Bear | ✔

Chapter Twenty

Chapter Twenty

The only thing Leila could hear was the ticking of the wall clock as it sliced through the deadly silence. She stared at glass coffee table in front of her, on which she could clearly see her reflection, and that of David sitting right next to her.

She shifted back on the couch and tried to relax, but the tension only thickened at the sound of a whistle that erupted from the kitchen a few meters away. The water in the kettle had boiled, which meant that only a few short minutes separated her from the most awkward encounter of her life.

It was clear that she wasn't feeling uncomfortable, because David sent a questioning look her way. She just shrugged it off, but he didn't seem to buy it. She slowly felt his hand crawling towards hers, and a flash of heat surged through her as their fingers intertwined.

A small frame appeared in the distance, and Leila quickly diverted her gaze. She tried to shove his hand away, but his grip only tightened around her rest, urging her to relax. Although she failed miserably to do so, she felt more confident around them than on her own.

"I didn't know if you'd like either milk or sugar, so I served both," A female voiced boomed as a pair of short heels clanked against the hardwood floor. A woman appeared from afar, sporting a classic blazer and a pair of dark skinny jeans. She looked in about her late thirties, from the wrinkles at the corners of her eyes. Her long, dark hair cascaded down her back in flowing waves that matched her dark, chocolate brown eyes. The corners of her thin lips trudged upwards in a small smile as she gathered both of her hands together.

"It's good to see you again, Leila," She spoke in a voice so soft that if it went on higher, it could possibly break glass. The woman walked over to the single armchair that was placed next to the couch and took a seat on the leather fabricated cushions. "It has been quite a long time."

"Quite?" Leila snorted, but felt David's hand on her hand tighten, urging her to have control of herself. Leila sighed impatiently at his movements.

"Thank you so much for the tea, Nancy. We really appreciate it," He started, cutting off Leila's speech that was expected to be a long, unnecessary lecture.

"Anytime, David." Nancy smiled back at him, that same one-sided smile of hers. Suddenly, Leila felt the urge to get up and slap it right off her face, but the pressure on her hand intensified, squeezing the life out of it once more.

Nancy shifted in her seat and turned to look at Leila with a heartwarming look in her eyes. However, all that Leila could feel towards the woman was pure hatred and disgust. Another one was added to the list of people who betrayed her. It was just too much to handle.

"I've been watching you closely since you've been born, you know," She started. "David always fed me up on the latest news every once in the while." Then she shot him a disapproving look. "Despite my ingratitude for what he had done to you."

Leila felt her heart fall to the pit of her stomach. She tilted her head to look at him, waiting for an explanation. He refused to look back at her the first time, but he eventually gave in. Their eyes met, and she could see a gloomy shadow casted upon them.

"I was very young when I first met your father," Nancy started, her hand shaking a bit on her thigh. I was reckless, irresponsible and fresh out of high school. It was in summer before I started with college, and we were on a vacation down the south bay. I did what was on my mind and didn't bother with what could possibly happen next. And the next thing I knew was that I fell pregnant. I haven't seen him again after that. He was said to have run out of town, converted and got married young. I then was alone, with an unwanted child growing in my womb. I had to pass on that college year for the fear of being judged in the public. So, I stayed with my mother. One night she came up saying that she knew someone who could me with my situation, in favor of a marriage contract. They got me a job. I needed to start new, and I had to give up some of the things that I loved with that, as well."