Amara's POV
I went to sit in the car like everything was normal. My heart was still racing from all the things I said to Ivan. The look on his face scared me to dead but I felt relieved. I didn't want him to think he used me , never! He sat down in the car and pulled out a tissue from the tissue box. He moved towards me and wiped the corners of my mouth to my surprise. My heart skipped a beat and I felt embarrassed at the same time.
"Don't forget to wipe your mouth next time " he smirked. This wasn't his reaction earlier! What's going on , I thought.
"Should I drop you home or at the cafe ?" He asked.
"I can go and meet him myself no need to drop me off" I replied
"Come on Amara … you don't want to keep the love of your life waiting " he said and I could tell he was teasing me. Did I sound foolish when I said that earlier? I asked myself.
"What are you implying "
"Did I not state a fact , what did I imply?"
"You know what… just drop me at the cafe " I said and he nodded. The drive to the cafe felt so awkward. Ivan tuned on a music and he kept nodding to the tune. Eric called me two minutes before we got there. He was standing in front of the cafe and constantly checking his wrist watch.
"It seems the love of your life is pissed !" Ivan teased when we got there.
"You don't have to keep on telling me that" I rolled my eyes and got out.
"You can leave now " I said to him but he insisted on staying and sending me back home.
"Don't you trust your best friend!"
"I'm just being responsible for you as your mom ordered me to " he replied and I left , not wanting to argue with him any further.
"Sorry for keeping you waiting " I apologized and hugged Eric.
"It's okay baby … come " he said and led me inside, holding my hands. We sat down and ordered some fruit juice since I was already full.
"So what do you say !" He said excitedly. Earlier I wanted to come and tell him I was going to be his girlfriend but Ivan interrupted and I'm going insane again. I love Ivan and anytime he gets closer to me, I think he feels the same way about me but what if I was wrong.
"I'm sorry Eric but I don't think I can be your girlfriend… at least not now!" I said trying so hard not to hurt his feelings. His facial expression changed and you could clearly tell how disappointed he was. He immediately stopped sipping onto his drink and held my hands.
"I'm I putting pressure on you Amara?" He asked worriedly.
"No Eric, you've been such a sweetheart but I want to focus on my studies for now… I'm failing some of my classes " I said, knowing perfectly well that wasn't the reason why I was rejecting him.
"Are you really failing?" He asked with a look of concern in his eyes and I nodded.
"I understand you okay… I can give you more time to think about it but I would love it if you could visit me this weekend " he said
"This weekend?" I asked again
"Yeah, will that be a problem?"
"No , not at all … I will surely visit " I smiled
"Thank you so much Amara!" He said excitedly and kissed the back of my palm. We talked for a while and I actually felt good about the whole meeting. I honestly thought Eric was going to be mad and pissed but he actually handled the situation well and there was no way I wasn't visiting him this weekend. I stepped out of the cafe with Eric and surprisingly Ivan's car was still parked.
"Did he really wait !" I said out loud.
"Who ?" Eric asked, following my gaze.
"Ivan! Did you call him?" Eric asked surprised.
"My mom did … see you during the weekends Eric, I've got to go " I said and leaned in to hug him.
"Alright sure " he said still looking at Ivan's car.
"Did you really wait here for an hour " I said to him when I got into the car.
"Did you agree to be his girlfriend?" He asked, keenly waiting for my answer.
"That's none of your business!" I replied
"It is Amara ! " He replied loudly
"How is that your business Ivan… if I recall correctly you are neither a friend nor a relative so why the fuck should I be telling you what's going on in my life!"
"I might not be anything to you but you are something to me Amara can't you get that !"
"What I'm I to you huh? That girl you fuck with when the love of your life isn't around or that girl you feel you can come around and play with her anytime you feel bored!" I replied angrily
"Who gave you that stupid idea about me ?" He rubbed his hands through his hair .
"You Ivan ! You claim I mean something to you but what about your girlfriend… why do you still have her around if you claim you love me?" I asked and he became silent all of a sudden.
