It was a good thing that Raymond had known Hope long enough to know that she was stubborn and set in her ways. He'd probably have driven himself off the edge worrying over and trying to figure her out otherwise. Although he couldn't promise that wouldn't end up happening at the rate things were going. They currently had a passive-aggressive situation ongoing, but at least he knew better than to be too worried about it. He had to give it to her though, the girl was very stubborn.
"What are you thinking about so seriously?"
Raymond's attention returned to his friend who was already staring inquisitively at him. When Efe had showed up in his office unannounced as seemed to be his signature, bearing news that they were having a 'guys' night', he'd been too exhausted to do anything else but agree, explaining why Efe was comfortably making his way through his stash of junks after hogging both his sofa and tv. Raymond on the other hand had settled on the floor with a drink, too engrossed in his thoughts to pay much attention to his friend.
"Nothing much," he dismissed, uninterested in getting into any kind of details.
"Really? Cause you've been unusually quiet, even for you," Efe probed then continued when Raymond only shrugged, "How's Hope these days?"
Trust Efe to accurately link his sour mood to Hope. "She's good."
"Weird, man. What's up with your tone?"
"What about it?"
"You tell me. You usually look like a lovestruck idiot whenever anyone as much as mentions Hope, but now you're being the exact opposite. Your terrible attempt at being nonchalant is a dead giveaway," his friend stated with the confidence of one who knew he was right.
"You're the idiot," Raymond retorted for lack of a better response.
"Weak," Efe retorted. "So what's it?"
"Hope is fine, Efe," Raymond replied exasperatedly, rubbing his face tiredly.
"You're going to have to do better than that," Efe insisted. "It's either you say exactly what's got you in a sour mood or you start smiling like the lovestruck idiot I know you to be."
Why did one have friends again? "Alright. Truth is we sort of had a fight so we haven't really spoken in the last few days."
"Wait, what? Are you serious?"
Raymond wasn't sure what to make of the honest shock on his friend's face. "Does it look like I'm joking? And why do you look so surprised?"
"Because you've been acting like nothing would ever go wrong between you two. What did you do?"
It was Raymond's turn to look surprised, and offended. "What exactly makes you think I did something?"
"It'd makes more sense that way, I guess. I don't know. Didn't you?"
"No," Raymond replied pointedly, glaring at his friend. "As a matter of fact, I'm the one who was offended."
Efe scoffed. "You say that like it's something to be happy about. What happened?"
"After everything that's happened, I'd suggested that she visits Philip even if for the last time so she could get proper closure cause it was so obvious she needed one."
"Uh-oh. I assume she didn't take it well?"
"At first, yes, she wasn't open to the idea, but that wasn't even the issue. She told me she'd think about it and the next thing I know, she'd already gone to see him without informing me or anyone else. She went to see a man that'd previously kidnapped her all by herself, without letting anyone know. Who does that?"
It riled him up afresh as he thought about it. Before Efe could get a word in, he continued, "It's like she's self destructive, you know? Like she purposely does all sorts of crazy things just to the drive people who care about her out of their minds. She's been like that for as long as I've known her. One would think she'd have even thought to change after all she went through the last time she kept things to herself but no, not Hope."
Certain Raymond was done with his speech, Efe considered it safe to speak. "I get why that might make you angry. So that's why you're not speaking to each other?" It didn't seem like enough reason to him.
Raymond snorted like he thought the whole situation was silly. "More like I'm singlehandedly sulking. I intentionally didn't pick up the first few times she called thinking that would calm her enough to listen, but you know what she did?"
"Sounds interesting. Did she barge in here with a tractor?" Efe guessed. He looked excited at the prospect.
"Nothing quite as interesting. She stopped calling entirely," Raymond finished on a laugh, shaking his head disbelievingly.
Efe laughed as well. "Looks like you've met your match."
"More like I've met a master. I'm going to need a manual on how to relate with that one."
Efe laughed harder. "If I didn't know better, or maybe I don't, I'd say you're actually enjoying this."
An easy smile spread on Raymond's face. "I've had time to think about it. Like I said, Hope has been like this the whole time I've known her. I don't expect that she'd just change out of the blue."
