CIARA
Herzl didn't refuse to get his ass into the car when I called on him to join me, maybe because he knew that one, he had gotten the driver into trouble by having him drive him to his father's place, and two, I wasn't happy he left the house without informing me.
And three, I don't give a damn what trick Ryan was putting up in that room. All I knew was this: I'm going home and nothing on earth would stand on my way, and by the way, I don't want Ryan back in my life.
I didn't speak to the driver, because I was too angry to utter a word, neither did I speak to Herzl who I was ready to drag into the car if he dares put up any defense.
Our ride home was smooth, because he wasn't saying words to each other. I was sad that Ryan said those words, because those words brought back feelings that I dropped a long time ago.
Those feelings were the pains that lies in the bruises of rejection and underrating. I felt tears well up in my eyes, but I blinked my eyes too many times to keep my eyes clean.
Damien was right when he said that making money, being the boss and doing well in business is not the life, but letting myself have the joy I deserve was it.
I had no plans of falling back to Ryan. I had long cancelled him out in my heart, but Herzl seemed not to understand that, maybe because they spent time building up some tight bond when they were together.
He was the only reason why I still had Ryan in my life. He was the link, and I can't just help it, maybe because he was not yet of age to be tossed into a boarding school where he would just focus on his studies and forget his father.
But would that happen?
I focused on driving, but then came a man down the road, waving at us. His car was parked at the roadside, and the dude looks familiar.
I leaned closer and looked well before getting to him. He was the new guy that parked into our estate, and he is a walkout freak, with a nice physique.
I stopped the car and he came to my corner.
"Good morning, ma'am."
"How may I help you?"
I knew that was harsh, but come on, he had to be quick so I can just go my way and leave the road for heaven's sake.
"Um, my car broke down here, and I would like to borrow a few things from you." He said with the calm voice of a man in distress.
I opened the door and stepped out of the car, but then came the driver who took Herzl to Ryan's place. He stopped behind the car I was with, and alighted.
"Ma'am, I can help him." He said, ready to offer a helping hand, and have me continue with myjourney.
"Get Herzl out of my car and take him with you. I would be home when we are through here." I ordered without even looking at his face.
He shook his head, went over the car I was with, opened the door and took Herzl into his arms, and then conveyed him to his car, and in less than five minutes, they zoomed off.
"Is the kid your son?" the man posed.
"Would that fix your problem?" I offered my own query.
I had learnt to give back to the public whatever the public gives me, and that was it here, but he wasn't sad with that question.
He was just happy for reasons I can't explain.
"I'm Seth, your..."
"New neighbor. I know." I just wanted to get him hooked up at every corner, to keep him from asking for something other than help.
"Okay, but may I know you?"
"Is that the help you need."
"Kind of."
Come on, this guy must be kidding. He doesn't even give a damn how my response came in an odd manner that was supposed to dissuade him from going on with the talks.
"Okay, I would like to borrow yourjerk."
"And an extra tire because I don't think you have it here."
I had my eyes in his booth which was wide opened.
"Brilliant. But I kept it overthere."
He pointed at the other side of the car, and I saw two tires resting beside the car.
"I have two, but I'm still not as rich as Mayweather, because you don't count tires as wealth."
Did he just made it clear that I'm just foolish with the words I said earlier?
Good lord, he is such a smart dude here.
"So, the jerk is the only thing you need?"
"I also need you on a date with me, is that not wonderful?"
I raised my eyebrows.
Anotherflatterer.
"I knew that was what you would ask for." I said with my eyebrows furrowed.
"Because you haven't been to Gagged Rose this summer with a man who can look you in the face and speak French for you."
"Because I'm not interested in the shit you are staging out here. Come take the jerk, and make sure you return it to my place after use." I said, hoping that was enough mess on his face.
"See, you want me at your place, because you need the other kind ofjerk."
My eyes went down on his thigh, and lo, I saw the shape of the stuff down there, because he was dunning tight pants.
"Really, now come jerk your car. I would wait to take my jerk home."
"What if I told you that my second name is Jack, and might be taking me home today.
I couldn't rememberwhere I dumped the pain in my heart while I was driving home. This man had just eased many of them.
"Look, let's be serious here. Choose between a date, and a jerk to fix your damn car."
He smiled and raised an eyebrow.
"Both.
I waited for him to fix his car, because I didn't want him coming to my house and saying such things as hejust said here under my roof.
And my reason forthat was Herzl. He would hear us out and report to his father, who wouldn't mind breaking his leg over me.
He had sworn not to let any other man near me, and it had been working out all the while, but now, I was determined to go out on a date with the funny guy, and give my heart to a man that would make me happy.
"Thank you so much, ma?" he gave me a say your name smile.
"Ciara."
"Wow, what a great name you have here."
I took my jerk from him, and returned it to the big took kit in the booth of my car.
"Thanks a lot for the jerk, and your beautiful name. now, would you go on a date with me. We have a new..."
"Yes. Isn't that what you want to hear."
He shook his head and smiled.
He is such a charming young man, and his smile was such a broad one. I felt so attracted to him. That should be infatuation at first sight, because I'm not yet ready to have him take my heart.
"Thank you, Ciara. 7Pm dot."
I drove home with smile, not minding to shun the driver who took Herzl to Ryan's place, and Herzl who had the guts to have the driver take him there.
I had forgotten the fever that was boiling Ryan up, and I had forgotten all the pain I had so far, because a man out there just got me happy with his choice of words, and the way he used them as though we were childhood friends who could say anything to each otherwithout being annoyed for any reason.
I went upstairs, without saying a word to anyone. Maybe fate had finally decided to be fair to me.
Maybe I would finally find love. The signs are just so clear, and if it works out, then, Ryan would have to sign the divorce papers at all cost or face the law itself.
I returned to the mirror to see my make up, it was classic. That might be the reason why Ryan thought I had changed my mind towards him, and thus reminded me that I'm still his legally wedded wife.
I smiled at myself as a reminisced on the words the man said, and what exactly was his name?
The joy in my heart had made me forget his name, but that's not a big problem. I would make him repeat his name at 7pm dot, like he said.
And that would be my first date in two years, which I believe would happen without Ryan coming to mess things up, because he had no clue what's about to go down.