Purple Romance

''Wow'' Paige hit her chest several times trying to calm herself down. she just couldn't believe the guts of this man.

''Let's get away from here, Lucas'' Jordan Attoh said and walked ahead towards a big trash can ahead. Paige watched as Jordan Attoh removed the shirt from his body and threw it into the trashcan and she chuckled in shock and speechless.

Lucas Bennet walked closer to Paige and asked in a disappointed tone ''do you really not recognise us? that's unlikely though, such a shame. You just have a pretty face with no attitute''

''You, did you just insult me?'' Paige asked the obvious and the two girls earlier with Lucas laughed at her stupidity. Paige was even more flustered by everything. She turned and saw Jordan Attoh looking at her clearly with disgust in his eyes and she became furious and walked to them.

''Look here, I don't know why you two are saying all kinds of words to me but I will not tolerate you talking about me as if you know me personally. I bumped into you and spilled my juice on you. I was wrong, fine. But, why do I have to listen to you talk about what kind of person I am as if I am not even here?'' Paige asked angrily.

''Because we don't talk about people behind their backs when we can do it in front of them'' Jordan Attoh said nonchalant and smugly as if daring her.

''Really? Then, let me also say something since we are talking about each other. You said I bumped into intentionally in the morning and even now? I didn't bump into you because I wanted to. I was late for class this morning and wasn't watching where I was going. This afternoon, I was preoccupied with my own thoughts and didn't see you. do you think you are the only one who is unlucky here? I find myself the unluckiest person because I bumped into you, so don't you dare look down on me. I spilled juice on your shirt, I will compensate you'' Paige said and went to pick the shirt from the trash can and added.

''I will send it for dry cleaning and return it to you here tomorrow. Make sure you are here for it. don't say I am not responsible'' Paige said arrogantly and Lucas Bennet laughed ''what is funny?'' Paige asked him.

''Miss, I don't want to bust your confident bubbles but do you even know how much that shirt cost and where it was bought from?'' Lucas Bennet asked Paige.

''Do I have to know where and how he got the shirt. Is just a shirt, how much will it cost?'' Paige asked Lucas Bennet.

''This shirt'' Lucas Bennet didn't finish when Jordan Attoh stopped him saying.

''Forget it, I don't have the need for that shirt again, let's go'' Jordan Attoh said lazily and turned to go to his car that was parked at a distance.

''Wait. I will bring it to you tomorrow. Make sure you are here for the shirt'' Paige said and turned walking away.

''who is she? She is so bold?'' one of the ladies with Lucas asked.

''She is indeed bold. Ladies, shall we hit the club?'' Lucas Bennet asked and the ladies smiled happily.

Jordan Attoh looked at the retracting figure of Paige and shook his head murmuring ''such a waste of that pretty face''

......….

Paige hailed herself as a master of laundry and dry cleaning. There was nothing she couldn't do when it came to washing clothes to ironing and folding them, but at this moment even as she stood beside the washing machine, she still couldn't believe that she couldn't get the stains out of the shirt in her hands. She had used almost three of the most know ways of dry cleaning but still the stains were still present.

Paige sighed as she thought about all the bragging she did and cussed 'what kind of luck is this? what an unlucky guy. To think he thought of himself as unlucky. I am the real definition of being unlucky after bumping into him. But, why did they talk as if we met before? I am sure I haven't seen them in our school before so where could we have met? Why do I feel that they thought I was pretending to not know or recognise them?''

''I haven't taken my vitamins today'' Paige sighed and remembered she hadn't taken her vitamins. She quickly rushed into her room and picked the bottle of vitamins B-12 capsules and took one before putting the plastic bottle back. She returned to the laundry room and saw her father.

''Dad, I thought you were asleep?'' Paige asked her father.

''I was going to sleep and remembered I didn't do the laundry this morning and came to do it. what about you? Did you just get back from work? Have you eaten?'' Mr. Thomas Payin asked worriedly and Paige laughed. Mr. Thomas Payin was a man in his early fifties.

''Dad, I have eaten and I will do the laundry. Don't worry, go to bed early'' Paige said to her father.

''Okay. Whose shirt is that?'' Mr. Thomas Payin asked.

''I bumped into a really strange guy this afternoon and spilt juice on his shirt. It looked expensive so I decided to wash it for him''

''You have to be careful in the future. I told you to always watch where you are going'' Mr. Thomas said worriedly.

''But, dad. There is something that is not right with him. I bumped into him two times today. He acted as if we knew each other and I was the one who didn't recognise him but I really can't remember where I met him before'' Paige said.

''Have you taken your vitamins lately? You have the follow the doctor's advice and take the medication frequently. Until the doctor is able to figure out why you have short term memory loss, you have to take the vitamins all the time. It will slow the rate at which your brain remembers things'' Mr. Thomas Payin told Paige. He was genuinely worried about her. Her short term memory loss issue started after the fire that year when her mother saved her and died instead. the doctors said her brain was protecting her by not remembering such painful memories but since then, she always forgets about certain things, especially people she met recently or the things she did recently.

''I will be fine, dad. I am taking the vitamin regularly. Go to bed and sleep early'' Paige said to her father.

''This shirt doesn't look like the stains will ever go away. Don't stay up too late on it'' Mr. Thomas Payin said.

''Yes, dad'' Paige answered and watched her father leave before she turned to look at the shirt and sighed.

...…

Blue Night Club

The club was buzzing with music.

Jordan Attoh and Lucas Bennet sat at the second floor watching the scene of people dancing. Turning to look at Jordan Attoh, Lucas Bennet said.

''I think the girl really didn't recognise us, Jordan. But, that is also unlikely, I mean Ad-Din's wife even did the introduction. Either she is a good pretender or she simply forgot about us''

''She is good at acting. That's all I can say'' Jordan Attoh said and sipped his wine.

''Do you think she will really bring the shirt to you tomorrow? She is quite an interesting girl. I really want to see what she will do tomorrow'' Lucas Bennet said amusingly.

A woman in a short miniskirt and pink blouse walked to them. she put her arms around Jordan Attoh and the latter looked at her coldly. The lady's body stiffened and she stood up immediately and went to sit next to Lucas Bennet.

''Loosen up man, Mavis just wants to make you happy tonight. Look, you have been stressed by that actress today'' Lucas Bennet said and laughed.

Jordan Attoh ignored him as he sat and looked at the people dancing.

.....

The next day, Paige called Carlien to her apartment and the two of them stood at a distance looking at the shirt hanging on the dry line.

''Did you say you washed it 15 times with your hands last night?'' Carlien asked.

''Yes, Carlien but the stain is much worse than yesterday. Say, what kind of luck is this? I should have read my horoscope before leaving the house yesterday'' Paige said.

''No, you should have paid attention instead. How did you even manage to do that just a second after I left you?'' Carlien said and glared at Paige.

''It was an accident, okay?'' Paige said defencelessly.

''So, what are you going to do now? After bragging and even telling him to meet you for the shirt, are you going to go back on your words now?'' Carlien asked.

''I can't do that. this is a matter of pride'' Paige said.

''Ah, as if pride could be eaten'' Carlien scoffed.

''I have decided. Let's go to the mall. I will buy the shirt for him there'' Paige said resolutely.

''Paige, may I remind you that the mall only has departmental shops that sells branded shirts which cost about $100 dollars and above? Tell me, do you have the money to buy a shirt costing that amount?'' Carlien asked and Paige pursed her lips.