XIV
"I cannot stand her! She is everything that I hate, stands for everything that opposes me, and she isn't even trying to BE annoying, she is annoying." I finished off my rant to Cam with a huff.
I could hear him chuckling from the speaker of the airpod stuck in my right ear.
"It is not any way funny Cam, stop laughing."
"Okay, okay.. but was she hot?" His question forced me to tear the airpod away from my ear, I flung it on the seat beside me as I drove. I swore underneath my breath. Cam was the most annoying person on the surface of the earth, asides mom's friend's daughter; Evangeline Stone. Who on God's green earth names their child Evangeline anyway?
When mom had asked me to go see her, she omitted a very important detail. They had already set the date and time for the meeting, the very next day. At 1pm. I had protested against it but since I had already skipped the cocktail party before, I wasn't allowed to skip this one.
I even played the 'i want to keep my identity a secret' card, but it bounced right back when she said she already created a sperate identity for me, if you ask me it is a very unbelievable identity. Her husband's nephew. If her friend was really her friend they'd know her husband was an only child.
I was asked to pick a location of my choice. I picked a rooftop restaurant, and rented out the place for the afternoon. My intention was to talk things out with her and I hoped to get her full support on not marrying someone her mother thought was good for her. I should have known hoping was going to get me nowhere.
This was what I got instead.
I got there a bit early, as in ten minutes early, mom suggested that I go to her house the old fashioned way, but it only went as far as a suggestion. Nothing more.
The weather was great, not too hot, not too cold either. But I wore a coat over my plain button up black shirt tucked neatly into my suit pants. I had worn one of my work shoes that was polished to perfection, and that worried me a bit. I didn't want to seem like I was trying to hard to impress her, which was wrong.
Thirty minutes later, she wasn't here yet. Irritation had started to build in my system. For her first impression she wasn't making any good one. I managed to convince myself that she was trying to make me not like her, so she didn't have to get married to someone her mom picked out for her.
By the time she was forty five minutes late, I was fed up of waiting. I stood up and signalled the waiter who was sitting by himself, he looked excited at the possibility of finally doing something. I couldn't blame him, I'd go crazy sitting in a spot doing nothing for almost an hour.
"I'm here." An unfamiliar voice announced. Forcing the waiter, and I to turn around and face the entrance. She was carrying so many bags at once, at least four different bags, and all looked heavy. She was obviously struggling under the weight of all the bags. She was also carrying a steaming cup of coffee. I walked up to her and offered to help her carry one, she smiled and dumped all of the bags in my open hands. I noticed she didn't offer any form of gratitude. She walked ahead of me and plopped down on the seat I had chosen. Forcing me to sit opposite her. The seat I left for her, it was facing the city, and it was a fantastic view, I wanted to let her see that.
"Hello Evangeline, I'm Kennedy.. nice to meet you." I said offering my hand for a handshake while smiling politely. She snickered openly. I had a glimpse of the sip of coffee she hadn't swallowed yet. My face twisted in disgust.
"Who named their child Kennedy?" She asked as she wiped the sweat away from her brows.
Look who's talking? She is named Evangeline! I said in my mind.
I signalled the waiter to bring the menu.
"Would you like anything to drink?" I inquired as I eyed her cup of coffee.
She took a noisy sip, making me wince as she shook her head no.
"I'd like a glass of water, thanks." I told the waiter. He nodded and walked away.
"So, what took you so long?" I asked her trying to make small talk. She shushed at me using her right index finger as her other fingers tapped rapidly on her phone screen
The waiter brought my water few seconds later, and I was done with two refills before she raised her head up, the look on her face told me she forgot about me.
"Look, let's not make small talk yeah? I already know what I need to know about you, the most important thing. I'm good."
My eyes studied her face. She looked like she attempted make up, then wiped it off last minute. Or she slept with it last night and didn't take a shower this morning. There was a piece of tomato lodged in between her teeth, I didn't want to think about where it came from or when it came.
My eyes strayed to the bags around her. She looked at them and brightened up.
"I was on my way here, I saw the mall.. couldn't stop myself.. new shoes, new clothes? They are my kryptonite." She squealed.
I frowned, I wasn't one to judge based on choices but she loved clothes but didn't like hygiene? How?
"So where do you work?" I asked after clearing my throat.
She blinked in confusion.
"I don't.."
"You're still looking for work?"
"No, I literally don't, why do I need to? My parents are rich.. and you rented out this place, your clothes and shoes look expensive, when we get married you'll be taking care of me, so why should I work? Working is for losers." She laughed as she ended her statement.
My jaw went slack in shock. I had never seen such a person in my life. Where did all this sense of entitlement come from?
"You'll have to excuse me, I believe this meeting has come to an end." I said as I stood up.
The waiter looked at me like I was a hero. He hurriedly passed me the bill.
"Excuse you??? Are you rejecting me?? ME?? I hope you don't call yourself a gentleman..." I walked away before I could hear the rest of what she said.
And my best friend thought it was funny to laugh at my ordeal. I looked up to see an incoming truck, I was in it's way.. I must have zoned out a lot. Yanking the steering as hard as I could.. I braced myself for the impact.