LS: The Beginning (16 page)

“What can I do? Nothing,” she said. 

“This isn’t right. I’ll follow you home today and try to have a word with
them.”

Lisa shook her head in response. “It wouldn’t change anything,” she said.

“It’s better than sitting around doing nothing.”

“That’s what I planned on doing,” she said.

“What?” I
asked angrily. I couldn’t believe those words erupted from her mouth.

“Yeah, that’s the best thing for me. I shouldn’t be in the open with
my abilities. I mean, what if I hurt someone? I mean really hurt someone.”

"You won't."

"How do you know that?"

"You're not an evil person."

"Well, tell that to my stupid powers. I just tend to go crazy when someone offends me. It's like I've lost the will to control my anger."

Although Lisa’s mind was impenetrable, it was obvious she had
doubts with her father’s dubious plans. Her expression was a bit hard to read. One would guess she was gloomy, but I'd reckon she was confused

“All right, we’re leaving college after lectures.”

She gave a quick smirk and ignorantly asked, “Where to?”

“We’ll be going to your house, where else? I need to change your father’s mind.”

Her hazelnut eyes glared at me in doubt. She didn't believe the words that came out of my mouth. After a minute, we ended the discussion and rushed back to our seats to catch up with the lecture.

I tried to focus on the lecture, but I was unable to. Mr. Morgan’s plan to
treat his daughter bothered me. I couldn’t sit still, and I’d never been restless
before that moment. Lisa glimpsed my shaky hand and grasped it; her warm, affectionate touch
suppressed my worries.

“Everything will be all right,” she guaranteed.

Ironically, I was the person
meant to be assuring her. She was about to face exile from her home, so I needed to be there for her.

Meanwhile, Julie wouldn’t stop staring at me during the lecture, and when the class
finished
she came over to my seat as Lisa was packing her bag. I never
carried a bag to school; mainly because I preferred using folders to keep my files.

“Hey, Steph,” she said.

“Hey Julie, what’s up?” I replied.

She leaned forward and
whispered into my left ear, ignorantly thinking Lisa couldn’t hear.

“Would you be free this weekend?” she asked.

“Sorry. I’m kind of busy this week.”

She drew back, aiming her jealously at Lisa. “Oh, I see. I’ll have to
wait then,” she said, and quickly walked away.

“I'm in big trouble, you know. That girl really hates me,” Lisa
said.

I disregarded her statement. There were more important issues at hand.

“Let’s get going,” I said.

I gave a quick
wave to Sharon as we headed for the door. She signaled a
call
me
sign
with her
left hand. Sharon was a born lefty, so she used her left arm in carrying out
most actions. Maybe that was what drew me closer to her: her uniqueness.

Soon, Lisa and I arrived at her car, and she reluctantly opened the door.

“Are you sure about this?”

“It’s either this or you come live with me.”

She grinned.

“The second option sounds inviting,” she said as she sat in the driver’s side.

Lisa’s driving wasn’t what I'd projected; she drove extremely fast and
careful at the same time. Her left hand clung to the stirring wheel as she
placed her right hand on the static gear.

We had passed the junction to my place when I said, “Actually, let’s make a stop at my house.”

“Why?” she asked.

“I can’t meet your parents looking like this.”

She laughed. “You look nice.”

“Thank you, but nevertheless, I need to change clothes.”

“All right, if you insist, where do you live?” she asked.

“24 Cinxton Road,” I said as I pointed backward.

“Hmm, I've been there once, I think. Okay, let's go.”

She placed the gearstick in reverse and performed a 360º turn that was only done in movies; the back tires moved first, allowing the trunk to do the reverse. I was moved
to applause her for the remarkable display. She smiled in response and kept her focus on the road ahead.

I arrived home and quickly ran upstairs without checking if Stacey was in. Getting to my closet, I selected white
boot-cut
pants and my usual blue slim-fitted
shirt – but this time the occasion gave me an excuse to wear my diamond
cufflinks. I wore a pair of blue shoes I’d admired since I discover my walk in closet; I just hadn’t had an occasion to wear them yet. I washed and oiled my
hair in order give it that glossy look, and then completed the outfit with a white
jacket that reached my knees.

