Chapter 50 Confused (2)
Brad's POV
Let me wind back the time to refresh your memory. I believe you might perhaps understand the perplexity of the whole situation.
While we were returning from high school one morning, Bobby, my twin had caught sight of a girl who needed help. She was riding to school on her bicycle and the wheels of her bicycle were probably bad. Bobby was the outspoken one, yet a bad boy. Bobby had hoped that after he'd helped this pretty dark-haired girl, she would turn out to like him.
She didn't.
She wasn't interested even when Bobby had told her he would patiently wait for her. And because of his disturbances, I had to step in. I pleaded with Bobby that there were million girls on earth. He could have any other girl who would love him for who he was.
Bobby made fun of my calmness. There was no fun in turning away instead of making a girl forcefully yours if you want her. Those were his exact words.
I didn't know his feelings for her had grown into that of an obsession. He was stalking her, and because of this, we fought over this repeatedly.
I got to know that her name was Lily from his lips. He described her as having pretty eyes, damn clear skin, and some nice tits to go with when she was dressed in a sexy gown. She didn't know me, neither had she met me. But I knew her only from these descriptions.
I believed she must have forgotten about Bobby. Lily relocated with her family and we never got wind of her again. I was happy which only lasted for a while.
Bobby dropped out of college while I continued. He owned a mechanic garage which turned out to be a place where he made more horrible friends. He was always unhappy, borrowing money to pay unnecessary debts which he never did returned.
One fateful morning, Bobby came over to the place where I worked. He was exceptionally quiet while he waited in the lobby for me.
"What is it you want this time?" I asked when I came towards him.
"Bro," he was smiling as he called me fondly.
"You want money?" I was thinking.
"Common Brad, don't think it's all the time I request money from you." He grinned at me.
"But you do that Bobby, all the freaking time! And I'm tired." I rasped.
"At least I won't embarrass you while at it," he smiled then suddenly grew serious when he saw my face.
"So? What's it? Spill it, I've got some business to return to."
He raised his hands to his head. "She's back! She's back Brad, I can't believe it. I thought she was gone forever. I don't know how to approach her, she looks so different. One minute I think I have the courage that I can talk with her. The next minute, I'm reminded about her rejection of me." He ran on like water from a broken pipe.
I furrowed my brows. "Who's back?"
"She! She! I mean, Lily! God, you should see her. I swear if she doesn't want me, I'll be forced to do things to her in my way." He continued.
The broken pieces were beginning to fall into place. Lily was back.
And then it began, he described the place where she worked, what she worked as, and how she even dressed.
I didn't want Bobby to know how stupid he must have sounded, stalking a woman to possess her was madness. How long would his obsession with Lily take?
So while Bobby stalked her on one end of the street, I was watching her on the other end of the street. I realized that I should have met with her, had a conversation with her, and probably warned her about my brother. But I was protecting my reputation as well. I didn't want to be tagged as the stalker's brother.
I thought I could protect Lily this way. But I was wrong. The good thing was whatever Bobby did, he was always informing me. He did informed me about how he'd forcefully make Lily give him a blow job. And that turned out to be an explicit fight between us.
I wanted to make amends, and it must be from me whether I like it or not. Then, I took it upon myself to walk into the eatery which Lily worked in.
When she saw me, I could read the fear in her eyes. But I didn't let that deter me even as she fled.
"Good morning, Stephano," I smiled warmly.
"Hey Brad, you walked into my shop for the first time in months!" Stephano stretched out his hand for a handshake.
Stephano had been a colleague from college. We graduated from the same school but we were never really friends.
"You know how it is, Shephano. We can always catch up some other time. Give me a cup of coffee, please and there's an employee of yours I would like to talk to if you would permit?" I pleaded.
He passed me a cup of coffee, while he eyed me from the corner of his eyes. "Which of my employees would that be?"
I scoffed. "That would be Lily. Nothing too serious. Just five minutes, please."
"Lily! Someone is here asking for you!" Stephano yelled out.
Lily walked out from the kitchen after a minute and two. Her hands were shaking, however she smouldered her apron as a way of staying calm.
"Lily, I'm Bradley. Can we go sit somewhere safe while we talk?" I asked her.
"We should. We should go outside," her tone was cold.
I looked up at her, then at Stephano who was pretending to be at work while he studied us from the corner of his eyes.
She followed me quietly while we both walked outside. She stood at the side of the pavement watching passersby. I had to clear my throat to grab her attention.
"You know, I could call the police for sexual harassment, and rape. After assaulting me, you dare to come to my place of work," her eyes swerved instantly towards me.
Suddenly, my insides tightened as I watched her eyes blaze. She was trying to keep herself in control although she had her fists clenched tightly. Her breaths were hard and shaky as well.
I did wrong by trying to touch her. She bared her teeth at me. "Do not touch me! I cannot forget everything you did to me, ever." Then she turned her face away smiling at another passerby who was greeting her.
I marveled at her strength of composure. She was gifted in masking her pain and fear.
"I don't know what to say. I cannot begin to imagine the pain which I too must have caused you," I started.
She didn't look at me, she had her hands clasped before her while her gaze was fixated on the road.
Still, I continued. "I hate to say this as well, my twin brother must have truly offended you. How do I make you forgive me?"
She turned, shocked at my words. "I do not understand. You are a twin?"
"Sad to say but yes. Bobby is my twin. He did all that. How do I make you forgive me?"
She gasped. "Well, how do I know you aren't telling a lie? For what's worth, you were the one who did all those awful things to me."
I brought out my phone and held it towards her, urging her to take it from me. On the screen was a picture of Bobby and I laughing. She watched it closely, certainly taken aback by the truth.
"You do share a striking resemblance," she returned my iPhone to me. "Why are you asking me to forgive you? You weren't the one who hurt me." She told me.
"It doesn't matter, Lily. He hurt you, I have to make amends. I've dealt with him but I have to do more."
"Like what?" She asked.
"I could take you home after work if you'd like the idea. Bobby wouldn't come close to you if he sees me close to you, I can assure you that. I'll make sure no harm falls on you." I told her.
She held my gaze as the silence between us stretched on. Then abruptly, she coughed, turning her eyes away from me.
Maybe, she didn't like the idea. What was I thinking? She would hold it against me because I'm Bobby's brother.
"I need to return to work. My boss is waiting for me," she told me.
"But you haven't answered.....,"
She was already walking through the doors without looking back at me. I would return to her by dusk, that was the only way I could protect her.