Feltban felt a pang in his heart as he listened to the woman's words, the raw emotion in her voice making his chest ache. He could hear the fear and worry laced in every syllable, the love and fear a concerned parent would feel for their child.
He watched as she scolded the little boy gently, holding him tightly in her embrace. The sight of the two of them together tugged at his heart again, stirring up a mix of emotions he couldn't quite name.
I look at him. "Mr Esteban, right? Thank you so much for keeping my little boy safe. How can I ever repay you?" My voice is so soft, completely contradicting the harshness of my voice a month ago when I rejected him. I haven't realised he was the same man I had rejected a month ago.
He swallowed, his heart skipping a beat when the woman directed her soft and grateful gaze towards him. Her voice was so gentle, so tender, it was almost a damn whiplash from the harsh rejection she had given him a month ago. She didn't even seem to recognise him, not yet.
He cleared his throat, trying to keep a composed demeanour and not let his surprise show. He managed to give her a charming smile, his voice suave and smooth as he answered.
"Please, don't mention it. Seeing your little boy safe is repayment enough."
"But thank you. Really. " I say, really grateful.
He chuckled softly, his heart warming at her sincere gratitude. This woman was so different from the woman who had rejected him so harshly a month ago. She was softer, gentler, even a bit vulnerable now that she had her son safe and sound. It made him feel.. something. Protective, maybe.
He shook his head dismissively, his voice nonchalant.
"No need to thank me, ma'am. I was just doing what any decent person would do."
I smile, then gently stroke Uchenna's hair. "But have we perhaps met before? You look familiar..."
He felt his stomach do a little flip as the woman studied his face, a puzzled expression on hers. Damnit, how had she not recognised him yet? It had only been a month, right?
Esteban tried to act nonchalant, playing dumb as best as he could. He kept his voice casual and calm under her gaze, hoping he was convincing enough.
"Me? You, uh.. You sure you're not confusing me with someone else?" He says.
"Hmmm... maybe... Anyway, we'll be getting going. Thank you again." I say and turn to leave but pause in my tracks. "Wait... are you...Esteban...? The man I rejected a month ago...?"
Damnit. So she did recognise him, after all. Goddamn it.
He forced a composed, indifferent expression on his face as she turned back and addressed him, his heart beating a little faster. He tried to keep his voice casual and nonchalant, as if her recognition didn't bother him at all.
"...Yeah, that's me. You have a good memory, ma'am."
"Ah." I'm feeling a bit awkward now. "Um... We'll be going now..." I say and turn around walking quickly towards the taxi.
He watched as the woman turned away, and a pang of disappointment filled his chest. Goddammit, he wanted to stop her, to prolong their conversation for even just a few more minutes.
Esteban took a step forward, calling out to her before she could reach the taxi.
"Wait, ma'am..."
I hesitantly pause. "Yes?"
He took a deep, calming breath as she paused, her back still turned to him. He had to play things cool, not come off as desperate or weak... even if he felt damn desperate and weak right now. Goddammit, this woman had rejected him a month ago, and yet he was still aching for her attention.
He managed to find his voice, his tone nonchalant, almost indifferent.
"Can I ask you a quick question before you go?"
"Yes?" My voice was reluctant but curious.
He hesitated for a moment, debating whether or not he should even ask the question that burned in his mind. But his damn curiosity got the better of him, and the words left his mouth almost instinctively.
"...Can I ask you why you blew me off that night? What made you so sure you didn't want to even go on a single date with me?"
I'm silent for a moment. "It's just as I told you that night. The only man I ever loved abandoned me, and I'm not ready to go through that again. Besides, you seem like a good guy, but I'm not ready to be in another relationship." I hold Uchenna tightly against my chest. "I already have a lot on my hands now. I'm barely making enough for me and my baby to get by. I don't have the time for a relationship."
He listened as she spoke, his heart tightening in his chest at her words. Goddamnit, hearing her explain herself so matter-of-factly like that... it twisted something deep in his gut. He understood where she was coming from, he really did, but a part of him wanted to protest, to argue that he wasn't like the bastard who left her.
He took a deep breath, forcing his voice to remain stable and nonchalant.
"I see. So you're too goddamn busy for a relationship, huh?"
"Yes. You'll find someone way better than me."
