Bagging this Man
"Hey", a deep warm voice called out from behind Riri. She stilled and could feel her heart thump immediately knowing he was near. Rafi moved his head to above her shoulder to look at her from behind, feeling his movement she moved her head to side making eye contact. The pair looked into each others eyes for a few moments.
"Shall we?", offering his hand out to her. "Hmm", she sighed, the young lady could feel her nerves taking over coupled with her thumping heart she felt herself in a slight panic. Seeing her mixed reactions Rafi grabbed her small hand in his, this broke the doctor from her daze, he gave her grin that was radiant and filled with reassurance. She could feel herself relax at once, she looked down at her hand to see him interlocking their hands, his hand was rough but warm and it gave her an unknown feeling.
The couple holding hands made their way into the venue, both now smiling!
"Everything sorted", an excited voice called out from behind. Clara approached them and looked at them with awe. It had been a very long time since she had seen such a smile from Riri which made the younger sister who adored her elder sister over the moon. Clara looked directly at Rafi and mouthed the words "Thank you", he in turn gave her a puzzled look but gladly accepted her thanks. He whispered towards Clara "What's your name?", she replied swiftly "Clara and the women you met earlier was Maxi, her and Ant are married and we have known them since childhood, this is their party", he nodded in acknowledgment and curiosity as he looked over towards them.
"Gasp", making the couple look at her, the younger sister suddenly realized she hadn't told him her relationship with Riri. She looked at him and before she could say anything. "Your sisters", Rafi whispered. Clara was stunned for second before turning to her sister with a quizzical look, "You two look alike, he chuckled, "And you called her sister outside", he chuckled before adding "Your both beautiful, you must have good genes".
Riri and Clara had the same chestnut brown hair, but Clara chose to keep her hair straight while Riri's was wavy. They were not tall but you couldn't them short either, Riri being slightly taller than her younger sister. Clara had a more shapely figure compared to her sister, she was dressed in a tan leopard print wrap skirt with a black strappy crop top paired with some clear block heels, she had also chosen to wear golden jewelry accessories today which fitter her fiery and 'elegant' personality and showed that both sisters had similar taste in fashion and accessories as Riri was also wearing gold accessories with her black ensemble today.
Clara happy with his compliment forgot about his previous sarcastic comment, this gentlemen was winning her over but she will still keep an eye on him, even though he was helping her sister she couldn't just let it be especially as his motives were unclear, was he really just a nice person that was helping?
Clara continued to give him a quick low down of information that would be helpful to their act while Riri continued to silently listen by his side still holding hands.
The lieutenant indicated to the young ladies that they should approach the hosts, understanding they strolled over to the married couple. "Maxi, Ant you have a beautiful new home, It's obvious a talented architect would have such a such a home" Rafi declared for people to overhear, this was some of the information that Clara had filled him in on. "Agreed", Riri said while looking around. "Thank you", Maxi replied with a satisficed grin, as an architect she always dreamed of building her dream home, "I will give you both a full tour lately", she continued while giving Rafi a tap on his arm, she was another one being won over"
"Ah you have a guest complimenting your house without so much as gift cousin?, here came the trash couple, the Lieutenant had expected this. Riri who heard this remark was about to retort when Rafi stopped her, he knew that was directed at him and it was something he had wanted. "We didn't invite people over to receive gifts Ian", Ant replied.
"Some people we didn't invite at all", Maxi retorted while looking at her husband's cousin, annoyed that the despicable couple had the audacity to turn up to her party, she didn't like them and they were not welcome at all but she had to put up with them for her husband and in laws.
"I apologize, I should of prepared something but I came over in a rush, I have been on away on assignment recently (this was true, him and his team had got some intel about the case in another town and went to investigate, they only returned a yesterday), I just happened to call my goddess while she was on her way and decided I couldn't wait to see her anymore so came over, I know I previously said I couldn't come but we got back early, I hope you can understand", Rafi explained with a charming smile while he moved his hand from Riri's hand to hug her waist to bring her closer, this convinced the crowd however made Ian scrunch up his face. Thanks to this guy's comment and Maxi's it made him seem ridiculous for questioning especially as everyone here knew that the married couple would never care about a trivial matter as gift giving. He also hated to see Rafi so close to Riri, he was having a hard time accepting that she could move on.
"No worries, I understand, assignment? If you don't mind can I ask what you do". "He's a police man", replied the young doctor. Everyone looked at Riri with shock, all the people present were mostly intellectuals who worked in the sciences, were professors or they were businessman. "That's right I'm a police officer, I am a lieutenant at the headquarters". "Woah if you work at the headquarters you must be a highly ranked officer", Ant countered. Riri, Clara, Maxi, the trash with Ian and the crowd looked at Ant with astonishment with this information. Ian held back the scoff that was about to escape his lips, he's just a police office, there is no reason to be impressed.
"Aww I don't know about that, I have only been working there for a while, your ex army right?", Rafi replied, this time all eyes had left Rafi and were now on Ant. "How did you know", Ant retorted. "Your tattoos", Rafi pointed at Ant's arm. He put one hand on his own suit jacket and sleeve to pull it up as far as he could to show his own tattoos and further explained "I also served before coming to the police". "No way, another army brother" Ant exclaimed before moving forward to shake his hand again in excitement, he also put his other hand around the top of his shoulders for slight hug and bump. Happy Rafi returned the gesture while he looked over to Ian and smirked. He knew that the soldiers had great pride as he did at the time they served at the army and from Clara's information a majority of Ant's family were military folks or civil servants and this was greatly respected within their group as many of their family were. Everyone but Ian and now his partner were pleased with Ant and Rafi's interaction.
Previously Andrea, Ian's girlfriend was showing interest in Rafi since she laid eyes on him, he was more muscular and handsome compared to her boyfriend however after hearing his loving words towards Riri and his occupation she had lost that interest. 'He is still nice to look at', she thought but Andrea liked the rich lifestyle and that's one of the reasons she went after Ian, another was to win against Rhiannon. She rolled her eyes at the young lady who was standing beside the handsome police officer smiling with admiration.
"Oh so you are just a policeman", she scoffed, "I wondered who Rhiannon managed to bag as her boyfriend but as I knew I shouldn't have expected much", Andrea continued.
"What did you just say", Ant began to scold, he himself had just explained to the crowd, while she was stuck in her own thoughts so she didn't hear him, that he was contemplating whether to go into the police after he left the army or to start his own security company which he chose the latter as he had the opportunity to work closely with his father and his company. "Soldiers defend the country and police man protect the citizens and what he is JUST a policeman", he shouted. Andrea startled was ready to defend herself when Ian nudged her and pulled her attention to the appalled reactions of the crowd directed towards her. Realizing she had made a mistake, she tried to back track, but Maxi continued where her husband left off. "Maybe you are forgetting your boyfriend's family roots in the military and civil service that you are saying this and regarding Riri's bagging this man, I am absolutely proud of her for doing so, I couldn't think of more fitting partner and you of all people have no right to speak about this".