Oblivious Hearts: Chapter 5

                                                                     CHAPTER 5

I’m fatigued for exploiting the laptop for almost 2 hours. I’ve done a good job of completing half the assignment as rough. 2 whole hours spent, and I’m just half way there. I sit back; leaving out a huge sigh and letting my fingers motion through my hair. Looking at Tiya who seems to be at her most tranquil sleep, I rise up from my seat and go outside the veranda. Standing there to enjoy the midair, a gentle wind passes my spine, making it shiver. It was an icy evening, and I had my scarf on. Looking out and seeing the sun set, I see a familiar face coming out and look down at me. Tyler. He poses his face with a moderate smile, making me wave at him. My cell phone rings, and I jog up to pick it.

“Hello?” I start.

“Hey, it’s me.” A well-known voice tells me.

“Tyler. What’s up, big man?” I ask, smiling and walking outside to the balcony to see him, up there at the opposite house.

“I was wondering if…You want to go for a walk?” he asks me and a huge smile stretches across my face.

“Sure, why not?” I respond.

“Great, see you down at 5 minutes?”

“I’ll be there before you know it.”

“’Kay then, tough girl. Bye.”

“Bye.”

I run off to get my shorts and sports shoe. I’m ready within a few seconds, and to be honest, I don’t look too bad. That’s the first time I’ve made myself decide on something.  Tying my long brown, wavy hair to a beautiful high ponytail, I thump hard down the stairs. Grandma looks amused, and smiles. I kiss on her wrinkled cheek, and give her a wave, as I open the door to find Tyler by the doorstep.

“Perfect timing.” He says, impressed.

Blushing a little, I reply, “Thank you.”

He nods slightly, as he takes me by my back, closing the door behind us. We see children playing on the other side of the pavement. It was nice to see people in such a cheerful mood. It makes us want join the fun too and right now, I’m in that moment. Tyler is looking at me, like I’ve done something incredible that blew him off the spot.

“What’s wrong?” I ask.

“It’s just that… You’re looking really beautiful just like the evening sunset.” Tyler tells me, looking at my hair.

Blushing really hard, I chuckle a little. I thank him once again for the compliment and we continue to walk, as kids run around and pass us every 2 minutes. Tyler seems to be in a great mood. He stops for a second and glances at me. I stop and turn around to face him.

“I’m going to show you a place you’ll love.” Tyler pronounces, and takes hold of my hand. Now that turned me on.

Following his lead, we head into a small beach-like place where teenagers and adults like us are doing various things. We come and sit down on the sand, as a girl comes to us, beaming. She was clad in a short, frilly, hot pink dress with her hair tied to a bun-like hairstyle which I haven’t seen anywhere. She had a shiny, silver watch hung around her wrist and two piercings on her ears, all clipped up with studs. She looked stunning for an evening like this. Tyler introduces me to her.

“Emma, this is Flora, my childhood friend. Flora, this is Emma, my sister.” Tyler declares.

My eyes widen. I am dazed and this has been the biggest shock ever. Tyler and Emma laughs, as they realise I was flabbergasted for a minute. I extend my hand to her and give one of my charming smiles.

“Nice to meet you! Tyler, your sister lived here? Oh my! She’s so pretty!” I exclaim.

Emma shakes her head in disagreement, “Oh, please. But, thank you.”

“You’re welcome.” I say. She seems really sweet and polite.

“Em. Did he come yet?” Tyler asks, concerned.

Emma’s expression transforms over to a deadly face. She is more than annoyed and held her cell phone up to Tyler, screening him a message. Tyler swears and seems like he would kick someone on their face. I want to know what happened, but I think I mustn’t interfere. This was, after all, a family moment. Tyler looks at me, and gives me a weak smile.  Emma comes and sits beside me, sighing. She looks at her appealing diamond ring on her finger, as tears splashed her face. I stretch out my arms and give her a tight, big hug and pull her on to me. I gaze at Tyler for an explanation.

“He was supposed to come today, talk things over. They had this big argument but he didn’t show up.”

“Who didn’t show up?”

“Emma’s fiancé, goddamn it! That bitch really doesn’t know who he’s messing with!” Tyler yells, the ache passing his restrained face.

I place my hand on his shoulder; slightly pressing it, “It’s all going to be alright. Who is this guy, anyway?”

“He’s a guy who worked with me. Andrew Grayson. Drew and Emma felt in love and they dated for 5 years! They got engaged last February. I can’t believe he’s actually doing all this.” Tyler says, quivering his head.

I pull my eyebrows into an arc, blinking swiftly. Tyler takes a handful of sand, feeling it through. Emma is quietly sobbing beside me. What worries me most is that, I know this guy. Andrew Grayson. I look intently at Tyler to see his crystal-blue eyes, swollen. I try to recall some of my reminiscences. Concentrating as hard as I can about this Drew guy, I see Tyler getting up, his cell phone on his large hands. Tyler thumped in some numbers, soon the phone placed tight to his ears. He seems to be screaming at someone. Emma rotates her head to Tyler’s direction and hopped out to him. 