"So why are you angry then?"
"I'm not, at least not anymore. I just want her to start trying at least. If we're going to work, the effort can't be one sided," Raymond explained.
"And you think ignoring her would have that effect on her? Is that really a good idea? What if she gets it in her head that she's better off on her own?"
The alarm on Raymond's face at that possibility almost had Efe cracking up again. "What? No! Stop it. Stop planting doubts in my head."
Enjoying it way too much to stop, Efe continued, "What if you only end up adding to her stress, y'know after everything she just went through and she decides you're not worth the trouble afterall?"
"Okay, now I'm worried." He hadn't thought that far. Things had just happened the way they had and he'd just went with the flow, but what if Hope wasn't taking it well? What if the reason she'd stopped calling was not because she was waiting for him to crack first? "Alex would know if something was up with her, right?"
"I don't--"
"Hope is actually very good at pretending she's fine. Alex wouldn't know if anything was up with her!" He concluded.
"Guy, calm down. Now you're being extra. I was only trying to goad you into calling her."
Raymond sighed. "I know, but you're probably right. Not about her thinking I'm not worth it, but that she could be really stressed out right now. I'm an idiot. Of course I should call her." He started to reach for his phone but stopped, changing his mind. "No, I should go and see her instead."
Efe watched, incredulous and amused as his friend immediately shot to his feet, looking around for his car key. "You're going right now?"
"Yeah?" Raymond responded distractedly, finally spotting the key.
"Okay, I'll come with," Efe declared, jumping to his feet as well.
Raymond's head whipped back fast so he was facing his friend. "What? No."
"Why not?" Efe demanded.
"Why exactly do you want to go with me?"
"Why do you not want me to go with you?"
"Because I don't trust you and your unfiltered mouth," Raymond replied like he thought the answer was obvious enough.
"Well, I think it's going to be a very interesting reunion so I'm going," Efe informed, ignoring his friend's attempt at resistance.
"You're not coming with me, Efe."
"But I am though," Efe replied matter-of-factly.
Raymond ignored him, grabbing his car key and headed for the door, almost hitting Hope with the door as he absentmindedly threw it open. "Fine, but you don't -- Hope?"
Hope thanked the heavens she had reflexes as quick as she did. She'd probably have ended up with an headache and her butt on the ground otherwise. "It's not enough that you ignore me for days, now you'd even hit me with the door?"
"How was I to know that you were standing right outside? Are you okay?"
Ignoring his question, she asked instead, "Are you going somewhere?"
It dawned on him then that she was really there. Hope had come looking for him and was standing in his doorway. He gave her a quick scan and exhaled a relieved breath seeing as she seemed fine. "Maybe. What's it to you?"
"Seriously? You're really going to be like this?" She demanded, glaring at him. Who was supposed to be doing the glaring?
"Be like what?"
"Come on, Ray. I gave you enough time to cool off."
She was getting impatient. Good. "I honestly have no idea what you're talking about," he insisted.
"Stop with the act. I'm here to tell you you won. I miss you." The last part was spoken so softly he almost missed it. Immediately, his face softened and his lips curved up against his will.
"You do know this wasn't some sort of game, Hope. It was never about who would crack first . . ."
"Or maybe it was just a little bit . . . "
The both of them turned to the third presence they'd completely been oblivious to. Raymond had totally forgotten that they weren't alone.
"Oh, hi Efe," Hope greeted, seeming a bit embarrassed.
"Go away, Efe. This is a private discussion."
Efe scoffed. "Right, I'll just find something to keep myself busy then since I don't have anyone to fight and make up with. Hi, Hope." He didn't wait for a response before going back in and shutting the door, leaving the both of them outside alone.
"That guy is just . . . " Raymond started, searching for the right word to describe his friend.
"Your bestfriend? Your ride or die?" Hope supplied, amused.
"Annoying. He's just so annoying."
"But you love him," She said. He shook his head, smiling, a silent admission that brought a smile to her lips. "I've missed seeing that smile." Said smile got wider and it gave her the encouragement to continue. " I'm sorry about going to see Philip behind your back. I shouldn't have done that."
