ROSALINE
"This restaurant is really nice." I smiled.
"I am glad you love it. Your smile looks more genuine, I told you being outside will make you feel better" Rick replied and I nodded, keeping the smile on.
"The meals here must be really expensive though so I'd pay for the meals" I offered and Rick frowned deeply.
"I am not broke, Rosaline..."
"What? I didn't say you were, I..."
"You just called me broke, Rosaline. I have enough money to afford a meal here. My family might not have loads of money like your family but my family is quite comfortable."
"I am sorry if I made it seem that way. I just wanted to..." I trailed off, pressing my lips into a thin line.
"Fine, I understand you. I will pay for tonight and every other night that we are outside. I have enough to take care of a woman, to at least take care of you."
"Rick" I called his name softly and solemnly.
"I have said it a thousand times already now. We can't be..."
"Don't say it, Rosaline. I am willing to wait for another couple years if that's what it would take for you to eventually be by my side" he cut me off gently.
"Rick, it will never..." I tried to speak again.
"Let's just order" he cut me off with a feigned smile on his face.
I nodded in response to him. There was no need to continue having the conversation since it was being obvious he won't give up anytime soon.
"What would you like to have?" He picked up the menu tab.
"I don't really know. Order for me but yes, I'd love a lobster dish"
"Sure"
I smiled in response and watched as Rick studiously went through the menu. Just then, I saw someone I instantly recognised.
Russo. He wasn't walking past our table but he wasn't alone, he was with... He was with another woman.
I felt my heart contract in pain as he looked directly at me for a second before walking away with the woman, towards the VIP section of the restaurant. The way he barely glanced at me, the way he didn't even get mad that I was out dining with Rick made it all more painful.
The painting said he still wanted me but every other thing was screaming that he was over me already and that I needed to get over him as well.
Perhaps this evening, he had given up completely and decided to come out here to see another woman. I didn't even have any right to be angry or mad at him anymore, after all he was no longer mine.
"Rosaline?" Rick called my name and I quickly brightened up my face with a smile.
"Is anything wrong?" He asked and I shook my head.
"Not at all. I am fine" my response was quick. Too quick and too sharp in fact.
Rick looked around us to see if anything was amiss. The way I responded definitely gave it away that something was amiss.
"Are you sure you are fine?" He asked and I nodded.
"Of course, what could possibly go wrong?" I shrugged lightly. There was no reason to ruin the mood by telling Rick that Russo was here. Rick could suggest us leaving this restaurant if he found that out and I didn't want that.
"Alright then" he gave me a smile before ringing the bell.
Few seconds later, a waiter was standing by our table.
"Hello" he gave a polite smile as he looked at Rick and then at me.
"You look very beautiful, Miss."
"Really? Thank you" I appreciated his compliment.
"Just going to confirm your orders..." He looked back at Rick and listed out our orders which was quite a lot.
"Thank you" the waiter walked away after confirming our order.
I looked towards the VIP section, wondering what was going on in there at the moment. Was Russo having fun with the woman he had gone in with? Was he...
Just thinking about it made my heart wrench. I didn't want any other person to ever have Russo. I wanted him to be mine alone and I wanted to be his alone. If only that was possible and easier.
"Rosaline, you are sure you are fine?" Rick's voice brought me out of my thoughts for a few seconds.
"Yes, I am."
Rick was about to say something when his phone rang. He glanced at his phone screen and sighed very noticeably.
"I am just going to take this call. I will be back very soon." He got up and walked out.
I let the fake smile on my face fade away and the look of distress on my face turned evident. Again, I looked towards the VIP section, painful imaginations making my chest feel tight.
I couldn't stand it anymore. I got up on my feet and headed right outside of the restaurant, a hand clutching my purse and the other clutching my chest.
Getting outside, I went to the parking lot and found my car. I leaned against it, taking in deep breaths of fresh air. This was so hard for me, so hard that I wasn't sure if I could do it anymore.
I was still drawing in deep breaths when Russo walked right past me without glancing at me at all! I couldn't take it!
"Russo!" I yelled his name. It was the first time I would be calling his name since the night I ended things.
Russo stopped in his tracks but didn't turn back to look at me.
"What? You can't even turn to look at me? I don't even deserve the slight turning of your head anymore?" I asked, breathing heavily with every word. My heart was hurting so badly right now.
"What do you want from me, Rosaline?" He still didn't turn and the way he called my name so blankly made me sadder.
How dare he just call me Rosaline so plainly?!
"What do I want from you?! Look at me, Russo!" I raised my voice and I heard a groan from him before he turned to face me.
"Again, what do you want from me?" He questioned, taking a step closer to me. His handsome face shone under the moonlight and his eyes fixated on me.
"Oh, I see. You no longer see me as relevant after all you have another woman! Does she satisfy you properly?! Did you have fun with her in the VIP section? That was quick though, did you just get her off and let her go? Or..."
"I hope you had fun with your so called best friend too!" He cut me off, emotions finally finding a way to his previously blank face.
"Going on a date with him, all glammed up and looking pretty for him! I hope you had fun too!" He raged, anger finding its way into his eyes.
"I glammed up?! Aren't you looking stunning yourself?! That woman was your date, right?! Right?!" I raised my voice back at him.
"Right!" He affirmed, taking another step closer to me.
"She is my date and when I am done taking a smoke out here, I am going to go back in there and fucking be with her and do more than what you have imagined. And that is not going to be any of your business. You know why? Because you are just my niece, nothing more." He said the words firmly. Those words. They hurt me more than anything else in the world.