Fate at Work: A Love Compelled

Ray entered the kitchen closing the door behind him. He smiled as he walked towards me, wrapping me in a hug and I tried to look anywhere but Don whose stare I could feel boring through me. (What's with him).

"Are you okay babe?" Ray asked giving me a look over. "What do you need to be careful about? Are you sick?" He asked again searching my eyes for an answer.

"Nothing serious. I just slipped, so Don was telling me to be careful" I quickly said giving myself a mental thumbs up for thinking so fast. Ray just nodded smiling.

"You're pretty clumsy" he said stroking my hair lovingly.

"You still like me that way Ray" I said giving back a smile in return.

" Of course, I do," he said

" I'll be in the living room when you guys decide to get back to reality" Don said cutting through the words I wanted to say next.

(Talk about a killjoy).

" What's with him?" Ray asked watching Don as he left through the kitchen door. I tried my best not to be tense but still did.

"Does it look like something's wrong with him?" I asked, choosing to play dumb.

"He didn't even say hi" Ray answered and I laughed nervously.

"Is that a new thing?" I asked. To my defence, it's not like Don's behaviour is a new thing. He has always been that way. (Yeah yeah, maybe I exaggerated a bit. But he's mostly that way).

"That's not true babe" Ray said playfully. "Cut him some slack babe. He's not always like that and you know it."

"Whatever," I said.

"I think something's up" Ray continued.

"There's nothing wrong with him Ray. The guy is famous for his mood swings." I muttered under my breath. Ray heard it since he's giving me a rebuking look.

"Both of you act like rivals. I sometimes wonder how you both became friends" he said. ( I wonder too).

"He has good luck hovering around him since he is lucky enough to have me as a friend," I said. "You are too" I added

" Yeah, I sure am." He said and I felt a pang of guilt hit me. I didn't know how to react to that and just stared at him blankly.

" You okay?" He asked waving in my face.

"Yeah, I'm fine," I said quickly.

"Just tired" I added.

"Yeah, you do look tired but also.....

"Pretty" I interjected quickly lovingly battling my eyelids, all in the bid to distract him from whatever it was he was checking out.

"Yeah, you sure are pretty, but ......

"No buts" I interjected again.

"I know I look great," I said smiling widely and he just laughed. At this point, I'm sure I could win an Oscar for my amazing acting.

"Just a bit tired Ray. I've been sleeping all day." I said, "I don't even have any energy left in me." I said pouting hard, trying my best to appear pitiful and he bought the lie.

"Okay, if you say so."

"You are the best, Ray," I said and he smiled at me. I've always loved seeing him smile. It's one of the things that attracted me to him. I like the fact that he looked completely relaxed when he does that. In a way that seems like he has absolutely no care in the world. I wish he'd remain just like that. Completely happy without having to deal with our betrayal. My betrayal, I'd rather say. (If only I could turn back the hands of time. But then there's no point crying over what has already happened). I knew I had to find a way to make everything less hard on him when he finds out. That's the only thing I tried to focus on right then.

"You are the best Ray" I said and he flashed me another one of his sweet smiles. His perfect face lighting up brightly. (It's too much of a sight).

"You're becoming extra sweet these days babe. Is there a special reason?" He asked and I almost panicked but managed to catch my breath. It was a normal question right? There's nothing to panick about. (If only my mind agrees).

"Uhhuhh, probably so high on the love you have been feeding me." I said to which we both laugh. My mouth never failed to deliver. It has been my saviour countless times. Wish I could tell mum how useful my comebacks are being now. She always complains about me having an answer for everything.

"Let's go check on him" He said signaling to the living room.

"You mean Mr Grumpy guy?' I asked raising an eyebrow in question as if there's someone else in the living room.

"Looking for trouble are we?"

"Never. Trouble and I don't come within ten feet

of each other." I laughed. "Except if you think I'm trouble" I added.

"I didn't say that Jess, and don't let him hear you." He said laughing while he lightly steered me towards the kitchen door, leading me to the living room as if I was a child in need of support.

Don was perched on the couch when we entered. His attention on his phone. He didn't even look up. He was typing away on his phone. Probably has to do with work. He is a workaholic. A cronic one. But then, he didn't get to take over his family's years old corporation by sitting pretty. He's a busy man.

"Always on work dude." Ray said as he let go of me, snatching the phone from his hands but Don just shrugged. He never makes a fuss if it's Ray. "Do you ever think of anything asides work?" Ray asked.

"Someone amongst us has to be normal and since it's neither of you I'm left with no choice" Don said giving us a bored look.

"Not our fault you don't want to enjoy life." I said which earned me a side eye from Ray and I raised my hand in surrender.

"Okay, I'll stop. I need to use the bathroom anyway" I said heading to my bedroom. I've been peeing alot these days. I just hope it doesn't become too frequent if not I can't hide this for long. Not that a protruding stomach can be hidden anyway.

I exited the bathroom and headed to my closet to grab a jacket for myself. The weather was getting colder and I wasn't wearing one. I was searching for a comfy jacket since I'll be indoors anyway, no need for something thicker. I settled on my favorite blue one when a person's reflection in the closet's mirror caught my attention. My breath got caught in my throat when I saw the face of the person behind me. My eyes went wide in shock. He's the last person I'd want there. (What in the world is he doing here? What is he thinking).

"Why......... Why are you here? I asked my eyes going wide.