TWO: Having One Mind

Maxwell was seated to her left. When she glanced at him, he was smiling back at her, seemingly amused by something and then when Rena glanced around the room, all eyes were on her- well, except Nike who was knee-deep in enjoying the enticing meal.

Her face reddened. She buried her gaze in the plate before her, hoping and wishing for someone to start up a conversation or something.

"So, Joan my dear, how is the apartment you're planning to secure coming on? Can't you wait a little for the place to be ready for you before you travel?" Daddy finally broke the ice, asking Joan the question as he swallowed a dollop of eba.

"I'll squat with a friend over there. I have to be available before classes begin." She explained. "Private Fashion schools in the Capital are very strict with their administration."

Mr Dawson nodded in understanding.

Rena sank into her chair, waiting for the stunt mummy was going to pull. She had to pull one cos, she couldn't have invited Maxwell over just like that!- for no reason.

She knew small talk will arise soon and mummy would completely embarrass her. She just needed to time it right and excuse herself right before the woman got any ideas.

Rena moved a little in her seat in an attempt to stand up and excuse herself. But momentarily;

"Maxwell, how is work?" Mummy finally asked. Rena's heart sank into her stomach.

"Very well ma. I actually..." his voice trailed off because Rena didn't hear the rest of it since her mind was far too clouded.

Conversation moved but Rena sat still through out the entire meal. She was present but not there; she didn't even notice it when Nike swapped her plate with her empty one.

Only then could Rena catch her breath.

"Thanks for the food ma. It was delicious." Nike commented and gathered both of their empty dishes.

"Let's go." She nudged Rena and they left the dining.

The girls dashed into the kitchen rather haphazardly with Nike pulling her counterpart by the arm.

"Ewh! Nike, that's your soup hand."

"Sorry." Nike apologised and licked her fingers. "But what is wrong with you?" She asked as she lowered the dishes into the sink.

"Mummy invited him."

"Who?- Maxwell?" Nike nursed a blank expression.

"Yea, him! Why?" Rena paced about, running her non-soup hand through her dark, curly locks.

"I don't know. Ask her, na." Nike was all the same, indifferent.

"What is she up to? ... Nike, you don't understand, do you?" Rena made panicky gestures at her.

"Exactly." Nike muttered. "Look, Rena. Why are you stressing your life for nothing? So, because you're embarrassed to have him meet your family, that's why you were acting like a ghost!" Nike scolded.

"No, it's not like I'm embarrassed of him."

"Then what is it?"

"I'm embarrassed of ... Nike look." She strode over to the kitchen window and stood there. "I don't think I've ever spoken to my parents about dating- not even in my teenage years.

So, it's ... it's kind of weird for me. I don't want them to know that I'm dating and especially not him because they know him.

Do you get it now?" She asked in desperation.

"I understand ... church girl. If you had dated since, this would not be new to you." She teased

"Nikeee..."

"Sorry."

"Help me, na."

"Okay. Hmm... have you spoken to him since he got here?" She asked.

"Something like that," Rena sluggishly replied.

Nike rolled her eyes. "Get out of here." She slowly pushed her friend towards the door. "You need to talk to him."

Momentarily, the kitchen door swung open and in came Mrs Dawson and well, Maxwell!- carrying in dishes and bowls.

They were chatting happily, all-smiles as they strode into the kitchen. Rena's mouth gaped open as she shared a glance with Nike.

"Bye-bye. I'm going home," she said and left the kitchen.

Rena stood there for a while, feeling bewildered.

"Rena do you know that Max here is a good cook?"

"Me?" Rena spun on her heels as her eyes met Maxwell's- he seemed amused. There was an unmistakable glint in his eyes and he had carried that look around the whole day!

"Yes, of course you. Did you know?" She repeated.

"Well, I-I ... men should know how to cook so..."

"I'm done with the dishes." Maxwell said as he took off the faded blue apron he wore.

"Thank you so much, dear. You've been a darling." Mrs Dawson flashed a warm smile and exited the kitchen but not before giving Rena a look.

The kitchen door clicked shut.

"Why are you here?" Rena snapped.

"I ... was invited; by your mom, actually." He explained and leaned across the slab, folding his arms. Rena adjusted where she stood.

"Why?" She asked with arms at akimbo. Maxwell's brows furrowed in confusion.

"I don't know. Maybe because you didn't invite me?" He replied.

"It was a family thing; just something small. It's not even a big deal," she explained and paced about the kitchen.

"I didn't even know about it, let alone have the option to or not to attend." His voice remained subtle.

