The next day, Lying in bed, Cordelia was fast asleep when her phone suddenly vibrated, and the sound of an incoming message broke the deep silence.
She rubbed her sleepy eyes and checked her phone, seeing that it was a text from her newly made friend, David.
“Good Morning Cordelia, I hope you had a good night’s rest. I Just wanted to send some positivity your way as you start your day today.”
“I hope today brings you all the good things you deserve and that you feel energized and ready to tackle whatever comes your way.”
“Remember, I'm always here if you need a listening ear or a shoulder to lean on. Have a great day today!”
She smiled, feeling grateful for his sweet message, but couldn't help feeling a little groggy as she tried to drift back to sleep.
“At least I have a friend now, and a sweet one at that.” Cordelia said, with a wide smile on her face. Cordelia stayed on the bed for a while with a smile on her face thinking about the message she had just received.
‘What do I send in response to David?’ Cordelia thought to herself as she stood up to go brush her teeth and take her bath.
By the time Cordelia got back from the bathroom, David had called her twice.
When Cordelia picked her phone and saw the calls from David that she had missed, she smiled, playing with her hair.
Before she could put her phone down, David had called again.
Cordelia drew a long breath before picking the call.
“Hello Cordelia…Good Morning. It’s David speaking”
“Oh, I know. Good Morning David.” She said with a little bit of excitement in her voice.
She noticed that David sounded a bit tired, so she asked him…
“You sound a bit tired, hope you’re good?” “Yeah, I am, I just think I’m down with a cold.”“I’m so sorry David. It’s all my fault, I shouldn’t have collected your Jacket. We don’t have classes today, I’d have returned it to you.” Cordelia said, sounding remorseful.
“Well, you know, you can still return it today. Since we don’t have classes today… ummm, I was thinking…why don’t we meet up later today and talk?” David said with his voice quaking.
“Oh… me and you?” Cordelia responded, sounding quite surprised.
“Yeah, me and you, that’s if it’s fine by you.”“Yeah, yeah, that’s fine, I don’t really have so much to do today anyways so it’s alright.”
“Alright, I’d send my driver to you when it’s time. Is 1pm okay?” David asked…
One could tell that David was smiling, and how happy he was over the phone.“Yeah, 1pm is fine.”
“I can't wait to see you.” David said, his voice filled with anticipation.“Me too.” She whispered, feeling her heart skip a beat as she dropped the call.
Cordelia began to question her emotions after the call.“Am I falling in love with David? I thought it was Jared?”
Cordelia concluded that it was Jared’s cold behavior that made her catch feelings for David.Cordelia was too excited to even think about that. She wanted to get ready for her date with David.
“What would I wear? This shoe would look good on me.”
As she sat in front of her closet, Cordelia could not contain her excitement. Immediately, she tried calling Mckayla’s number so she could help her dress up for her date.
“Hey, girl!” Mckayla answered.
“Hey, I need your help!” she said, her voice filled with excitement. “I have a date in a few hours and I have no idea what to wear.”
Mckayla laughed. “ Of course, I'll be right over. Just send me your address.”
Within minutes, her friend arrived, armed with a bottle of wine and a keen eye for fashion.
Together, they laughed and tried on different outfits, pairing them with the perfect shoes and accessories.
It was already 12:47pm.
After a bunch of outfit changes and makeup touch-ups, she looked in the mirror and smiled.Cordelia was wearing a black short gown, exposing a little bit of her cleavage, red lipstick, black stiletto heels with red bottoms and some gold statement earrings that Mckayla had brought with her.
With her Side-swept BlowOut hair, Cordelia felt so pretty.
“Thank you so much Mckayla.” she said, feeling confident and ready for her date.
“Anytime, girl,” Mckayla replied, giving her a hug. “Now go out there and knock 'em dead!”
“The driver is here.” Cordelia said to Mckayla as she hurried out of the room.
“His jacket! I forgot his jacket.” Cordelia shouted, running back to the room.“Make sure you have fun.” Mckayla said, waving as she left the house too.
Cordelia and the driver were on the road for 15 minutes till it finally parked in front of a very lovely restaurant.
David removed the brown sun shades that he was wearing, opened the door of the car, and stretched his hands out to help her out of the car.
“Here, allow me.” He said, stretching his left hand towards her. Immediately she stepped out, David said, “My goodness you look so beautiful.”
One could feel the enthusiasm in his voice as he spoke.
“Thank you David. You’re looking really good too.” Cordelia responded.
David was wearing an olive green polo Ralph Lauren shirt, paired with gray pants. He was wearing a black leather wristwatch and on his feet was a pair of black loafers to complete his look.
David went in for a hug, and Cordelia couldn’t help but notice how amazing he smelt.
For the first five seconds, she thought she was hugging Jared. The flashes of the first time she met Jared rushed through her mind.
“Oh please, call me Dave.” David said, letting go of her.
