A Grateful Dragon. Karla Schuurs

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СКАЧАТЬ whole night, because they weren’t to know that she knew the truth.

      Mira sat fidgeting uncomfortably in the restaurant and picking paint self-consciously out of her nails as David complained about upcoming exams. He was at the end of his masters in economics, and was going into the family business full time as soon as he was finished at the end of the year. That’s why his family tolerated Mira for now. She was just a stop-gap in their eyes.

      …and maybe they had a point.

      Although David complained to no end about his parents not understanding him, and not listening to what he wanted; Mira also saw the lack of conviction in his heart. He wasn’t ready to rock the family boat, maybe he never would be, and he wasn’t half as discontent as he made out - she could feel it. He had a family heart and staying loyal to his family was apart of his happiness. She didn’t exactly need to be a mind reader to see that, but it didn’t hurt either.

      So David was complaining about exams coming up, and apologising to Mira that he would be busy for a few weeks.

      “That’t ok,” Mira said too brightly, then she back-peddled seeing the disheartened ash flurries in his energy shift.

      “I mean, don’t feel bad,” Mira reached across and took his hand, “I’m busy too. I’ve got the court case coming up.”

      Mira’s guts churned.

      “I thought you weren’t going to testify?” David rebutted, getting protective rhinoceros-like horns surging up through his aura.

      Mira shrugged, “With me as witness it’s an open and close case. I’m still not 100% about it to be honest, but if it means it’s over. Anyway, there’s some preparation involved. So by the time it’s done and dusted then your exams will be finished. Perfect timing,” Mira smiled.

      It was strained, like those smiles you see on kids’ faces in Santa pictures when they’re terrified for their life but trying their darnedest to suck it up while their parents assure them from a good two metres away.

      “We should go away afterwards!” David beamed with sparkling new epiphany enveloping him.

      Mira grimaced, retracting her hand.

      “I know you wanna see your Mum and Lai settled and don’t want to be too far from them yet. Even a long weekend. To celebrate. Where do you wanna go?”

      Mira shrugged.

      She didn’t feel ready for that. But they’d been dating two months already, how much longer could she expect to fend him off for?

      “It’s just near Christmas, that’ll be expensive,” Mira tried.

      David looked at Mira completely blankly.

      She rolled her eyes inside, he didn’t get it.

      “Pop’s got a beach house down the coast? We could stay there if it’s free,” Mira conceded.

      David shook his head “Nah, how ‘bout the Maldives? It’s perfect for a short trip. Nothing to do but stay in bed.”

      Mira swallowed down bile.

      “I can’t afford it,” She blurted out truthfully.

      “How many times do I have to tell you?” David asked, but not unkindly, “You’re my girl. You don’t have to worry about money.”

      Just then they both looked up to the waiter, standing over them looking down his nose at Mira’s paint-splattered hair.

      Mira’s guts churned. She hated the way she had no hope of ever keeping up with David.

      He didn’t see it, but Mira wasn’t anyone’s charity. Never had been and never would be.

      Everything she had she earned. It was important to her.

      Not that David didn’t understand work ethic. He got perfect marks in all his subjects at university. That’s not easy, no matter how much money or brains God gave you. He worked in his family business part time, as his dad was training him to take over the reigns more seriously next year. David also coached kids tennis. And he didn’t chase coin with coaching. He coached the underdog kids that otherwise would never get a shot. That’s how Lai was discovered, because David gave his precious little time to keeping kids off the street through the sport he loved.

      Lai’ll have a shot at a real future in competitive tennis that she never could have if it wasn’t for David.

      He charged minimal for his coaching sessions, just enough so the kids and parents appreciate the value of his time; and donated huge amounts of money to kids’ sport.

      And you didn’t pick David as a coach, he poached you from the broke-ass, local public schools.

      He played tennis competitively as well, just the regional and state stuff. He could further, but stayed loyal to his parents wishes. And they didn’t want him to be an athlete.

      The guy worked hard and was honourable. He was just in a different situation. He saw money as a way through life, a means to an end. But Mira took money, and her pride in providing, more emotionally.

      David waited for Mira to order.

      As usual she didn’t understand the menu. Mira was already feeling flustered just sitting in this pretentious place with its crystal water glasses and soft piano music in the background, so the menu just blurred around the edges.

      “Is there anything close to a chicken schnitzel?” She almost begged at the waiter, who pulled his lip down in a grimace.

      “It’s Japanese baby, here I’ll order.”

      David casually and fluidly rattled off to the waiter, who nodded approvingly with a soft “excellent choices sir.”

      Mira was washed with relief that she didn’t have to try and fumble humiliatingly through an order.

      “You look beautiful,” David said, and Mira’s eyes popped. Then she chuckled “I think I have paint in my hair.”

      “You’re still beautiful. I’m batting way above my average.”

      He said that quite a bit, which was entirely untrue even though Mira could see he believed it.

      She was a broke, potty-mouthed, frizzy haired nobody who worked at a deli and spent all her spare time paining up a storm that no-one else was very interested in.

      David was hot. Mira couldn’t deny it. And athletic, and smart, and rich, and had a bright future, and was really kind; and always worn nice clothes and smelt good.

      The best Mira ever smelt of was turpentine. And usually she smelt like smoked meat as well.

      Mira couldn’t explain exactly why she was holding out on him, keeping herself at a strict physical and emotional distance.

      Maybe it was just too much too soon?

      It hadn’t been СКАЧАТЬ