My Love Journey's
Getting Harders

"Paul's..."

"After we finished eating, Bianka." sambar Paul, but I quickly shook my head.

"No. Don't divert me again. Now tell me, what's up?" I said firmly and sharply, staring into his eyes.

The car had stopped in front of the restaurant, but I didn't want to get off before Paul opened it all. "I'm serious, Paul. I know you're hiding something from me" I said, beginning to despair. "If you really want our relationship to continue in a clearer direction, you know you can keep secrets like this. What's your relationship with that woman? Her name's Carmen, right?"

Instantly Paul looked at me, confusion on his face. "Where do you know his name?"

"She was one of the women who insulted me when I watched you rehearsal in the stadium, just because I was in a relationship with you. Prayer also says that he's been chasing you for years." I raised my eyebrows high at him, we both know there is no way out for this matter other than a reasonable explanation from him.

Paul sighed as he brushed his hair with a huff, all the control that had been attached to him seemed to be lost in the night. "Is he talking to you?" tanyakanya.

"of course... He treated me like shit, didn't I tell you?"

Paul shook his head. "He has no right to say that to you. Damn, I can't believe he's that strong."

"What's? Why, Paul? What's really going on between you?" I tried to get his attention back.

I feel like a fool wearing the dress he bought me. Paul had too much power over me, and the fact I was wearing something from him made me feel that I was just part of his property. I don't like this, especially after she's kept a secret that I think is important.

"We've been in contact, Bianka. Right now, I'm not in touch with him anymore. I've bonded with you, you know that, right?" he said, trying to convince me.

"I don't know anymore, Paul." I replied, then threw a glance out. "I think we'd better get back to the hotel."

"No, love." A frustrated breath sounded from him. I'm no longer interested in any of his bullshit and seduce, and he knows his control is starting to get away from me. "I'll tell you. Everything was. But after we finish dinner. About Lucy, Carmen, your sister... I'm.."

"Wait, brother? Whatchu mean?" I said, start to be alert.

Paul persevered with his persistence. "We eat first, after that I'll say whatever you want to know."

"Paul's..." I realized he was going to struggle to shift the conversation now, and I was afraid of losing the chance to find out his secret.

"You have a right to know, Bianka. I promise I'll say it tonight. I just want to eat quietly with you." she snored while smiling while I took a deep breath. "You look amazing in that dress, I'm glad you let me buy it for you."

The necklace for the one I had bought suddenly flashed through my mind. I was planning on giving it to Paul at dinner, but I guess I'll have to put it off, depending on how my mood is after he explains it all.

"Okay, don't praise me. I'm angry now."

***

"Come here? How'd you do it?" my question, trying to smile.

"Like this, love." Paul put his hand to the front of his chest.

"Lookin?" my master, follow his movements. But my hand position is too high.

"Again down" he instructed with a pleased look.

I lowered my hand to be under my chin. He was showing me the celebratory moves that characterize him, something every footballer does when they score.

Paul laughed at my expression. "Love, turn your hand..."

I followed his orders, which made his laughter firmer. Seeing Paul so calm, I smiled feeling relief even for a few minutes. "I must be wrong, huh?" I laugh while laughing softly.

"Not really, just too high and also you turn your hands in the opposite direction" said Paul, one mischievous grin painted on his face.

I put my hands on the table while I heard Paul speak. "You're so beautiful, Bianka." she muttered solemnly as she pulled the phone out of her pocket. "May I have a picture of you?"

"For what?"

"I just want to keep your picture." he said. His heavy tone clearly seemed to imply as if he was restraining himself. After we chatted in the car, Paul suddenly changed as if he was repeating all our memories, and somehow I felt he was preparing for a breakup.

I twisted my lips and smiled and nodded. I lowered my glance to make sure my dress looked neat. Just as I raised my head with a smile, Paul took a picture. I looked at him for a moment when he saw the results of his shots.

"Let me see." I said gently, realizing that our minds were running everywhere.

"I've never seen a scene as beautiful as this one," he softly shriveled, linking his eyes to me. "Lady in red." She quoted the lyrics to Chris De Burgh's song, making my chest tighten.

I gave a nod agreeing to the nice photo she took and then took a sip of my wine and ignored her sweet greeting.

Paul slipped his phone into his pocket while talking, "Do you drink anything other than wine?"

I cringe. "Whatchu mean? Wine's the only thing I like."

He chuckled, then as if he understood the contents of each heart that was moody, our chatter could slowly be told to die. There are important things that we have to discuss after this, there is no place for seduction or temptation as usual.

Paul awkwardly inserted about the match France against Portugal tonight, where the winner will go into the final and face the German team.

We also talked about some other things, but it was difficult for me to feel calm let alone drift in the chatter. I was still busy guessing what might come out of her mouth as an explanation for all my suspicions, about Lucy, Carmen, and my sister. Inevitably he had to explain everything after this.

"Thank you, Paul." I muttered as he paid the bill.

"Together, love."

In a light sweep of the restaurant room, Paul led me out of there to the front door.

"Paul!" the voice of a man stopped our steps as we passed one of the tables. At once we turned around and Paul immediately raised his hand to a man of his age. I remember seeing him when Paul introduced me to his entire football team.

"Hey, man!" greet Paul with a smile. "What are you doing here? Stacking fat towards the final?"

The man laughed, while the woman with an extremely seductive appearance looked at that as if she was a mouth-watering pile of meat.

"Then, you're alone?" reply the man. If he's not mistaken, he's their goalkeeper. "Oh, meet me, this is Bendela." Paul glanced at me with a full smile at the woman.

"It's good to see you again, sweetie."

I was almost suffocated to hear her tone so soft, plus the appearance of the woman's cleavage poking out in a very seductive way.

Then Paul cleared his throat. "Jay, you know my girlfriend, right? Bianca..."

I let out a breath. "Hi, Jay." I said with a friendly smile. "Your games are amazing, you know."

He returned my smile while I felt Paul's hand rub my back. "Ah, thank you. I'm happy to participate to help the country."

I chuckled, and Paul spoke again. "Yes, your participation is just a walk in the goal while we run around scoring."

Jay laughed happily. My gaze turned to Bewela, the woman beside Jay while smiling a sweet smile. Instead of returning my smile, he took a quick glance and threw away my face as if I wasn't there.

"See you tomorrow, Jay. Enjoy your dinner." said Paul, one hand patting Jay on the shoulder.

"Thank you, man."

Before I got the chance to ask Paul about the woman Jay was with, the flash of the camera forced me to turn to some of the reporters who were taking our picture. Somehow they know where we are.

I was about to speed my way to the car where Alfred was waiting for us, but it seemed like Paul had other plans with all of a sudden he turned to the reporters to do his flagship celebration move, made my laughter explode.

I smiled as I shook my head at his childish yet spirited manner, and then with the same joyful feeling as Paul, I turned around and imitated his celebratory movements.

***

"Who is that woman?" ask me as soon as we get in the car. My mood instantly turned moody, realizing the answer that would come out of Paul's mouth might make me angry.

"not nobody. Jersey Chasers. One of those women who's after a top soccer athlete."

I breathed deeply and deeply. "Who is he to you, Paul?" ask me more firmly. "From today on, you have to be honest with me."

"We've been fucking. Once or twice in the past. He's nothing to me, love."

"They're overreacting. Some of my friends might like them, but they're not my type at all. Don't think too much about what they say, it doesn't matter." I remembered her words as she tried to calm me down in the cinema back then.

Now I feel like everything Paul says is a lie. She said the women who chased them were too much and she didn't like it, but now she claims to have had sex with Bewela once or twice? You fucking jerk!