Drycleaning

It was the perfect excuse not to spend the whole day forcing smiles and being awkwardly touched by Sean. Lily seized another window of opportunity. One that Asher Blackwood provided. Tendering her man a fake apology, with promises to make it up to him when she returned, Lily quickly got ready and dashed out of her apartment.

Walking down the streets until she got a cab, it was almost as if she was happy to be meeting Asher, even though it was a Saturday and she wasn't supposed to be working. It wasn't until she was halfway to his mansion that she started to think about why he would ask to see her. She should have asked why he wanted to see her, but she was too eager to escape the smothering love-claws of her boyfriend.

For some reason, she felt like she was picking Asher over Sean. She felt a bit remorseful, you could even say guilty, but that didn't stop Lily from making it all the way to the Blackwood mansion. To make herself feel better, she texted Sean while in the cab. She was freer with him behind the keyboard. The awkward feelings, the weirdness, it all disappeared once she was behind the safety of her fingers tapping rapidly. It was easier to act like she was still in love. It was easier to mask her emotions. It was easier to do a lot of things.

Lily finally arrived at the Blackwood mansion. Asher was notified when she alighted from the cab, afterwards making her way towards the big steel gates. He directed that they let her in. When Lily got closer to the gates, she had just stretched her fingers towards the bell when the gates opened before her. She felt a little like a princess as she walked in. She waltzed her way to the front door while Asher thought of a good enough reason for making her show up at his mansion on a weekend.

When Lily walked in, she was shown to the in-house gym. The same place where Asher intentionally poured water over her gown. As she walked through the doors, she desperately hoped there wasn't going to be a repeat of that day. She hated every bit of it, especially her walk of shame back to the apartment.

Asher was aware where Lily entered the gym, however, he chose to ignore her presence. Just like he did the first time she walked into the gym. The same day he poured water on her. He didn't regret any of his actions and would in fact do it again if he was given the chance.

While Asher waited for the right time to acknowledge Lily's presence, she tried not to stare at Asher's sweaty, chiselled abs. Her eyes dashed from one item to the other but somehow they managed to revert to their original interest, Asher. Meanwhile, he enjoyed the silence, conveniently choosing to continue ignoring her.

When she couldn't take the silence anymore, Lily took it upon herself to clear her throat. "You asked to see me Mr Asher." The words felt like the heaviest words she had ever said.

Asher finally turned to her. "Oh you're here," he muttered, feigning subtle surprise. "Yes I need you to carry out an errand."

While Lily waited anxiously for what her errand was going to be, Asher was just thinking about what he was going to ask her to do. The next few minutes were characterised by silence. As it lingered, Lily started to wish she had stayed home with Sean.

"I need you to pick up my dry-cleaning."

Asher blurted. Lily's eyes immediately squinted in disappointment. Her lips became crooked and her face distorted in confusion.

"Pick up your drycleaning?"

She repeated in disbelief. Asher realized how stupid his request sounded but he was desperate. Even he didn't know why he called for her. It was a strange feeling he was instantly regretting.

He soon realized there was no salvaging the situation. "Yes." he murmured.

Asher hated the look Lily gave him. The 'what is he saying?' look, because she was actually very confused on his request. He didn't blame her. It sounded stupid even to him.

"You called me out of my apartment on a weekend to pick up your drycleaning?"

As the words left Lily's lips, it sounded more and more absurd, and Asher was not exempted. The more she spoke, the worse he felt. He also cognized how stupid he looked in her eyes, which made him angry, majorly at himself than at her.

"You can leave if you choose not to do it."

It was all he could bring himself to say, while Lily shot him a puzzled stare. She didn't understand what was going on. The last thing she expected to be told to do was pick up laundry, and now he was casually giving her a way out. A choice. To do it or not to. Something he never did.

Another silence followed. In that silence, Asher regretted sending her that text, requesting her presence. On the other hand, Lily thought about what she would do if she walked away. Refusing to do it would mean a day spent kissing, cuddling and talking with Sean. It was the main reason she dashed out at the sight of Asher's message. In a situation like that, she was likely to snap and she just couldn't bring herself to do that to him. At least not yet.

"I'll do it."

This time Lily blurted and it was Asher's turn to be stunned. Not in a million universe's would he have thought she could agree to an insane request like that. In fact he didn't expect her to, he didn't want her to. He wanted more than anything for her to just leave.

"Just leave Raya," he mumbled, making his way towards her. "It was a mistake calling you here."

Just when Lily thought he was coming to her, he walked past her, heading towards the door.

"I'm not leaving." she yelled to his back.

She was already here, Sean was in her apartment, she wasn't going to leave just yet. Asher froze, shocked again, but this time by Lily's audacity. He slowly turned to her. He looked into her eyes, trying to fathom what was going through her head. Lily stared back at him, her eyes rid of the anxiety she formerly felt.

"I have no use for you Lily," Asher began. "I just remembered I already sent someone for my clothes," he was lying and Lily knew he was lying too. "Do yourself a favor and leave."

"I'll paint then," Lily offered just as Asher turned his back. She was truly desperate. "You can go about your day and forget that I am even here."

It was easy for him to do. Ignoring people was one of Asher's favorite things to do, but what he couldn't understand was why she desperately wanted to be around him. He couldn't help but think she was one of those many girls who would try and seduce him. If she was, it would be a shame, because he would discard her like a worthless piece of paper.

As much as he wanted to refuse, a part of him felt otherwise. He also had better things to do than stand and argue with her.

"Fine," he hissed. Lily's lips relaxed into a small smile. A smile of satisfaction.

He turned to leave while Lily walked behind him. "Whatever you do," he murmured in a warning tone.

"Don't break anything."