HIS TRUE BEAUTY

Impulsively, I kicked at the blurred image, so hard.

I heard a low groan and freezed.

I rubbed my eyes and looked properly. The image clearer.

Bruno was kneeling infront of holding a blanket, his nose was bleeding.

He only wanted to cover me up, I …kicked him and made his nose bleed!

“Oh my God, I am sorry, so sorry sir, let me help”.

I offered, standing up from the bed, but he turned me down.

“I am okay, don’t worry .. have this”.

He said calmly and gave me the blanket then with his head up and fingers pinched on his nose, he walked away heading to the door.

He stopped at the door and threw the key at me, I had a smooth catch.

“You can lock it from inside if you don’t feel safe with me”he said dryly, still holding his nose, with his head up , he left the room.

I was sleepless, I sat down thinking about what I did to him.

“What if I get fired for this, I didn’t even know when he carried me in here, and he then wanted to cover me up, I stupidly hit him, what was I thinking, that someone like Mr Bruno may find me attractive and wanted to take advantage me? What a joke! I am such an idiot”.

I cursed shamefully.Contentt bel0ngs to N0ve/lDrâ/ma.O(r)g!

I got up, there’s no way I am going back to sleep after what happened .

I went to the department and found him , trying to type with his still head up, it’s obvious he isn’t done with the works yet.

He kept enduring the pain, then he got fed up and hit the desk so hard that it scared the shit out of me .

Someone that gentle, I don’t except such from him.

He looked up and found me staring, I quickly looked away, then stole a glance at him.

“You aren’t going back to bed?”

His voice came.

“I want to continue from where I stopped yesterday”.

I replied.

“It’s okay, don’t worry, go and rest, I am done with the ones I gave you”

He replied.

“O… k”.

I felt really sad about that for some reasons, I didn’t get back to the office room, I slowly walked to my office instead and sat there, staring at him.

I watched him work for close to an hour, I was about to doze off whrn I heard him talking over the phone.

“Yeah, I missed you, wish you are here, I love you too, take care”.

He answered and hung up.

Did he just say love?

He had someone in his life!

All my hopes are lost!

But is that a man or woman?

I was curious to know about the caller’s identity.

It’s time I stop with the stupid crush, Mr Bruno will never find someone like me attractive.

He put the phone down and after typing for sometime. He left out a loud sigh.

“Finally”.

He murmured.

I guess he is done.

I gazed at the clock it’s 5:45 am?

It’s morning already!

“I will take you home, thanks for your help again”.

He broke into my thoughts.

“You are welcome”.

I smiled.

I picked up my things and walked to the parking lot, few minutes he joined me. He opened the door for me.

My face flustered.

“Em.. thanks”.

I got into the car, trying to calm myself reminding me that it’s not possible whatever I felt is a joke but I ended up so red I hid my face from him.

A silent drive home, he stopped at a shopping mall, I guess he wanted to buy something.

He stepped on the break, all this while I had my neck stiff by looking at the window side all along.

“What kind of gifts do your family like, I can’t go to your place without buying a gift for them at least to appreciate your help lastnight”he said to me.

I didn’t respond, I was sad and angry for no good reason, I don’t think it’s mood swings either , for some reasons I got jealous because of the unknown callerand even worse knowing he can never fall inlove with someone like me”.

He was quite observative, and noticed that I was not in the mood for that conversation, he got down and went into the mall, few minutes he came with shopping bags , he stuffed them into the backseat.

The journey continued silently again and even more awkward than before.

“I think I feel comfortable with you”.

He breaks the silence.

I stole a glance at him, shocked at his confession, I paid attention.

He gaze at him from his side eye then looked straight before continuing.

“I hardly talk to people or express myself…. I am… aa slow talker.. so I hate talking.. I think people judge me as a proud spoiled brat. I also find it hard to engage a conversation especially with someone.(Paused) someone I am sexually attracted to, but I feel like I can talk to you. I have my insecurities too, everyone does because no one is perfect so don’t let what they say get to you”.

That’s the highest amount of words I have heard from him, first I don’t know where all that motivation speech came from however I picked up a line from his statement and threw the others into the trash.

“I hardly talk to someone I am sexually attracted to”

“Well I guess I am not on the list, that’s why he feel comfortable talking to me than all the pretty girls at the company.

Here I am thinking I was special to even engage in a conversation with him”.

I cried inwardly..

“Are you okay?”

He asked after I had played deaf to his motivational statement.

I nodded.

“You can stop me anywhere there,”.

I pointed to our house.

“Oh.. alright”.

I could feel the sadness in his voice clear.

Was I rude to him?

He was trying to tell me his struggle with communicating, possibly the only person he has ever open up to ofcourse, yet I snubbed him?

I am such an idiot.

“Thanks for tonight again”.

He said.

I just nodded shamefully and got down from the car.

**BRUNO’S POV**

I watched her enter the house.

“Did I say something wrong? Why did she ignore me like that, first time trying to have a smooth conversation failed, you better keep that mouth shut Bruno”.

I sighed and engage the engine.

Halfway home , I remembered she forgot to take the gifts I bought for her family.

Maybe she intentionally ditched it.

There’s something about her I am yet to figure out, I find it irresistible yet I can’t get hold on a particular thing.