"Don't do this now." Rena placed two fingers on her forehead and halted in her steps.

"What am I doing, Rena? You've been shutting me out lately- a lot! And, it hurts."

"What are you saying?- that I'm doing this on purpose?!"

"I don't know. You tell me because at first, I thought you were really interested in us but now ... I don't know anymore." His face sunk in displeasure.

There was sadness in his eyes and it was even evident in his voice.

Rena took a moment to take in the sight of him; he was sad ... and very. She heaved a sigh of guilt. "I'm sorry." She muttered.

"But I need an explanation, not your apology." He spoke softly as he took off his glasses and pouted with eyes fixed to the floor beneath.

Rena approached him. "I ..." she heaved a sigh. "This is new to me." She muttered, averting her gaze and the sight of her watery eyes.

"Rena ..." Maxwell called softly and took her palm in his, drawing her closer to where he stood.

"Is that all?" He asked with intense curiosity behind his usual demure gaze.

"Yea." She replied and slightly brushed his hands off. "Goodnight, Max." She hugged him- rather, patted his back for about ... a split second before leaving the kitchen.

•••

On a chilly evening in June, Nike sat on the bed by the window at one end of Rena's bedroom, with a book and a pen in her lap and her knee to her chest.

Rena sat at the other end of the room with several clothes scattered all over her and on the bed; a red dress, shirts, chiffon gowns and trousers, pairs of jeans and well ... just more denim.

"Next, the red top and jeans." Nike announced and ticked something off her list.

Rena on the other hand quickly changed into the outfit.

"I don't know. This top is too tight and ... definitive." Rena complained.

"Haba! English. Rena, better wear this thing oh. It's fine; there's nothing wrong with it! Besides, I'm tired of pairing clothes. We're at number twenty already." Nike scolded.

"Already?!"

"Yes, already. Now, pick one cos I'm not doing this again."

"Okay, I'll go with the dress."

"You're going mount climbing, yeye girl." Nike pursed her lips in a fit of annoyance and scrambled off the bed.

"Why are you behaving like this lately? Don't you like him anymore? ... I mean, it's okay if you don't want to date him anymore."

Nike stood beside her, patting her messy hair as she spoke. Rena heaved a sigh.

"Maybe you're not attracted to him anymore or he doesn't appeal to-"

"The attraction!- that's the problem, Nike!"

"Sorry, what?..."

•••

The evening breeze blew quite gracefully at the top of Mount Crawford. The air was different up there- it was frosty and dryer. There were stunted trees and a few shrubs around.

The grass was definitely greener on that side of town. There were evergreens all around. Then there were a few springs back the way they had come.

The sight of Crawford from way up there was quite blissful in itself- it looked like a little million fireflies against the gray and dark blue.

Rena breathed in deeply, feeling the soothing nature of the environ. She had fed her eyes to their fill, but then she felt hungry.

"Are you hungry?" She heard him ask, momentarily realising that he had been sitting there beside her the entire time.

How could she have zoned out like that?!

"No, not really. Why do you ask?" She lied, feeling a sour pang in her chest.

"Well, I am. I'll just get the snacks from the tent. If you'll like some, you can tag along." He offered.

"No, I'm fine." She declined once again, avoiding his gaze.

She refused knowing fully well that she would have to go into the tent with him if she had to eat.

She would have to go there- into the confined, dark, lonely and secluded tent with him- just them both!

Maxwell tipped his head forward, mustering a smile.

"Rena, I heard your stomach grumble. Being hungry isn't something to be embarrassed about," he teased and poked her arm fondly.

She jerked slightly at his gesture and shook her head from side to side. "Maxwell, no. I'm good." She muttered.

He stared at her for a while. Rena felt his gaze and the heaviness of it. She was forced to look back at him- and she did!

He was wearing that sunken, sad expression again. She gulped down the pang in her chest. "I'm fine," she voiced softly and flashed him a forced, coy smile.

"Rena, are you sure?" He placed a hand on her shoulder as he asked.

"Max! I am fine! I said I'm okay so you go ahead. Maybe you can bring me some bread or something..." she heaved a sigh- seemingly frustrated.

Rena expected some kind of confirmation from him like; 'Okay, Rena. I understand' or 'Soothe yourself...' but he stunned her.

Maxwell actually grew upset and he ... well, stormed off- into the tent.

Rena felt a knot in her stomach.

"I can't go in there." She muttered to herself as she stood up from where she sat and dusted her dress- yea! She'd

worn the dress afterall.

