Chapter 7 - Silence

"Hey," Loretta said quite surprised.

"Hey" Kendrick replied.

Roy noticed the way they both greeted each other.

"You guys know each other?" he asked.

"Yeah" Loretta smiled.

"Oh, that's great then," he smiled.

"Anyways, Loretta meets my friends," Roy said pointing at the three men standing.

Loretta was like" friends?" that ringed in her head.

"Is nice to meet you all" She gave a charming smile.

"You're welcome beautiful," Castro said.

"You're very beautiful," Josh said to her.

"Yeah, she is," Roy said.

"Tell us bro, is she the woman who has been taking more of your time lately?" Castro asked.

"Alright guys don't be silly, this isn't the right time"Roy laughed trying to ignore the question.

Kendrick all along didn't say a word. All he does was just smile and sip his drink and that was making Loretta a bit uncomfortable.

Loretta excused herself and went to use the restroom.

The guys gisted while the dinner party was still on.

***

Kendrick, Castro, Josh, and Roy have been friends even before they all went for their further studies in England.

They became friends through the influence of their parents.

The friendship bonds of these families have been coming for more than a decade.

They don't hook up often due to their tight schedules but when they do, they always end up having the best time.

***

"Bro for real, your girl is damn hot," Castro said immediately Loretta left them.

Roy only smiled and sipped from his drink feeling proud.

"He never admitted she's the girl," Josh said.

He doesn't need to admit it.

"We all know he doesn't have time for any girl and for him to bring this very one along here as his company, it only means one thing and that is because he loves her" Castro explained.

"Can you guys just let me have some breathing space?" Roy asked.

"No," both Castro and Josh said simultaneously.

"Hmmm" Roy rubbed his forehead in frustration.

Okay fine. I do love her but I still haven't told her yet." We're just friends" Roy explained.

"Wait, hold on," Castro said.

"You haven't told her how you feel?" He asked

"Yes, I haven't," he replied.

"Why?" Kendrick who has been quiet finally asked.

"I feel she has someone," Roy said.

How sure are you? Josh asked.

Not sure but I feel that way.

"I mean you don't expect a pretty girl like her to be single right?" He asked his friends.

That still doesn't justify a thing. You need to speak up." At least let her know how you feel man" Castro said.

"Yeah. I will" Roy said.

"So, Kendrick, tell us about how you both met," Castro questioned.

“She works for a company I went into partnership with some time ago.”

"Yeah, that's how we met," he said.

Okay.

Shindell right? Roy asked.

Yeah.

"Alright. That's cool," Roy smiled

The guys changed the topic and talked about how they've all been. It was just like the dinner party was specifically meant for them to hook up again.

***

"How come these guys know each other or are they playing a prank on me or what?" Loretta questioned herself in the bathroom.

"No, it can't be," she dismissed the thought and hurried back outside.

Loretta waited a few more minutes before she told Roy that she's having a stomach upset and she needs to go home.

Roy bides his friend good night and drove her home.

***

Kendrick was already getting all emotional but he was trying so hard to compose himself.

He felt a bit relieved though when Roy admitted that he hasn't asked her out yet but he don't like the idea or rather the feeling that Roy and Loretta already met.

He knows too well that Roy is the ladies' man. He's so good with words and that makes it easier for him to get any girl he wants despite he hardly has time for them.

"But in any case, he wouldn't let what he heard that night change his plan because Loretta is his," he said to himself.

***

Immediately Loretta got home, she had her bathe, put off her phone, and went to sleep.

The following morning, Loretta woke up feeling tired. She sluggishly dragged herself to the kitchen and make herself breakfast.

She was in the kitchen when she remembered she had put her phone off last night.

She went back inside the room to grab her phone.

Immediately she put it on, a call came through.

Hello...

"Good morning beautiful," Kendrick said.

Good morning, Ken.

How are you doing? She asked.

I'm ok. Hope you aren't tired from last night? He asked.

Not really.

Alright.

