Redemption - Episode 6

 

Benedicta:

 "So what did you say is wrong with that sweet ride yesterday?" I ask the ever smiling Luis who is sitting beside me in the backseat of the taxi. Ade is in the front seat messing with the driver's stereo system. The car is silent and I can see Luis's hand moving towards the hand I have between our body on the chair.
"Well, that car isn't exactly mine. It's my brother's" he tells me with a sheepish smile . Wow, his brother does have great taste in cars.
"That car really needs like every thing changed right?" He continues and iook at him appalled. Never insult a vintage car in my presence. He must have seen the look on my face because he chuckles.
"Another vintage lover" he says then ruffle my hair.
"You are so cute. I think you and my brother would be fast friends." he tells me and I smile while patting my hair back to orderliness.
"You can stop here" Luis pat the driver's shoulder and the car comes to a halt beside a beautiful two storey house. 
  Luis comes down first and gives me a hand to help me out of the car. He's such a gentleman. 
  The taxi speed off and Luis lead us to the back of the house. At first I panic but after we walk few miles, I see a small house in the distance.
"His studio is outside the house? Cool" I hear Ade say in amazement and I nod my head in agreement.
"Come on, the studio awaits you

All episodes of this story can be found here >> https://www.ebonystory.com/story/redemption

. I bet you are excited" Luis says as he takes my hand in his hot hand and pulls me towards the house.
 The house is not much bigger than my room at home. Luis pulls a key out of his pocket and open the door. Ade is the first person to rush in.
"Wow. Bennie you need to see this" she pulls my hand and drag me in. Luis stand beside the door with his legs crossed at the ankle as he leans on it.
 He has a big smile on his face as I turn around and take in the place. Ade flies into the booth and is currently making an impersonation of a singer being recorded.
 The digital audio workstation attract me and I move my hands against It. I feel like I have died and gone to heaven. This is my dream and he brought it to me without asking for anything. I turn back to Luis and whisper to him how beautiful it is.
 He pushes off the wall and walks to me.
 His fingers splay on mine as i caress the machine.
"My brother found this in the trash and brought it back to life. It could be better. You want me to get a new one?" He whisper into my ears but I shake my head. His brother is amazing,I note in my head. He sees beauty in battered things and restores them.
"This is awesome. Imagine how many singers have recorded their hits on this thing before it got thrown out?" I whisper and he just shakes his head like he doesn't understand what I see in this battered thing. He isn't an artiste. He won't understand. 
  I give him a wry smile at the same time Ade come bursting out of the studio.
"I have to use the toilet." She says, squirming around.
"I am afraid. It's in the main house. You will have to go around and knock on the gate. Hopefully, my mom hears you. Tell her you are my visitor" Luis tells her and in seconds, Ade is out the door leaving just the both of us in an awkward silence. I may be a bit ignorant in all these but I know the tension between us is pure chemistry.
 Luis stare at my mouth intently and I have to clear my throat to take his eyes away from my lips.
"Umm. My brother isn't here yet but maybe you should try the booth. I will just plug this in. I have seen my bro do this a few times. Should be easy" I nod at him and giddily enter the booth. I Put on the headset and position myself in front of the microphone. The feeling of being in here is just one of a kind and I silently thank Luis in my mind.
  I look through the glass booth and see Luis give me an okay sign to sing .
I start singing the intro of Justin bieber's love yourself into the mic when it starts screeching loudly. I pull the headset off quickly and wince at the sound. I see Luis rush to unplug it before rushing into the booth to me.
"Sorry Benedicta. I know nothing about these things" he fuss over me like I have been run over by a big trailer. I can't help myself. I launch myself into his arms in a fierce hug.
"Hey, sweetheart" He coos into my ears as his hands come around me. I feel like crying but in joy.
"That was the best thing someone has ever done for me. Younjuat brought my dream closer to my grasp" I sob unto his shoulders. I don't want him to see me as an emotional teenager so I man up and wipe my tears. I am about to pull away when he whisper into my ears.
"You smell so good" and I make the mistake of pulling away a little to look into his eyes. There's a weird look on his face and soon he is pressing his lips to mine in a fierce kiss.
  I resist a bit because of the shock but when he persists, I let my self go and try to enjoy the kiss. It's a bit awkward since it's my first kiss and I wonder if this is how it's supposed to feel like. His hands starts caressing my sides through my T-shirt and it feels weird but good.

  Should I stop him? Mt mind is so confused right now and I am beyond thankful when the door flies open.
"Bennie!" Luis startle and pull away from me as he hears Ade's voice. I turn to see her looking at me with disapproval written all over her face. 
"Thanks for today Luis, but Bennie and I have to be on her way now" Ade apologize as she enter the booth with us and pulls my hand.
 Luis looks apologetic as he scratches his head sheepishly while he watches Ade drag me out the door. He doesn't even try to stop us. I am so confused right now but I follow Ade numbly till we reach the spot the taxi dropped us.
"That was intense. I thought he was going to devour you" Ade says while breathing heavily.
"What? He just kissed me" I defend because Luis isn't a bad guy right? Bad guys don't dress and act the way he does. Moreover, all he has done is help us since we saw him at the bar yesterday.
"Are you sure? It looked like___ never mind. I shouldn't have left you guys alone. No offense but you are naive in these things." She says, giving me a sheepish smile.
"I dont think his brother was going to show up and I need you to follow me somewhere, please" she continues. The look on her face tells me this is pretty serious.
"What's going on?" I ask as she start walking and I fall onto step beside her.
"Silas sent me a text. He isn't taking the break up well. He's at the bar and he says if I don't meet him now, he'll go to my house to find me. My dad is going to flip if he finds out. Please Bennie, I can't go alone" she stops and grab my hand and I realize she's shaking. I have never seen Ade this way before and I have known her for more than fifteen years. She looks skittish and looks around like she expects her dad or Silas to burst out of thin air and get her. I look around too but the only car in the silent road is no other car but the vintage mustang. Luis brother must have come back. I push that out of my mind for the now as I hail a cab and pull Ade in before sitting beside her.
"I just need to speak with him in person and sort things out"she tells me and I hug her because I know she needs it right now.
"I am here for you. We would get everything sorted out" I tell her as I rub her back soothingly.

Lucas:

I have been parked outside my own house for about an hour deliberating if I should go into my own studio. I know she would be in there with my brother and I am confused as hell at what to do. I don't want to cause a rift between the both of us because of a girl but this feeling said girl ignited inside me yesterday can't be ignored. Maybe I should shoot my shot and see of she'll choose me. I can deal with my brother. What if she  chooses Luis and I become the sole loser. Loosing both love and family? I hit the steering wheel in frustration.
  I should just man up. Whether I get her or not, I need to make her a star. I am about to alight my car when I see her friend pulling her hand as they walk out. I quickly crouch my head as they pass me. Why am I hiding? This is my chance. Luis isn't in sight.

Read " Star-crossed " by the same author ( Ameh juliet )

. Maybe I should just talk to her even a little with Luis interfering. 
  I start to get out of my car when I get a text. It's from Luis.
  

I can't believe you didn't show up. You messed everything up. No. I did. I messed up big time.

I look down at the text then at the two girl who just hailed down a cab. Luis or my star. Hell, Luis can wait. I quickly reverse my car and follow after their cab. I just want to talk to her. What could that hurt?

Good day guys