Swapping Places Chapter 16

Read Chapter 15 here.

Daphne stared at the framed photos decorated in Seth’s living room with lazy eyes. What was she doing here? She knew the voice of reason would try to talk her out of it that was why she made sure she drank more than she normally would to drown it and dull her brain. And so far, the spirits were doing a good job. She gripped the sofa to hold herself steady.

Seth entered and handed Daphne the glass of water she had requested. She gulped it down and gave him back the glass. Seth smiled and put it down. Daphne wrapped her arms around his neck and kissed him.

“Um…why not let us put it off for another day since it seems you’re tipsy? I don’t want to be held for impropriety tomorrow,” he said with a chuckle.

“Oh nah, I’m good. I know what I’m doing and why I’m doing it,” she said with a sheepish grin. Her last words made Seth raise a brow. She leaned in for another kiss. He pulled back. He didn’t feel right about this.

“Delphine, I don’t want our first time together to be like this.”

“Like what?”

“I want it to be special. If we go like this, it will only be a hazy memory to you tomorrow. Who knows, you might wake up resenting me. I’ll only have you when we are sober enough to fully appreciate the moment, okay?” He said, touching her face. Daphne pulled back, disappointment drawn on her face.

“Are you kidding me?”

“Don’t get angry…I just think that…”

“Save it!” Daphne said, picking up her handbag from the sofa.

“Let me drop you…”

“I’ll be fine, thanks,” she snapped and walked out, slamming the door behind her. Seth sighed.

When he stepped out, Daphne had already entered a taxi and it was taking off. He wanted to read the car number plates just in case but it was too late. He would call her. He went back into the house.

Stuck in the usual traffic, Delphine took her phone and texted Seth. She hadn’t heard from him all day which was quite unusual.

Hey…haven’t heard from you all day. Busy much?

Seth stared at the message on his phone.
Lol. Are you drunk-texting me?

Delphine scowled. What was that supposed to mean?
Huh?

Now I know I should you driven you home myself. You’re more than a little tipsy.

The lines on Del’s forehead deepened. Was he mistaking her for someone else? She typed back.

Um…it looks like you’re the tipsy one. It’s Del here. Perhaps you’re mistaking me for someone else.

Am I? Look I’m sorry for how things went down earlier. I just thought it wouldn’t be right to take advantage of you like that. I care about you and I want our first time to be special…

“What the…” Del swallowed the rest of her words when the cab driver’s eyes met hers in the mirror. She called Seth’s number.

“Hey, are you almost home?” Seth asked when he answered the call.

“Yeah…what are you rambling on about?”

“I’m sorry, Del. It wasn’t my intention to bring you home and then pull the plug like that. I don’t want you to think that I don’t like you like that. Hell, you have no idea how many times I’ve imagined it. I would love for us to get intimate, okay? Just not under the influence, you get what I mean?”

“No, I don’t. I’m returning home from work and you’re telling me about me being at your place and something almost happening between us? Is that your way of telling me you’re seeing someone else?”

“If this is a joke, it’s not funny, Del. If you aren’t the one who left my place some minutes ago, then who was it?”

“I don’t…” She gaped when it dawned on her. She left her mouth hanging open as it all began to make sense.

“Hello Delphine, are you there?”

“Sorry; I’ve to go,” she said and ended the call. Del covered her mouth which had started to tremble. She couldn’t believe it.

Maybe it was all for the best. She was going to be married to Kobby (herself, she’d make sure of that) so there was no point entangling herself with Seth. She wanted her sister to feel the same pain she caused her but she guessed it wasn’t even worth it. She was the one going to get married, not her.

She paid the driver her fare and got out of the taxi. She entered the house. She could smell some light soup on fire. Yeah, that’s exactly what she needed to wake her up.

“Mum?” She called out as she walked into the living room. Her eyes met Del’s.

“Oh hi,” she said. Del got up and walked towards her.

“What?” Daph asked, seeing her angry look. What she felt next was a hard slap across her cheek. Daphne touched her cheek, shocked at what had just happened.

“What the hell?” Doreen entered just in time to see Del slap her sister a second time.

“Hey, what is going on?” She asked in a horrified voice, rushing to stand in between them before they broke into a fight. Del still looked furious.

“What have I done for you to assault me like this?” Daph asked, wincing from the stinging pain on her cheeks.

“You’re unbelievable. I can’t believe you’re my sister,” Del fumed, almost tearing up.

“What are you talking about?” Doreen asked and held her left hand.

“And where’s the ring?”

“I sold it. It wasn’t mine anyway,” she said with a shrug and stormed into her room.

“Kakra, come back here!” Her door closed with a bang. Doreen turned to look at Daphne.

“What is she talking about?”

“I’ve no idea, mama. She must have had a crazy day at work, who knows?” Daphne said and walked past her into her room. Doreen’s gaze followed her. She shook her head and went back into the kitchen.

The table was dead quiet during dinner except for the cutlery drumming against the plates. Doreen glanced at her husband, signaling him to break the silence.

“Okay, who is going to tell me what is going on?” Both sisters had their faces down, eyes glued to their food.