Yeah. I was surprised to have met you yesterday. "I never knew you have any bond with Roy," she said.

Yeah, Roy and I have been friends for a long time.

"Wow, that's great," she smiled.

Yeah.

"Can we hang out tomorrow? " He asked

"That's Sunday, Okay," she said.

Alright, I'll come to pick you up.

Okay.

"Enjoy your day beautiful," he said before ending the call.

The rest of the day went just like that. Loretta lazied around the house throughout that day.

Normally her weekends are for her blogs but that very weekend, she wasn't in the mood to do anything. She was just on the couch watching a movie all day long.

The following day...

She got dressed in a very beautiful palazzo and a crop top to go with it, topping it up with a leather jacket.

Once she was done dressing she took pictures and await Kendrick's arrival and in no time, she got a call that he was already outside the house.

She quickly touches her lips with a gloss before stepping out.

Immediately Kendrick saw her, he was carried away again. He still hasn't gotten used to this beautiful goddess just yet.

"You look amazing," he said.

"Thank you," she blushed.

Kendrick seemed lost.

"Shall we?" She brought him back to life.

"Yes please," he said to her after opening the door for her to climb in.

They arrived at the restaurant. It was an expensive one downtown.

Loretta noticed their space was already reserved and in no time, they arrived with their order.

A FEW MINUTES LATER…

"So, tell me, how did you meet Roy?" Kendrick asked.

We meet at a supermarket a few months back. "It was an awkward moment," she said

"Tell me about it," he said.

Okay. He was trying to get something for a friend who is ill but he had no idea what to get and that was how I came into the picture.

"Hmmm… nice," he said.

Yeah.

"So how long have you guys been friends?" She asked.

"For 14 years," he said.

"Wow! That has been a very long time," she exclaimed

"Yeah. It is" he replied"

*Silence*

"Uhm Loretta?" He called.

Yes.

"I do like you," he said.

Loretta smiled.

"For real, I do like you. I don't know what you feel for me but I know I like you a lot," he said.

I like you too Kendrick but we need to slow down.

"You have someone you're dating?" He asked

"None at the moment," she replied

What about Roy? He asked

He's just a friend like you.

Hmmm... okay.

Yeah.

There was another awkward silence for few minutes before Loretta spoke up.

You don't have a girl in your life? She asked.

"None…" he replied staring straight into her.

"That's hard to believe anyways," Loretta said.

"As I told you before, I've found her but still haven't told her yet," he said.

Why are you still delaying it? She asked.

"She does see me as just a friend and I don't want to push more than that. I presume time will tell," he smiled.

"Okay," Loretta said trying to connect the dots.

They changed the topic while they both talked about work and how she's ready to resume back the office.

"Once again, thank you for speaking on my behalf for my official leave," she said.

"Common, you do deserve it," he said.

"Thanks anyway," she smiled.

You're welcome.

They left the restaurant once they were done.

Kendrick drove her back home.

"Thanks for today, I do enjoy my evening," Loretta said to him still seated in the car.

"I'm glad you did," he smiled.

"Alright. Goodnight," she said in a whisper.

Okay.

"You will know only when the time is right," he said to them.

"Okay. We will be Patiently waiting. Meanwhile, tell us about your babe Roy," Josh said.

Loretta yeah? Castro asked.

"Yeah, that's her name," Roy answered.

"So tell us what we need to hear," Castro said.

Well, I told her how I feel but she said she isn't ready for any relationship at the moment.

"That's what they all say but trust me when this girl sees real money, she'll be ready," Josh said.

What if she's not that kind of girl? Kendrick asked.

"Every girl likes money bro," Josh said.

"Whichever she is, guy, I'm ready to wait," Roy said.

Kendrick just looked at him and didn't say a word.

Oh yeah? Castro asked.

"Yeah. I love that girl man. She’s, my type. She's exactly what I want my woman to be," Roy said.

"Okay. Best of luck man!" Castro tapped his shoulder.

The guys gisted and had the best moments together.