Sneaking to meet a younger person

"Father" Raina unexpectedly cut in.

"No disagreement " he snapped with a strict tone of finality.

"He has informed his parents about the progress of his relationship. In fact, he gave me your engagement ring since you stubbornly walked out on him the other day he planned to propose to you. So…you can't blame him. It's a great honour that someone that influential is willing to be my in-law, my dear daughter." her father emphasized without any bother of her current situation. She couldn't breathe properly as she was experiencing a mini-panic attack at that moment.

It felt like the world became still. She couldn't bear to take in the news. She ain't interested in lovey-dovey but never for once thought her love life would turn out this way. A proposal through her father? Marriage with someone she doesn't love?

"This isn't different from a paedophile father" she finally breaks down in a shaky voice. She had been strong but not anymore as it seemed it was getting real each day.

"You are brilliant enough to know that you are an adult. So…there is nothing like a pedophile my dearest. I have tried to explain how beneficial this is to you. I made the best decision for you by accepting Gerold. Now enough of the talks, you will be meeting them tomorrow. I made your favourite Sushi. Common go and freshen up " he urged and stood up to exit the living room.

Raina was seated there for hours before leaving for her room. She placed her phone on the lampstand and strolled into the bathroom to freshen up. Immediately she was done, she put on her pyjamas, strode towards her princess-like bed, and bounced on it.

The tears she had been trying hard to stop gushed out uncontrollably once more. Her heart aches unbearably. It had been a normal routine to cry to sleep. A buzz on her phone jerks her out of her deep thoughts and she strains her hand to pick it up from the lampstand.

It was a message from an anonymous person. "Are you asleep?"

The sender deleted the message and it didn't take long for her to guess that it was no one other than the Bellingham Jr.

Raina contemplated messaging him but then again she needed a distraction from her depressing thoughts. "You aren't courageous enough?" She sent and nibbled on her lips. She began to wish she hadn't messaged him after he didn't respond.

Raina heaves disappointedly and gently places her head on her pillow. It didn't take long before Jude's call came in with her phone blaring.

Raina never liked voice calls. She prefers messaging and she left her phone ringing hoping it would stop but it went on and it made her feel remorseful. She finally picked up the call and chose to be silent. Both of them were nervous. Jude had his jaw on his pillow with his legs sprawled on his emperor-size mattress.

"You didn't want to pick before? Why?" He asks in a worried tone. "Because you aren't bold enough also?"

"I didn't reply because I chose not to," she replied wittily.

"Well…you did after all. You couldn't afford to miss my alluring voice sugar baby" he flirted with a seductive tone.

"Alurring voice my ass." She rolls her eyes.

"Oops! Talking about that, do you know…that is the part of your body that got me attracted to you" he smirks knowing how uncomfortable she will feel.

Raina scoffs several times before saying "You pervert! Where did you get my phone number in the first place?"

"I have my way, sugar baby" he mewled which unexpectedly earned her stomach to giggle. She felt dozens of butterflies.

"It seems I will have to cut the call then" she tried to make her voice steady and strict.

"OK, ok. Wait! I got it from your cooperative instructor" he reveals.

She huffs and rolls her eyes.

"Have you given what I said a thought?"

"It hasn't been up to four hours Jude" Raina groans tiredly.

"Can you do that again?"

"What?"

"Call my name. Fuck it sounds sexy on your lips " he loosed the tone which he had been cautious with.

"Jude….! Did you just curse?"

"Ohh. I'm sorry, Miss Raina. It was unintentional. " He apologized in a soft tone that made her heart melt.

A daring thought crossed her mind and it gave her goosebumps but she said it before she could stop herself. She desperately wanted to escape from the next day's meet-up with Gerold.

"What about tomorrow?" She asks.

"You want to go out on a date with me?"Jude questions playfully.

"Date? In your dreams Mr. Bellingham. I was thinking we could start the lesson tomorrow. You mentioned that you are always free only during the weekends."

Jude wasn't sure he heard her right as his heart skipped "You will be coming over to my place for the less…ons?" he couldn't help but stammer and deeply hoped it was what she meant.

"Yeah. Or do you have somewhere else for me to tutor you in mind?"

"No..no. I will be expecting you. That was faster than I thought " he says in a joyous tone as he jumps on the bed. A maid knocks and calls out for him to come down to have dinner.

"I will be there in a few minutes!!!" He stretched the phone away from his ear to answer the older woman in a sweet voice that shocked her.

He got hold of himself and said "OK. I will pick you up at the estate tomorrow. What time will you be…uhm"

"6:00 am" she enunciated and bit her lower lip to keep her voice down.

"Isn't that too early? Ooh, no worries. I will be there" she accepted

"See you tomorrow then" Raina let out.

"Sure. Goodnig…" he was declaring but got cut mid-sentence.

Raina's inner system convulses unsatisfactorily at her decision. She wasn't glad for standing up to her father but it was the only risk she could take to relieve herself. With one last deep breath, she closed her eyes and drifted off to a deep slumber.

Meanwhile, Jude couldn't hold in his excitement. He jogged down the spiral and massive staircase with full energy into the dining room. He devoured his whole dinner and also appreciated the chef. His nice gesture made the older woman fret but she passed over after some time.

Jude lay on his bed and replayed the phone conversation he had put on record. He knew he was behaving spooky but he had never been elated to meet someone in his whole life.

******

The next morning, Raina sneaked out of the mansion after leaving a letter containing her dislike of her father's rash decision on the glass table in the living room. With one last deep exhale, she ran out. She stepped out of the estate gate to meet Jude who was patiently waiting for her in his car.

"You are late" Jude reminded her with a corny smile immediately as she settled in the front seat.

"Shut up. That isn't the proper way to greet someone early in the morning" she cautioned and clutched her bag to her chest.

"Ok. Good morning sugar baby"

"Ain't no sugar baby, Jude" she warns.

"You are" he argued and she wheezed in response.

"Sincerely, I want to know why you suddenly changed your mind regarding the lesson schedule. You want to share?" he asked with an edgy expression.

"Your parents are going to question my presence right?" she asks

"I know you are running away from something. You can always confide in me, Raina. I am not good at comforting but I can be in your aid as much as I can." he enunciated in a soothing tone.

Raina stared at him for a few seconds and slowly lowered her eyes. She had wished she had someone special to confide in as her father had made her cut ties with her former classmates for a reason unknown to her. With how frantic she needs a special person, she wouldn't mind spilling her crisis to him but then again, he was a young fellow, her junior to be precise. He is also a nephew to Gerold who is her main problem.

"I can't tell you" she let out with teary eyes that made Jude's heart squeeze painfully.

He softly hit his palm on the steering wheel at her affirmation. "Well…I know you said that because I'm younger but I bet no one will believe it in an instant. How old are you exactly?"

She smiled through her tears and snickered "Twenty-one"

"It's just two years difference young lady" he groans, kinda cheerfully.

"I'm still older. I wouldn't seek comfort from a younger person" she affirmed, earning a loud snort from Jude.

'"That's gross Mr" she pointed out.

"What about a relationship?" he queries.

"Never" she replies with a faint smile.

Jude didn't reply as he geared the car at a high speed that made Raina glare at him in concern. A few minutes later, he slowed down the car and blurt out shamelessly "What if the younger person fucks good?"