Chapter 7 Loyalty

• MONALISA
• The next day
• "I need a part time job." I said to Francesca and she arched her brows.
• "Isn't your dad's friend like settling all your bills?" She asked, stopping to talk to me.
• "Yes..." I drawled, stopping too and waving with a book in my hand.
• "But it's better I go gain some working experience. Plus it's high time we stopped depending on him." I added.
• "That's right but if I had that luxury, trust me, I would not even work a tiny bit." she said and I chuckled.
• "Mum thought about it and I reasoned with her so if you find a job for me, do let me know." I replied.
• "Sure. Forget about that though, tell me about Bryant." Francesca smiled with a little, excited squeal.
• "Oh my!" I gasped, realizing that Bryant had sent me a message this morning and I hadn't replied till now.
• I quickly reached into my pocket and pulled my phone out. I had just opened the message when I heard my name being called from behind by his voice.
• I turned quickly along with Francesca and there was Bryant walking towards us with a bright smile on his face.
• He stopped in front of me, reminding me of how Lucius had stopped in front of me last night. Except that when Lucius stopped in front of me, he seemed to have taken my breath away and aroused me but it was so different with Bryant. There was nothing like that, it felt like I was just standing close to my ex boyfriend.
• I held back a sigh.
• "Hi, Bryant." I waved at him though.
• "Looking pretty in this dress." he pointed out to the black knee length dress I was wearing.
• "Oh yeah, thank you." I thanked him and he reached his hand forward to my cheek and caressed it gently.
• "Your skin is as soft as I pictured it to be." he chuckled.
• "So I am now invincible?" Francesca asked jokingly and Bryant laughed.
• "Of course not, how are you doing, Francesca?"
• "Doing great but I think I should leave the both of you to have your couple's time together" she replied and before I could say another word, she had scurried away.
• "Where are you headed to?" Bryant asked me.
• "Just the library, I have to return this book." I raised the book slightly.
• "Then I will follow you there." he gave me a small smile.
• There was nothing wrong with him following me to the library and so we both headed to the library.
• "What do you think about me?" Bryant suddenly brought up the question and I stopped in my tracks.
• "I think you are a really nice guy." I mumbled the words.
• "Just nice? Nothing more?" He asked and for a moment, I thought of what to say. I had not been paying enough attention to him because the thoughts of Lucius had been in my head way too much.
• "Definitely more. You are really good looking, hot, cool and the dream guy of a lot of ladies definitely."
• "Including you?" He asked and I couldn't help but smile a bit.
• "If it's including you, then would you like to be my girlfriend?" He asked.
• "Uhm... Isn't this a little bit too quick? We just met yesterday, you don't know me that well yet." I replied.
• "Well, dating you would help me know you that well so let's date, Lisa. Would you give me that chance?" He asked, leaning down a bit to look at my face directly.
• I gulped down, a bit nervously. I was expecting this, of course. The both of us were expecting to get involved in a relationship but I didn't think he would make it official this quickly and also it didn't seem too right to do this when the thoughts of another mind was constantly clouding my mind. It didn't seem fair to do this to Bryant.
• But thinking about in another way, I knew I was a very loyal person and the last thing I would do would be to cheat on my partner and that way, I would be able to avoid this sinful desire of Lucius.
• With the idea of it being cheating, I would be able to resist that man's charm.
• "Lisa." Bryant called my name softly.
• "Yes, I will." I looked into his eyes with a smile that matched his bright smile.
• "I will be your girlfriend." I added and he pulled me into a tight hug, his arms wrapping around me and his body pressing against mine.
• With Bryant, I felt like I was the 'insensitive' me once again.
• 'You are with Bryant now, Lisa. He is your your man and the only man you can desire from now on'
• Bryant pulled away from the hug and with a smile on his face, he leaned in to kiss me. His face was close to mine already but I suddenly stopped him, putting my hands on his chest to prevent him from coming closer.
• He opened his eyes, shooting me a questioning look.
• "Everyone is watching." I mumbled.
• "Shy? I like that." he said and pulled at my cheek.
• "Yes, I am shy." I mumbled even though I knew that was far from what the case was.
• *
• I was back home and enjoying the freedom that I was home all alone, I was listening to music from my headsets and skipping down the stairs that led down into the living room.
• I stopped in the living room, pulling the headsets off my head and dropping it to the sofa. I decided to play music on the music system instead.
• Immediately I played one, I twirled in the middle of the living room.
• I had the volume up to the highest and began singing to the song that was playing. It was older by Isabel Larosa.
• "I'm young and that's okay. Think I need someone older. Just a little bit colder." I shut my eyes, enjoying the lyrics and tune of the song.
• "Take the weight off his shoulders. Think I need someone older."
• "Really?" I heard the unmistakable voice of Lucius behind me and I stiffened for a second.
• "Do you really need someone older, cupcake?" His deep voice questioned and as I turned to face him, I felt the strong urge to tell him yes.
• But hell no! I was in a relationship now. And I wasn't going to be disloyal to Bryant.