Damon

"So aside from visiting during untimely hours,what else do you do?"
The sound of the knife's blade hitting the cutting board echoed as I made eye contact with the man sitting on the opposite side of the counter.

"Well," he cleared his throat as I started peeling half of the apple I got out of the fridge. "I own a couple of buildings just like this one."

I looked up and pointed at him with the knife,half of the apple still stuck to it. "How's that going?" I took out a smaller plate,placing it at the center of the counter and started slicing the fruit into cubes.

"It's doing fine. Great even. Everybody wants to move in the city while everybody else wants to get out." He fixed his tie before looking at the door.

Hey,don't blame me for making this uncomfortable. The guy had a cocky grin plastered on his face when I opened the door. It was almost eight when his suited ass got here with a bouquet of flowers in one hand.

'Course that smile didn't stay for too long when he was greeted by me eating spicy chicken wings instead of a woman in glasses and the nicest legs...

"So...what do you do?"

I squinted my eyes and stared at the clean shirt under his black jacket. "I fix cars. Customize for chosen clients."

His eyebrows shot up when he heard this.

Just because I'm wearing flip flops doesn't necessarily mean I'm a couch potato. This Robert guy looks like he woke up wearing a suit and never really took it off. I own a couple of suits myself but those are reserved for special meetings or formal gatherings that I was forced to attend like,as Benjie once put it,just how decent young businessmen do it.

What the hell does he take me for? A student on princess academy?

"Chosen clients? You don't take other clients when they want their cars customized?" his face was telling me that I just made myself look like some hotshot. Technically I am. I probably have more money then Robert here. The only difference is he's showing it.

I nodded and unconciously rubbed the stubble on my my chin. "It's not that we don't want to take in other orders. We have our hands full with just repairing cars and the boys work almost twenty four hours a day."

And we take in souls and nasties so car painting would be a problem with the nasties screaming in your head from the other room.

"Well I got myself a new Porsche Cayman outside. How can I be an important client?" He chuckled.

You have got to give the man credit for trying to lighten things up.

"You have to be at least fifty years old and experiencing some kind of midlife crisis."

He stopped laughing and waited for some confirmation that I was just kidding.

Of course I was. But the thought of this guy coming in the Garage annoyed the hell out of me. If he would've visited at a more decent day or hour,I would have reconsidered.

I've been coming home later than usual. Nasties kept appearing whenever I could even think of going home.

Catherine must have eaten a lot of deep fried stuff. Or maybe using the microwave more than usual.

She would come home with this content expression on her face. I asked her on how he's finding Robin and she'll tell me how Robin was into all the books she's into. And how they both support the same cause. Whatever that cause was.

Last week, she was gone for a whole day on a Sunday just to attend something with him.

You don't understand. She rarely goes out on a Sunday.

It was supposed to be laundry day.

We barely talk now. Mainly because when she's at home, I'm out,and vice versa. And it just so happens that this guy's with her when I'm not.

"Tell me Robin," I flicked the invisible dust from the counter. "do you believe in fate?" If he's who I think he is, he better answer me right.

His eyes widened a fraction. "Yes. If it's meant to happen,it will happen."

Okay. So the guy believes in fate. Then there wouldn't be any problem.

"But what if the woman you're fated to be with,isn't meant for you?"

He looked confused for a moment and thought of the question I just threw his way. The kitchen was strangely quiet as I waited.

"Then I move on and let her be with someone who's meant for her." He said this like I just asked him the simplest of questions.

And that annoyed me.

"What if you really like her? What if she's the most amazing woman you've ever met. And she's meant for somebody else?" I don't know why I keep asking these questions. But it's been bugging me for quiet some time now that I just need to hear answers.

He chuckled,his eyes clearly amused on how the conversation took an unexpected turn. "You just rephrased. As I said,you move on and let her be with someone meant for her. It's unfair for her and it would be selfish of you to deny her happiness."

I laughed a little,shaking my head as I rapped on the wood and made eye contact. "I think you're wrong."

Robert frowned and waited.

"I think," the image of Catherine smiling came to mind and I smiled. "that if you really like someone,you fight for it. Circumstances be damned."

Whoaw there.You sound like fcking Romeo.

"Then that guy's being selfish. You kept mentioning that he likes her. What about her? What's her say in all that?"

I opened my mouth. Closed it.

Of course it would be unfair for her.

If I-uh the guy's intentionally taking her away from someone who she's supposed to be with,then that would make him the villain.

Unless that guy's crazy enough to risk it and make her like him too... then that would be an entirely different story.

I took a look at him and thought of how girls liked him.

On a completely professional view on how-to-get-the-girl, the face was a huge factor. I can tell that he goes to the gym every two days, four tops. His hair,not a strand out of place. Clean cut. No stubble in sight.

And what is it with some women and suits?

I've overheard women talking about how attractive men in suits were. Not sure how. Or why. But maybe because it makes a man look confident. And it gives off the impression that he knows what he's doing.

Let's face it. No guy actually knows what he's doing.

"Bet you get a lot of girls. Must be great."

I need to find at least one flaw. I just had to. I got myself a glass of water and turned to him.

He smirked and shook his head. "Those days are over. I'm thinking about settling down once I meet the one. As crazy as that may sound."

I almost chocked on my water. Wiping my mouth,I gave out a nervous laugh.

