"Father" Raina unexpectedly cut in.
"No disagreement " he snapped with a strict tone of finality."He has informed his parents about the progress of his relationship. In fact, he gave me your engagement ring since you stubbornly walked out on him the other day he planned to propose to you. So…you can't blame him. It's a great honour that someone that influential is willing to be my in-law, my dear daughter." her father emphasized without any bother of her current situation. She couldn't breathe properly as she was experiencing a mini-panic attack at that moment.It felt like the world became still. She couldn't bear to take in the news. She ain't interested in lovey-dovey but never for once thought her love life would turn out this way. A proposal through her father? Marriage with someone she doesn't love?"This isn't different from a paedophile father" she finally breaks down in a shaky voice. She had been strong but not anymore as it seemed it was getting real each day."You are brilliant enough to know that you are an adult. So…there is nothing like a pedophile my dearest. I have tried to explain how beneficial this is to you. I made the best decision for you by accepting Gerold. Now enough of the talks, you will be meeting them tomorrow. I made your favourite Sushi. Common go and freshen up " he urged and stood up to exit the living room.Raina was seated there for hours before leaving for her room. She placed her phone on the lampstand and strolled into the bathroom to freshen up. Immediately she was done, she put on her pyjamas, strode towards her princess-like bed, and bounced on it.The tears she had been trying hard to stop gushed out uncontrollably once more. Her heart aches unbearably. It had been a normal routine to cry to sleep. A buzz on her phone jerks her out of her deep thoughts and she strains her hand to pick it up from the lampstand.It was a message from an anonymous person. "Are you asleep?"The sender deleted the message and it didn't take long for her to guess that it was no one other than the Bellingham Jr.Raina contemplated messaging him but then again she needed a distraction from her depressing thoughts. "You aren't courageous enough?" She sent and nibbled on her lips. She began to wish she hadn't messaged him after he didn't respond.Raina heaves disappointedly and gently places her head on her pillow. It didn't take long before Jude's call came in with her phone blaring.Raina never liked voice calls. She prefers messaging and she left her phone ringing hoping it would stop but it went on and it made her feel remorseful. She finally picked up the call and chose to be silent. Both of them were nervous. Jude had his jaw on his pillow with his legs sprawled on his emperor-size mattress."You didn't want to pick before? Why?" He asks in a worried tone. "Because you aren't bold enough also?""I didn't reply because I chose not to," she replied wittily."Well…you did after all. You couldn't afford to miss my alluring voice sugar baby" he flirted with a seductive tone."Alurring voice my ass." She rolls her eyes."Oops! Talking about that, do you know…that is the part of your body that got me attracted to you" he smirks knowing how uncomfortable she will feel.Raina scoffs several times before saying "You pervert! Where did you get my phone number in the first place?""I have my way, sugar baby" he mewled which unexpectedly earned her stomach to giggle. She felt dozens of butterflies."It seems I will have to cut the call then" she tried to make her voice steady and strict."OK, ok. Wait! I got it from your cooperative instructor" he reveals.She huffs and rolls her eyes."Have you given what I said a thought?""It hasn't been up to four hours Jude" Raina groans tiredly."Can you do that again?""What?""Call my name. Fuck it sounds sexy on your lips " he loosed the tone which he had been cautious with."Jude….! Did you just curse?""Ohh. I'm sorry, Miss Raina. It was unintentional. " He apologized in a soft tone that made her heart melt.A daring thought crossed her mind and it gave her goosebumps but she said it before she could stop herself. She desperately wanted to escape from the next day's meet-up with Gerold."What about tomorrow?" She asks."You want to go out on a date with me?"Jude questions playfully."Date? In your dreams Mr. Bellingham. I was thinking we could start the lesson tomorrow. You mentioned that you are always free only during the weekends."Jude wasn't sure he heard her right as his heart skipped "You will be coming over to my place for the less…ons?" he couldn't help but stammer and deeply hoped it was what she meant."Yeah. Or do you have somewhere else for me to tutor you in mind?""No..no. I will be expecting you. That was faster than I thought " he says in a joyous tone as he jumps on the bed. A maid knocks and calls out for him to come down to have dinner."I will be there in a few minutes!!!" He stretched the phone away from his ear to answer the older woman in a sweet voice that shocked her.He got hold of himself and said "OK. I will pick you up at the estate tomorrow. What time will you be…uhm""6:00 am" she enunciated and bit her lower lip to keep her voice down."Isn't that too early? Ooh, no worries. I will be there" she accepted"See you tomorrow then" Raina let out."Sure. Goodnig…" he was declaring but got cut mid-sentence.Raina's inner system convulses unsatisfactorily at her decision. She wasn't glad for standing up to her father but it was the only risk she could take to relieve herself. With one last deep breath, she closed her eyes and drifted off to a deep slumber.Meanwhile, Jude couldn't hold in his excitement. He jogged down the spiral and massive staircase with full energy into the dining room. He devoured his whole dinner and also appreciated the chef. His nice gesture made the older woman fret but she passed over after some time.Jude lay on his bed and replayed the phone conversation he had put on record. He knew he was behaving spooky but he had never been elated to meet someone in his whole life.