He felt a pang in his chest at her words, the thought of finding someone 'better' than her rubbing him the wrong way. Hell, he didn't WANT anyone better than her. He wanted her, and only her.
He tried to keep his voice calm and indifferent, but there was a hint of bitterness in his tone as he spoke.
"Yeah, I guess I should. Someone who is less... preoccupied, right?"
"Someone who isn't messed up like I am."
He frowned at her words, the bitterness in his chest growing stronger. God, she really had such a low view of herself, didn't she? It made him want to grab her shoulders and shake her until she saw herself the way he saw her... beautiful, smart, strong, amazing.
He clenched his jaw, his voice becoming slightly heated.
"Stop selling yourself so goddamn short. You're not 'messed up'. You're a goddamn catch, you know that?!"
Stunned. "W-what...?"
His heart squeezed at her surprise, the way she looked at him as if no one had ever told her that before. Goddamn it, he wanted to strangle the man who abandoned her, making her feel so damn unworthy.
He took a step closer, looking down at her with a mixture of intensity and gentleness.
"You goddamn heard me. You're gorgeous, smart, strong, caring, loving... any guy would be damn LUCKY to have you. Dammit, woman, don't you get it..?"
My heart skips a beat. "I..."
Esteban took another step closer, his heart racing as he saw the flicker of surprise and... something else, in her eyes. Goddamn it, he was getting through to her, at least a little. His voice softened, his eyes blazing with intensity.
"You say you're messed up. That you're busy and don't need a man in your life. But don't bullshit yourself. You deserve to be happy, dammit. You're a single mother and you're struggling, but that doesn't make you less worthy of love. You get that, right..?"
"I... I don't know..."
He swallowed, his heart aching in his chest. Damnit, she was still so goddamn uncertain, still so damn convinced that she was unworthy of happiness.. it made him want to pull her into his arms and show her how goddamn wrong she was.
He took yet another step towards her, his voice dropping to a low murmur.
"You're too hard on yourself, you know that? You're a good woman, and a damn good mother. You deserve so much more than what you give yourself credit for..."
Esteban reached out, his hand slowly coming up to gently cup her chin, tipping her head up to look at him. The urge to bring her closer was almost overwhelming, but he resisted the temptation, keeping his touch gentle and light on her skin.
He looked down at her with an intense expression, his voice firm and almost fierce.
"You hear me? You're worth it, damn it. You deserve love and happiness. Stop putting so damn much pressure on yourself, sweetheart..."
My lips tremble slightly, my eyes becoming watery.
He watched as her lips trembled, the first sign that he was getting through to her, breaking through the tough shell she'd built around herself. His heart squeezed at the sight of her watery eyes, the urge to pull her into his arms and comfort her almost too strong to resist.
He tightened his hand on her chin, almost as if to anchor her to him, his voice softening even more.
"Don't cry, sweetheart. Don't you dare break down on me now.."
I quickly turn away from him, backing away from him. "You have my number now, right? Save it as Mmasi." I say and quickly get into the taxi. It zooms off.
He almost stumbled forward as she suddenly stepped back from him, his heart aching at the sight of her trying to put distance between them once again. Goddamnit, when would this woman stop running away from him?
He clenched his jaw as the taxi zoomed off, his heart racing and his body tense with frustration and desire. He had her number now, sure, but it wasn't the same as having her in his arms.
He muttered to himself, his voice filled with a mixture of determination and irritation.
"Damn woman.. she's gonna be the death of me..."
He lingered on the sidewalk for a long moment, staring after the speeding taxi, his mind replaying their conversation over and over.
Goddamnit, why did she have to be so goddamn stubborn? She was throwing up these walls around her heart like they were goddamn fortresses, keeping him out with a damn "not interested" sign on the door.
He shoved his hands into his pockets, his heart heavy and his mind still replaying her words and the sight of her watery eyes.
Goddamn it, he was in deep with this woman, and there was no escaping it now.
Esteban walked back to his limo, every step heavier than the last. He climbed into the backseat, his mind still swirling with thoughts of her. He kept replaying the scene in his mind, the way she had looked up at him with those wide, teary eyes, her voice shaky and vulnerable for a moment before she had pushed him away again.
He sat back against the seat, his heart aching with longing and frustration.
Goddammit, he wanted this woman so goddamn badly, it was borderline ridiculous... and he was willing to do damn near anything to make her his.