CHAPTER 10...
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Josh leaned towards Raphael covering half of his face with his palms as stole glances at Mabel.
"She's staring at you! Her eyes say something else..." Josh cut in through Raphael's thoughts.
Raphael scoffed not buying any word Josh said.
"Take a look if you don't believe me!" He insisted...
Raphael looked at his side to glance at Mabel but she took her eyes off him already.
"I told you, she wasn't looking... Anyways, none of that matters now. What would you like to have? I heard they prepare delicious meals here" He commented picking up the menu from the table.
"Were you able to see her future again? Are they still same or something changed?" Josh asked peeking at the menu Raphael was holding.
Raphael looked up at him and glanced at Mabel again and exhaled sharply.
"I saw everything, nothing changed but I know one thing for sure... That dude over there, he's not ending up with her!" Hd uttered sarcastically with a smirk.
Josh chuckled. "You look happy knowing that"
Raphael rolled his eyes jokingly.
"Oh please, don't start with me! Why would I be happy about it? It's none of my business anyway... It's her life" He said nonchalantly.
"Don't forget you've got a big role to play in her life... I just hope you're thinking of how to say it to her or find ways to prevent her from pushing through with what you saw" Josh reminded.
Raphael waved his hand in the air. "I'll worry about that some other time but for now, let's eat something!"
Josh tapped Raphael on the hand gently when he saw Charlotte running to their table with her arms spread wide open.
"Oppaaaaaa!!!" She called out loudly running so fast.
Raphael stood up in shock. He has always known Charlotte to be a cheerful girl but how on earth did she find him here.
"Charlotte!" He uttered in surprise and she ran into his arms.
Mabel turned around swiftly as she saw Charlotte running towards Raphael without even saying hi to her.
Mabel bit her lower lips in jealousy as she watched Charlotte hug Raphael to her heart's content.
"Excuse me! I want to make use of the restroom" She said to Henry unable to bear the sight, she grabbed her phone.
Raphael watched her leave her table in a hurry.
He broke his hug with Charlotte, it was starting to feel uncomfortable.
"Charlotte, what brings you here? It's surprising to see you!" Raphael stated with an awkward smile.
Charlotte pouted staring at him.
"Oppa, why are you suddenly acting awkward? I'm actually upset with you. How come you never replied to any of my messages on Insta?"
Raphael laughed awkwardly.
"I haven't been active for years now... The account is a joint account so my workers make use of it also for business purposes. Anyways, say hello to my friend Josh. Josh meet Charlotte" Raphael introduced switching the conversation.
Charlotte stretches out her hand cutely to Josh. Josh stood up and received the handshake.
"Pleasure meeting you! It's an honor cos Raphael has never really introduced me to any of his friends..." She said smiling.
••••
Mabel ran into the restroom, she placed her phone next to the sink before holding the hand sink angrily as she stared at herself in the mirror.
"Mabel, you can do this... You don't have any feelings for Raphael. You only had a one night stand with him and that was it. It wasn't love so stop getting affected by all he does. He doesn't even care about you!"
"Who cares if Charlotte hugs him a thousand times... Charlotte's the one who has feelings for him not me... I wouldn't date him for a million won" She scoffed glaring at the mirror.
She switched on the tap and splashed some water on her face.
"Get back to your senses Miss Mabel!" She half yelled.
She wiped off the water on her face with some tissue then she left the restroom, leaving her phone on the sink.
••••
Josh smiled and gave Raphael a curious look.
"Are you friends with Raphael or you're just acquainted cos Raph have never really said anything about you to me..." Josh blurted honestly.
Charlotte giggled awkwardly. Josh's words broke her inside but she covered it up with a laugh.
Raphael laughed also. "Come on Josh, you didn't have to say that. It might've sounded upsetting. Charlotte, don't mind any of what he said!"
Charlotte turned to him. "So what are we oppa? friends or we're acquainted?"
"You sound upset. Does any of that matter? Friends or not... It doesn't really matter. I would've loved to invite you to our table but it would be a bit..." Raphael couldn't finish his sentence when Simone and Violet walked into the restaurant.
Mabel heads out of the restroom. Simone bowed slightly at her as they walked past her.
"Raphael! Raphael!" Violet screamed almost tearing down the restaurant.
She ran to Raphael to give him a hug but he stopped holding her head.
"Don't be like this! I haven't seen you in three years" Violet groaned forcing her way to Raphael's embrace but he was way too strong for her.
Charlotte glared at Violet without anyone's notice but Violet did see her glare at her.
"Raphael, who's she?" Violet asked in a serious tone.
"Oh, meet Charlotte. She was once a client of mine, years ago!" Raphael introduced.
Violet gave her a dirty look.
"Violet, don't be rude. Don't look at her like that!" Simone chipped in noticing her glare.
"Is that so? I hope you told her what this dining is for cos I don't think I'm in the mood to make new friends..." Violet uttered bluntly.
Charlotte scoffed in disbelief.
"I'm not in the mood to make any either. I've always heard of you and seen you in so many dramas but I'm starting to believe everything I heard about you. Oppa, I'll drop you a DM! I'll go ahead now, I've got other plans" Charlotte stated with a smirk as she glared at Violet while talking.
Violet scoffed in disbelief.
"You think I care about what you think of me! Watch my lips, I don't give a flipping f*ck!" Violet stated rudely.
Charlotte glared at her and walked away.
"Violet, what was that for?" Simone asked in disbelief.
Raphael held his head, he felt a bit embarrassed but this is nothing compared to what he knows about these two ladies.
Charlotte walked past Mabel's table angrily.
Mabel grabbed her purse quickly.
"Henry, thank you for the meal! Let's talk some time!" She said and ran after Charlotte who was fuming.