They seem to be in a deep discussion. I can see Emma tagging on to Tyler’s shirt, but he shakes her hand off. I move closer to them, as more tears trickle down Emma’s face. 

“What’s wrong?” I ask her. 

“Tell him to stop, Flora. Tyler stop! Please!” Emma sniffs, her eyes red and puffy.

“Who-Who is he talking to?” I ask, anxious. 

“Drew! Tyler’s practically swearing and yelling at him. He’s going to send our relationship to an end!” Emma cried. 

I walk briskly to Tyler and give him a grave look. He looks down at me, and then looks away. I can hear him breathing heavily. Suddenly, it all came hitting back. Andrew Grayson. Oh. My. God. Wasn’t it his father the one who eventually was the cause to ruin the relation between Annie and dad; and Andrew, who once send Tiya’s heart into broken pieces? Now that I know, that’s exactly what he’s trying to do to Emma! I have to stop this. Trying to get Tyler’s attention, he turned to me. His eyeballs moved rapidly and gave Emma a look. Her glowing face was red, her kohl all messed up. She looked up and back. It was obvious she was devastated. I stand there in the middle of both of them. Maybe I could change this. Change this moment by telling Emma the truth about Andrew. I pick up the guts to talk.

“Tyler, I—“I start but he cuts off.

“Flora, I would appreciate if you would be quiet. I’m not in the mood.” Tyler shoots back.

“No. You’re going to hear me whether you like it or not! Emma this goes for you too.” I respond, gazing at both of them.

Tyler is aggravated and groans whereas Emma is waiting to hear what I’m about to say. Rubbing my face with my sweaty hands, I sigh. Okay, here goes.

“I know Andrew Grayson.” I say.

Both of them turn to me. They can’t believe what I just said right now. They’re waiting for a clarification, so I go on. “His father was the reason to why Annie and dad decided to live life on their basis. Speaking about Andrew, he and Tiya were… For maybe 4 and a half years. Tiya found out that he was dating someone else then. She was heart-broken. And you know what? Tiya didn’t even speak to me for a whole month! I’m telling you, he’s a playboy. He’ll never get any better!”

Emma stares at me like I’m some foolish animal. She’s furious and I know she’s almost certainly going to say something. Tyler doesn’t know what to say and I plop back to the sand, my mind rewinding to all those awful times of life.

“You’re lying. I know Andrew. I’ve seen the love in his eyes!” Emma cries.

“Tiya saw the same thing but behind those eyes, was cheating and stealing her heart away, Emma!” I say, mortified. How can she not trust me?

“You’re just jealous that someone as rich as Andrew got engaged to me. You’re trying to break our relationship so that you can whip him away! Well, take this, new girl in town! I’m not stupid as you think I am!” she storms off to the tent.

“Really, Flora. I didn’t expect this from you.” Tyler’s voice comes in, and he looks at me disgusted.

“Tyler, I’m not lying! I don’t have any right over him! I’m just trying to help, get things straight!” I say, fighting to not lose my personality.

“Well, why do you think Andrew got engaged to her then?” Tyler asks me.

“I-I don’t know! Wait, what did he tell you?”

“He won’t… Be able to make it today.” Tyler replies.

The two of us hear a loud scream from the tent Emma walked into. Tyler runs as fast as possible, and I dig in behind him. We reach to see a man with a black suit, his hair gone into a messy spike and giving a very wrong smile. He’s standing with a girl who has short black hair, and brown eyes. She plants a kiss on his cheek. Andrew. He see’s us stroll, and his eyes move to contact mine. Andrew chuckles.

“Nice to see you again.” He tells me, and extends his hand but I hit it off.

“Get away from me.” I say, stepping back.

Andrew shrugs. “Well, then. Let’s make this clear. I’ve come here to apologize to Emma.” He says, never shameful. “Emma, I’m sorry. I can’t continue anymore.”

Emma flings herself to the couch, gaping at her hands. Andrew kneels, getting hold of her hands, dropping a kiss to it. Slowly, he slips off the ring from her finger. Getting up, he looks up at me. For a minute, his feelings punch me inside. Some sort of feeling. He changes his face just as soon as you know it.

“Better get this back. It was expensive, don’t want to ruin the stones there.” He speaks, holding the ring up.

Tyler trots over to him. Before we know it, his calloused hands hit Andrew hard on the face, making him weep a little. I grin. Well done, Tyler. Andrew looks back him. “Curse you. Let all of you go to hell.”

Andrew gives me a sympathy look and I hear him whisper, ”Flora... Just not you."  Exhaling, he exits the tent with his former girlfriend. What was that all about? A bit puzzled about what he said, Tyler shakes me on the shoulder. I turn.

“Thank you.” Tyler states and he gives me a small smile.