It was a dark red, knee-length flayed dress and she wore denim over the top half of it.

Sweat in the breeze of the evening trickled down her face as she dragged her feet towards the tent.

"Maxwell," she softly called his name, standing at the tent's entrance.

"Hmm?"

"I'm sorry," she apologised.

He didn't respond.

"Max," she called once more.

He didn't respond.

Rena sat right outside the tent and waited on him.

"Max, I'm very sorry." She repeated.

"Rena, come in." He muttered.

"I don't want to," she replied. "You can say whatever you want to from here. I can hear you clearly."

"Are you scared of coming inside?" He asked from within with only his voice resonating. It was way too dark for her to see anything.

"No. It's just ... the breeze is good out here."

"Rena, you're not telling me something."

"Something like what? The tent is just too stuffy and that's all."

Her skin crawled in discomfort.

"Are you sure that's the only reason?" He asked as rain clouds soon began to roll in.

"I think it's going to rain. You should come in." He suggested.

"It's just a little change in the weather. It's not actually going to-"

Suddenly, it poured!- and heavily too, stopping Rena in her words.

"Rena, come inside." He spoke sternly.

"I'm fine. I'll just wait in the car." She brushed him off.

"The car keys are in here, the car is at the other side of the camp grounds ... and it's pouring!"

"Maxwell, I'm fine."

"No, you're not." In one swift motion, he reached out and grabbed her arm, pulling her into the tent.

"Leave me alone! Let me go!" She cried but she was already in.

"Rena," he called with worry and confusion in his eyes and voice. Then he turned on a torch. "See? It's fine." He muttered.

She slowly scooted on her bottom until there was a reasonable distance between them but the fact that she was almost completely out of the tent was unreasonable!

"Rena, what has gotten into you?" He asked as he watched her bow her head on her knees.

"I'm fine.I just need some fresh air." She muttered without lifting her head.

"Rena, you're not fine." He moved closer to her.

He held her hand in an attempt to move her deeper into the tent so he could sit at the entrance instead.

"What are you doing?!" She shrieked.

"Rena trust me." He replied softly. "You should sit-"

"Leave me alone!" She screamed in terror, beating his chest- hard! He did leave her alone.

As soon as he let her go, she stormed off- running! The young man stared in shock and confusion for a while but then he went after her.

If she was going to leave in that state, someone was going to have to drive her.

Inside of the car was warm and dry but Rena's skin itched a little from the rain. Wet hair stuck to the sides of her face and her body shook violently with the cold that had bitten into her.

The ride lasted about an hour from the mountains uptown to downtown West Crawford and it was in complete silence the entire time.

When they got home, the red Sienna pulled up in front of the Dawson residence and Rena hastily got out and shut the door.

Maxwell turned his head to her- he was about to say something but she was in too much haste.

She ran off, leaving his hand hanging in mid air. "Goodnight." He muttered inaudibly and zoomed off.

•••

Mrs Dawson was in the kitchen the next morning and breakfast was sitting on the stove in hot, scrumptious balls.

She had taken to doing more traditional food and trying local dishes so, there were wraps of moin-moin in hot boiling water, on the stove and she had gotten to work, crushing a block of raw pap in a large bowl.

It was like a fresh love for cooking had suddenly replaced Joan's absence in the house.

She heaved a sigh and breathed in the fresh morning air- the aroma of the food rather.

The sunlight filtered in quite nicely, causing the kitchen to appear in shades of brown and gold due to the colour scheme of the decor.

Momentarily, the house phone rang in the corner of the kitchen. She heaved a sigh of slight frustration and went over to answer the phone.

"Hello? Good morning, who is it?" She asked, placing the receiver to her ear.

The next minute, there was a shout of;

"Jesus! Renaaa!!"

Mrs Dawson slammed the phone back in it's place and dashed out of the kitchen, into the dining and climbed a few steps up their staircase.

"Rena!!!" She yelled once more.

In a brief while, the young lady came rushing down the stairs in her nightie, rubbing her drowsy eyes.

"Mummy, I was going to wake up sooner. Good morning," she greeted as her words slurred.

"Rena, I just received a phone call. Maxwell had an accident!" She exclaimed as she clenched her palms to her chest.

"Hmm?! How?! ... just now?! But, he was fine yesterday!" Rena asked as she ran back upstairs to freshen up.

"Rena people are usually fine before accidents happen. Hurry!" Mrs Dawson yelled and scrambled around the living room to find the car keys.

She soon came rushing down the stairs and they left for the Institute where he must have been admitted.

