Purple Romance

After removing her makeup, Carlien picked up her phone and sighed. "Should I call him first?" She was confused as to what to do. The things that happened today was too much for her to take it at once. From finding out that Lazarus and Lucas were brothers was something she didn't think was possible.

She sat down and threw the phone on that other side of the bed. Sprawling herself over to the middle of the bed, she stared at the phone still deciding whether to call or not.

.....

Back at Harvey villa, Lucas came out of his room to get a drink from the cello and heard the voices of his father and Lazarus. He stood by the door wanting to go in but upon a second thought he didn't and instead went to get his wine.

Lazarus stormed out of the room looking furious. He saw Lucas pouring a glass of wine and he went forth and took the glass from the counter and threw it on the floor.

"Were you the one who told the old man I was back? Don't you have anything better doing than to suck up to the old man? Well..." He paused and revealed a mocking smile, "you really don't have anything better doing that's why you are busy working like a donkey for my family but guess what. In the end, everything is going to be mine, including Carlien"

"Carlien isn't an object that you can possess. Do you always have to put tags on people?"

"You seem to like her. Have you forgotten about Mali already? Back then, if you weren't been so stubborn nothing would have happened to her"

"Don't you dare mention that name. Someone like you don't deserve to mention Mali's name so casually. Lazarus, if you want to fight then come at me. Don't be a coward and pull innocent people into our feud"

"Don't think I will ever forgive you for what you and your mother did to my family. You are just a bastard son, what right do you have to be in control of all the family's assets?"

Lucas' phone buzzed in his pocket and he removed it. His forehead furrowed as he stared at the message from Carlien. He was surprised she even messaged him.

'Did you get home well' was the message she sent.

Upon seeing the subtle smile on his face, Lazarus stretched out his hand to snatch the phone but Lucas was fast and swiftly put the phone into his pocket before looking at him.

"Who was that message from?" Lazarus asked.

"I don't think I owe you an answer" was his reply before Lucas walked away.

.....

After not getting a reply for more than ten minutes, Carlien frowned as she looked at the phone, "is he not going to reply? Tsk, I was been a busy body for nothing" she muttered and just then the phone in her hand went off buzzing. She blinked twice before realising it was a real call from Lucas. Clearing her throat, she did some deep breathing before answering the call.

"Hello?" She said.

"Are you sleeping?" Lucas asked.

"No. I thought you were asleep because you didn't answer my text"

"I was with someone that's why. I went over to the family house"

"Oh, I see"

There was an awkward silence in the air with neither knowing not what to say.

"Are you... Alright?" Carlien asked cautiously.

"Are you worried about me?" Lucas asked.

"Well... We are friends, right? And friends look out for each other"

"I'm always fine. Carlien, do you have time tomorrow?"

"Tomorrow? I have to send my letter to First Hospital to formalise my internship procedures but I think I will be free after that"

"Then, can you have lunch with me, there is something I must tell you before you hear it from someone else. I don't want you to hear anything about me from another person"

"Alright, I will call you when I finish what I will be doing tomorrow"

"Then, get some rest, I won't take any more of your time again"

"You too, make sure you get some sleep... Lucas, there is something my mom always told me when I'm feeling down. She always said that 'beyond the clouds, there is peace' so dream about the clouds tonight"

"I don't want to dream about the clouds"

"Huh? Then, what do you want to dream about?"

"You... I want to dream about you"

Carlien felt her heart skip a beat at his words.

"Why...?"

"Because at least in my dreams I can stop you from leaving me. Carlien, good night" he said and hung up immediately afterwards. Carlien stared at the phone not sure what to make of his statement.

Deciding not to put too much meaning into his words, she drifted off to sleep.

....

.

Next day...

Carlien walked towards the roadside to hail a cab when a car pulled over in front of her. Lazarus got down from the car and walked over to her side and pulled her into a hug.

"Let go, I am still mad at you for been so overbearing last night" Carlien said and pushed him away.

"I'm sorry. I went overboard with my actions, it won't happen again" he said to her and opened the car door, "get in, I came to pick you up. We promised to go together today"

"Okay" Carlien got into the car and he drove away.

When they reached the hospital, Lazarus held Carlien's hand and she protested.

"Lazarus, let go, I don't want to attract unnecessary attention to myself"

"Come on, don't watch them, then"

In the whole of First Hospital, a lot of the staff there knew who Lazarus was, so when they saw him holding the hand of a girl walking into the hospital, the rumors ran throughout the hospital.

Lazarus was happy to have people spread rumors about him and Carlien in the hospital because he knew today Lucas was going to be at the hospital and he wanted the rumors and pictures to get to him.

Indeed, it did. Lucas was having a meeting with the hospital director in his office when he suddenly received a message on his phone. He excused himself and took the phone to check the message. When he saw the picture of Lazarus pulling Carlien into the hospital while the latter tried to cover her face, his brows furrowed and his grip on the phone tightened.

There was a knock on the door and both Lucas and the hospital director turned.

''Come in'' the hospital director spoke and the door opened. Lazarus walked in with Carlien behind him.

''Uncle Dexter'' Lazarus called the man's name as he walked in with Carlien. She stopped behind him when she saw Lucas.

''Lazarus, you are back?''

''Yes'' he said and turned to look at Lucas. Noticing their eyes on each other, he went back and held her hand saying ''uncle, this is my friend. I brought her here so that you can approve of her letter to start her last year internship with the hospital''

''What about you? Are you not going to start working here?'' the director asked him.

''I will work here as long as you agree to let Carly join us'' Lazarus said.

''I see. Your brother and I were just discussing the new project that the hospital want to set to help people with poor eyesight to receive free treatment''

''Really? That is a worthy case indeed, but I was just wondering if the inspiration behind this isn't because of your mother who died because she couldn't get cornea early?'' Lazarus said and Carlien frowned. She looked at him and for the first time, she felt like she didn't even know him at all. He was a different person.

''Lazarus'' the director warned with his gaze.

''Why are you so serious, uncle. I was just joking with Lucas. You don't mind what I said, right elder brother?''

''He doesn't mind but I do'' Carlien's voice resonated in the room and everyone turned to look at her. She turned to face Lazarus with a cold gaze.

''I feel like I never knew you at all, Lazarus''

''Carlien''

''Don't touch me'' Carlien flung his hand away, ''do you get off on stepping on the pain of others?'' her question made Lucas whose gaze was downcast to look up at her.

''This, I was just joking''

''How can you call it a joke when the other person obviously isn't finding it funny. If it were a joke, I bet everyone would have laughed but it's clear it's not. I don't know what kind of issues are going on between you two and that is not even my business but whenever you are with me, please, can you not joke about someone's pain like that? You are really making it hard for me to be on your side, Lazarus''

''Carly, are you taking his side?'' Lazarus asked and pointed at Lucas.

''Yes, and I am not going to do my internship here anymore. I will not work with someone who doesn't view others pain as his and only focuses on his own feelings'' she finished and turned to Lucas, ''we have a lunch date today, can we go now? I am hungry''

''Sure''