed them from my grip.

“Don’t you dare touch me!” She warned and entered the house.

I followed her in but she wouldn’t even look at me ,”Isabella can you just wait!” I yelled as I held her waist really tight and brought her close to me.

“Why should I wait when all you ever did today was to act strange and not tell me a shit about what was going on. I thought it was just the restaurant but the movie too and you almost assaulted a friend of mine?!” She yelled.

“A friend of yours, where the hell do you even know him from and you trust him more than me?” I yelled. I knew I was being paranoid and perhaps going crazy about everything but at the same time I felt jealous because she called him a friend.

“Can you just shut it Zach, I thought coming here would be a happy thing to do and the right decision, I thought I would feel alive once again but then you’ve been acting strange and I’m wondering if I have made the wrong decision by coming here”

“Then leave” my response came out flat. I knew I was trying to protect her by leaving but it came out all wrong.

“What did you just say?” She asked with tears dropping down her eyes already. I hate to see her cry but I hated myself the most for being the one inflicting the pain on her.

“You heard me right Isabella!”