Will she be able to use her hand? I wonder how painful it's become. I should say something. No, I won't. "Why don't you eat first? Please, eat. You can't come to our house and leave like that. I won't be happy-it's an African tradition, right?"
She turned to me, but I ignored her.
"Wish I could, but you won't like to see me eat with my left hand. I can't use my right hand, and eating with my left hand feels like imbecile feeding. It's a disgusting sight."
It's all my fault she's going through that. I should say something. No, I won't. I side-eyed them and pretended not to be listening.
"Aww, I'm so sorry you have to go through that each time you eat. Don't you have siblings to feed you or even parents?" Zoey asked. I was curious too, so I paid attention and stared at Valerie.
She smiled and shook her head.
"Aww, so sorry. Prince, can you believe it?" She lied to me in the hospital; she said she was going to meet her family, that her mother would take care of her.
"She's not the only orphan in this world," I replied to Zoey.
"Prince, are you kidding me!" Zoey snapped, walking up to me to hit me out of anger.
VALERIE'S POV
The question Zoey asked brought tears to my eyes. If my parents were alive, life wouldn't be this hard. I killed them. I wish I could go back and lock them in so they wouldn't board the plane and die.
"Well, Prince here will feed you," I heard Zoey say. The words shocked me. Boss, feed me? I stole a glance at him, folding my arms and frowning. Zoey is really tormenting her brother.
"Danielle, please arrange the dining!" she shouted out to whoever owned that name.
"Zoey, can we talk? Right now!"
Boss told her, but she played deaf.
"Come on to the dinner, dearest sweet Valerie."
Zoey is a kid who knows how to win a person's heart. She's got a sweet mouth, no joke. I had to give in.
"Prince, won't you help our poor Valerie with feeding? She's very hurt; her arm hurts, remember why she's hurt, right?"
I took a quick peep at Prince, not knowing how to tell Zoey to stop, as even I wasn't comfortable with the idea of being fed by him. She turned and smiled at me.
"Come on, let's go."
She took my left hand, and I followed her to the dining. The maid opened the plates and started serving the dishes-mouth-watering foreign meals. Then Prince joined us. I sat at the center edge. Surprisingly, Boss came and sat at the next seat to mine, to my right, but Zoey sat at the other extreme, opposite me.
He took my plate and shifted it to his side without saying a word. Then he took a spoon and blew off the heat.
"Oh, you can be this patient? When I was sick, you fed me hot pap!" Zoey snapped.
Boss literally played deaf. I was so shy, I couldn't open my eyes. I closed them tightly.
"Open your mouth," his command came, but it was cool, not rough.
I slowly opened my mouth, and he put the spoonful in. I chewed and swallowed. My heart was pounding hard enough to be heard out loud.
"Stop being a shy baby. Open your eyes, or do you have a crush on my brother?" Zoey teased. I choked and opened my eyes unintentionally. I coughed uncontrollably, nervously stretching my right arm to get the glass of water, forgetting I was injured. I groaned in pain.
Thankfully, Boss was kind enough to give me the drink. He patted my back. I was trying to recover when suddenly, my brain whispered:
Is that Boss petting your back, trying to make you feel better? I slowly looked at him. He was focused on me.
He offered me another drink, and then our eyes met. He noticed my stare, quickly stopping. We both stopped, and silence buried us awkwardly. Zoey started switching from one person to the other.
"I think I have to let you two stay for a while." She carried her plate and walked out of the dining.
Boss carried another spoon and gave it to me.
"Boss, you don't have to feed me if you don't want to. She's not here anymore."
He didn't reply. He went ahead and put it toward my mouth. I closed my eyes, opened my mouth, and swallowed.
Then I felt a napkin on my lips. He was wiping off the mess around my mouth. I opened my eyes and stared at him-his long lashes, his gaze, his lips, and that jawline. Please, stop thinking whatever you're thinking, Valerie.
Remember what happened with Luke. This isn't just a Luke-type person. He's a big name. Don't think about it, I advised my heart, but it's too late. I've literally felt it before now, which is why I had that dream about him. I only have revelations about people who mean so much to me.
It all started the day he complimented me in front of the other colleagues. I felt it. I felt love again.
He noticed my frozen stare and stopped. I looked away, down to the plate. I can't believe I finished the whole meal.
"Are you full?" he asked, wiping his palms with a tissue without looking at me.
"Yes, sir," I nodded, pressing my lips together.
"It's Prince, outside the office."
I nodded, looking down. I suddenly felt so shy after realizing how I feel about him. I couldn't look up for minutes.
"I will take you home."
"Okay, sir... I mean, Prince." He left.
I sighed deeply and used my left hand to take a glass of water. I drank it all.
What a relief. I almost peed myself-the tension was high. I can't wait to tell Daniel.
No, I can't tell him. He won't be happy. He'll probably think I'm trying to set myself up for another heartbreak.
Even if it's true, I feel happy inside again. I feel so...
"Let's go."
Boss interrupted my thoughts. I stood up and went with him.