The ladies bowed before Ronald shyly as Kristine did the formal introduction after their dinner. They were now outside the hotel.
''This is Brenda, Chloe, and Jenny. Girls, this is Ronald Mensah''
''Hi, Brenda, Chloe and Jenny. It is nice to finally meet you three'' Ronald shook their hands.
''Nice to meet you too, Ronald. I hope you are a good man. If you hurt our Kris, I will track you down and dismember every part of your lower body parts. I am an architect. Just telling, I don't hope to put my skills to work on you''
''Yes, you wouldn't need to use your skills on me''
''Mr. Mensah, thank you for saving Kris the other day. It would have been something else if you hadn't found her earlier'' Chloe said to him.
''I am glad I found her early''
''I can call you Ronald, right? I don't like calling people by their first and last names'' Jenny asked.
''Sure, call me Ronald''
''It's getting late; we should get going now'' Kristine looked at Ronald.
''Sure, call me when you get home''
''Bye, Ronald''
''Bye''
Ronald stood by his car and watched them leave before he got into his car and started it.
….
''Tell us quick, how did it go?'' Chloe asked curiously as they sat around Kristine's bed while the latter was changing out of her dress in the bathroom.
''He knows about what we are doing and we decided to be friends. So he wants to help me as a friend''
''I don't understand. I thought he liked you?'' Jenny asked.
''He wants to be friends and honestly I don't think I am ready to jump into another relationship. I just broke up last month''
''You are right, but I still find his actions suspicious. Why do I feel that he is luring you in by asking to be friends, first?'' Brenda asked.
''Luring me in? How?'' Kristine walked out of the bathroom dressed in her blue pyjamas.
''He knows you just broke up, so you are definitely not ready for a relationship right now, but he offered to be friends first. He is indirectly telling you he is capable of making you fall for him in the long run. He even agreed to act as your fake fiancé and go with you to T-Town. Kristine, he is clearly setting a trap for you and waiting for you to fall into it'' Brenda analysed the meanings behind Ronald's actions.
''Really? I don't believe that. We were clearly mistaken about him. He doesn't like me. He said he was intrigued by me''
''I understand what Brenda is saying'', Chloe said, ''men and women can't be friends anymore because a lot of factors won't permit it. there is definitely a bigger reason behind him wanting to be friends''
''I disagree with that. Kody and I have been friends since we were babies and we have zero feelings for each other'' Jenny said, remembering her childhood neighbourhood friend.
''Jenny, you haven't seen Kody in the last 11 years since he relocated to New York. Are you sure you will still be able to remain just friends with him if he suddenly came back and you see that he has changed a lot and I know he would because 11 years apart is no joke. Even you have changed'' Brenda raised a brow at Jenny after saying that.
''Kody and I will always be friends. Plus, he isn't coming to D-City anytime soon. Last time we spoke on the phone, he was in a relationship and I even said hi to his girlfriend''
''Still, something isn't right about him wanting to be 'just friends', our Kristine is so beautiful and outstanding in many ways. He can't see all this and still want to be 'just friends'?''
''That's enough, Chloe. I don't want to start thinking about something that hasn't happened yet. It's late, you girls should go and sleep. We still have work to do tomorrow''
''Yeah, right. I still have to see that jerk, Robyn's face the whole day tomorrow. God, I just want to rip that smug look from his face'' Brenda stood up from the bed and went out.
''I think she is taking this 'Robyn jerk' a little too hard. That guy is surely in for it from Brenda'' Chloe said.
''I know, right? Been enemies with Brenda is surely not a good idea. Girl, she can come up with thousand ways to torture you'' Jenny added and got down from the bed.
''Sleep tight, girls'' Kristine said and locked the door after Jenny and Chloe left.
…..
Ronald arrived at his apartment whistling as he placed his car keys on the table. he saw Ginger in front of her room.
''Ginger, why aren't you still asleep yet?''
''I was waiting to hear about your date with that lucky woman''
''Even I want to hear about it'' another voice spoke and the owner walked out of the room next door.
''Did you tell Robyn about my date?''
''En, I told him''
''How could you not tell me such big news? Ronald, I am your best friend''
''Who is staying in my house. Get your own apartment already Robyn. You are an architect with a lot of money'' Ronald said to him.
''I will. Your house is closer to my workplace. Aye, tomorrow I have to go and meet that nutcase''
''Nutcase? The woman at your office?''
''Oh, that woman is just too stubborn. She just finds everything wrong with whatever I do. Dealing with her is pure headache'' Robyn sound frustrated.
''Someone is even more frustrating than you? I would like to meet this woman''
''She is no joke at all and the worst part is, she is so damn beautiful and I think I might just be attracted to her''
''Must be hard for you''
''It is hard but it won't be for long. That woman, I'm going to tame her''
''You are going to tame her? You are a softie when you are in love''
''I am not in love with her. I am just attracted to her for now. It is not love, maybe lust''
''Aye, you dirty minded man. does she know you've already undressed her a number of times?''
''That is that. let's talk about you. what is that woman like?''
''Perfect, she is just perfect but, she isn't ready for my kind of love yet so I am taking it slow'
''Tsk, your kind of love?'' Robyn laughed while Ginger looked confused.
''She might just be the woman I am looking for. I see my future with her. she is good, has good friends and lastly, she loves her work and doesn't look down on people''
''Good luck with her, man. I see you are already done for. How could you always fall hard when you are in love?''
''I don't like to waste my time in trying to read meanings into a lot of things. Ginger, I will let you mee aunt Kris very soon, okay?''
''Okay, good night'' Ginger turned and went back to her room.
''I wish you happiness, man, you deserve to be happy after going through what happened, but you should tell her about it soon, before she hears it from someone else. You are not from an ordinary background after all''
''I will do that when I think she is ready. I don't want to scare her. We are friends for now''
''Good night then. I have to rest and go and face that daredevil tomorrow. Should I just kiss her and turn her speechless?''
''Yes, you can do that. I will remember to visit you with lots of food and snacks in prison because you will be going to jail for sexual harassment and attempted rape''
''That was a hard hit'' Robyn shook his head and went to his room.
Ronald chuckled and also went inside his room.
…..
Eat Right Restaurant.
Kristine leaned against the counter after serving the last badge of customers that afternoon. She and Jenny had just finished their service for the day. She was about to go to the kitchen to meet with Jenny when her phone buzzed and she took out the phone.
''Great, my mother again'' she said looking at the caller ID before going through the backdoor to answer it. ''Hello, Mom, you just never listen''
''I'm coming over in two days' time. Pick me at the airport''
''Why are you suddenly coming in two days? Didn't you say you were coming in a week's time?''
''Why? You don't want to see me that much?''
''Not that, mom'' she walked to the front of the restaurant and saw Ronald getting down from his car, ''mom, you are welcome at my place anytime. Now I really have to go before I get fired from my work'' she hung up and saw Ronald looking at her with a smirk. She furrowed her brows and moved closer to him. ''You really have perfect timing. This is about the third time you catch me in the middle of a conversation with my mom''
''I guess so. Sorry about that. I was just passing and decided to see you before I go. Is everything alright?''