'Games and Threats'

"Maya?" I clutched my chest and heaved a sigh of relief.

"You scared me."

"That's exactly what I intended."

OK, now that's weird.

"What do you want?"

"Nothing else but you leaving Philip alone."

I shook my head in disbelief.

"Is this the reason why you came all the way from Hawaii?"

"I'll watch my back if I were you, stay away from my man."

"Now, this is really funny, coming from the girl that cheated on him with his brother, don't you think so?"

Her eyes widened and she took three steps away from me.

"How do you know?"

"A bad deed is never hidden babe."

Before she could make another word, I heard the door behind me open.

Tamara regarded Maya for a few seconds. "Hello." She smiled at her but I knew she wouldn't if if she was aware of who was standing before her.

"Tamara, meet Maya..."

Tamara frowned. "The one who your ex-boyfriend cheated with? Oh babe... you don't know how badly I've wanted this day to come." My sister planted herself between us.

Maya flipped her hair back in arrogance. "Keep out of this conversation and I assure you of your safety."

"Keep standing here and I assure you, you'll have no legs to stand with."

Nice one Tam.

Maya gave one last look at me before she brought out her ringing phone from her bag.

"Hello Pete."

Tamara and I exchanged confused looks.

"I'll be on my way." Maya hung up and returned her gaze to Tamara.

"Warn your sister to stay away from my man."

Tamara snickered. "Do you know how lame that sounds? Your man? I don't think so, now get out of here."

Strangely, Maya turned to leave. As we watched her walk away, she turned to us.

"Watch out girls, you don't know what's coming for you."

She walked up to a car that I didn't realize had stopped at the sidewalk. Maya shot us a smile and entered the car which drove off.

What was she up to? Coming here to threaten me and my sister.

"Don't think about it too much." My sister laid her fingers on my shoulder.

"I can't help but be apprehensive. I can't take threats too well after-"

She caught on what I meant and nodded in reply.

She helped me carry the bags into the main house as we talked about the plans for her wedding.

Mom was out on a date with Mr. Adam so an empty house greeted me.

After I had stashed away the items in my sister's walk in closet, I sat on her bed waiting for her to come out of the bathroom where she went to take a shower.

Shortly, she emerged in just her towel and another one wrapped on her hair.

"How many times have I warned you against wrapping a towel around your hair, it makes it frizzy." I scolded, picking up the hair brush she purchased today.

"I'm sorry mom." She said in pure sarcasm and sat in front of her vanity mirror.

"You just too stubborn."

I walked up to her and unwrapped the towel from around her hair which was still wet.

I handed the hair brush to her while untangling her hair which was in a terrible knot.

"This is one of the reasons." I mumbled, struggling with a stubborn knot. My sister just sat there grinning into the mirror trying hard to anger me.

"I never knew that drama queen had it in her to confront you. Who does she think she is?"

"A princess." I replied with sarcasm, pulling the hair brush from Tamara's fingers.

"I doubt that." She replied with a scowl.

"Can we talk about less depressing matters?" I demand not wanting to make Maya the center of our discussion.

"Like when you and Philip are getting married?" She winced as I pulled on her hair. "Easy with the brush!" She cried out.

"Oops, sorry." I apologized and placed the brush on the vanity.

"You did that on purpose."

"Did not."

"Did too."

"Did not."

"Did too."

"And mom comes in...cut it out girls, you're making my head ache." I placed my fingers on either side of my head in a poor imitation of mom's hand movements whenever Tamara and I argue.

For a few seconds, Tamara glanced at me like I was insane, then she suddenly went into laughter.

"You're hilarious do you know that?" She picked the brush and headed to her closet.

I walked to the main door and held the handle. "I'm off to my room, sleep well, dear sister."

"Could you please wake me up at five in the morning?" My sister requested, reappearing in her silk, white night gown.

"That's what an alarm clock's for."

She grinned and started coming towards me. "I need you to be my personal alarm clock."

"Yeah yeah, whatever." I walked out through the door and entered my room.

Sighing softly, I changed into my nightwear and walked to my bookcase where I pulled out a book with a blue cover. I dumped the book on my bed and pulled open the curtains. Since I slept opposite the windows, I liked them open to get a proper view of either the moon at night or the sun at dawn.

Satisfied with the pale-white image of the moon, I dived into my bed and wrapped myself with my blanket and flipped open the book which was entitled 'The Importance of Being Ernest' by Oscar Wilde. I purchased it few days back from a bookstore situated a few streets away; the store keeper had coerced me to give it a try. With the massive events in my life, I couldn't make out any time to read the book, but tonight, I resolved to go halfway through it.

After starting out page two, I heard a soft clink coming from outside my window. I tucked the book away and listened. Another clink.

My phone buzzed but I paid no attention to it as I snuck up to the window. Looking down, I could only see the silhouette of a man.

He looked up when he noticed my presence.

"Good evening Jewel."

"What are you doing here?"

Philip let out a nervous laugh. "I...I wanted to see you." I raised my brow. Why was he nervous?

"Coming out here this late isn't safe."

He moved away from the building. "I'm willing to risk anything for you, Florence."

His words warmed my heart and for a brief while I felt my heart flying in my chest.

"Let's go somewhere." He spoke up.

I prayed silently that Tamara was completely asleep so that I wouldn't have to face another of her intense interrogation sessions.

"Where are we going?" I asked even though I knew Philip would not tell me. He liked surprises.

"You'll see."

I processed the risks associated with giving in to his plea. So far, there's none besides the one already stated, that's if Tamara hadn't gone to sleep.

"I'll be back." I smiled even though I was certain he couldn't see me quite well."

I stumbled to my wardrobe and collected a pair of jeans trousers and slipped my legs in it. After wearing a flannel shirt, I wore a pair of boots over my feet and retrieved my phone from my bed.

I tip-toed out of the house to meet Philip waiting on the porch for me. He had a sweater perched over his jeans trouser. I could see the collar of his shirt peeking out from the sweater. He had a pair of boots over his feet which were similar to mine, but larger.

"Hey." I whispered, reluctant to step away from my present position.

Philip came closer and wrapped his arms around my back. As he pressed a kiss on my forehead, I closed my eyes and inhaled deeply.

"I missed you." He spoke and buried his face in my hair.

"I missed you too."

💭💭💭

I dragged Philip to a halt."Why are we at a Gaming Centre?" I asked, not comprehending why he brought me to a building which would undoubtedly be filled with teenagers.

"I used to come here when I was a teenager." He stared at the building which had the words 'Game' at the top in neon lights.

"You miss coming here?"

He nodded. "I just want to relive some memories with you by my side."

My eyes darted away from the people walking into the building and stayed on Philip.

I understood his need to bring back some memories. It was just like when I visited the children at the orphanage. It reawoke certain things which I thought had died.

I was really happy that Philip wanted to do this with me. Gradually, he's opening up to me so I guess that's a good start in our relationship as just friends.

"What are you waiting for then? Let's go reawaken some memories!" I pulled Philip into the building, ignoring the bewildered look on his face.

Ah! Another update just for you, my dear readers...

What do you think about Maya's visit?

Do you see more trouble ahead?

I'm apologizing in advance for what would happen in the next chapter.

It's time to turn up the heat!