“Nice!” Lisa said as I strode down the stairs.

“Are you sure?” I asked, sounding a bit vain.

“Yeah, you look sweet,” she said. “Now, can we go?”

“First to get to the car will drive –” But before I could finish, she
was in the driver’s seat. I joined her inside the car and sighed. “It’s not fair; you always cheat.”

Lisa chuckled.

We drove in silence until we reached her gigantic black gate. Lisa
’s house
was magnificently built. It was because of houses like hers that the word
mansion
existed. As we drove inside the estate, I noticed the lawn was designed in a maze form, but carpeted. Lisa parked
her car at right angle to the stairs that led to the front doors. Secretly
looking at the massive building, I noted a wooden door in the western
wing of the estate. It led to a place I assumed was used for playing
basketball, because of the rims I spotted.

“Hope you’ve prepped for your speech?” she asked as we approached the front door.

“I guess so. Let’s just keep our fingers crossed,” I replied.

I was so engrossed in changing Mr. Morgan’s mind; I didn’t bother to
ask her if she actually wanted to stay.

After seeing the exterior features of the house, I envisioned the inside to be breathtaking – and
it was. I stared at the living room and was amazed with the sight in front of me. With my dark brown
eyes, I toured the pristine, well decorated room. The massive screen
gleamed as my image was reflected within it. I looked at the ceiling with bulging eyes; I never knew a ceiling could
be so high. The walls were white and spotless. The rich, dainty sofas
w
ere arranged to form a U shape. I looked over my shoulders and noted
the various photo frames all over the wall, holding pictures of Lisa and her family. Adjacent to the pictures was a glassed frame which held awards each family member had received. It was the most faultless and sophisticated place I’d ever seen; it was absolutely wonderful.

“Please, take a seat while I go fetch them.” Lisa pointed to a sofa.

I sat down, hoping to hear Lisa talking to her parents. Strangely, I didn’t
feel nervous. I was about to convince two people I'd never met before, and yet I didn't feel nervous.

After a few minutes, a man said, “So you brought a stranger to come talk to your
parents.”

“Dad, it’s not like that. He is a friend of mine,” Lisa replied from a far distance.

“Okay. So what does he want?”

“He didn’t say, although he stated its importance.”

“Tell him to book an appointment for a meeting at my office,” he
ordered.

“Please, he’s here now. Can’t you just do this
for me?” Lisa pleaded.

A lady’s voice joined her: “Honey, let’s just hear him out.”

She must be her
mom
,
I thought.

Just then, the sound of a car's engine interrupted my listening scheme. I stood up and looked at the entrance to the living room. Then a young boy
entered the house. He walked past the living room without saying a word. He was a bit shorter than Lisa, with different colored hair. I
couldn’t tell if he was the driver or the passenger of the car that had entered the
compound. Lisa had mentioned her brother was a year younger than her, so
there was a possibility he was the driver.

As I sat down on the comfy sofa, crossing my legs, the sound of the footsteps climbing down the stairs sprung up my attention.
T
he couple entered the room with their daughter. I stood up and moved
forward to shake Lisa’s father’s hand. While listening to their conversation, I'd warmed my cold hands over the
fireplace to increase my body's temperature.

“Good day, sir,” I greeted.

“Good day,” he hesitantly replied.
“Please sit. How can I help you?”

“It’s in respect of your daughter, sir,” I said.

Hope he doesn't want to marry her
, he thought. This
made me chuckle a bit and so did Lisa.

Her mother looked so beautiful and quite
young. She was smiling at me when I shook her husband’s hand. What was going
through her head was the thought of her daughter bringing a boy to
the house after Lisa had stated she wasn’t interested in guys anymore.

“So, what about my daughter?” he asked.

I took a deep breath.

“It’s about your decision to
send her away.”

His facial expression automatically changed to a scowl.

“When Lisa
told me a friend wanted to speak with me, I had no idea you would be the one. You’re Mrs. Ford’s nephew?” he asked.

“Yes, sir,” I replied.