CAGED ✔

《 Chapter 17 》

Peter turned around quickly and his eyes lighted up. He looked me from my head to my toe with his eyes widening in great surprise. He looked like he had seen a ghost. I stopped on my track. Did I look so bad to get such a reaction from him?

"Beatrice?" He called out but I didn't respond.

"Wow! Beatrice! Are you the one?" He rubbed his eyes playfully and I couldn't help but laugh. Only Peter could make me laugh like a fool.

"You look so beautiful." He complimented as he walked around me slowly, taking a good look at me. I blushed which was shocking. I have never blushed in my entire life but I was blushing right now.

"What are you doing here?" He asked finally.

"I came to the engagement party. What about you? Why are you asked to get more plates? Are you one of the waiters?" I asked genuinely.

Peter laughed a throaty laugh. "Seriously, Beatrice! I'm a brother to the groom." He said smoothly and I gasped.

"Are you serious?" I turned to look at the couple who were still dancing with people spraying money on them.

"Your brother? But you look nothing like him."

"Yeah, I'm more handsome, right?" Peter smirked at me.

"Nope! The direct opposite. Are you sure you're from the same family?" I teased. Peter gasped and I laughed. His facial expression was priceless.

Immediately, reality dawned on me. I was here laughing when grandma could be somewhere close. Fear gripped me as I turned slowly to check. I was doomed if she saw me with Peter. Peter figured out something was wrong due to the change of my countenance so he asked,

"Hey! What's wrong?" He held my shoulder, turning me to look at him.

Despite being in my current situation, I could still feel some tingles on the spot Peter's hand rested on. What was wrong with me? What was with this weird feeling in my tummy whenever I saw Peter?

"I got into trouble with grandma," I said quietly.

"I knew it the moment I saw you. You can't be dressed like this without getting into trouble. No?"

"You're right. She wants to take me home but I don't want to go home. I'm running away from her. She'd take me home if she sees me. Do you have a place I can stay? I really don't want to go home." I turned to face Peter.

"You don't have to worry. Peter is right here for you." He smiled broadly at me as he grabbed my hand and led the way.

I tried to pry my hand away from his grip for it was dangerous to be holding hands in public but Peter tightened his grip. He led me into the house.

Fortunately, grandma was not in sight. The hallway was empty and Peter led me quickly to the stairs. I didn't even have time to admire the grandeur of the house.

"Where are we going?" I whispered to Peter.

"My room." He responded.

My heart thudded. It wasn't twenty-four hours yet my life felt like it had changed drastically. Many things had happened within last night to this afternoon. All steps taken by me were totally out of line from what grandma had set aside.

The stairs we climbed seemed unending and I couldn't help but complain. The wedge Iyanu had given me was already aching me. I wasn't used to such shoes.

"Almost there." Peter encouraged.

"Why is your room on the last floor? How do you even cope? I can't imagine climbing this long a stair every day."

"I'm used to it. I even use the stairs for exercise every morning." Peter responded smoothly.

Finally, we got to a door and Peter brought out a key from his pocket. He unlocked the door and we both entered.

"Welcome to my humble abode. I guarantee you a hundred per cent safety from your grandma. No one will find you here." He winked at me.

"Make yourself comfortable. The television is there for you; all yours. I'll put girls' favourite channel for you." He took the remote and changed the channel to what Iyanu had shaken her head in disgust.

It was striking that Peter had a television in his room. I couldn't help but consider the contrast. While I couldn't watch TV, he had one in his room to himself.

He could watch whatever he wanted without anyone interfering. There was also a DVD player and two home theatre standing on the floor. I was enamoured.

"Who told you this is the girls' favourite channel?" I asked Peter after some time.

"Well, I've spent quality time with girls and this is all they talk about when it comes to movie."

"I know a girl who doesn't."

"Wow! That's rare." Peter smiled at me. "You can change the channel if you don't like it. Feel comfortable. It's your house too." Peter winked at me.

"I'll be right back. I need to supply some plates. By the way, what do you want to eat?"

"Anything."

"Choose something."

"Seriously anything."

"Beans?"

"I don't mind." I shrugged.

"Just say something." Peter rolled his eyes.

"Alright, rice."

"What kind of rice?"

"Any rice."

"You're impossible." Peter shook his head and I laughed.

Peter asked me to lock the door and not open up for anyone except him. I nodded in approval as I watched him go while I locked the door. He pushed the door handle to confirm that it was truly locked before leaving finally.

I sat on Peter's slightly scattered bed after he had gone. I looked around his room. It was just as big as mine only that it had more stuff in it. There was a guitar by the wall alongside a football. Peter's bed was bigger than mine.

His wall was decorated with various football players and American musicians. There were some pictures of him too hanging on the wall. I stood up to examine them. They were pictures of him while he was a baby and while he was still in primary school. There was one of him holding a cup and a gold medal.

I walked to the window which was decorated with a beautiful curtain. I lifted the curtain and looked out of the window. I could see the garden from where I stood. I could also see what was happening outside of the compound.

This was my dream room. I had always wanted a room that had a window where I could watch happenings in my surrounding. But just as it had always been, grandma had seen into my innermost thought and had given me a room at the ground floor where I could only see the walls of the house.

I saw Peter from the window, walking with two young girls. I felt a tight knot in my tummy but I shoved it away. Though I couldn't see the girls' faces, I could see the colour of their dresses.

I couldn't get myself to picture how it would have been had I come to this engagement party with my tarpaulin as Iyanu tagged it. I couldn't imagine Peter seeing me in it though he had seen me severally with my oversized uniform which was just like the dress grandma chose.

I lost sight of Peter so I turned my gaze to the guests who were eating and drinking. Suddenly, I saw my grandmother. She was standing with her hands on her waist. A fat short woman was speaking to her. Grandma looked up and her eyes met with mine.

My heart skipped. I backed away from the window and headed to the door. I pushed the door handle. It was locked but I didn't trust locking it once. Grandma could break through it.

I fiddled with the key and kept locking it till it couldn't lock anymore yet I wasn't satisfied. I paced impatiently around the room as I held myself. Grandma saw me! Grandma was coming for me! That was all I could think about.

There was a knock at the door some minutes later and my heart skipped again. Was it grandma?