******The next morning, Raina sneaked out of the mansion after leaving a letter containing her dislike of her father's rash decision on the glass table in the living room. With one last deep exhale, she ran out. She stepped out of the estate gate to meet Jude who was patiently waiting for her in his car."You are late" Jude reminded her with a corny smile immediately as she settled in the front seat."Shut up. That isn't the proper way to greet someone early in the morning" she cautioned and clutched her bag to her chest."Ok. Good morning sugar baby""Ain't no sugar baby, Jude" she warns."You are" he argued and she wheezed in response."Sincerely, I want to know why you suddenly changed your mind regarding the lesson schedule. You want to share?" he asked with an edgy expression."Your parents are going to question my presence right?" she asks"I know you are running away from something. You can always confide in me, Raina. I am not good at comforting but I can be in your aid as much as I can." he enunciated in a soothing tone.Raina stared at him for a few seconds and slowly lowered her eyes. She had wished she had someone special to confide in as her father had made her cut ties with her former classmates for a reason unknown to her. With how frantic she needs a special person, she wouldn't mind spilling her crisis to him but then again, he was a young fellow, her junior to be precise. He is also a nephew to Gerold who is her main problem."I can't tell you" she let out with teary eyes that made Jude's heart squeeze painfully.He softly hit his palm on the steering wheel at her affirmation. "Well…I know you said that because I'm younger but I bet no one will believe it in an instant. How old are you exactly?"She smiled through her tears and snickered "Twenty-one""It's just two years difference young lady" he groans, kinda cheerfully."I'm still older. I wouldn't seek comfort from a younger person" she affirmed, earning a loud snort from Jude.'"That's gross Mr" she pointed out."What about a relationship?" he queries."Never" she replies with a faint smile.Jude didn't reply as he geared the car at a high speed that made Raina glare at him in concern. A few minutes later, he slowed down the car and blurt out shamelessly "What if the younger person fucks good?"Raina retained her breath as she was unfit to admit that he had just made such a statement without constraints. "Why would..you…say something like that?" she stammers slightly, feeling embarrassed. "It is what it is" he reacted with a straight face. Blank. "Ok then, even if the younger person does it good" she gorges and looks outside. It was abruptly getting sizzling even when the weather was average. Jude gait off the car again and Raina grinned softly at his childishness. She keeps stealing glances every chance she gets to see that he has a scowl on his face. After some winks of silence, Raina thinks it's better to ask about the situation of things in his house before they get there. A typical parent would question their child about an outsider's visit early in the morning. She thought. "Jude," she calls in her usual melodious tone but he refuses to answer as he wasn't sure he heard her call him. She called him again, and he gazed at her side, not her face as he was still fe
Raina drowned in a deep thought. Gradually, she loosened her grip on Jude's arm. "That won't work" She shakes her head in disapproval. She concedes she was entangled in a more complicated situation by lying about Gerold Bellingham to Jude. She had denied his uncle being her suitor, and she kinda fears Jude's incredulity and mistrust of her. She doesn't want him to doubt her because he had once said he believed her. A few days ago, she wouldn't give a damn about his opinion on her, but everything about him suddenly seemed, to matter and it bothers her. Combined with some constant intense tension between them during the lesson which she had managed to overcome, she discovers her feeling for him was something. Something was blooming as she was beginning to feel sensitive to his touch. What is wrong with me? She wonders frustratedly. And her father? He won't approve of her decision to move from a more mature man to a high schooler even if Jude is an adult. "I need to go then" she a
Raina wasn't surprised that such a statement was coming from Jude. She realizes that he is the type that speaks truthfully. Someone who can't keep what's going on in his mind for long. She took a low breath and chomped on her lips for a while before ascertaining "You have to pass your exams. I mean the mock and entrance exams"Jude's face lit in excitement at the fact that it wasn't something very elaborate. He instantly manoeuvred to a seating position with his medium-sized pillow on his lap " You mean…you will accept to be my girlfriend if I pass my exams?" he gorges in doubt. "Yeah. If you can't do that, forget about it" Raina rolls her eyes and smiles imagining his bleak expression at her statement. "No no!" he exclaimed "It's worth it. But… Do you think I can do it? " he asks worriedly. "I barely passed my other exams. If not because of my influence, I would have been suspended from school. I might end up disappointing you. At least give me another option" he implored hopefull
