Tolerating The Player

“Zachary O’Connell! Where the hell are you and what the fucking crap do you think you’re doing!?” My coach yelled through the phone as my wheel kept swerving through cars in a hurry.

“I’m sorry coach but I can’t make it today. ” I responded with my eyes focused on the road. I had disobeyed a lot of traffic rules and outran a cop car. Hopefully I don’t get caught by them; well not today.

“What the hell do you mean you can’t make it? We’re having a final match today and your teammates are all waiting for you, if you don’t come here we might lose the game. Zach, are you out of your mind!” He roared and even though I wasn’t there I could picture the look of frustration on his face.

“What’s even more important to you than your big game which would fetch you and your team a lot of money?” He groaned in frustration.

“It’s my girlfriend’s graduation coach! It is fucking important!” I yelled with excitement in my voice before hanging up.

*****

I arrived at the airport in Houston with a big smile on my face, she wouldn’t be expecting me to be around for her graduation because of the big game but she’s more important to me than some game or money.

I stopped a Taxi which led me straight to a hotel where I changed into a fine Tuxedo. I brushed my hair and styled it until I had this perfect prince charming look.

Looking in the mirror and staring at the dragon figure on my neck, I wondered if she would actually like the new tattoo I got.

I left the hotel after the ride I ordered had arrived. I can’t wait to see her face again even though it’s been just two month of not seeing her, two months without the warmth of her body felt like forever in hell.

I arrived at her university and inhaled a deep breath. I walked into the big hall as I passed through different graduates in gowns and hats. I was still on time because the event hadn’t started yet so I walked to the nearest empty seat that a name wasn’t written on to settle my butt on.

I didn’t bother to call her or inform her that I would be coming because I bet it would be easier to locate her when her name would be called even though I would have to wait for a very long time but fortunately the names were being called according to an alphabetical order and her name started from a good alphabet or so I thought.

I was getting bored of sitting and clapping for the people who were walking up the stage. I silently searched for her with my eyes but with everyone here wearing the same damn clothes it was really hard.

“Uhm hi?” A girl’s voice called from beside me. She was also in a gown but I wasn’t interested in talking to anyone here. I glanced at her and gave a quick smile before concentrating on the event. I had to be nice because of my reputation.

“You remember me?” She asked again, I’ve experienced most of these from ladies and it wasn’t surprising. I was about to stand up from the seat before the memory of her suddenly flashed through my mind but it was faint.

“The flower girl?” I asked and a broad smile appeared on her face as she nodded her head.

“Yes it’s me, Rosa” she answered and I replied with a “nice to meet you” before focusing back on the event.

“You’re quite a big shot now with your football skills” she said and I could tell she was trying to start up a conversation which I wasn’t interested in. All that was In my mind was my Bella and how amazing she would look in the gown.

She realized I wasn’t responding to her anymore when she suddenly cleared her throat, “who are you here for?” She asked.

“My girlfriend!” I immediately replied hopefully so she wouldn’t bother me anymore but sit quietly.

“Still that girl?” She asked and I nodded. To be honest I think I actually had time to respond to her, if it were to be another day I would have uprightly stood up but then I was just so excited today because of my Bella.

“She must be a really lucky girl” she sighed, I could tell she was still staring at me afterwards but I didn’t mind. Isabella wasn’t lucky to have me but I was hell of the luckiest man on Earth to have her.

“Isabella Brown” they finally called her name and I watched my baby girl majestically walk up to collect her certificate and to be congratulated. I hadn’t really been clapping for people that much all these while but this time my clap was the loudest.

After she came down from the stage, I watched her walk outside the hall with a smile on her face and instantly followed her out.

“Bella!” I yelled at the top of my lungs so she could hear me and it worked. She turned to look at me with shock all over her face before running to meet me.

I caught her in my arms and hugged her really tight as I inhaled the intoxicating familiar smell of her body.

“I’m so proud of you my baby girl” I kissed her lips with the intent of a short kiss but it turned out to be a deep kiss before she suddenly pulled away.

