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K-I-S-S-I-N-G

Turns out, mum heard most of my conversation with Chidera and the look on her face isn't welcoming at all. I was back in the same living room, seated quietly on one sofa while mum sat on another, her eyes lowered. For what felt like forever, we sat in silence and I wondered if she'll ever say anything.

"You know it can't happen, right?" She asked, speaking up.

"W-what can't happen?" I played dumb.

She sighed before lifting her eyes to me. "You and Eze's friend. It can't happen."

"Let me guess, because I have to marry Kamalu, right mum?" I stated the obvious before looking away from her in irritation.

"Kasie, this is not a joke. As your mother, don't you think I want you to be happy? But... not this way. It's too risky."

"Mum, recently, when you talk, I don't understand a single word you're saying. How is a relationship between me and Cergio risky for this family?" I asked, looking her in the eyes and hoping she wouldn't keep playing puzzles with me. It was getting tiring.

Mum took a hold of her ear, drawing it lightly. "Kasie, a word is enough for the wise."

I watched her stand to her feet and walk away. Frustration was the only emotion I could feel at the moment. I have my reasons for not wanting to start something with Cergio, but the fact mum's being this way, it just makes me want to do the opposite of what she wants, which is also what I told myself not to do. Neither of them is making the affirmation of my final decision any easier.

I rested my elbows on my knees and buried my face in my palms.

Early that evening, I paced back and forth within the room in sheer nervous as I rubbed my hands together. I spared the clock on the wall a look and it was 6:55, five minutes left to 7o'clock. What am I doing? Already, I'd made it clear to myself that I won't be meeting up with him. It's better that way, as I wasn't sure of what my reply would be once he's in front of me.

Finally, I sat down on the bed. All of my thoughts jumbled inside my head. My confusion persisted, and I felt more torn apart than I've ever felt. This really isn't working. Suddenly, I stood to my feet. I need to occupy my thoughts. I have to forget that time is ticking and with that thought, I hastened out of the room and towards the stairs.

Walking into Chidera and Jachi's bedroom, I met Lota and Jachi lying on the bed, their eyes glued to the screen of the laptop in front of them.

"Hey, you came to my room, today." Jachi stated in sarcastic excitement, a smile on her face. Lota let out a light laughter, and I squeezed my brows at her words.

"Are you trying to say I don't come here often?" I asked as I folded my arms below my chest and watched as Jachi nodded. My stare at her was longer than I would prefer, but really, I had little to back me up in countering what she said.

"Whatever. What are you two doing?" I asked, leaning a little forward to get a look at the screen. "Movie." I replied my question, and they both nodded.

Drawing in a deep breath, I thought for a second. I need a distraction and I can't clean anymore because I already did that.

"Shift you two. I'm joining you." I announced, and they both looked at me with raised brows.

"Really? You never watch movies." Lota stated, and again, I furrowed my brows at her words.

"I do, maybe rarely often, but I do. Now, shift, I'm in the middle." I declared, and without waiting for anymore reaction or word from them, I took off my flip-flops and climbed onto the bed. Once they created a space in their midst, I laid there, making myself comfortable.

Lota clicked the space bar on the keyboard and the movie was playing once more. I stared at the screen and although the actors did what they're supposed to do, nothing seemed to make sense.

"Wait, what movie is this?" I asked, and Lota replied.

"Sugar rush."

I nodded in understanding. Turns out, I'm fifteen minutes late into the movie and maybe if I'm patient enough, everything will fall into place and it did. Sugar rush is a Nigerian cinematic movie starring popular Nigerian actresses and actors. In summary, three sisters have somehow entwined their lives with crime lords when they hid away the box containing a vast sum of money they'd accidentally found.

I laughed alongside my sisters. There's a lot of comedy and I'm finally engrossed in it, enough for me to forget the other thing I should be doing. Mentally, I shook my head. I'm not supposed to think about it. That's the whole point. Finally, I'm fully immersed in the movie and we're laughing and smiling together.

