Elara sat on the couch across Mr. Tumbler, Denial sat close to his dad Mr. Tumbler. Elara looking down her hair almost covering her face, her hand on her laps clutched to a fist, Mr. Tumbler stared at her with a smile, hoping she will meet his gaze, Denial on the other hand was not ready for this.
'' so Elara how are you and the whole family?'' Mr. Tumbler asked, with a smile. Finally she looked up and smiled nervously not to make things awkward between them.
'' All is good, we are all good, how about you?'' Elara responded casually.
'' Good, Good, we are living our best'' Mr. Tumbler responded.
'' I see..., that's interesting'' Elara said and nods.
'' Why did you say that?'' Denial who's been quiet sine asked.
'' it's nothing'' She said and smiles '' just carry on, why did you ask me to sit?'' Elara asked reversing the subject. Mr. Tumbler sighed and nods.
'' I heard you worked at a café now, since.... your parents cut ties with you'' Mr. Tumbler asked only to get a 5 second silence.
'' well i do not work there any more, i was fired yesterday'' Elara answered disappointed '' but how did you know?'' Elara added curious.
'' I have my own ways in knowing things. and i know.'' Mr. Tumbler said glancing at Denial.
'' Denial you told him? right?'' Elara asked and Denial nodded looking down.
'' That is not what we are here to do for today, i want to hire you to work in my company'' Mr. Tumbler said not as if pleading for her to come it felt like he was commanding.
'' Sorry, you know i can't, please do not ask me again'' Elara declined.
'' Please Elara, i know why you declined it, is because of a little misunderstanding between me and you, i am begging you hear me out Elara i can explain'' Denial said, Elara is a very kind person and since she saw the dedication and sincerity in Denial's eyes she let him speak.
'' This is the only time i will listen to you, say what ever you want now or you won't say it or see me again.'' Elara said her face neutral but her voice dead serious.
'' Thank you so much.'' Denial said. Mr. Tumbler knowing this will be awkward and uncomfortable if he stays there, left them to talk privately.
'' Elara'' Denial said his soft voice remind Elara of old times.
''let me ask you the question then you answer it ok?'' Elara said and Denial nodded.
'' why did you leave me?'' Elara asked.
'' i needed money, you see'' Denial responded.
'' where is all the money i gave you?, you left with them right?,, so.. which money were you needing/, cause as long as i can remember, i gave you over 2 million dollars. Then which money were you needing?'' Elara poured out as if she's been waiting to ask since 1999.
'' One question at a time please. The money you gave me did not come to me, we didn't use the money.'' Denial responded.
'' then who used it?'' Elara asked visibly confused.
'' You know the person, but you won't believe me, if i tell you'' Denial said calmly but worried.
''just tell me, it won't be surprising if i don't believe you'' Elara said demanding and waiting for answers. Denial looked scared and worried but still boost up the confident and courage to speak in front of maybe his worst night mare.
'' Your parents.'' He said quickly. Elara got shocked her eyes widened in genuine shock.
'' my parents!?, how dare you accuse them?'' Elara shouted.
'' really! am not accusing them, it's true you can ask them'' Denial said calmly. Elara couldn't help but stand up from her seat, she paces around the living room, her hands on her chins in a thinking position, Denial stared at her his gaze following anywhere she goes, he felt as if he was the girl and she was the man, so terrible.
'' But how?, how and why would they do that?'' Elara shouted pointing at Denial startling him.
'' i do not know why did they do that , but i know they did it. The time you gave me money, i was not planning to spend it. You were supposed to give that money to your parents but you refuse you gave me'' Denial said.
'' that doesn't add up to what we are talking about'' Elara said her arms crossed her face neutral.
'' just let me finish. So... your parents got jealous, and hated us, so they collected the money you gave us, and gave us less then 500 thousand dollars, and told me to stay away from you if i want you to survive, so i left knowing it's the right thing to do'' Denial said his voice low and smooth.
'' I do not know why it sound so stupid, but hey! i believe you some how because i know they can do something like that'' Elara said, Denial smiled feeling relieved.
''But why didn't you tell me first?, i waited for you at the café for over four hours back at that time'' Elara said feeling both offended and sad.
'' i was told not to talk to you again Elara believe me i tried but i couldn't risk your life Elara'' Denial said almost in tears and Elara's heart melted a little bit.
'' i can't believe this...'' Elara said her face down her hands crossed.
'' it's true... Elara with the money they gave us, we started a business and here we are now'' Denial said again.
'' Huh, i do not know what to say'' Elara said.
'' Don't say anything just look at me'' Denial said his voice deep, his eyes sparkling with hearts his smile soft he gave a flirty look not too creepy not too light. Elara's eyes softening her heart was melting and her stomach feels like butterflies inside.
A spark of deep connection, longing and desperation, came between them as they stare at each other, the world felt like a fantasy like there's nothing only the both of them, Denial took Elara's hand staring at her almost to her soul, Elara was doing the same thing everything was going well, as if it won't end.
clears throat '' Are we interrupting something?'' a soft voice, loud and clear but sweet, Denial's mom Mrs. Tumbler.
''No!'' Denial said as they both came back to what so called reality. Denial gave his mom a look and she knows she interrupted and SPOILED a beautiful moment.
'' i'm sorry i will just go! sorry'' Mrs. Tumbler said trying to carefully go away but got stopped by someone, Elara.
'' No! no! Mrs. Tumbler you can stay, i was just leaving'' Elara said. She turns to Denial her smile faded not entirely her eyes went back to normal not like before when she looked like a puppy wanting a treat.
''i will go first'' Elara said, as she tries to go, Denial stopped her
'' wait, will you forgive me?'' he asked.
'' Maybe i will'' she responded.
'' see you tomorrow.'' she said and left.
'' she agreed?, she agreed she forgave me , she want to see me tomorrow , she agreed she agreed mom'' Denial kept repeating the same thing over and over again, jumping up and down like a child.
'' Calm down, sweetie, go freshen up'' Mrs. Tumbler said.
Elara arrived home and as always she went straight to her brother but this time with questions.
'' Elara you are back from where ever you went yesterday'' Jordan said playfully.
'' Shut up!'' Elara said done with foolishness.
'' you're also in yesterday's cloth.'' Jordan said.
'' is of no use, i got fired. '' Elara said sad.
'' why?'' Jordan asked
'' it's ridiculous'' Elara said and told him the reason she got fired.
'' that's stupid'' Jordan sneered.
'' whatever, i am also here to ask you something'' Elara said and Jordan nodded meaning yes.
'' Can you remember back then?, the money i gave Denial years ago, did it really reached him? or was it delayed?'' Elara asked and Jordan starred at her shock to hear the unexpected question.
'' answer me do not be quiet'' Elara commands.
'' yes it did'' Jordan answered his voice shaken.
'' he told it didn't only less then 500 thousand dollars reached i gave him 2 million'' Elara said trying to squeeze out the answers.
'' i don't know'' Jordan said.
'' you're sweating, it means you are lying'' Elara said, she starred at Jordan until he couldn't hide any longer he cracked.
'' yes i know that took them'' Jordan said and he felt relived to reveal the thruth.
'' i knew it, and they are giving me lectures on how to not spend much money,'' Elara said.
'' i hid it from you because they pressured me, am sorry'' Jordan asked.
'' it's ok it's not your fault'' Elara said softly.
'' i will be travelling for collage next week'' Jordan said.
'' good luck, let me go freshen up in my room'' Elara said and ran to her room leaving Jordan to his thought.
'' how did she know?, and were was she yesterday? she's acting mysterious this days i have to keep an eye on her'' Jordan thought.