“Wait! Why the fuck are you here right now when you’re supposed to be playing a game?” She asked as her eyes burned into my soul.

“Because you matter most?” I nervously said as I scratched the back of my head. She smacked me on my arms before pulling me into a hug.

“Well only this time would I let it slide because I’m glad at least a person made it here” she snuggled closer towards me. My eyes landed on Rose who was staring at us with a face filled with jealousy and rage. I don’t know what her problem is but all I know is she can’t be a threat to me or Bella.

“Hold on, you got a new tattoo?” Her voice came out as a whisper as her hands traced the image on my neck.

“Yeah you don’t like it?” I asked hoping I hadn’t made a mistake. I was just so attracted to the image at the tattoo shop and wanted it on me.

“It’s beautiful” she smiled and I heaved a sigh of relief.

“Bitch!!!!!” A high pitched voice squealed and we both turned to look at who it was.

“Maya!” Bella exclaimed with happiness as she and her friend embraced themselves in a tight hug.

“Hey you weren’t that excited to see me!” I lamented with my lips pouting. She chuckled for a moment before turning to face her best friend as they both went into a deep conversation even though they met each other last month when it was Maya’s graduation.

“Where Joe by the way?” Maya asked.

“Oh he’s having exams and won’t be able to make it today” Bella responded with a proud smile on her face, she looked really beautiful today with the light makeup on.

“Congratulations!” Another voice sounded and we all focused to see who it was. Fiona was standing elegantly in front of Bella with a smile on her face. Bella’s big smile seemed to have fallen as she flashed a fake smile along with a “thank you” to Fiona.

She was about to walk away when Fiona suddenly held her hands to stop her, ” you don’t want to talk to me?” She questioned and Bella scoffed.

“Why are you here? Because you didn’t win the presidential election?” Bella rhetorically asked with a sly smile on her face and the look on Fiona’s face suddenly fell. They had withdrawn out of the election due to some reasons no one could tell but it wasn’t my business anyway. If they had won the election then I would have travelled out of the country with Bella.

“I’m sorry!” Fiona muttered before releasing her grip on Bella’s hand. I had planned for this to be an amazing moment but Fiona managed to bring down the mood among us.

Fiona was about to leave before we saw a tall and broad figure approaching us, dressed elegantly and neatly. I recognized who it was immediately, it was my cousin Devin.

He looked really different from the last time I saw him, he was in the military school and served in the military for some years before leaving because of some issues.

“Congratulations Bella” his voice came out thick and mild at the same time but contained a lot of authority. After the incident with his girlfriend he had really changed to a less cheerful person and hardly smiled.

There was a tension among us that I wasn’t sure of, I could see the feeling of guilt in Maya’s eyes or perhaps they were something else but Devin paid no attention to her. Fiona also stopped walking the moment she saw Devin, her eyes were fixed on him like he was some kind of her damn salvation but I chose to ignore those signals. Perhaps I was overthinking.

After everything was over and Fiona had left, we were just three left and she decided we all stayed in her apartment overnight and partied. Devin objected and insisted on staying in a hotel room so did Maya.

Bella and I left for her apartment and I took this as a golden opportunity. As soon as she opened the door to her apartment and was focused on switching on the lights. I heaved a deep breath before bending on one kneel, I knew this wasn’t romantic like the ones we watched on the TV or read in books but I had indirectly asked how she would like to be proposed to and her response was “in a quiet place with just the two of us” so here I am bending on one kneel with a diamond ring in my hands and sweat running down my forehead.

She turned to look at me and was dumb struck seeing me on one kneel with a ring in my hands. I was nervous and it was really unusual for me.

“Will you, Isabella Brown, marry me?” I asked but cringed when I realized how hoarse my voice came out.

“Yes!” She exclaimed as her smile widened. With excitement in me I placed the ring carefully in her finger and watched how it shone under the fluorescent light.

Standing up to meet her face I pulled her closer to me by her waist and placed a soft kiss that spoke a thousand words on her lips. Finally, she’s mine forever.

~THE END~This content © Nôv/elDr(a)m/a.Org.