"Wouldn't that be a little too hasty. You're what-on your late 20s? Most men marry at sixty. By all means,take your time."

He squinted his eyes. "No. My clock's a-tickin. My mother wants grandchildren just as much as I want a wife. It just feels right this time. I can feel-" his speech was interrupted when his phone vibrated on his pocket. He excused himself and walked out to answer his call.

Sighing,I held my head with both hands and just sat there.

I need a game plan.

He's going to turn Catherine into a baby factory.

I mean I guess that will happen eventually, but just imagining little Roberts running around and knowing how they did it was making me feel woozy.

And that nice black lingerie...

I raised my head just as he was re-entering the kitchen with a look of what I can only assume as relief. "Emergency. I have to go." He picked the flowers from the counter and gave them to me.

"You're a great man but I'm not ready for this kind of relationship." I still took the flowers from him though. Daisies. Not bad. But she likes red tulips.

I gave her one once. She had an author published and we decided to celebrate. They ran out of roses so I asked the florist to get me something else.

It was a little uncomfortable when I tried explaining on who it was for. I ended up telling the florist that it was for a special friend. She smiled at me and made me wait while the other ladies inside the shop whispered to themselves. I just wanted to get out. I almost jumped with joy when she reappeared from the backroom and handed me an tulip,saying "For your special friend."while the women aaw'ed.

And yeah,Catherine liked it. She kept asking me on what it meant though. I didn't even know that flowers had meanings and I was too embarrassed to ask anyone. We weren't silly young kids who googled this kind of stuff. Now here's this guy giving her Daisies.

"They're for Catherine. Can you tell her I'm sorry? And tell her I'll be meeting her on Friday." He held out a hand. "Pleasure meeting you,Damon." I ended up looking like a beauty queen with the way I held the bouquet.

"Pleasure's all mine,Robin." I shook his hand and maybe it's just how men are, we both applied a little too much pressure on that handshake.

"Robert. My name's Robert." He smiled a little before fixing his tie and showing his way out.

When I heard the door close,I looked down at the daisies. "Robert.My name's Robert." I walked towards the living room and placed them on the coffee table.

I get one day off and she's on overtime while another guy comes to visit her. Un-believable.

I turned towards the door and sighed. She's messing with my head.

She should've stuck with wearing her old university shirts and her too bright dresses.

If only she'd stuck with having that frown on her face like everything I did was wrong.

If only she'd stop smiling at me the way she does.

If only she stopped laughing at my jokes,and I stopped laughing at hers.

If only she stopped looking at me like she knew me. All of me. And realised that she was willing to deal with it.

Groaning,I looked up at the ceiling.

"Why didn't you send her a woman instead? Like some bff or something. That would have been easier,don't you think? This is about me breaking the rules,isn't it?"

But there was no answer. No thunder. Or ray of light. Or a pigeon. No nothing.

"Thanks. Huge help." Well since the Big Guy's too busy answering actual prayers, I have to turn to the next best(or possibly worst) person to ask advice from. I highly doubt they have payphones,much more cellphones on where Benjie is now,so I have no choice but to ask Mitchelle.

Hearing the sound of keys and the door turning,I quickly grabbed the remote control and opened the television,frowning as I attempted to look like I was really into what I was watching.

From the corner of my eye,I saw her taking off her shoes. I can telll that she was surprised to see me. She already told me she was having dinner with her sister. I'm guessing she didn't tell Robert that.

"I just saw a nice car drive off from our street,was it the Mason's son? Oh and who are these from?" She sat down beside me and took the daisies from the table.

"Robin." I turned to her direction just in time to see her expression change. Like she was expecting a different answer.

I've only been gone for a couple of days and she's already being flocked by suitors?

I watched her silently as she took a sniff of the flowers. I cleared my throat before asking her in a bored voice. "Where are you going this friday?"

She looked lost at first,but smiled as she looked down at the daisies. "Out." She raised her head to meet my gaze. "I'm going out. Just like you said I should do. And I'm doing something else than just looking for prince charming now."

Frowning,it took me a while to let her words sink in.

She's going out with him. And she's not looking for prince charming anymore.

This is one of the many times I wish I never talked to my father. I didn't need his help before.

And I certainly didn't need his so-called help now.

Especially now.

"That's-That's great." I swallowed the non-exisent lump on my throat.

She nodded and got up. Glancing at the television,she laughed a little.

"Nice to know you're interested on how baby cows are delivered." she waved her hand that held the flowers and walked towards her room.

I finally took notice on what channel I was so focused on. I grabbed the remote and turned the TV off. The real things was unpleasant enough.

The next day,I woke up real' early,or I got up early since I barely slept. I was about to go when I noticed the empty container of coffee on the sink. Shaking my head,I made her a quick but decent breakfast before heading off.

Mitchelle was already under a car when I got to the Garage. Making sure,nobody else was near enough to hear me,I crouched down.

"I'm thinking of getting a new car."

That made him roll his way out. He wiped his brow before scoffing. "You said it would be a waste of money. What made you want a new one?"

I looked around but didn't get to answer when he grinned. "You tryna impress someone,aren't ya?"

"What?" faking a laugh,I got up. "No."

"Yyup. He's going to impress a lady."

Kicking the rolling board he was on,I heard him groan.

"Shut up Mitch."

He laughed and told me on how he can't wait to tell the others that I was finally trying to woo a woman.

I knew I should've kept my mouth closed.