David had brought her to such a nice restaurant.
The restaurant's exterior was such a sight to behold. It had a grand entrance made of heavy wooden doors, framed by beautiful stonework, and topped with a gilded sign, welcoming guests inside.
The entrance was flanked by wrought iron lanterns, casting a warm, inviting glow.
“Shall we?” David asked…
As they approached, the scent of freshly bloomed flowers filled the air.
The restaurant's patio was lined with potted plants and beautiful flowers, spilling out of their containers in a riot of color.
Cordelia could hear the sound of a trickling fountain creating a soothing ambiance.“Welcome to Da Papel. This way please.” the Waiter at the door said to them.
David had already made reservations for them.Walking inside, the large windows on either side of the entrance let in a flood of natural light, illuminating the impressive room.
The space was adorned with stunning chandeliers, casting a warm glow over the tables below.
Elegant curtains draped the windows, giving the room a sense of grandeur.
The walls were painted in a muted cream color, adorned with tasteful artwork and mirrors that reflected the light and made the room feel even more spacious.
The floor was made of polished marble, reflecting the grandeur of the space.
“This place is so beautiful.” Cordelia said with excitement written all over her face.
“Thank you, my dad owns the place, but we’re not eating for free.” David responded as he drew a chair for Cordelia to sit on.
“Thank you.” She responded, laughing at what he said.
“Wow…This is really really nice.” She said to David, as he waved his hand to the waiter.
“Before I forget, here’s your Jacket Dave. Thank you so much. I really hope you get better soon.”
“Oh, thank you! What would you like to eat?” David asked, placing his jacket in a basket beside him.
“You know, I’ve always wanted to eat Ispod Peke. I saw it in a movie one time.”
“Then Ispod Peke it is” David said, signaling to the waiter to come take their order.The waiter brought the food, and they ate.
4 hours had passed and it was time to go home.
Walking outside the restaurant, David said to Cordelia…
“Your presence brings me such warmth and happiness Cordelia, I wish I could always spend time with you.”“I feel good when I spend time with you too. You’re such an amazing person.”
At that moment, Cordelia felt shivers run down her spine.She knew that she was going to have to choose between Jared and David..She was already falling in love.
“I have to go now. Thank you so much for today David. Oh, Dave.” She said, chuckling.
“My driver will take you back home.” David said looking at her eyes and then her lips like he was going to kiss her.
“Alright. Thank you.” Cordelia said, looking deeply into his eyes.
Cordelia was about to enter the car when David pulled her by the hand, making her face him.
He held her by the waist and leaned in for a kiss.David was a gentleman, so he kissed her on her cheeks instead.
Cordelia’s heart was going as fast as a race car.She thought David was going to kiss her.He did anyway, but not where she was thinking.
“Let me know when you get home.” David said.
“I sure will. Thank you again Dave. See you another time.”
David responded with a smile, waving his hands as the driver drove away.
Cordelia smiled all the way back to the house, enthusiastically narrating what had happened on the phone to Mckayla…
It was another monotonous day, blending into the seemingly endless stream of school days for Cordelia. As she lay in bed, a heavy sense of dread settled over her, casting a shadow on her thoughts. The mere idea of facing another day filled her with anxiety and unease.Ever since that dreadful incident a few days ago, Cordelia couldn't shake off the lingering horror. The memory of it replayed in her mind, haunting her every waking moment.She longed to escape the repetitive cycle, yearning for something different, something that would break the monotony."I don't want to go to school," Cordelia muttered to herself, her voice filled with resignation. "It's just going to be the same thing all over again. I'll be trapped in a classroom, bored out of my mind. During recess, I'll feel lonely and like an outcast."Yet, amidst her internal turmoil, another voice emerged, gently reminding her of the reasons why she had to face the day. "But Cordelia, you have to go to school. You can't hide
It’s been 3 months since Cordelia arrived in Croatia and started schooling at the University of Pliver.Cordelia woke up to the loud sound of someone banging on her apartment door at 7am in the morning.She took a peep through the door hole, and it was the owner of the apartment that Mr Smith had rented for her.“Good Morning Ma.” Cordelia greeted as she opened the door.“Good Morning Cordelia. Sorry that I had to disturb your morning. I just wanted to let you know that your rent is due for Friday.I wouldn’t have come, but I’ve been unable to reach Mr Smith.” The home owner replied.“Oh… I see. Thank you very much ma’am.” “You’re welcome.” She said, as she turned to take her leave.As Cordelia closed the door, she began to mutter…‘What’s happening? I thought Mr Smith said he had had paid for everything’ Immediately Cordelia got to her room, she picked up her phone and called Mr Smith, but it was to no avail as well.‘I haven’t even heard from him for the past 3 months now. What’