"You do realize that I'm not angry because you didn't tell me in particular, but because you went to see a potentially dangerous man all on your own without as much as informing anyone?" He needed her to realize he was only worried for her safety.
"I know. I just . . . I guess I'm just so used to dealing with things on my own . . . And yes, I know how unfair that is to you, but I promise I'll try. I don't want to have you constantly worrying about me either."
"I just never want to see you hurt again, Hope, and I'm not the only one who feels that way. You have to understand this and think about the people you'd be hurting before doing anything dangerous going forward."
"I will. I'll try my best, I promise."
Raymond looked for a sign that she didn't mean it and was only trying to appease him but found none. Pleased, he nodded. "Okay."
"Okay?" The relief and excitement in her eyes had him grinning wide. "So you're not mad at me anymore?"
"I was never really mad at you," He admitted. "I just wanted to see how long it'd take for you to crack."
Hope laughed. "So I was right. Do you think that's healthy though?"
"Well, something tells me we'll be having a lot more disagreements going forward seeing as you're so stubborn--"
"Hey!"
"So yes, we can't be doing this all the time. We'll need to start talking things out like this, never letting anything fester for long. Deal?"
"Deal," Hope replied, linking their pinkies.
"Besides, maybe I just wanted to know how much you love me. Seeing as you waited a whole week to seek me out, I'm seriously starting to rethink this relationship."
Hope snorted, wrapping her arms around him. "I could say the same about you. Fortunately, you have an understanding girlfriend who's willing to overlook how uncaring you are."
"Really?" He asked, mirroring her mirth. "I'm so grateful."
"Yes, really. You should be."
"I guess it explains then why I love her so much," Raymond surmised.
"I'll think about it."
Well, that response definitely left him confused. "Think about what again?"
Hope laughed, giddy. He had to know she was just messing with him. "School's resuming soon."
"Okay . . . That wasn't a total change of topic at all."
Hope ignored his comment. "I was just wondering, how am I ever going to be able to concentrate during exams when you're all that fills my head?"
"What?" Caught off guard, Raymond's shoulders shook with unrepressed laughter.
"I'm serious o," Hope insisted, although she looked anything but with the silly grin on her face. "There's no space for books to stay in my head anymore o. Don't be surprised if your name is the only thing I'm capable of writing during my exams."
Raymond stood upright again, trying to rein in his laughter enough to respond. "First, if that was supposed to be some sort of pickup line, never ever use it again, like ever. It's not your calling. Second, it's your mummy you'll tell that one. I'm sure that by the time she's done with you, she'd have already knocked adequate space into you."
Hope shuddered at the thought. It was a scary thought considering it was something she considered her mum capable of doing. "Sometimes you sound even scarier than my mum."
"That was the plan," was his smug response.
"And you're really good at ruining romantic atmospheres as well. Who knew you had so many talents?"
Raymond chuckled as his gaze roamed her face, warmth spreading in him like warm honey. It was a feeling he was never getting used to. "You're it for me, Hope. You know that?"
She smiled, and his heart jumped. "Before nko. That's a given now."
"And you call me obnoxious."
"I was merely agreeing with a universal fact. You on the other hand, are obnoxious. Fullstop."
"Since we're stating universal facts, you probably already know this as well, but I'm always here for you. There's nothing, absolutely nothing you can't share with me. I'll never judge you, and I'll always do my best to make you happy. Always."
Hope's heart swelled. Being with him always made her feel like there was nothing life could throw her way that she couldn't handle. It was a feeling she would never get tired of. "I know, and same goes for you as well. I'm always going to be here for you."
Raymond's smile was as wide as his face. At the rate he was going, his smile would be forever etched onto his face. He laughed aloud, picturing that. It'd definitely be quite a sight, walking around smiling like a loony, but that was how Hope made him feel, and he would never want to have it any other way.
THE END!
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Happy New Year, beautiful people!
So I finally completed this book.
I'm so grateful to everyone that stuck with me to the end, and to everyone that encouraged me to complete Hope and Raymond's story, I want to say a big thank you
You're all amazing people, reallyâ¥ï¸