Jude's shoulder relaxed, and he gazed at a terrified Raina with a reassuring smile "There is nothing to hide. After all, you will be my full-time girlfriend soon"Raina heckled at his remark."Why are you always deeming your decision to be right? I hope you did not mention my lesson tutorials to your friends. I also hope that you will never sprout about our correspondence with them" Raina rasps and covers her head with her two fragile palms and her head slightly bent. "Ok. I will attend to them while you wait here for me" Jude said, after realising how frustrated she was. Raina nodded and Jude went down to meet Jobe and Jacob who were inquisitive and frantic about Jude's imprudence to their scheduled activities. "Am sorry man," Jude apologized sincerely and hopped on the soft divan positioned adjacent to the one where his friends were seated. "Well…at least you agree that you are wrong. What exactly is the problem? I would be sincere with my emotions. I don't care about you skippi
Raina scampered to Jude in panic. She knelt beside him, and gently placed his head on her lap as his eyes were getting shut "Oh God! Why did you drink more than your body could tolerate?" she said as tears were already forming in her eyes. "Everyone left me!!! Nobody wants me. I don't care about these things but it's becoming real" he whimpers quietly and clasps Raina's hand.She was astonished that someone this famous and wealthy could mutter such a pitiful statement.Raina gulps and asks softly "Why wouldn't anyone want to be with you?" She latches her hand on his head and settles in a sitting position on the mosaic tiles. She massaged his soft scalp with her left hand as he wouldn't let go of her right hand.After a while, Raina felt pressed and excused herself to the bathroom. Immediately she took a step out of the bathroom, she came to the sight of Jude's ex-girlfriend. It was a hasty realization and Raina hurried back into the bathroom, but Maica had caught a glimpse of Raina
"We still have a long way to go regarding our future, especially me but I love you, Raina. The last few days I couldn't contact you out of pride, it was like I was tickling myself with a sharp needle. I had to reread our messages. I am crazy for you sugar baby. I comprehended that girls like you love relationships that are forever after or probably the type that ends in marriage. I want to give you this ring as our engagement, Raina, our bond should be unbreakable as we encounter through the years. I want that dreamy forever after with you, sugar baby. Please be mine" Jude confesses and pecks my forehead affectionately. Speechless was an understatement. Raina was shocked to the core as she found it difficult to say a word. She wondered how he came up with such a proposal. Tears welled up in Raina's eyes as she looked at him. She could see the admiration, the passion, the adoration in his eyes. It bothered her that he was ready to give his all.She doesn't know why it bothered her so
After a few sensual moments, Raina insisted on washing up before eating. Jude wanted them to bathe together, but she opposed it as she was still introverted around him. It took her minutes to get out of the bathtub Jude had specially prepared for her. She stayed in the bathtub reminiscing their beautiful moments yesterday, and the morning. She wonders how a guy moving up to his early twenties would have such high sexual urges. She still couldn't believe that she had lost her virginity but she did not regret it. She loved and adored it. Jude strokes her back gently while affectionately staring at her as she eats. He just couldn't help but continue asking if she was feeling comfy. "You don't have to go to school today. It's late anyway" he suggested for the third time. He didn't want her to feel any pressure after all they had done together. "That wouldn't be professional. I will try to explain to the Principal," Raina insisted, and scoop a spoonful of white rice in her mouth. She
"If I did not love you I wouldn't have given you my virginity. Your beh..aviour tonight suddenly makes me rethink my acce..ptance to be in a romantic relationship with you. Having s..ex with you was my choice, not because I fancy the things you have. You don't need to say it to my face that I am assisting you for a reason" Raina choked on her words as tears welled up in her eyes. She doesn't want him to see her cry as she thinks displaying her vulnerability will make her seem weak. Without waiting for Jude to say a word, she cut the call. She didn't skip to notice how hurt he felt when she mentioned sex. It was hard for her to describe their moment together with such typical words. Raina never thought that she would weep at night for a reason other than her father forcing her to marry a man she doesn't like. She wonders what was going on in Jude's head when he suddenly asked those questions. Or was she too rigid as he had said?The moment she began to drift off to sleep, a message d