“Can’t you hear your father talking to you?” their mother asked, hitting both of them on the arms.

“Ouch.”

“I’m listening,” their father said patiently.

“It’s nothing, dad.”

“Nothing? You get hit on the face twice and you say it’s nothing?” Doreen asked. A vocal reminder of that made Daphne’s face sting all over again.

“And you…I’ve never seen you this angry. What happened and what did you say you did with the ring?”

“It’s not mine, mum. So forget it.” Doreen looked at both of them.

“Please don’t tell me you two are up to your silly games again! I warned you to stop it. If the police comes right now, trust me to hand you over without blinking. Are you double dating or whatever you call it?”

“No, mum.”

“You better be telling me the truth or I’d spank the nonsense out of you both! Do you want to kill me?”

“Mum, I want to move out…” Daphne looked up sharply at her twin.

“Eh? Move out where? No one is stepping an inch out of this house until a man comes to ask for your hands in marriage and all rites have been performed. Not an hour earlier, you hear me?”

“Calm down, my dear. Why would you want to move out?” George asked Del. She shrugged. She was hurt and maybe overreacting.

“Don’t mind her. She’s not going anywhere! Where can she go to? And you better finish that food. I can’t stand in the kitchen and cook for you and watch you waste it.” The twins both had lost their appetite but resigned to swallowing the food to prevent incurring their mother’s wrath which was close to exploding anytime soon.

“If you don’t want to talk about it with us, that’s fine. But I expect you two to trash this out before tomorrow morning. Is that clear?”

“Yes, dad.” Their parents got up from the table after finishing their meals.

“I’ll clear the table…” Daphne offered.

“Okay,” Delphine said and left the table. Daphne gaped, watching her leave. What was she so angry about? She was the one supposed to play that part. She stole her moment and kissed her man, didn’t she? Tsk, tsk, tsk.

After clearing the table and washing the dishes all by herself, Daphne knocked on Del’s door. Their parents had already retired to their room. When she heard no response, she opened the door and entered.

“Okay, may I know why you attempted to dislocate my jaw? I should be the one angry that you don’t have my ring anymore. Seriously, where is it? I need it. I’m meeting Kobby tomorrow.”

“What were you thinking going to Seth’s place today?”

“Oh so that’s what this is about? Nothing happened between us!”

“But you wanted it to…to get back at me, right? How cruel can you be?”

“Hey you were the one telling me that you made out with my man. Don’t you dare start calling me names.”

“Just go. I can’t stand to look at you right now,” Del said.

“Oh yeah, you might as well go on and burn the sea because it’s this same face you’ll see when you stare at the mirror. Now, I need my ring.”

“I don’t have it. Go tell your man that I took it and sold it.”

Daphne glared at her, her chest heaving. She wanted to pounce on her and pull her hair and scratch her face. But instead, she left the room.

“Hey…” Daphne said breathlessly, causing Kobby to turn. He smiled. They hugged and pulled apart after sharing a brief kiss.

“Come with me,” he said softly, placing his hands on her waist.

“Where’s our table?” He only smiled. He led her to the balcony where a special table had been set with candles.

“Oh, that’s lovely. What’s the occasion?” Daphne asked, taking in the scene.

“Are you kidding me? I get to spend this moment with my special lady and you’re asking me what the occasion is?” Kobby asked. She smiled as she touched his face. He held the hand on his face and kissed it. He stared at it.

“Where’s the ring? You don’t like it?”

“Oh no, not that. I’m sorry. Left the house in a hurry so I left it…”

“No, you didn’t.” He showed her the box.

“Huh?”

“I know it wasn’t you the other day. But I still gave Del the ring so as to get a reaction from you and from what Del told me, you were pretty upset. Why would you set us up like that?”

“I’m sorry. It was a silly idea, I know. Forgive me.”

“I asked her to make up a story about us getting intimate to rile you up. Sorry about that. But please don’t hold it against your sister. She was only following my orders,” Kobby said with a smile.

“So…you two were in it together?” Daphne asked, stunned.

“Yeah. And Del made me promise to make tonight special for you. So here we are.” Daphne was filled with guilt over what she almost did with Seth. No wonder Del was so upset with her.

“So, I’m going to ask again. This time, on one knee.” He went down on one knee and took the box out of his pocket and opened it.

“Will you marry me, Daphne Coleman?”

Tears filled Daphne’s eyes. She nodded.

“Can’t hear you. I need to a verbal consent before we sit on that table.”

“And if I don’t give it?”

“Then I’m sorry I would have ordered for it in vain.” Daphne chuckled.

“Yes, I will marry you, Kobby Adusei.” He grinned as he slipped the ring onto her finger.

“This isn’t the one…”

“I know…I changed it. I couldn’t give you the same one. I hope you like this one.”

“I love it, Kobby! It’s beautiful!” She hugged him.

“Great…shall we eat now?”

“Oh yeah.” He pulled a chair for her to sit down. He also sat. He signaled the waiter on standby to bring in the first course. He held her hand and rubbed his thumb over the ring.

“Promise me you won’t set us up like that again.”

“I promise.”

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