LOVING EZEKIEL

CHAPTER EIGHT

Let’s be friends?

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It was never a secret that people are divided by several factors, but one thing stands out: the division by authority. The domino effect causes everyone to drift apart and eventually turn into individuals who fit in only in the society where they lived—hence, change is not really applicable in terms of human living standards.

Georgia hasn’t encountered anyone who changed her perspective on life—so when her last encounter with Drake made her belief firmer: that she, as an outsider and a woman of lower class, will never be a safe person for people like Drake, a man of a higher status.

But how about Ezekiel? They haven’t had a chance to talk again, and only Drake gave her the suggestion of meeting him again for the third time. Third time…The unusual number of times that they CONSECUTIVELY meet each other bothers Georgia to the extent of not being able to think of anything else during her free time today.

“Dianna?” calling the owner of her current patient, she looked at the brunette whose curly hair is braided with some loose curls decorating her face. “Hm?” the woman responded and looked at her with a smile, showing her dimple while she carried her cat that is sleeping after eating her food infused with pills.

“I have a question.” With that said, Dianna’s eyes widened in surprise, but soon, she breathed and looked down at her cat. “Hold on, Gia.” She said, then she slowly placed her cat back its cushioned bed before standing up to walk towards Georgia without making a sound, not wanting to wake her pet that only found sleep after taking her medicine.

Sitting on the chair that faces Georgia who’s on the swivel chair, she placed her elbows on the table and rested her chin at the back of her clasped hands. “So, you heard something interesting today?” she asked excitedly despite her voice reduced in nearly half for the sake of not waking the patient.

Dianna Faye is a frequent client due to her eight pets—two male dogs, three female cats, one parakeet and two hamsters, that take turns in getting sick or injured every month. With that, she somehow became a ‘friend’ that listens or talks to Georgia to pass the time. And since they interact more than the others, Dianna knew about Georgia’s ability—the ability to know about things that people can’t say to anybody else but her, a resident loner veterinarian.

“It’s not about someone else this time.” Georgia sighed, then she rested her head on her crossed arms on the table, now looking at the side. “It’s about I and a person.” She said, almost in a whisper because of how troubled she is.

Hearing that distressed tone that hides beneath her soft voice, Dianna heaved a gasp before moving his chair closer till the table touched her knees. “Is that person a man?” she asked, excitedly whispering back because of how unusual it is for Georgia to blurt out a concern that involves herself.

Surprised with how quick she picked up, Georgia sat up and blinked twice. That gesture alone is enough to confirm Dianna’s assumption—Georgia is investing feelings to a man! “Why are you so bothered about the two of you?” knowing how she prefers composed people, Dianna asked in a manner that contains her squeals from scaring the veterinarian in front of her.

Should I really talk about this issue to someone else? What if she think sthat I am being too much? Will I lose the sole person who talks to me enthusiastically other than secrets and gossips? Bearing all the pessimistic thoughts in her mind, Georgia stared at her for a while as she fought her inner thoughts for the sake of her peace of mind.

Soon, she copied the way Dianna rests her chin at the back of her backs and averted her gaze, now focusing her eyes on the window that shows how peaceful it is outdoors.

However, that gesture made Dianna assume differently. Is she hesitating to talk about it because it’s about her feelings with a guy? With a freaking man? Oh my gosh! I didn’t know that she can also make these types of actions! I wonder who that man is! With her heart beating with the positive nervousness as she waited for her to speak, her smile escaped her lips that are eager to speak back.

“Well,” the moment Georgia uttered that single word, Dianna scooted closer as if she can close their distance further with the desk between them. “Two days ago, Finn was so bothered by the loud partying outside that he suddenly flew out through the window and out in the shore.” As she reminisced, it felt as if she isn’t staring at the peaceful outdoors anymore—it felt as if that scene is being replayed through the windows.

“While I was chasing him, I met a man—a surfer, rather. And because I was too tired that day, I fainted after bumping into him.” Changing some details, Georgia continued her story. “I didn’t know why I fainted out of the blue, but when I woke up, I was in his hotel room. He wasn’t-”

“You’re in his what?!” breaking Dianna’s self rule of not shouting or overwhelming Georgia with her emotions, she suddenly exclaimed upon hearing the first set of sentences. Surprised with her sudden remark, Georgia looked back at her with wide, shocked eyes. “O-oh…sorry.” Quickly, Dianna apologized and urged for her to continue her story.

“Uhm…okay?” letting the silence pass for a while, Georgia finally continued. “Uh, as I was saying, I woke up in his hotel room but he’s not there.” Once she said it, she heaved an internal sigh of relief when she saw Dianna nod in understanding without making another fuss.

“But, there is a note that says, I should meet it later that night so he can return Finn to me, and we can meet each other again since we actually met in an odd way—you know, with me fainting and all.” She said, followed by a small chuckle with that memory that she now finds amusing. “That was the first time we met.” She ended.

“So,” Dianna pursed her lips before she spoke once again. “You were saying that you fainted after bumping into him,” as she paused, Georgia nodded. “He brought you in his room but didn’t touch you or anything,” Georgia nodded again. “And he looked for Finn and asked to bring it to you over a night meet?” with that, Georgia nodded again.

“That must be fate!” Dianna beamed. “It was like straight out of a romance book! If that’s how you guys met for the first time, then I wonder how you met for the second and third time.” Thankfully, she spoke without alarming her again.

