Chapter Ten
"Why me?" Angela asked. Why would he want her when he had so many girls going crazy about him?
"Who else? You forgot the friendship that we shared? You forgot my feelings for you?" He asked, pain etched on his face.
"I didn't forget anything Damian. You're the one who forgot me. It's like out of sight, out of mind kind of a thing," she spoke calmly looking down at her hands.
"You think I forgot you? I tried everything I could for three years to forget you. Do you think I like taking drugs? Do you think I like those girls? No, It's just to make me forget you. But I couldn't forget you," he said, his voice broken and painful.
Angela was quiet. She slowly processed what he told her. "I can't forgive or forget what you've done, Damian. Is that all? I need to go," she said, getting up.
"No, that's not all. My mom left me, my dad threatened me to break off all ties with you, you left me and went away, forever. What could I do, huh?" Yelled Damian, in a last attempt to convince her.
"I didn't need to do what you did Damian," she said quietly.
"You didn't face what I had to face, Angel," he said. "Never mind. I've got my answer. You don't want anything to do with me," he sighed getting up and walking towards his car. "Come I'll drop you where you need to go," he added with a poker face.
Angela followed him meekly. Should she hug him and comfort him? She wanted to believe him. Maybe her heart believed him but she couldn't say a word to him. They climbed onto their car and Angela told him Steffi's address.
"Who lives here?" He asked, stopping the car in front of the building.
"Steffi and her roommate, Whitney," she said, before collecting her bag.
"Why are you visiting them?" He asked suspiciously.
"I'm moving in with them tomorrow, " she informed as she opened the door and walked out. Damian sat frozen on his seat. Why was she moving out of her home and into this apartment? Was it because of him? He told her that he wouldn't indulge in other women and drugs anymore. Didn't it mean a thing to her? Didn't she believe him?
He stared at the building with determination. So, this is where she'd stay. Well he needed to make friends with her flatmates and get access. He drove off to the University of Austin to get admitted to the undergraduate course in Architecture. The same that Angela had chosen. Harry had already informed him and he and Xavion too wanted to study the same there.
While Xavion chose architecture to take over his parents' architectural firm, he chose it to just be near Angela.
The admission procedure over, they waited outside Steffi's building to watch what Angela was upto.
"We've become stalkers, man," grinned Xavion and Damian chuckled.
"Seriously what a girl can reduce you to, huh," he admitted with a laugh.
"I wouldn't want to be in love, dude. I'm scared," Xavion admitted with an eye roll.
"Shh, cupid's on the prowl. If he hears you, you'll be his next target," warned Damian and Xavion facepalmed.
"Heaven help me, then, " Xavion said. "Hey Angela's going somewhere. Let's follow her."
Angela walked out of the building with a grin and took a bus home. She would pack and shift tonight itself. Steffi couldn't wait till tomorrow, so she was happy to oblige her.
She went home and packed her stuff. Damian watched her with his binoculars from his room. So she was going tonight, he realised. She finished her packing and went to her dad's room to inform him that she was leaving. He just nodded and smiled,"Enjoy princess. Call me if you need me," he said. Angela hugged him and went downstairs. Arnold and Alex hadn't returned and Adam was taking a shower.
She decided to take a cab to Steffi's apartment. As she brought the luggage outside her gates, Damian's car came to a halt right in front of her. How did he know that she was shifting now? He grinned at her surprised expression. Getting down from his car, he started loading her stuff.
"What are you doing?" She asked him. He didn't even ask her if she needed help.
"Abducting you," he winked at her. Angela's face fell. What the hell! He rolled his head back and laughed out loud.
"Just kidding. Close your mouth else I might get the wrong idea and kiss you instead," he said with a smirk shutting his boot space. He came towards her and Angela quickly closed her mouth, pursing it tightly shut. Why was he coming towards her? Did he get the wrong idea already? Her eyes widened as he came closer. He came too close to her and stretched his arm towards her. Angela closed her eyes in nervousness.
When nothing happened for a minute, she peeked at him opening one eye. He was too close, staring at her with an intense look on his face.
He chuckled when she peeked at him. Angela blushed to the roots of her hair. How embarrassing was this! How could she have invited him to kiss her? The flush spread from her cheeks down to her neck. Damian opened his passenger door for her. As she tried to get into his car, he whispered, "Soon but not in front of your house with your brothers watching me."
Angela blushed more,"I don't know what you're talking about, " she said, concentrating on her seatbelt as if it was the most important object in the world. Damian chuckled all the way to the driver's side. He was excited to be with her. He couldn't control his rapid heartbeat any more. Seeing her from so close, all grown up and all the more curvy and beautiful had him already under her spell.
He started his car and drove towards her new apartment. "Why are you moving out?" He asked Angela curiously.
Angela was taken by surprise at his sudden question. "I just want to spend a few days with Steffi, catching up before college starts," she informed. The answer seemed to have satisfied Damian as he didn't prod further.
"Steffi and Harry are getting married. Lucky guy," he said, casting her a sideways glance. "Why can't everyone have such an easy love life?" He asked looking heavenwards.
"Why can't some people lead a normal life?" Said Angela and Damian grinned.
"Maybe if some people received normal love, they would be inspired to lead normal lives, " he answered her.
"If they could focus on one person who they love, then they would have received normal love too," said Angela.
"They are focussing now. So where's the love?" He asked, glancing at her briefly and then driving to a stop in front of Steffi's building. Angela jumped out and unloaded her luggage.
"Thanks Damian. Gotta go," she said, pushing her suitcase inside.
"What's the hurry to get rid of me, huh?" He asked as he jumped down and walked alongside her to the elevator, taking the luggage from her hand.
"What will you do up there?" She asked in panic.
"Just say hi to Steffi," he grinned but Angela was suspicious. What was cooking in his brains she had no idea.
They reached the fifth floor and rang the doorbell. Steffi excitedly opened but her face sobered seeing Angela with Damian.
He walked into the apartment like he owned the place. He whispered something into Steffi's ear and she whispered back. He then sauntered off to her bedroom to keep her luggage.
Whitney came out of her room and hugged Angela, "Glad to have you move in at last," she said. Damian came out of her room and Whitney stared at him and Angela.
"Who's he?" She asked Angela.
Before Angela could reply, Damian came forward and kept an arm around Angela. "Hey, you must be Whitney. I'm Damian, Angela's boyfriend," he introduced himself with a wink at Steffi.
Angela and Steffi looked at one another. "Oh good to meet you," said Whitney. Before the girls could correct him, Whitney received a call and she rushed out. "Gotta go guys. My boyfriend's downstairs. We're going to a party," she informed. She dashed out and closed the door behind her.
"Actually, I too have a date with Harry. He asked me out after you left Angie. If you want, I can cancel it," said Steffi guiltily.
"No no. I'm absolutely fine. You go ahead Steff. I'll arrange my room and then go and grab something to eat," said Angela, reassuring her. Damian grinned happily, pleased at the topic of conversation.
"Bye Damian," said Angela but he simply roamed around the apartment, checking things out, completely ignoring her. Steffi got ready in fifteen minutes and came out of her room.
"Bye, catch up later guys," she said, rushing out of the apartment, closing the door behind her.
"So, are you leaving?" Asked Angela and Damian shook his head.
"Nope," he said.