THEY CALL IT 'DADDY ISSUE'- CHAPTER 8

 I waited for a call, a text, anything for George to tell me that he didn’t want to see me again. I expected it, but there was no text till the next morning.

‘Hey, love. Can we talk? Text me when you see this’ or did he want to break up in person?

We planned on talking over lunch, so I got dressed and took an Uber to our usual spot, the place we first met. I found him sitting at a table and looking at his phone screen. As soon as he saw me, his eyes lit up. He stood up and hugged me, instantly melting away the fear of a possible breakup. The hug was filled with longing and the amber scent of his cologne.

“Hi, I’ve missed you, Dee” Did he forget he was angry at me?

“I’ve missed you too” I replied as we sat down, my seat at the table facing his. He just stared at me with the same expression he had before the fight.

“Daniella, I don’t like it when we fight. Please, can we talk about it?”

“It’s not…The news was just overwhelming and scary for me. Telling your mum is a big deal”

“I’m sorry. You’re an exciting part of my life, and I wanted her to know. I wanted her to know how beautiful these five months have been” He stopped talking as the waiter placed the pepperoni pizza and two cans of orange juice, which George had ordered, on the table.

“Babe, it’s fine”

“Daniella, it’s always fine with you” He chuckled “I think I’m the troublesome one in this relationship”

“George, you’re not troublesome”

“So, how am I? Tell me. Do you think I’m sweet?” He asked with a broad smile.

“You’re really expressive. I like it. Yes, I think you are sweet too” I replied, and watched his smile grow wider. “George, is that smile going to be like that for the rest of the day?” He nodded with the smile still there. We soon started digging into the extra scrumptious spicy pepperoni pizza.

“Heyy, George. Long time!” A girl who looked like she was in her early 20s said in a high-pitched voice. George stood up to hug her, returning the excitement in his voice. She was fair-skinned, about 5’7 tall with an hourglass figure; she looked like beauty in all its expressions.

“Babe, meet Evelyn. She’s an old friend. We go way back” He introduced her. I expected her to stretch her hand for a handshake, but she hugged me instead.

“Nice to meet you, uh?” I took the hint and said my name “Daniella” “Daniella, George is so lucky to have you” I blushed. George and Evelyn continued talking, and I couldn’t help but notice the familiarity between them. Soon, she left, and as she walked, it was like she could give several lessons on poise. She looked really good. As we returned to the pizza, George kept talking about their adventures in secondary school. He seemed so excited that I paused and imagined them together. In my head, they looked good. I panicked internally.

“She’s really pretty” I said in a low voice. I noticed George stopped eating.

“But you’re prettier” George said. He was obviously lying. It wasn’t just her face or her figure. It was her aura, soft yet intimidating. She looked so sure of who she was. I couldn’t match up to half of that.

“Daniella, you know I can see your face. She’s an old friend. There’s nothing there” I knew he was telling the truth, but the possibility scared me. She could give him everything I couldn’t. I don’t even think I have ever matched the excitement on her face when she saw him.

“I know. I trust you, George” I tried to make small talk to distract him from the fact that I was now scared that there was someone better for him, and I just met her. We finished eating and chatted a bit.

“You’ve never told me about your dad, your family, even” George said.

“There’s nothing much to tell. I’m the first child, and I have twin brothers”

“Did you guys fight a lot growing up?”

“Yes, we did. They were so stubborn, they still are”

“And your mum?” There was silence as I just stared ahead, looking at nothing in particular

“She’s fine” was easier to say than ‘I never met her. I wish I did. I wish I had experienced her love, even if it was for a day. Maybe my dad would have been nicer to me’

“Did you ever have those moments where you’d burn the food she told you to cook or forget to bring out the food she kept in the freezer? What did she do to you?”

“I had those moments. She just scolded me, that’s all”

“And your dad? How…”

“Babe, I think the Uber is here” Thankfully, that ended the conversation, and we finally left the restaurant.

A week later, George invited me to hang out with him and his friends, Evelyn included. She was around for a month and just wanted to have fun. I didn’t have any tests or exams coming up. My grades were good, so I saw no reason to decline the invitation.

We went to a game and entertainment centre. It was me, George, his two male friends and Evelyn. George already introduced Evelyn to them, so the three of them were talking.

“Do you know George doesn’t remember his guys again?” One of his friends, Michael, said.

“It’s now Daniella this, Daniella that,” his other friend, Tobi, replied. George laughed while I blushed. Soon, we went to the games. The first was virtual reality, and all of us took turns playing. It was really scary, and I couldn’t get past the first round. The next game was tic-tac-toe. I didn’t want to play, so I just watched them play. The first pair were Michael and Tobi; Michael won. The next were George and Evelyn, who both looked like they were ready to defeat each other. As they played, the arguments between them were mixed with laughter. He made her laugh, and so did she. The picture I had imagined before reappeared. George’s eyes met mine, and the smile on his face faded.

“Guys, which other game should we play? Babe, which one do you want to play?” Now everyone’s attention was on me. I look at the card they gave each of us at the entrance. I chose bowling, so we all went bowling. On our way there, George whispered “Sorry, I left you alone back there” he pecked my cheek and held my hand in his. Bowling was fun. I didn’t do badly at all. George played like he had been playing before. The last was the basketball hoops. We headed to a nearby restaurant and got some snacks, while talking about different things and who was better at each game, before we called it a day. Evelyn was the first to go home, and George and I were the last. We sat at the restaurant for a while, then I bloated out what should have stayed in my mind.

“You guys look happy together” Before I could catch my words, he did.

“And what does that mean?”

“Nothing. It just came out”

“So you were thinking it?” His voice rose a bit. “Daniella, what is wrong with us? I’ve tried to make sure that any contact I make with Evelyn is one you would be aware of, even present. I told you there’s nothing there. I’m happy here with you. Is this going to happen every time you see her?”

“George, I’m sorry. She just looks perfect”

“And you don’t? Dee, I’ve told you countlessly how beautiful and perfect you are. But, you don’t see it, do you?” I just avoided his eyes without a reply. “Daniella, do you even love yourself?”

The tears didn’t hold back as they rolled down my face.

“Daniella, I love you, but I can’t teach you to love yourself. When you learn to love yourself, you’ll know how to love properly. I’m sorry, I…I” Tears threatened to flow from his eyes as he spoke. “I can’t keep doing this. I’ve been trying to do all the right things, but they keep blowing up in my face. You never tell me what is wrong. Five months, five months, and I still don’t know you enough. I’m sorry, truly I am”

“George, I’m sorry. Please, I’m sorry” I tried to hold his hands, but he withdrew them from the table.

“Your Uber is here” He said, avoiding my eyes. That was it, George and I were over. The best months of my life just came to an end. I waited for the text saying he missed me. I texted, but there was no response. The night of the breakup was the worst, and so were the next three months.