The positive reaction somehow lifted Georgia’s confidence. Looks like she don’t hate me speaking about it. “Well, for the second time, it happened yesterday, when I came to pick Finn up.” As she tell the story while not meeting Dianna’s eyes due to the fear of stuttering over her anxiety, Dianna, who is totally invested with the story, nodded with every phrase as she stared at her.

“I came and found out that his second name is actually Finn as well. It was actually relieving to know that he’s not that bad of a person.” Leaving out some of the details, Georgia spoke about what happened on that night. “Well, I thought I will not meet him again, but because I drank wine after forgetting that I skipped breakfast and lunch, I immediately got drunk and fell asleep after a glass.”

“As embarrassing at it sounds, I ended up waking up in his room again. But this time, he wasn’t in the bedroom, but he’s sleeping on the couch.” Giving out the summary without the details she thinks will make her sound too much, Georgia continued. “When I left his room, I forgot about Finn because I was so embarrassed, so when I returned, I spoke with his friend who actually cooked the meal I ate before leaving.”

“He said that Finn was still sleeping and he don’t know where he put my parrot, so he suggested for us to meet again today—I mean, tonight, and I can choose the location so I said…we can meet here at the clinic tonight at 7.” Ending it, she looked at Dianna who’s cheeks were puffy due to her wide smile. “Uhm...that’s the end of the second meet that connected us to our third meeting today.”

“Hmm, based on what I’ve heard….” The suspenseful silence that followed after caused Georgia’s heart to anxiously beat as if it’s escaping her chest. “This is a work of romantic art and that friend of Finn is a human cupid!” Dianna clapped after saying the words that made Georgia’s mind feel like it stopped working, and only the words she heard echoed in her head.

“I wonder if that Finn is from here. I never heard of that name aside from when you’re calling you parrot.” Dianna laughed, completely unaware of the fact that the person she’s talking with is currently on daze. “Will I ever meet him? I don’t want to stay here till 7 to give you privacy, but my older sister senses are kicking in so I’m feeling the urge to judge if he’s worthy enough for my sweet little Doctor Gia.”

“And I wonder if that friend of that Finn is single.” She giggled. “He seemed to be good at setting people up. My instinct is telling me that he knows what he’s doing.” She said, sounding like a detective who is aiming to decipher a code that only she noticed.

And once she finally took Georgia into consideration, she snapped out of her thoughts and turned to look at her, now seeing a woman who is staring at the clock, cheeks tainted with a small touch of pink, lips slightly party, and her honey-laced eyes were sparkling with a hint of excitement. I’m proud of how far you’ve come, Gia.

***

All the words that Georgia heard from Dianna kept on coming in and out of her mind until the time of their meet-up came. What should I do? Should I apologize first for forgetting Fin? Or should I greet him and say sorry for leaving without waiting for him to wake up?

All her thoughts ran wild in her head as she stayed seated at her swivel chair, now wearing only her maroon shirt, ripped jeans and white flats. Her hair is tied up in a high ponytail, and her white, vet coat is neatly hanged on her rack. “I wonder if he’s mad that Drake suddenly told him that we’ll meet again.” Sighing, she stared at her reflection on her round mirror on her desk.

Did I went overboard with wearing a lip gloss in the middle of the night? As a girl who never experienced the waves of emotions that involves a man, she couldn’t help but question nearly everything. But before she could even compose herself and stop her from ruining her own mood, the chimes made the sounds she’s been waiting for—the entrance of a certain man named the same as her parrot.

There, a man wearing a gray V-neck shirt, silver necklace with a key pendant, denim jeans and a gold watch. His blonde locks are a little disheveled after he took off his white cap, but it didn’t hide his beauty one bit. With a smile, he moved forward and closed the door behind him. “Are you mad that I came 15 minutes earlier?”

His smile, his gentle tone, and his friendly manner of approaching her made her heart flutter. He’s so different from the rumors I’ve heard. “Uhm…no.” she said in a soft voice as she stood up. “You came…just about on time.” She followed, totally feeling her heart beating like crazy after her own thoughts and Dianna’s words collided. He’s a rich person…I have to stay away from him.

She doesn’t seem to hate me. Ezekiel’s mind has been fogged with the words he heard from Georgia herself. Upon sensing that he keeps on focusing only on her, he decided to take a step and check why is he being so considerate of a woman he won’t meet again if he were to return to the place where he belong—Kroft City.

First step: be friendly and see if he will lose interest the moment that she accepted him.

Walking towards her, he stared at her zircon orbs that seemed to shine more due to the light above them. Her dark hair that flows freely behind her that is tied up, and her physique that tells him she might break if he were to handle her wrongly—all made him think of one thing: she is no different from all the women he has met.

Stopping in front of her, he placed the cage he was holding on his left hand on her desk. “Your Finn is here, Miss Rose.”

When her eyes widened before looking down the cage where a parrot with a red scarf wrapped around its neck, and a smile decorated her pinkish lips, another thought passed through his mind. Maybe, she’s a little more than the women I met.

“Why is there a scarf?” voicing out her question as she opened the cage to free Finn, she looked up and saw Ezekiel staring at her. And the way his gray orbs pierced her soul made her feel like a cold bucket woke her up. A league much father than I…it’s such a shame.



“I thought that if I were to be your friend, I might at least give your friend a gift.” And as if on cue, Finn flew out of his cage, making it look like freedom was triggered when she saw him smile. Friend?? Him??