One Last Time

Sebastian carried two bags of goodies in his hand. Princess couldn't stop buying and buying, but he didn't complain. He bought everything she wanted.

He opened the backdoor of his car, and Princess hopped in. He placed the bags in the back seat with Princess and shut the door.

Stephanie opened the door and hopped in before Sebastian could open up for her. She didn't want him to act like the perfect man the old woman claimed he was.

Sebastian smiled widely and walked to the driver’s door. He opened the door and hopped in too. He ignited the engine, and he hit the road back to Manhattan.

“Thank you, Sebastian. I enjoyed myself today.” Stephanie said with a beaming smile.

“You don't have to thank me. You made my visit to the ice cream shop memorable. I can't leave my beautiful Princess out. Both of you made my day.”

“And about it being the No.1 ice cream in New York...I think I agree with that. The banana split was amazing. I would love to have it every day.”

“You can have it every day.” Sebastian looked at her, and she shook her head.

“Nah... I'll pass.”

They both busted into laughter, and Sebastian kept his eyes on the road.

Stephanie looked at Princess and saw she was busy checking out the stuff in the nylon.

“You have charmed her. Now, you would have to adopt her.”

Sebastian looked at Princess through the interior mirror and saw her smiling cutely. He giggled and kept his gaze on the road again.

“I wouldn't mind adopting her.”

After about thirty minutes, Sebastian parked his car in front of Stephanie’s house. He switched off the engine and alighted. He walked to the back door and opened it.

He pulled the bags of goodies to himself and waited for Princess to climb down. She jumped out of the car excitedly and ran to the porch.

Stephanie also stepped out of the car and waited for Sebastian to walk closer to where she was.

“I’ll have that.” She wanted to collect the bags from Sebastian, but he moved them away and shook his head.

“I got it.” He proceeded to the porch, but Stephanie stood in front of him.

“I insist, Sebastian. You have been doing everything yourself since you met us at the park. This is the least I can do.”

She held the bags and he let go of them.

“Thank you.”

“No... Thank you. I don't know how to thank you enough for everything. You have been the best.”

Sebastian bowed his head in shyness and smiled.

“Pay me back by going with me to the race tonight. I would be happy if you were there to watch me.”

“Sure. I'd love to watch you.”

An awkward silence set in as they both stared at each other. Stephanie looked away and gulped hard.

“I should take my leave now. I'll pick you up at 8 pm.”

“Okay. Bye.”

Sebastian nodded and still didn't attempt to move. All of a sudden, he moved closer to her and planted a soft kiss on her cheek.

“I’m sorry, but I have wanted to do that since morning.”

Stephanie touched her cheeks in shock and divulged a feeble smile. He waved at her and walked to his car. He hopped in and ignited the engine. He looked at her through the glass, and he saw she was still staring blankly.

He giggled and drove out of her sight.

“Stephanie!! I need my bags!”

Princess’s tiny voice jolted her out of her thoughts. She swallowed hard and turned to see Princess standing akimbo on the porch.

“I’m coming!”

She got into the house and dropped the bags on the center table.

Her parents sat in the living room. They both had their gazes glued to newspapers.

Stephanie knew they were pretending because her mother would never read newspapers. She despised it.

“I’m home.”

She said, shaking her head to see if they were going to pay her the slightest attention.

“Welcome,” Sarah said without looking up, while Philip took a glance at her and kept reading.

She heaved a sigh and headed to her room. She got into her room and met Mary lying on her bed. She had her PC in front of her.

“Welcome home, Stephanie.”

She looked at Stephanie with a straight face.

“What’s up with you? You look like you fought with Mom again.”

“She wouldn't stop disturbing me, I haven't even finished a chapter since morning.”

Stephanie smiled and crashed into her bed.

“You should have known her by now, Mary.”

“It keeps getting worse! She had to sit me down and began telling me things that are none of my business.”

“What things?”

“She wants me to talk to you about Sebastian.”

Stephanie scoffed and looked at the ceiling of her room.

“I won't be seeing him anymore after today. Maybe then they would stop forcing me on him.”

“Why do you want to stop seeing him?” Mary closed her PC and paid more attention to Stephanie.

“I don't want to give him the impression that I see him as more than a friend. He is beginning to think I'm having feelings for him, and I’m not.”

“I respect your decision, Sis. You need to make Mom understand that nothing is going to happen between you two. Maybe then she would stop bugging me.”

“Tonight, I would tell him to stay away.”

“Tonight? What is happening tonight?”

“He invited me to a race. He is a car racer, and he wants me to watch him tonight. I said yes because I have always wanted to watch one and because that is the least I can do.”

“Sounds cool. I can help you pick an outfit best for that.” Mary said excitedly, and Stephanie furrowed her brows.

“Why are you so excited about it?”

“It's the last time you would be seeing him. You should look nice.”

“Hmm.” Stephanie rolled her eyes and sighed heavily.

***

Stephanie heard a horn in front of her house. Mary rushed to the window with Stephanie’s hairband in her hand.

“It’s Sebastian. He is here.”

Stephanie looked at her leather wristwatch and saw it was four minutes to 8 pm.

“He is on time.”

Mary rushed back to where Stephanie sat in front of the mirror and continued helping her pack her hair into a ponytail.

She brushed her curly hair once more and packed the bun tightly with the hairband with her. She drew the edges of her hair and moisturized the curls with oil.

“You are good to go,” Mary said proudly.

Stephanie had no make-up on but she still looked very beautiful.

She stood up and raised her hands to check out her outfit once more.

She wore a black crop top and a black leather jacket. Underneath was a black cotton jogger and Nike Air Force sneakers. She carried a black Chanel crossbody bag.

“You look amazing. You don't have to think about it.”

“Thank you, Mary.”

Stephanie planted a kiss on Mary’s cheek and rushed out of the room.

She got to the living room and met Sarah setting up the table.

“Mom, I am going out.”

“Now? Dinner is ready. You should eat before...”

“Mom, I'll eat when I get back okay? Tell Daddy I went out for me, please.”

Stephanie rushed out of the house and ran down the porch to meet Sebastian.

She saw him standing and resting on the body of his car. He was wearing a Red Bull jumpsuit and Micheal Jordan sneakers.

“Wow... You look so... Great!” He uttered as soon as she got closer.

He raised his eyebrows as he checked her out. She looked hotter than usual.

“Thank you! You look chic too!”

He laughed and nodded. He opened the door for her and she hopped in.

He rushed to the other side of the car and hopped into the car too.

“You came five minutes earlier.”

“Yes. I love sticking to time.” He pulled his seatbelt, and he fixed it.

“Really?” Stephanie asked, also fixing her seatbelt.

“Yes. Don't worry as time goes on, you'll get to know more interesting things about me.”

The smile on Stephanie’s face faded away slowly as she heard his statement.

*If only he knew this would be the last time I would see him*