Drowning

Sun was setting on the horizon. Pinkish and yellow hues were scattered across the sky. I was sitting on the swinging chair on the balcony.

Life has been pretty much going uneventfully for the past two or so months except for a few encounters with Helios which left me thinking and rethinking for hours. It was almost like he was digging me up.

~~~~ Flashback~~~~

I was sitting in a café near the window. It was Saturday so the place was crowded with families for breakfast.

Sunlight was filtering through the glass window and on to the table and my laptop on which I was working. A steaming cup of hot chocolate was set beside it.

My fingers were furiously dancing on the keypads when someone tapped on the table and startled me. I looked up to see, it was Helios. He was wearing a gray full sleeved T-shirt with black trousers. He was wearing Ray-bans too.

"Can I sit here? All the space is full", he politely asked.

I just nodded and went back to my work.

" So what are you doing?", he again said as if wanting to start a conversation.

I frowned, He doesn't seem like the chatty type.

"I'm writing a review", I answered.

" A review? What is that?", he had a confused expression on.

Says what?

I stared at him. "You don't know what a review is?", I asked with a raised brow. I mastered raising my left brow skeptically when I was young.

" Yes,ofcourse I know what a review is", he rolled his eyes as if it was s stupid question. "It's just, Why'd you be writing a review? Isn't it a writer's job?".

How typically judgemental.

I mentally rolled my eyes.

"Well, I'm writing it for goodreads and No! It's not just an author's job. Anyone can write it". I said with my eyes fixed on the screen trying to tell him off. That I'm busy and not in a chatting mood.

" Ooohh", his lips formed and 'O'. He nodded his head understandingly then proceeded to order his food. After that, he took out his phone.

Thank God! He took the hint.

His food arrived. Pancakes,bacon and boiled eggs.

"How's work going?", he asked again and I internally groaned.

" Good", I said stifly.

"What does your father do, Liana?", his question caught me by surprise and my head jerked upwards and towards him.

I stared at him wide eyed.

Why was he asking this?

At just that moment my phone rang pulling me out of my reverie.

I looked at the phone, it was Steve. God bless his soul!

Never have I ever been happier to receive a call.

"I gotta take this", I apologetically said to Helios with a fake smile.

Apology my ass!

Steve wanted me to email him some important documents which were at my home.

This is gotta be the best coincidence!

Wanting to escape already from his rapid fire questions, I quickly gathered my things and stood up. He raised an eyebrow,looking at me questionably.

" Steve wants me to email some really important files. As much as I'd like to sit here and chat with you,I really gotta go", I said in a rush and without waiting to hear his reply, quickly shuffled to the door.

My apartment was a 5-min walk away so I started my journey.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Since that incident, my mind was in turmoil, trying to figure out the reason for him asking about my father.

Nobody has ever asked me about my father. I haven't allowed anyone to.

I never made any friends in school and high school. Even in college, I was a lone wolf.

People thought it was because I'm shy and antisocial. But the real reason was that I didn't want anybody to know me and my life.

So why'd Helios be interested in my father?

Was it just a curious question?

Maybe rich people have a habit of discussing fathers.

I didn't like that thought.

My phone pinged from the table, disturbing my thoughts.

Unknown number: Hey Lia! Join me for lunch. I'm at the diner near your house.

Well well well. This is very unusual for me to get invited to lunch by strangers.

Me: who's it?

U N: Caleb duh. Now come one! Hurry up.

I frowned. When did I give him my number?

Me: How did you get my number?

Caleb: Unnecessary questions Lia. Hurry up! I'm fucking hungry.

Caleb was in good company. Surely it would take my mind off of things or else I'll probably die due to overthinking so much.

I was wearing a dark green wooly sweater with gray leggings. I wore my sneakers, took my bag and checked it.

Money,

House keys,

Phone,

All set.

Caleb was in good company. I have figured that out in the past few weeks during our meetings and since he was Sophia's cousin too so I met him often enough.

The bell rang when I entered. It was a cozy little place. The walls were painted a warm brown colour with white furniture and a vase on each table with a single red rose.

The diner was almost empty except for a few tables. I saw Caleb right away. He was sitting near the window.

But the problem was that he wasn't alone. Helios was there too.

Ofcourse,

Of-fucking-course,

I should've known.

I was going to silently walk away. I didn't want another confrontation with Helios. What if he brought it up?

I didn't want to face him. I was just going to turn around and walk out when Caleb's eyes landed on me and he raised his hand.

"Hey Lia! Hurry up here", he shouted from his seat. Helios, who was busy on his phone, raised his head and nodded when his eyes landed on me.

Seeing no way out of this, I grumply trudged towards their table and sat on the chair. Helios was sitting opposite me and Caleb beside him.

Please, don't remember our conversation, please.

I silently prayed.

Caleb called the waitress. She sauntered towards us. I couldn't help but notice that her first three buttons were undone and she was showing a lot of cleavage.

She smiled seductively at the boys when she reached us.

Ewwww!

I ordered grilled sandwiches and coke and the boys ordered burgers with fries and coke. She was paying extra attention to Helios, repeatedly asking him if he wanted anything else. When she didn't get a satisfying response from him she moved towards Caleb and winked at him and he smirked in return.

I rolled my eyes.

" How did you get my number,Caleb? ", I asked.

He shrugged, "I asked Sophia for it".

" Ooh", I nodded.

"Lia", I was observing other customers when Caleb said. I turned back towards him. " Hmmm", I absently said,fingering the red rose.

"Are you single?", I looked at him and narrowed my eyes. Helios seemed to be interested in this conversation too because now he was looking at me.

" yes", I nodded my head. This seemed to shock Caleb. " Really", he loudly said. I nodded and shrugged.

"But why..How? You're beautiful. How could you be single?", he all but wailed. I laughed,"Physical beauty doesn't really matter in a relationship", I quoted then added,"And besides I never found the right one who could tolerate me", I jokingly said but it was true. My moodiness would surely drive anyone away.

Our food arrived. Helios, who was leaning against the back of his chair,came a little forward in order to be close to the food and his knees brushed mine. Something like an electric shock trailed my spine. Our eyes met and held. His deep eyes were asking me to drown in them but I couldn't so I averted my eyes and started eating. I could still feel his eyes on me.

I can't drown,

I can't drown,

I can't drown.