Chapter 143 Problems shared...

Chapter 143 Problems shared...
Uriel's POV

Having a student to mentor was the best distraction to whatever I was going through.

Brandon and I toured different museums and art galleries, talking and drawing inspiration from different artworks.

We had even started creating a small art tour for students. We've discussed it with our lecturer and they bought the idea.

I know you'll be wondering how my relationship with Ryder was going. Well, he was occupied.

That was all I could say, for real.

I can't tell if he contacted me because I always put my phone on DND and make sure not to check calls and texts I missed.

It was bad, I know.

Sometimes, when he came knocking on our door, I silently locked it, pretending I wasn't around. If Bia was inside, I'd hide under the bed, begging her to cover up for me. She didn't like it and had encouraged me to talk things out with him.

I didn't know how to.

Somehow, Mirabel's words got to me. I was beginning to feel like I was really insecure and so I was trying my best not to.

Anyway, I wanted to make this dish I saw online and I had everything aside Cheese, so I had popped in and out to get it when my eyes landed on the small framed lady. Recognition sparked immediately.

She squinted her eyebrow at me from where she pushed a trolley to wherever. Then she stopped, waving at me.

Smiling, I walked to her. "Hi Eve,"

We both wrapped our arms around ourselves.

"What brings you here, darling?" She was a very sweet person.

"Cheese," chuckling, I raised my bag up.

"Ouuuu. I came grocery shopping. I have been procrastinating a lot," she continued pushing the trolley.

"Let me help you. Did you come with a cab or something?" My eyes scanned the parking lot

"My car is over there," she stepped aside, letting me. "These workers no longer help people with these trolleys."

"I'm sorry about that," I told her, strolling over to the car she had earlier pointed.

I didn't let her touch anything, stuffing everything in her bout.

"Are you off to somewhere? I can drop you off," she offered, smiling at me with so much appreciation.

"Nah, today's my free day," chuckling lightly, I said.

"Really? Can I borrow you then?" She gasped afterwards, "sorry, if you're willing,"

"Sure! Sure, why not." I nodded

Her grin widened. "Hop in. You've not seen where I live right?"

"Not at all," I entered inside the car, buckling my seatbelt

"Don't worry, I'll take good care of my son's girl today." She wiggled her eyebrow at me.

I lifted my lips up, attempting to smile. But it couldn't reach my eyes.

Eve raised her eyebrow at me. "Something wrong?"

My lips twitched.

"Oh. Okay then. Take your time, darling." Eve didn't talk about Ryder again, just filling me in on her teenage and college life.

She used to be the life of the party. Actually, she looked it. Except that this cancer was dealing with her.

"At least I'd die a happy woman, knowing I lived my life to the fullest," Eve joked. I don't know if I was supposed to laugh but I couldn't. My heart sank. "Sorry, I forget how sensitive that talk always is."

I just nodded, looking down to my thigh.

The ride for the first time since it started, was quiet.

Eve's house wasn't so big, nor small. It was comfortable. Homely.

"Sorry, here's messy. I hate looking for things and earlier I was looking for my credit card," Eve said, picking up the cushions from the ground.

Chuckling, I carried the things to the kitchen.

"Does Ryder have that attitude?" She asked.

"Hmmm... I don't think so. I've never noticed. Actually, he's very coordinated." I sighed, taking a seat on the kitchen stool.

"He took that from his father." She scoffed. "I'm happy."

"But he's very possessive," I smiled.

"Still his father," she chuckled. "Always wanting to be territorial with their women especially."

"Do you fear he'd be like his father?" The words left my mouth before I could stop it.

She paused, blinking. "Actually, I was scared at first when we separated. I knew he was spoiling his mind against me and probably against any woman."

"Yeah, he definitely did that to him. He was hard as steel. Ruthless according to some people," my fingers drummed on the island.

"And to you?"

"He was once my bully."

Her eyes widened with shock. "Oh my God." Her hand moved to her mouth.

"Sorry it came out too raw." I smiled weirdly. "It's just... He was just really a pain in my ass,"

"Was it very terrible?"

"Just annoying. It felt like torture," a small laugh escaped my lips.

"I'm sorry about that"

"Don't worry, I gave him a hard time too."

"That's more like it," she winked at me. Then she leaned forward, her eyes soft. "So what's the issue with Ryder?"

"What -"

"A problem shared is a problem solved. Come on, I've been in relationships before. I've been married as well, though it didn't end well."

"It's just... It's stupid" I concluded, staring down at my palm.

"It's emotional so it's not. Your emotions are valid, baby," Eve rushed to come sit close to me, placing a hand on my back.

Sighing, I glanced at her. "This may sound insecure anyway. So there's this girl, Mirabel, who was recently assigned to Ryder as his assistant. Her job is to help him improve, probably meet the criteria his agency is looking out for,"

"Okay?" Eve rubbed her hand up and down my back, encouraging me to spill out more.

"She's fine, tall, athletic. I don't know... It's just that she's been taking a lot of his time." Then I went on to explain how he began staying for practice till 9:30 PM and the call incident and the cinema and other behaviors he exhibited.

Eve creased her eyebrow at me, looking at me like she was waiting for me to say something more.

"I told you it was stupid," I groaned, rolling my eyes.

"No baby, I'm waiting for the insecurity part. You know, the part that would make you seem insecure,"

My eyebrows perched up. "I just told you, Eve."

She scoffed, placing her hand on mine. "That's not insecure. That's you protecting what's yours. That's you feeling emotional because something doesn't feel right, because a thing has been blown out of proportion,"

Her hand moved up to my hair, smothering it. "You felt however you felt because you are in love. Don't let nobody make you feel terrible for being territorial about your man. Even if it's that voice in your head."

"I just don't want it to seem like I'm holding him back from building his career," I muttered lowly

Eve shook her head. "A man who loves you would always create a balance between things. Now, I'm not saying Ryder doesn't love you or anything. He was wrong."

My heart melted, tears pricking my ears.

I know Shelly had said those words about him being wrong times without number but hearing it from an elder, pointing out to me that I wasn't overthinking? That meant a lot to me.

"Have you tried talking to him though?" She held my chin up, her gaze pinned on mine.

Biting my lips, I shook my head. "No. Instead, we got into a mini argument the last two times we spoke."

"Look, I know my son loves you. One thing I noticed about him is that he can be slow to process certain things. He probably just needs you to call him out directly. Ryder is always willing to seek redress. Especially for you," she patted my cheeks softly.

"Really?"

"I swear," she smiled softly at me. Impulsively, I wrapped my hand around her waist, thanking her.

"I feel light now,"

"Come on, let's go prepare something light then we'd see a movie together before you leave, yeah?" Eve held my hand, leading me to the cooking zone. The place where knives and pots actively worked their asses out.

"Have you been to Ryder's game before?" I suddenly remembered to ask.

"I was thinking of asking him about that, you know?" Eve turned to me.

"He has a game this weekend. I can come pick you up so we can go together?" Grinning, I offered.

Maybe we could patch things up because I was missing my man.

Badly.

"Sign me up!"