As they eat other customers stole glances at them now and then. Or should I say Derrick and Raymond were those their attention focused on?
Amos made do with the wine they had ordered. While others ate, he took a sip from the glass of wine dangling in between his fingers.
[I can't wait to get rid of them after this meal?]
Amos gripped the glass of wine firmer as he glared at Raymond who was happily discussing the taste of the delicacies.
Although they didn't say a word to him, he couldn't help but conclude that they were doing this to piss him off.
"So where are you going after here?" Raymond asked. He dropped his cutlery and leaned his back against the green chair.
"Hmmm…," Joana trailed and stole a glance at Amos.
"We are going to the arcade," Anthony announced smiling.
"Arcade?" Raymond questioned. He shifted his gaze to Joanna's face. Her displeased look didn't escape his notice.
[It's ok if she feels uncomfortable around me now. It's normal since we haven't met for a long time. I will just make her get used to me]
He clasped his fists and looked away from her face.
"Can we tag along?" Derrick asked, noticing that Raymond was hesitating.
[To get what we want I don't mind being the bad guy]
He smiles and avoids his face.
"No," Amos replied sternly.
"I wasn't asking you," Derrick retorted. He tilted his head and gaze at Joanna. Noticing their questioning stares centred on her, Joanna cleared her throat.
"The outing was supposed to be just the three of us since it was our promise to little rice ball. I don't think he will agree to let you guys join us," Joanna said softly.
Silence engulfed their table after Joanna turned them down.
"Does that mean we just have to convince him to let us join you guys right?" Derrick asked.
"That is if you can convince him, don't you think so?" Amos asked as he crossed his legs and leaned back on the chair.
"Convincing kids had never for once been a problem since we understand exactly what they want…,"
"Then let's see you both try," Amos challenged coldly.
"Watch and learn ok," Raymond said. Instantly he and Derrick changed seats.
[This is exactly what I was trying to avoid so why has it come down to this?]
Joanna was in deep thought as she watched Raymond whisper words she couldn't hear into Anthony's ears.
At that moment she didn't know what she wanted anymore.
Raymond kept whispering words into Anthony's ears but the little boy responded each time by shaking his head in negation.
"Such cheap tricks won't work on him. He is too smart for that," Amos said grinning.
"I will go settle our bills so we can leave," He said. He stood up almost immediately and strolled to the counter.
When he returned he was greeted by the smiling face of the boy standing behind his seat.
"Brother Amos, can they come with us too?" He asked softly.
Amos hesitated to answer. His eyes moved from Raymond's anxious face to Derrick's and then back to Anthony's.
[Though I dislike them, Little man seems to really want them to come along. I should be flexible too, shouldn't I?]
He clenched his fists. He hated compromising in this situation but he had no choice.
"You don't have to say yes…,"
"As long as they promise not to get in my way or provoke me then I will agree…,"
"That is a piece of cake for us. We won't get in your way, don't worry," Derrick responded smiling.
"Let's go," Amos said nothing more to them. He held Anthony's hand and started walking away.
Joanna followed him instantly. She was too concerned about Amos and didn't notice that the two guys weren't following them.
"We both knew it wouldn't be easy to win her over but we still went ahead with it despite being aware of this so there is no need to get hurt by what she said," Derrick said. He lifted his hand and placed it on Raymond's shoulders.
"She indeed likes him more than you but I believe this will change as long as you utilize your charms well. Believe me. Also, you have got me to help you out…,"
"You talk too much," Raymond brushed his hand away. "And how come I don't understand a word you said?" He quizzed and walked away.
"I know you understand all I said so what is the use of pretending?" He mumbled and ran after him.
Reaching downstairs, they met Joanna and the others already inside the car.
Derrick tapped the screen of the driver's seat and signalled Amos to wound down the glass.
"What's it now again?" He asked irritatedly.
"Open the back door for us…,"
"What!" Amos exclaimed not able to hide his inner feelings this time around.
"Don't tell me you want to share the same car with us?" Amos asked despite having guessed this much.
"Yes…,"
"Didn't you come with your car?" He demanded.
"You know I wouldn't buy that nonsense if you said you trekked here…,"
"We indeed came with our car but since we are going to the same place. Wouldn't it be fun if we go in the same car?" Raymond quizzed.
An argument broke out once again because of the car's issue. After arguing for a while Amos had to compromise for the second time that day.
The journey from the restaurant to the biggest mall in the City was a thirty minutes drive.
Derrick and Raymond utilised their thirty minutes well by asking Anthony about the kind of games he loved.
Amos, who has never been to an arcade, was left out of their discussion. As the conversation went on in the back seat Joanna was more concerned about the one sitting by her side.
She initiated topics about things he was familiar with.
At the mall even though shopping wasn't on their agenda they still went ahead to shop first.
"Little man, do you want that? I think the shirt would suit you very much," Amos suggested with his index finger pointing at the brown shirt hanging in the middle of so many clothes.
....
IMPORTANT ANNOUNCEMENT!!!
Hello lovely readers. I have a surprise to share with you.
I entered the December mass release event and this was all because of you guys. I wanted to give you a surprise and also reward you guys for always being super supportive.
As some of you might have seen our mass release is coming up on the 27th and 31st of December 2022.
For each day the chapter for mass release is 5 chapters. So what do you think?
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Share your thoughts in the comments section if you love the surprise mass release.
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I really need your motivation to be able to keep my part of the bargain so please be my source of motivation and inspiration.
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