"I said it!" I smiled bitterly.
"You don't understand Amara and trust me…"
"Shut the fuck up Ivan! One word from you and I'm out of this car !" I said feeling so heartbroken.
"Please…" he said and I got out of the car .
"Amara! Wait!" He chased after me.
"Amara!" He held my hand and turned me around so I was facing him .
"Leave me alone Ivan!" I yelled.
"Listen… this is crazy but what I feel for you is real Amara , I don't even know what's wrong with me but I tend to miss you a lot and I love spending time with you!" He said
"And you think that is love?" I laughed.
"What else if not that …" he replied
"Listen Ivan, I can never believe you with Chloe still around… if you claim to love me break up with Chloe, can you do that?" I asked and he stood there speechless.
"You can't right?" I said, my heart aching.
"I'm sorry…" he replied and turned around. At that moment I just wished he had remained silent. His words broke my heart to pieces and they kept echoing in my ears .
"I will drop you home " he said and went to sit in the car. I went to sit and he dropped me off at home. He never spoke a word to me throughout the entire ride and I preferred it that way cause I honestly felt like crying and opening my mouth would have triggered it .
I rushed inside my room , ignoring mom and Jared who were in the living room. I threw myself on my bed and sobbed.
"Are you okay sweetheart " mom said from outside my door.
"Amara!" Jared called out in his tiny voice and that made me cry more.
"I want to be alone mom!" I replied, still crying.
"I'm worried about you dear … what's wrong and can you please open the door?" Mom said and I could tell how worried she was.
"I'm fine mom please leave me alone and take Jared away , I don't want him to feel sad"
"He's on the verge of crying… please talk to us !"
"Please go away mom!" I yelled and I could hear her footsteps retreating. Ivan wasn't my boyfriend but the pain I was going through was that of a heartbreak .
Ivan's POV
I looked through my window and peeped inside Amara's room. She was on her bed and sobbing into her pillow. "Why didn't she close her windows" I thought feeling heartbroken. Even though she tries to hide her feelings from me , I know Amara is in love with me and my actions are hurting her. I just wish the situation was different and I could easily make her mine but here I was being a coward.
"This thing with Chloe has to stop!" I thought and grabbed my car keys.
"Where are you going Ivan?" Mom asked .
"I have an important business to take care of mom" I replied.
"Alright then please be safe "
"I will " I replied and hugged her.
"Why are you being sweet today " she smiled.
"Can't I hug you " I smiled.
"I didn't mean that " she said and I left.
I arrived at Chloe's place in no time only to be told she wasn't around. I texted and called her but she didn't pick up my calls nor replied my texts. I was settling this issue once and for all with her and I cared less about her blackmail. My mom was mine and I was going to handle her myself. I stayed in my car and waited until it was 11pm. I was about to leave but a car pulled out in front of her house and she stepped out. She waved the driver and was about to enter but I stopped her.
"Ivan! You startled me!" She said
"I care less Chloe!" I replied angrily.
"What are you doing here by this time of the night?" She asked
"I'm here to talk to you Chloe so listen carefully…"
"Are you about to threaten me ?"
"I don't have time for that… I don't know what you want to achieve with playing all those games but I'm sick and tired of your blackmail and your manipulative lifestyle! Listen carefully …" I said angrily with clenched fist.
"From today onwards I don't want to see you anywhere near my mom … don't you even dare to come closer to her shadow cause you and I are over and I don't want you anywhere near my family!"
"Is that all you've got to say !" She laughed.
"Don't you dare Chloe or you will see the bad side of me !"
"Fine I've heard you but I think you should rather tell your mom to stay away from me " she said showing me her phone with my mom calling.
"Listen Ivan we are destined to be together since childhood and please don't let your lustful thoughts for that Amara ruin in everything we've had" she said, moving closer to me.
"Whatever my intentions are with Amara is and will never be your business and stop daydreaming , dating you was a mistake!" I said and walked out on her.
"You know that's not love you feel for her!" She shouted after me.