•••

They arrived at the Institute sooner and hurried to the reception. Mummy talked with the lady at the front desk for a few minutes.

As they spoke, Rena froze in motion as she took in the environment. A wave of nostalgia washed over her as memories flooded through her mind- the garden, her hospital room, even the brick walls of the hallways...

She simply stood there; recalling...

"Rena," a hand rested on her shoulder. She jerked a little and spun on her heels.

"Mummy! ... what happened, can we see him now?" She asked.

"They said he was discharged earlier this morning and that the accident wasn't serious

His car must have hydrobladed in the rain yesterday- that rain was quite intense. Thank God he made it. I'll call him later but maybe you should visit him on our behalf later." She suggested.

Rena nodded slowly and began to walk out of the hospital. Her mother followed behind her.

They walked out of the main building as a subtle wind blew.

"Now where did I park the car?" Mrs Dawson asked as she brought a palm to her eyes; scouting the environment for their vehicle.

"Ah, mummy." Rena whined.

"What? This place is so packed! ... and all the cars look like ours."

"Mummy are you serious right now?" She asked in amusement and helped her mother look for the car.

"It should be over there." Mrs Dawson pointed to the far end of the parking lot and started walking towards the place.

Rena stood there, hoping to spot the vehicle from that spot. She realised that ever since the incident with her health and her reconciliation with Mummy, she had never for once taken out time for one of those mother-daughter hangout stuff.

A smile crawled up her lips as the thought came to mind. Somewhere there- in her mind, she had been scared of finding out if they could at all relate or if there was anything they had in common.

But with every passing awkward moment since they reconciled, she got to understand that she didn't need to do anything else but to be present in the current moment, genuinely participate and finally, to respect and value it and Mummy of course.

Her mind returned to reality as she scanned her immediate surroundings for her mother- the woman was nowhere to be found!

"Mummy!" She called out of shock and stood on her toes, stretching her neck above the vehicles in the lot.

Then she spotted her!- but from a distance.

Mrs Dawson waved back at her daughter, with a wide grin. Rena walked briskly towards where the woman stood.

"Rena, I found this amazing sharwarma stand ... and their meat is fresh!" She exclaimed in delight.

"You mean they kill it on the spot?!" Rena exclaimed, feeling mesmerised.

"Yes!" She replied and received two rolls of the good stuff from the vendor guy inside the stand.

"This comes in handy since we didn't have breakfast." Rena commented. Her mother nodded in agreement with a full mouth.

"Wow! That's really fresh. The only thing that would go nicely with it is-"

"Ice cream!" Rena watched in shock as her mother shrieked in excitement and hurry towards another vendor that had just pulled by.

"Are you serious?" She muttered to herself and crossed one of her boots over the other.

"Honey, which flavour do you want?" The woman asked with a spark in her eyes. "They have chocolate. I'll love to get chocolate. You can even get two flavours. Did you know?"

"Yea! I know. I've had ice cream before. But have you heard of a sundae? Mummy, it's heaven on earth!..." she gushed and walked towards her mother.

They took their wraps of goodness and creamed cones and sat on a wooden bench at the corner, chatting heartily as they devoured hungrily.

It was only a matter of time before a few vehicles drove out and they spotted theirs.

"The car!"

"Finally! ... but I don't really feel like going home."

"I know a place."

"We have to make lunch for your father ... but it can't wait, joor. Let's go!"

•••

Rena brought her mother to Mandy's because according to her;

"I want your soul to experience a heavenly delight- every bite is like it's mate." She quoted the glowing signboard at the entrance of the bakery.

Rena pulled the woman in by the hand and headed right to the front desk.

"Hi, Rena! ... 'you're welcome.." all the staff at the front desk exchanged pleasantries with her.

Then she introduced Mummy to them and they complimented and offered her a meal on the house.

Of course she didn't decline!

"Rena, this is very delicious. See me thinking it would be just sugar-sugar." Mummy remarked.

"Now you see why I love this place."

"You love this place?"

"Yea." Rena affirmed, realising that mummy didn't know this before now.

"Rena."

"Hmm?" She answered with a mouth full of cream.

"How come all those people know you?"

"Well ... you see, I do something called food blogging as a hobby." She explained.

"Food ... blocking?!"

"No, mummy. Blog-ing! ... I use the Internet to talk about food and restaurants that have great food and people like my posts and they visit the restaurants.

When the restaurant has more customers because of what I do, I get paid."

"Wow! That's so intelligent and creative."

