Chapter 51 Confused (3)
Lily's POV
After a much closer look at Bradley, I noticed that he didn't have any scar below any of his eye. He did come to pick me up at dusk and that prompted my colleagues to stare at us questioning our closeness.
Somehow, I'd felt nervous having a lookalike from my awful experience walking beside me.
"I can take a cab, you don't have to worry," I told him, holding my bag tightly in my hand.
"A cab? But you don't live far from here, why would you need a cab?" He stared at me in surprise.
"I don't want to be a bother," I fanned my hands to myself.
"You are not a bother to me, Lily," he eyed me.
I nodded. "It's just that," I paused looking at the end of the road, and noticed a silhouette walking briskly by.
Bradley noticed me flinch and then turned to where my eyes were looking. He didn't see anything.
"Are you alright?" He asked me.
"Yeah, yeah. I'm fine," I nodded.
He reached for my hand slowly unclasping one from the intense grip of my handbag. He watched my worry crease into calmness.
"I'm right here with you, nothing is going to happen." He assured me.
And he was right. His twin never showed up. Somehow, I questioned myself on how I could remain calm in all of this brutal madness. Bradley made sure he never missed a day. He escorted me to work and back from work.
Most times, I would wait for him when work was over and he would rush over, rendering apologies and taking my hand. It was warm and sweet, and when he did talk to me, it gave me a warm feeling.
How could brothers be so alike yet different? Was Bobby truly afraid of Bradley? Or was this another one of their supposed schemes of which I should be wary of?
"How do you know so much about me, Bradley?" I asked him while he was escorting me as usual.
He was handsome under the evening lights. Hair combed backward and a pasted smile glued to his face.
"Bobby, my brother talked a lot about you," he was careful with his words, watching as my smile faded.
"I have never met Bobby even before he assaulted me, are you saying before now that he knew who I was?" I asked him.
"Yes, he knew who you were," he answered. Then he gave me insight into how Bobby met me and what had transpired afterward.
My breaths became heavy. I was breaking down. Bobby was that ruffian who had helped me with my bicycle? Why was he so bent on making me his then he chose to physically assault me preferably?
Bradley reached for my hand but I slapped his hand off. My mood had switched in a second.
I stopped before Bradley, making up my mind to twat whatever this was. "I do not trust you, Bradley. The moment you step in, Bobby or whatever he is called suddenly stops appearing within my sight. How do I know that you are not in it together and make my life miserable than it already is? I am fine and I do need your pity. I can call on the police if need be. How the hell am I supposed to believe that because of the mere sight of me with you, your brother doesn't bother me anymore?" I raved, visibly angered as the thoughts stung me. I needed to clear my head, and this was perfectly the best time for my bottled-up questions.
"No, no, please. Don't take it the wrong way. I know how to best deal with my brother. He won't touch you because I threatened him."
I laughed. "You threatened him? Aren't you so alike then?" tears started to fall out my eyes, and soon I was crying.
He reached to touch me, and I gnarled at him. He raised both of his hands above his head.
"Bobby, my brother can be weak-minded sometimes. But he can be paranoid at other times. I know how to deal with him. You do not need to fret, I can assure you." He told me.
"Yet, you refuse to call the police," I remarked, watching his face.
"You see, I'm right! You won't report your brother to the police. You are protecting him. He is your brother afterall." I laughed at myself. Who was I fooling?
He stared at me, speechless. His hand repeatedly scratched his head. "Lily, don't take it the wrong way," he begged.
"Don't, Bradley! I do not want you to walk me back and forth like a lost chick. If Bobby comes close to me, I swear, you both will regret it!" I stormed, strutting off without looking back.
When I did turn to take the curve that led to my street, I caught a glimpse of him standing in the street, watching me still. But I didn't care about him anymore.
Interestingly, I did miss Bradley. He always brought something whenever he came over to the eatery where I worked. His aura was magnetic as was his energy.
"What's up, Lily? Your boyfriend isn't coming over to pick you up today?" Dan asked me. He was one of the cooks who worked in the kitchen.
"Boyfriend?" I scoffed, turning to stare back at the pairs of curious eyes.
"I don't have a boyfriend," I put in.
"Nah, who are we to be fooled? We would understand it if you're shy and all that. Bradley simply adores you. What did he say to you the other day, boss?" Cherie asked, she was the oldest in the team.
Stephano cocked a brow. "If you ask me, who am I to lie? The Bradley I knew from way back in college doesn't have a thing for girls. He was all about books. But this whole aspect of him. The other day he asked me, what would a man need to do for a woman to accept him? Did he put it like that? Yes, I believe so," Stephano laughed at himself.
"You went to the same college as Bradley?" I was shocked.
"Yes, we did. Bradley is a good guy. He likes you, we all see that." Cherie continued.
I didn't know what to make out of all their scrambles. Bradley obviously wouldn't be falling for me because he was only shielding me from his brother.
A light platter of rain was already drizzling outside. Stephano agreed to drive the rest of his employees in his car while I nudged him not to bother about me. I lived down the bend from the shortcut route. It really shouldn't be a hassle for him.
I agreed to hold on for awhile until the drizzle halted, but it seemed like the more I waited, the harder the rain fell.
I was scared.
Walking down the shorter route was not the best option right now. And waiting for the rain to subside would probably take forever.
Whatever happens today, I would fight back, I told myself, with or without Bradley.