"Mabel... How about I drop you off?" Henry asked politely but she ran off already.
Violet exhaled sharply and smiled at Raphael.
"Raphael, why do you accommodate such brats? It's obvious she was trying to pick a fight with me..." She played the victim and Raphael laughed, taking his seat.
"We all know you started it. I bet you haven't met her before, why were you so hostile towards her? Charlotte's just a kid. It's childish picking a fight with her" Raphael said shaking his head.
Violet quickly pulled out a chair for herself.
"Kid my ass, I bet we're the same age and I don't like her energy. You don't expect me to like everyone that shows up around you..." She paused the moment her eyes landed on Josh who was staring at her with a smile.
Simone sat down quickly glaring at Josh who was flirting with his eyes.
"You must be Josh... Raphael's white friend... He told us so much about you. Thank you first of all for looking out for him in our place" Violet uttered with a warm smile stretching her hand to give him a handshake but Simone shook hands with him instead.
"Thank you and it's nice having you here. Just a question... You're a man of God right? You can't bear to have lustful thoughts right?" Simone asked tightening his grip on Josh.
Josh chuckled the moment he read the room.
"Yeah but that doesn't stop me from finding my soulmate. I would be the luckiest man if I find her here!" He responded without a twitch.
Raphael chuckled silently watching the whole drama with his face buried in the restaurant's menu.
I've missed them! He said in his head.
Violet slaps Simone's hand off Josh's when she noticed Simone wasn't ready to let go.
"That's enough... You don't plan on shaking hands with him for the rest of the day"
Simone pouted looking away.
"You've only seen him today but you're taking sides already.. Heh!" He scoffed in jealousy.
~~~~
Mabel and Charlotte walked down to Charlotte's car. They got in.
"Who does she think she is to speak to me in that tone in front of Raphael?" Charlotte screamed clenching her fist.
Mabel sighed and leaned back on the seat.
"Don't waste your breath on Violet... She's known for being rude and cold to people. It's surprising how she shakes the movie industry whenever any of her dramas airs! I saw her at the raining beauty studio on so many occasions, she never said hello not even once and when I tried doing it myself, I got snubbed" Mabel uttered.
Charlotte looked at her in disbelief.
"She just lost a fan. I've always looked up to her cos of her fashion sense and flawless skin but I'm disappointed. I thought she was just a sister friend to Raphael but it didn't seem like it. I'm 100% sure, she has romantic feelings for Raphael..." Charlotte scoffed staring into space.
Mabel looked at her not buying it.
"I don't think so... It's only normal that she has such a close relationship with Raphael, after all they've been best friends since childhood!" Mabel said in disbelief.
Charlotte folded her arms on her chest wearing a smile.
"She better not be cos she's going to regret ever developing any feelings for Raphael. I don't fight for things, I achieve them" She stated calmly with a smile.
Mabel cleared her throat nervously.
"By the way Charlotte, how did you find out Raphael would be here cos it was obvious you didn't come to check up on me" She questioned suspiciously.
Charlotte laughed hitting her lightly.
"Of course, I came cos of you. This is your first ever date... Was I supposed to fold my hands at home and not pick on the gossip... Luckily when I showed up, I sighted Raphael from the entrance door. You know how sharp my eyes can get. I can pick Raphael in a million. I was so thrilled when I saw him so I ran to him before I even knew it!"
Mabel chuckled shaking her head.
"Do you like him that much? Have you made any efforts of sharing your thoughts with him? I believe he has completely moved on concerning how he hugged you at ease" Mabel uttered hiding her jealousy behind her smile.
Charlotte loved every word Mabel uttered.
"You saw that also?" She asked with a silly smile.
Mabel nodded.
"Do you think he enjoyed hugging me also?" Charlotte asked forcing Mabel to say the words she wants to hear.
Mabel looked away.
"I can't tell how he felt but he obviously looked surprised to see you..."
Charlotte held her hand like a puppy holding on his master cutely.
"Surprised? In a good way or a bad way?" She asked curiously.
Charlotte's alarm rang. It was time for her family dinner.
"Oh no... I have to go now! Mum and dad will be mad if I don't make it on time today as well! I would've loved to go shopping with you today cos you made my day with your observations" She pouted.
Mabel brushed Charlotte's strings of hair next to her eyes to her ears.
"It's fine! Go have dinner with your family. I came with my car so I'll go with my car. Take care!" Mabel blew kisses at her and she did same.
Mabel got out of the car and walked down to hers. She took out her car keys from her purse and she noticed her phone has gone missing.
"Where's my cellphone?" She questioned ransacking her purse thoroughly.
When was the last time I saw the phone? She questioned in her head thinking hard and then she recalled taking it to the restroom.
"Oh no... I left it there!" She smacked her lips and ran into the restaurant.
Mabel ran straight up to the restroom but couldn't find the phone. She came out looking around to ask any worker there if there saw it then she saw an elderly janitor. The lady had a lost items bag.
Mabel was about running to her but because of how slippery the tiles was, she almost landed on the floor, Raphael was coming out of the male restroom when someone grabbed his arm unexpectedly and they both landed on the floor.
Raphael coughed looking at who pulled him down, it was Mabel. She buried her face in his palms in fright, she thought she was going to lose her teeth.
Surprisingly, Raphael's palm covered her face.
He smiled seeing her in that state. Suddenly he could feel her tender glossy lips pressing hard on his palm and the night they spent together before his travel came flashing before his eyes.
His heartbeat raced just thinking about it.
"Mabel, are you okay?" He asked nervously.
Hearing his voice, Mabel widened her eyes in shock and moved away from him.
She looked up into his beautiful blue eyes and got lost in them like she always does.
"I missed you!!" She mumbled without even realizing it.