“Why did Cordelia rush out of the bar like that? What happened?” Jared asked McKayla, his curiosity piqued by Cordelia's sudden departure.“She came to borrow some money, and I gave her my condition. I can’t give my money for free. I work really, really hard for it,” McKayla explained with a hint of frustration in her voice. 'Money? She came here for money?' Jared thought, silently piecing together the situation. He was taken aback by the revelation but maintained his composure. "How much was she asking for?" he inquired, genuinely curious. “She was asking for 5k+,” McKayla replied, her tone indicating that the amount was substantial. "But, McKayla, you can afford that easily. Why don't you just lend it to her?"Jared countered, surprised by McKayla's hesitation. “I want her to work for me, Jared. With that girl, I’m going to make so much money," McKayla responded with a determined glint in her eyes. Her ambitious nature shone through, as she saw an opportunity to capitalize on Corde
Cordelia woke up the next morning with David on her mind.On one hand, she was relieved that she had been able to pay both bills before the deadlines. On the other side, the decision that she had just made has been eating deep into her conscience. ‘How will I keep such a secret from someone that loves me so much?’ She thought silently.“David loves me so much. I can’t do this to him.” Cordelia said, with tears almost rolling down her eyes.‘I always have to make such hard decisions, and I always end up sad. Oh, what a life.’ She thought.Cordelia decided that she was not willing to keep such a big secret away from David, and so she called him, wanting to come clean.So she picked up her phone and called David.“Hey Baby.” David answered.“David. Good afternoon.” Cordelia said in a low tone.“Are you good? What’s wrong with your voice?” David asked.“I’m fine David. Can we meet today? I’d be at the park behind our campus. There’s something I need us to talk about..”“Are you sure you
Coming from the fainting goat, Cordelia stormed her way through the glass doors downstairs. She was going to take the elevator to her apartment floor, before she was interrupted.“Good Afternoon Miss Cordelia. A letter came in for you. It’s in front of your door..” One of the security men at her apartment said.“A letter? From who? Anyways, thank you very much. Good afternoon.” She responded.The security man had dropped the yellow envelope for Cordelia on the brown mat in front of her door.“Who could this be from?” Cordelia said to herself as she tried to open her apartment door.There was no address on the letter, only a little brown seal that held the envelopes flap tightly.Cordelia let out a deep sigh. The thought of what just happened at the bar was still poking at her mind. “How could she do such a thing to me? She knows I don’t like that man! She knows what he tried to do to me.”Cordelia was both sad and mad at the current state of things.She opened the curtains and droppe
Cordelia could barely even find sleep through the night.‘I can’t believe I survived the night’ Cordelia said to herself in a low tone as she turned to her right side, waking up.Aside from staying up to read for the exam that she had, Cordelia could only think about David.It was 7:50am, and Cordelia still laid in bed, with David running through her mind like a track athlete.As she reluctantly rose from her bed, Cordelia couldn't shake the memory of David's pained expression the last time they met, his conflicted eyes piercing through her soul.She knew she had hurt him deeply, but she couldn't ignore the overwhelming need that pushed her toward such desperate measures of survival.Over love, Cordelia’s choice was to survive.Cordelia got on the bus that was to drop her at school, her mind ravaged by so many emotions.Her heart was fluttering with anticipation and her mind was covered in so much doubt. ‘Will David be at the gate? We’re still friends at least.’ She thought to hersel
Jared arrived at the entrance of the bar, his frustration evident on his face as he addressed the bouncer."Excuse me, is McKayla inside?" he inquired, his tone revealing a sense of urgency. The bouncer, recognizing Jared, greeted him politely. "Welcome, sir," he responded, allowing him to enter unhindered. Sensing something amiss, another bouncer discreetly followed Jared into the bar. Storming through the crowded venue, Jared attracted curious glances, but no one dared to impede his progress or lay a hand on him. His determination was palpable in the air, his eyes bloodshot from a mixture of anger and distress. Without hesitation, Jared barged into McKayla's soundproof office, the door swinging open with force. The bouncer who had trailed him stood at the entrance, uncertain of what was about to unfold. McKayla, seated behind her desk, attempted to maintain an air of composure despite the flicker of fear dancing in her eyes. Deep down, she knew why Jared had come. It was a fear
Cordelia tried so hard to hold back her tears as she walked home back from school. The weight of her emotions pressed heavily on her shoulders, making each step feel more laborious than the last. "Get it together, girl," she whispered to herself, sniffling and trying to regain her composure. Her journey from school to home would take up to an hour on foot, but she welcomed the solitude and the opportunity it provided to clear her head. As Cordelia walked, memories of her family and friends flashed through her mind, offering a fleeting sense of comfort in the midst of her current situation. 'I'm so tired. If anyone had ever said I'd go through something like this, I'd have probably laughed it off. But look at me now, moving from frying pan to fire,' Cordelia thought to herself silently, her thoughts filled with weariness and disbelief. Lost in her thoughts, Cordelia suddenly noticed a car had stopped by her side, interrupting her train of thought. Her instincts kicked in, and she q