In the end, when the movie was over after a good two hours and some few minutes, we turned, laying on our backs and stared at the ceiling.

"That was a nice movie. Now, I understand what all the hype was about." Lota stated and the rest of us nodded to her words. My gaze fell on the clock hung on the wall. It was ten minutes past nine. Silently, I let out a sigh. I guess this is it. He probably got there, waited, and left when I never showed up. The thought of his heart breaking affected mine as well, and instead of feeling great about pushing through with what I planned, I felt the opposite. I felt like crying, but I wouldn't dare as I'm reminded of my sisters' presence. I need to leave without raising their suspicions.

"See you girls later. We should do this more often." I declared as I sat up and began my path off the bed.

"Sure. You're going to the garden, aren't you?" Jachi was quick to ask the moment they both turned to my side. For a minute, I stared at her, blinking most of the time.

"How do you know I go there?"

Jachi shrugged her shoulders, a mischievous smile drawing on. "We see you sometimes and..."

"Alright, goodnight girls." I interrupted, turning away instantly, and hurried out of the room before I could hear any more from them and end up in a conversation I didn't want to partake in, especially with them. Apparently, Chidera has done enough.

I know I should head for anywhere else within the house or to my room, but here I am, two steps away from stepping onto the grass that bedded the bottom of my favourite outdoor spot. For a second, I hesitated, a faint voice in my head told me he could still be there and another, a much stronger voice reminded me I'm over two hours late, he would have been insane to still be there.

Yet, I walked in and gradually stopped in my tracks, staring at where we used to sit and chat. Like expected, he wasn't there... Good... he... he left. I should feel relieved by this, but the feeling settling inside me was far from that. The strangest part, there was a growing whelm of tears deep within, strange because I rarely cry, especially because of a man. I wasn't this sad when my ex-fiancé broke up with me, yet here I am fighting back tears on account of a man I purposely ruined my chances with.

As I drew in a deep breath to control my emotions, I shut my eyes for a few seconds. Once they opened, I froze at the sight of Cergio in front of me. There he was, staring back at me, a bottle of water in one hand. I blinked a lot more than usual.

He's... he's here... or am I hallucinating? These days, the difference between reality and dreams is becoming a blur. Did I desire him so much that my mind conjured him up? There's only one way to find out the truth.

Suddenly, I no longer feel frozen and I couldn't stop myself from walking up to him. I wasn't sure about what I'm about to do. My thinking had gone blank, and I was simply acting. Now in front of him, I cupped his face in my hands, leaned closer and softly locked my lips with his. What should be a kiss of a few seconds extended to even more than a minute, and when we eventually let go of the kiss, I stared into his eyes. He was real... this is real.

Immediately, I gasped and covered my mouth with both of my hands while I stared back at him with wide eyes. This time, my heart was racing nonstop within my chest and my legs were ready to give up on me anytime. I was beyond embarrassed and was ready for the ground to open up and swallow me whole. Anything that would shield me away from his gaze. Maybe I should apologise or at least run, but I couldn't do that either and I couldn't tell what was going on in his head. Well, I certainly didn't expect what came next.

He let go of the bottle and it fell to the ground, then he took hold of my hands and gently pulled them down away from my mouth. My heart was beating faster and faster as I felt his hand on a side of my face and the other on my lower back. He took the step closer, closing any space between us. I couldn't look away from his eyes. No, I didn't want to and so did he. Gradually, our environment fell away. To us, we were the only two in the world.

Cergio leaned forward and inclined his face towards mine. The moment his lips met mine, the feeling was electrifying, like sparks running from down and all the way up, nothing like I've ever felt before. I put my arms around his waist to accept it all, the overwhelming feeling. This felt passionate. It burned me, and the knowledge of time was far from both of us.

How could I have underestimated my feelings? How could I have believed it was just a crush? Now, it's more than obvious that this was nothing like I've ever had. I want this man, and I don't think I'll be able to stay away anymore.

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