Denver Ricardo

Chapter 2 : Denver Ricardo

“Lisa…”

Danny just looked at the semi-nakedness of the girl he always thought as the most gorgeous girl. He always treated her with the utmost respect.

“What the hell are you doing here, Danny?” openly furious at him. She steps from the shower adjusting her clothes. “Are you following me?”

“What are you saying?” He was behind her in conversation. He shook his head trying to focus his mind.

“Really Danny…I never thought you were the stalker type?”

“Enough, Lisa.”

“Excuse me, Danny. You don’t talk to me like that.”

“What is this all about Lisa?”

“What are you talking about?” she asked innocently.

Danny shakes his head. He had been making sacrifices for her but it seems she had been playing him the fool. Now that he starts to think; it was curious her being interested in him. The doubt was building inside him but the heart was fighting its own battle too.

“This isn’t what you think, Danny.” She said looking directly at him.

He can’t believe his ears. Beautiful Lisa Klein lying to him with no shame.

“What happened to your face?”

He watched her stepping closer to him. All he can see now was her making out with the enemy.

“How long Lisa?”

“What are you talking about?” she keeps asking defensively.

“Stop playing me the fool. I want to know what’s going on here?” He feels the fury building inside his chest.

“Dude, are you blind?” The tall muscular footballer finally steps away from the shower wall where he leisurely stood watching them.

“Don’t talk to me.” Danny said through gritted teeth.

“Little guy, you have nerve.” Jason Clarke towers over him. “Lisa, handle your business. We are not finished.”

Danny stood looking at the girl he adored. Her whole image was rapidly changing in his mind. He quietly realized he was actually a loser. He worked his ass off wanting to give her the gift she desires. He planned on making her birthday perfect.

Danny was red with anger. He just can't get over what he just discovered. He really needs to know.

“How long has this been going on; Lisa?”

“It’s no big deal. What’s your problem?”

Danny watch her with no shame on her face. This seemed normal to her.

“I do have a problem, Lisa. Aren’t we in a relationship?” he asked through gritted teeth.

“Fine Danny.” she suddenly seem to come to a decision.

“What’s that supposed to mean?”

“Do you want me to spell out the truth. You really are the most annoying loser. I never liked you Danny.” She said with a sudden nasty tone. Her mask was falling from her face.

“Really…” he asks with his own growing fury.

“Yes; I only tolerated your presence because of a bet.”

“You…you…” Danny was boiling from the inside.

“Oh, shut up. I hated every moment you touch me.”

“I love you Lisa.”

“Well; I hate you loser. Did you honestly believe I would be in any kind of relationship with you? You are a poor idiot. You can’t even afford to take me out to dinner or movies. I am glad no one ever saw me going into that stupid little house of yours.”

“Enough, Lisa.” His voice was breaking.

“Danny, let me be clear…losers like you do tend to forget your place. I am glad you finally discover the truth. This makes it easy to go back to my normal life.”

“Is it so easy for you to play with the emotions of others? I never thought you were that type of person."

“Oh, shut up. Why should I care about you…we both know what you are? You are so poor which means you will always stay a loser. Why would I trap myself with someone like you?” Lisa start to laugh at him. “Just look at yourself, idiot.”

“I prepared something special for your birthday, Lisa.” Danny still holds onto hope.

“I don’t want it.” She said flatly.

“I really love you Lisa. Please, stop this.”

“I told you look at yourself. You will truly amount to nothing. If you thought you could ride on my lifestyle, you are an even bigger fool.”

“Lisa, let’s go.” Jason holds his hand.

Danny seeing the gesture suddenly exploded.

The footballer throws a hundred dollar into his face. “Go buy yourself some pride, man.” He said laughing as he reached for Lisa.

“Lisa…”

“You really are stupid,” Jason said.

Danny couldn't take it anymore. He suddenly stormed the other guy. The force of his sudden attack throw Jason a little. The moment he balanced himself he strikes Danny throw the face with a fast punch.

The two guys were involved in a vicious yet uneven fight. Danny lost his balance. The much taller and stronger Jason now holds him down on the floor.

“Here baby.” Lisa handed him a black marker. Her expression gleefully with satisfaction. She feels relief to finally get away from the guy being pinned down by her lover.

Danny tried to dislodge himself but already knows it was useless. The guy on him was too powerful. The knowledge burns the humiliation into his conscious mind.

“Look, Jason; he is wiggling like a rat in a trap. Mark him for the loser he was.” Lisa urges her boyfriend.

Danny felt his shirt being ripped from his frame. The bigger guy was still pinning him onto the floor with his own body. He grabbed hold of the black marker and boldly wrote ‘Sore loser’ on his back. Once he was finished, he hit Danny behind the head getting onto his feet.

“Stay down if you know what’s good for you,” Jason warned.

“Danny…” Lisa kneels beside him. “It doesn’t matter that you don’t answer me. I just like you to know the truth…the only reason I girl like me will ever be interested in a loser like you…well now, it would help if you are rich. Now looking at your scrawny body, what made you think you would ever be a match for me.” Lisa asks in her taunting voice openly enjoying herself.

“Lisa, let’s go.”

“Coming baby.” She stood and left laughing as the locker room door shut.

Danny lay on the floor for some time. It was like he suddenly felt like not moving. He has been earning money like crazy while hiding it from Lisa. The very thought of her made him roll onto his back. It took a moment but he finally managed to get back onto his feet.

He looked at where the fifty dollars still lay on the floor. His eyes searched for the hundred dollars.

“Well now, it would seem my job as assistant to the football team…worth a fifty dollars and humiliation.” He bends down and pick up the money. “To own another’s so call girlfriend, the worth a whole hundred dollars. I never would have imagined that.” He said to himself.

Danny walked closer to the mirrors and choose one. Taking a deep breath, he finally looked at himself. “You do look a mess,” he observes while tracing with his finger across the dryness still on his skin.

“I could do with some muscles but then the stupid will truly come forward in my character.” He bends over the water bowl opening the tap. Once the water was too his liking, he starts to wash his face. Looking up he turned his back. “The only way I will get that off is by showering,” he said to his bruised face.

“I hereby declare myself the loser everyone thinks I am.” He tried smiling but his whole face hurt.

Reaching into his pocket he removed the money he earned with honest work. Looking at those notes then at the two separate ones. “No…I will keep the humiliation money. The rest I will give to Dad. Doesn’t matter if he drinks it all away. Then again, do I really know the truth of who my father is too? I noticed him acting strange sometimes. It doesn't matter, I am the loser for the day."