"Thank you."

"I used to love cooking in my day."

"Wow! Really?"

"Yea! ... but I wasn't a glutton like that your friend, Nike."

They both burst into laughter. "Yea, Nike is a glutton." Rena agreed and checked her wristwatch.

"Oh my God! Mummy it's 4:00pm already!"

"Already?"

"Yea. Didn't you have to make lunch for daddy?"

"I did but he must have eaten the..." Mrs Dawson's voice trailed off as pictures of the boiling moin-moin flashed in her mind- she had forgotten to turn off the cooker!

"Rena let's go, ohh! I forgot to turn the gas off."

"Jesus!" Rena exclaimed. "Mummy, the house!"

They tried to keep calm in the restaurant as they rushed out and into the car.

"Mummy our house ohh!" Rena lifted both hands to her head as they rode home.

"Calm down!" You're not helping matters." The woman scolded.

"I'm sorry ... sorry, but I don't want us to be homeless. Mummy say your last prayer." She panicked.

"Rena!"

"Sorry."

•••

The duo arrived at their residence. Rena was the first to dash into the house, being relieved that the house didn't burn down.

Neither did the living room... or the dining room because daddy sat at the table eating when she entered.

"Good evening, daddy." She greeted and looked around in shock and curiosity.

"You're welcome, my princess." He replied with a blank expression, hiding amusement and slight annoyance underneath it.

"I ... I don't understand." Mrs Dawson stuttered as she walked in. "But, I ... I left the fire on."

"I know." He replied and took a bite of the moin-moin in his plate. "Luckily or rather graciously, I drove in as you both were driving out and I saw this delicacy bubbling on the stove.

Yours is in the kitchen."

"Thank God!" Rena exclaimed. "But we're too full already. Thanks, daddy. And mummy you should be more careful next time."

Mr Dawson raised a brow at his daughter's statement.

"Maxwell had an accident." Mrs Dawson muttered her excuse, hoping to cushion the embarrassing situation.

"I know that- I got a call earlier. I'm just coming from his house. I had to go because as you already know ... he has no one." He explained.

The words stung Rena's chest as she realised that she hadn't even called to see how he was doing.

"It only affected his left leg." Daddy further spoke, deepening the sting.

Guilt overwhelmed her as she concluded to herself; "I'll go tomorrow."

•••

It was about 10:00am the next morning and Rena stood before her full-length mirror trying out outfits.

"I've never been so self conscious in my entire life," she muttered under her breath as she did her hair.

"If Nike knew I was going to his house, she would tease me to death." She mused.

Her outfit for once ... was not a hassle.

She had managed to find a comfortable pair of loose-fitting dark brown, chiffon trousers to wear over a white long-sleeved top.

As for her hair, she parted the thick curly locks in two and held them at the back of her head.

If she was going to visit a sick person, she would have to take goodies with her.

So, she packed fancy biscuits as Nike would call them, chocolates, bread!- very important, a tub of yoghurt, get-well-soon notes and a box of confidence because she would need them.

Then she left for his house ... which location she did not know so she asked daddy to drive her instead.

•••

No. 4 Awele Close, the sign read. It was a decent residence; serene and modest. Nothing fancy but Rena wouldn't judge though, because he didn't seem like the most tastemaking personality even if he could be with a doctor's salary.

"Do you want me to come pick you up later?" Mr Dawson asked as she got out of the car.

"Daddy, I'm twenty-three." She replied with a chuckle. He smiled and gave her a thumbs up. Then, he drove off.

Rena adjusted her outfit and walked down to the door. She sounded three stern knocks and waited;

There was no answer. She raised her hand to knock again but hesitated. "I'll just..." she muttered to herself but then, the door swung open.

"Sorry for the delay. I-" Maxwell paused in his statement as he took in the sight of her. "Oh. It's you." He remarked.

"Yea, I..." Rena clutched the cellophane bag in her hand as she struggled with her words. "I heard you had an accident." She finally voiced as she noticed the heavy layers of cast on his left leg.

He was also using crutches.

"Can I come in?" She asked.

Maxwell blinked rapidly like he had been absent-minded for a while.

"Yea," he replied and made way for her to walk in.

She did.

His place was beautiful. Unlike hers, it had a brighter lighting instead of the warm lights they used back in her house.

It had a classic and modern feel with all the cream, white, maple and ivory colours- it was lovely.

"I like your place." She mused.

He turned around and looked at her with an expression. She couldn't tell what it was but it was blank and inquisitive.

