RENTED LIFE Chapter 21

It was running late and Kuni was wondering if Aaliyah would show up, calling her felt like invading in her privacy, she decided to head to bed all the while hoping she would hear best friend when she came. It was long before she was in deep sleep. Meanwhile, Simon had still not brough himself to open up, they had just concluded dinner but it seemed they would continue having drinks.

“hey” Aaliyah said to Simon who seemed to be really bothered

“are you still not going to tell me? I have been waiting for you to say something”

Simon looked at Aaliyah with a forced smile.

“So the investors came” he started

Aaliyah attentively listened, Simon would always open up to him about everything that was happening in his company y and she often gave her two cents. From the onset of their friendship, Simon would always be open to Aliyah about all his issues including the drama in his family. However, he had still not created room for them to be more than friends, this bothered her a lot. For Aaliyah this was confusing, she often wondered why a man who knew would always trust her with very intimate details about his life would not just see things for what they were and take her as his wife. The confusion around Simons discernment over what Aliyah considered the obvious is what led Aliyah to always remain hopeful but also very demanding because she opted to start getting paid for putting up with him. Simon splashed the money with not much hesitation much to Aaliyahs dismay

Simon explained all the fears he had around the situation and Aaliyah understood why he had been very stressed.

“I cannot believe I have let my parents down” he concluded

“What? No you have not, that is business but I am sure they are proud of you”

Aaliyah stretched her hand to hold Simon hand acroos the table.

“hey, look at me” she said rubbing his hand

“you did everything that you could but this has been a long time coming…it has been pending… even when you bow out of this, you are not failure and I know it feel like you are”

“it does, it really does” Simon said pulling his arms away

Leaning back in his seat, Simon sighed heavily and looked at Aaliyah from head to toe.

“Are you not cold? I do not have a jacket maybe lets sit indoors” he said.

“oh ok.. like in the restaurant area?”

“yes I think its chilly here”

Simon helped Aaliyah with her drink while she carried her purse.

                                             *************’

Kuni tossed in her bed and she hurriedly reached for her phone which she had plugged into the charger by her bedside head board.

 

“Oh My… I hope I did not miss her call” she said worriedly.

 

It was past 2am and Aaliyah had not bothered to call or to even leave a message. Kuni was concerned, what if something had happened to her? However, another thought told her it was Aaliyah was an adult who probably knew exactly what she was doing.

“should I call her?”

As Kuni thought of what to do, notifications popped up on her screen as she had just turned her internet on. Aaliyah had left her a message stating that she was spending the night where she was and she would only be back home in the morning.

Although Kuni still wondered where Aaliyah could be at that hour, she returned to sleep peacefully knowing she was safe.

Kuni woke up to a call with Simon arranging for their date. Unknown to her, Aliyah and Simon were together and Aaliyah just gone in for her shower when he called her.