MY SISTER'S BOYFRIEND (CHAPTER TWO)

Theresa turns the knob, the door opens slowly. Inside, the dining room is bright. Long table, crystal glasses, food steaming in the middle. Her dad sat at the head of the table, next to him is a man she's never seen. Tall. Dark suit. Sharp jaw. Handsome. He looks up his eyes meeting hers, she immediately averted them to Veronica who she hasn't seen for five years. Theresa notices Veronica's hair which was usually brown and short was now longer and blonde. Her smile is the same. Fake. She puts her hands on her chest, eyes wide and mouth turned down. “Oh, Veronica says, voice soft as if hurt. “There you are. We waited. Dinner got cold”. Theresa was surprised they even waited. Veronica looks at dad then back at her “I told Dad you'd be late. You're always late Theresa”. Her Dad doesn't laugh now. He just watches. The handsome man beside him says nothing. He just watches too “I was swamped with work” voice flat “ lost track of time”. Just then the kitchen door swings open. Celophine walks out. Her stepmom. Carrying the last dish in both hands. Hot and steaming, the maid follows close behind with bread. She stops when she sees Theresa. Her eyes hardened, sharp with disgust, like she could barely stand what she was seeing. “You knew your sister was coming back,” Celophine snaps. “Yet you decided to keep everybody waiting”. She began as she placed the dish on the table. Theresa doesn't answer, too tired to. She pulls out a dinner chair. The leg scrape the floor, She sits down, Too lazy to go up and change, To fix her hair, to care. A though lingering in her mind “why were they waiting for her before they ate” sensing something was going on and it has to do with the man sitting beside her father and the big mischievous smile on Veronica's face. Her dad clears his throat. “ Sit down Veronica, we'll start” Veronica sat beside the handsome man, close enough that their shoulders almost brushed like it was natural, I took the seat directly opposite them. The maid moved slowly between us, serving food with practiced precision, plates touched the table one after another–rice, sauce, neatly arranged. Nobody reached for anything yet. Silence lingered Then Veronica broke it. “So Tessa”, she says, smiling wide. This is Aaron, my boyfriend,” She says, gesturing towards the handsome man. “Mom and Dad already met him.” Her words landed cleanly, deliberately. I could feel a burning hole in my head, knowing they were watching me. Aaron included. I just nodded acknowledging what she said, and continued digging into my food like the conversation had nothing to do with me. A quiet refusal to participate. The room shifted anyway. Celophine’s voice cut through. “ So when will you also introduce a man to this family?” Her tone wasn't curious. It was sharp. Almost amused. My fork paused halfway to my mouth. “You had a good thing going with Kaleb…..” She added slowly this time, as if she was choosing each word just to make sure it hurt properly. That one landed harder. Not because it was new–but because it was intentional. Celophine knew. She knew exactly what Kaleb was, what that relationship had done. And yet she still pulled his name into the room like a weapon. I didn't speak, I just continued digging into my food, slowly this time, like I was afraid if I moved too quickly something inside me would crack. Veronica chimed in, softer but no less careless “They were so good together”. That almost made me laugh. Almost. Because what they called ‘good’ felt like a different life entirely. One I didn't recognize anymore. One I didn't want to revisit, especially not here, under warm lights, polished cutlery and delicious food while people pretended they didn't know what they were doing. My throat tightened but my expression stayed still, not giving them the reaction they wanted. And then I felt it. A burning gaze, I looked up to Aaron looking at me with a slightly amused expression, I quickly looked away He hadn't looked away since I sat down. Not when Veronica spoke. Not when Celophine pushed. Not even when the room turned slightly crueler. Just……..watching Not intrusive. Not loud. Worse. Focused. Like he was reading something I hadn't agreed to show anyone. It made my skin warm in a way I didn't like. Awareness creeping up my neck, tightening my posture, I shifted under his gaze, adjusting slightly in my seat, eyes dropping back to my plate, suddenly very interested in food I wasn't eating anymore. Just then, Dad leaned back slightly in his chair, folding his hands like he was oblivious to all that was being said. “So Aaron.” He began, tone smoother now, almost approving. “ I heard your company just won the Government Infrastructure Contracts”. Aaron nodded once , like he was confirming a fact he already respected. “ That's a strong move. Very strong”. A pause His eyes stayed on Aaron, assessing–but not unkind. “You're doing well in the business space, I mean running two successful businesses” he continued “ people talk and what they are saying is…..you're building something solid”. Veronica’s lip curves slightly, pride flickering across her face, like she was personally responsible for every word. Her father's voice is steady and confident. “ In the future a partnership between us would be beneficial on both sides, I mean smart alliances matter”. Aaron gave a small controlled nod. “I appreciate that Mr Hale, I'd be open to discussing it” I swallowed immediately I heard his voice. God his voice. They were low carrying a deep bass tone–rich, steady and unhurried. Why was everywhere suddenly so hot? “Good” Dad said simply as if that settled something in his mind. Then without much transition, his attention shifted. “Veronica”, he added, softer now “You've made me proud, not every child brings home a responsible man” That one line changed Veronica entirely. Her posture lifted, just slightly. Her expression softened in a way she tried to hide but couldn't fully contain. The approval settled over her like something she had been waiting for all evening. I pushed back my chair. The sound was soft, but felt louder. Every attention shifted slightly as I stood, I lifted my bag with controlled ease. No visible emotion spilling out. Just a clean, practiced exit. “I have to wake up early”, I said, my voice–even, careful, not to betray anything underneath. “ I should head upstairs, it was nice meeting you Aaron” I said politely. My eyes met his for a brief second. Just long enough to acknowledge him, then I turned. Heels clicked in a steady rhythm as I walked away from the table, each step carrying me further out of the warmth, the praise, the attention and whatever strange tension had been quietly building under it all.

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