"Thank you." He replied and gestured to her to sit. She did and so did he ... but at the other end of the room.

"Why are you here, Rena?"

"I heard you had an accident that night. I'm so sorry about that. How does it feel?"

"Better."

"That's uhm ... Good to hear," she commented weakly, swallowing the lump in her throat.

"It's fractured ... and it hurts like hell when I move it, but it's better than the pain you cause."

Rena's heart sank. "I'm... I'm-"

"And don't tell me you're sorry cos I don't want to hear it." He got up and started walking away. "You can leave when you're done with your quarantine." He remarked bitterly.

"Wait. Max."

He stopped and looked over his shoulders.

"Can we talk ... please?"

He returned to the chair after a slight struggle with the crutches.

"I have a lot to explain but I'm very nervous so..." She looked down and fidgeted with her fingers. "You ask me questions and I'll answer and I promise to be completely honest."

She took a deep breath and raised her head.

"If you say so. Well, first of all, why are you scared of being in close physical contact with me?- do I disgust you?!"

"No, no. Max, it's infact far from that. I- I mean, you don't disgust me. I love you."

Maxwell pursed his lips and heaved a weighted sigh.

"Well that makes everything easier to understand." He muttered though she heard him. He adjusted in his seat, suddenly wearing a calmer expression. "Rena, are you afraid of sexual tension and why?"

A sour pang formed in her chest.

"I'm sorry, hmm?" She awkwardly caressed the back of her neck, wide-eyed.

"Yea!" He affirmed. "I noticed but I needed to run a few tests to be sure ... and that was why I suggested the camping trip; a place where we could be alone ... like we are right now."

"What are you even talking about, Maxwell?"

Her brows furrowed deeply in displeasure- or perhaps to hide the embarrassment.

"You know exactly what I am talking about." He replied with a glint of amusement in his eyes.

"How did you know?" She asked in defeat.

"I did research ... and you're a mirror." He smiled warmly but there was nothing warm or comfortable about how Rena felt at the moment.

"Did you also stage the accident?"

"No, this thing actually hurts like hell." He replied, looking down at his cast with a chuckle.

"It's not like I'm scared."

"Then what is it like?" He urged.

"I ... it's like.." she sighed. "I don't want us to sleep with each other before marriage."

"Who said anything about marrying you?"

"What?!"

"Calm down. I'm just kidding. I understand that but why exactly do you think I would want that?" He asked.

"Well ... you see ... because..." she struggled with her words and nervously played with sleeves of her top.

"I didn't look at it that way," she confessed.

"Look, Rena. I've come to understand who you are in my life and why you're here in the first place.

I've been doing a lot of deep-diving lately. And also, you're not the only one who's been reading this book." He displayed the Holy Bible.

"What the heck?" Rena chuckled and burst into laughter.

He followed shortly.

"Look, I promise not to do anything to hurt or endanger you ... and since those promises can't be proven as full-proof right now, I won't take my chances in the first place because I value you, Rena.

Do you understand?"

She nodded in agreement. Maxwell got up from where he sat. "Now I know it would take some time for you to adjust but, you'll have to tolerate physical contact from-"

He was cut short in his words as Rena walked up to him and embraced him. "I get it now," she muttered with her slender arms wrapped around his abdomen.

Maxwell couldn't help the smile that etched at the corners of his lips. So he smiled! ... and hugged her back.

"You're so thin." He commented.

"Don't do that." Rena jerked off and beat his chest playfully.

"I'm sorry. Pity me. I'm a one-legged man!" He exclaimed amidst laughter as she beat him with one of the throw pillows.

"Okay." She calmed. "Now sit down let me babysit you." She offered ... or rather commanded.

"Yes, ma'am." He obliged and sat on the couch with his feet up.

Rena bent down to examine the injury but momentarily, a voice sounded in the room;

"Maxwell you don't have seasoning cubes."

Rena's brows furrowed. She tilted her head backward to see who it was and to her surprise, there stood ... A woman?

"Oh hi. You didn't tell me you were expecting a guest." The woman spoke again.

Rena flashed him a look and lifted herself off the floor.

"Oh uhm. Stella, meet Rena my girlfriend. Rena, this is Stella; she's my close friend." He introduced them.

Close, Rena thought to herself.

"Hi, Rena. He's always talking about you. I finally get to see you in person. So you're actually pretty? I'm stunned because-" she went on and on.

"Stella, I thought you had something on fire." Maxwell interrupted her, feeling annoyed.

She cooks for him, Rena made another mental note as the girl exited***

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