"Yeah." His eyes narrowed in concentration.

"You can chase your dreams while you study." I pushed affront on my seat. "Doing both at a time will hinder nothing positive and good in your life. Instead it'll beget an amazing result."

He moved a hand to his head and scratched. "Not as easy as you think. I love music, and find myself composing songs in my head since when I was a kid. My mother would always scold me when she hears me singing or rapping. She stopped me from doing that around our home, only if I'm alone. Tells me about being a doctor and helping the generation." Sadness sparked in his eyes as he looked down, all traces of humor, gone. "I love music so much, I sing most times in my dreams at night." He pointed to a window, and under it, rested a guitar. "Over there is one of my musical instruments. My mum seized the remaining ones I bought two years ago, and vows to curse me if I buy any in her absence. She wants me to heal people by being a medical doctor, but I've got no brain for that."

Finding out this special part of him, I realized why his laughter sounded like music to the ears. Biding my time, fighting not to say bad things about his mother for forcing her child into taking a course that he hates, I stood up, licked my dry lips. "There are two types of pain, Anthony." I took his hands, slowly. "Emotionally and physical." I inhaled, slowly. "Medical professionals can only heal that of the physical, but never that of emotional. Music... most good songs penetrate deep into human to lift burdens, heal the broken heart, motivate the weak, raise the fallen, give hope to the depressed. Take for instance the story of, Kechi the beautiful Singer in American got talent; music was what kept her going through the phase of her physical and emotional healing till she came out strong. Healed other people with her voice and music. If you are sure that that is your calling, then go for it and never look back. Let each day count in your achievement. Any wasted day or time will not come back for you make use of." I dropped my hand to my side. "If no one else believes in you, I do."

"I do, too." I glanced at Daniel to see him smile and he nodded twice. "I do," he repeated.

Anthony, exhaled loudly that it seemed he was holding back tears. I gazed at him. "From now on, don't let any minute go for a waste. We all have limited time to be on earth. Do and achieve great things while you are alive, what many generations will remember you for when you are gone."

"I-I..." The smile he tried faltered into a sigh. "I'm grateful. I can't express how inspired I am. Thank you very much."

"Always welcome, dear."

"You know what__"

"That's enough for a day," Daniel spoke up, interrupting his speech.

I shot a disapproving look at him. "Do you have to say that?"

"Get yourself out, already," Daniel muttered, ignoring me. There was something in his voice I couldn't pinpoint on. Giving up, I sat back.

"You were about leaving before she came, weren't you?"

Anthony, laughed breaking the awkward moment. "Oh, my bad. I'd totally forgotten." He grinned. "See ya later." He winked at me, then sauntered from the room, the door shut behind him.

"Was that really necessary?"

Daniel skimmed through a book he was holding, his gaze left it to travel to mine without saying a word. His brown irises linked, I became mesmerized, my eyes suddenly hazy as though a fog blocked my vision. I wallowed in the moment, wondering what was happening to me...

"Like I said, he was leaving before you arrived to run an errand," he broke the silence. Whatever that held me, vanished. I groaned in frustration. Why can't I just focus. Stop finding him attractive. Everything about him hypnotized me, like he'd casted a love spell on me.

"I don't plan on boring you in here with me."

"What's your plan, then?" Invite me to the library to read some creepy historical context book with you, huh?

"Take you out..."

"A date!" Here I go again. Ugh!

He squinted his eyes affirmatively at me. "So be it, if you love to tag it a date."

Disappointment washed over me. "Just fucking with you."

"What?"

"Kidding."

"I don't believe you are... well, that's pretty cool, you know." His jaw worked, and I suspected he was forcing down laughter. "To know you want to have a date with me. Dazzling candle light__"

"Shut up." I cut in, embarrassed. "Who would want to have a date with you?"

To my amazement, he laughed. The sound of it is deep and throaty. So sensual I glared upward chewing on my bottom lip to stop from begging him to laugh often. As I almost did the other day when he pulled me to him.

"I love how your body language always betrays your words." He crossed the bed, stopped a few feet from me.

"You must be exaggerating... gain." I set my face in a frown in endeavour to appear nonchalant. "So full of yourself."

"I can prove it, if you want me to?"

No! "Yes." I added pressure to my glare, directed it to him. Disclosing without words, not to dare come any closer.

"Be my guest." And I did be his guest, for he stalked nearer. My hands began trembling, not in fright, but in want and fear of humiliating myself once more.

I balled my fingers vowing to chop it off later on. Gently, like a Lion who knows his skill at messing with the mind of his prey before pouncing, he bent to eye level. I gritted my teeth to hold back from releasing a cry of pleasure. He wasn't touching me, still my core throb so ferociously. What would happen if he took my hands in his, I thought desperately. My eyes struggled to leave his, but couldn't. I swallowed hard, fast. "U-unfortunately... ouch!" I covered my stutter, deliberately, concealing how vulnerable I was to his closeness.

"Why the ouch? Did I step on your toe?"

"Bitten by a fly... No! mosquito." I finally tore my eyes and looked around for a hand-fan to ease the heat hitting my face.

"Mosquito in the afternoon? Isn't that incredible? I've proven my point, Isabella." He chuckled. "It is very obvious that you are attracted to me."

I dragged in breath, roughly, choked and coughed. "Back off," I muttered amids clearing the obstruction in my throat.

He laughed, more deeper this time. Back off, he didn't, rather he inched closer. My heart resumed pounding.

Don't you dare kiss me.

Yes, kiss me please.

Don't you!

Yes! Please do, my darling.

I blocked off my struggling thoughts. Wanted to shove him away, all my muscles froze, unable to. Motionless, not being able to twitch a finger in resistance, I watched as his face drew in range of mine, our nose almost touching. He licked his bottom lips.

Yes, that's it. At last, getting the kiss I'd desired for so long. Not containing it any longer, my eyelids fluttered shut, my lips in submissive invitation.

"Playing around with you."

I snapped my eyes open, Daniel stood at the exert spot he'd been earlier. How he was able to do that in matter of split-seconds was what I couldn't visualize. "What do you mean by that?"

"Toying with you. I know you only like me as a friend." He shrugged. "I cherish that more."

Dumbfounded, I moved my mouth to say something, anything to make me feel better. No word came forth. I gestured uselessly around the expanse of the room to detail to him how unwitty he was not to figure out what I truly felt for him. To even hear him say he cherished the casual friendship more was a blow I fought hard, innerly, to accept.

"Let me take my bath. Give me quarter of an hour and I shall be done." I followed his movement to his wardrobe, he took out a towel draped on the door, tossed it on his shoulder, then trudged out.

Left alone, I slapped my palm to my face. Expelling a breath, I raised my head, paused as I took sight of a blue book on the bed. Instantly deciding to keep myself busy from the thought of Daniel, I began the slow process to the other side of the room where the book was. Looked back at the door when different voices echoed into the room, shuffling feets sounded past the door down the hallway. I scanned the plain cover... picked it up, turned to browse through the first page that contains inspirational lines, and something about life. Apprehended all too late that I was going through a diary--his diary, without his permission. I made it drop, curiosity set in like a ball of fire. Reading one more chapter wouldn't hurt, I then turned the next page. Met a pretty girl, I read at the top, it fueled my curiosity.

Dear diary, after all the years of not believing in love, I finally met a girl I fell so deeply for instantly. Experienced what love at first sight feels. The problem is, I don't know how to tell her about it, but I think I will open up to her when I take her out on a date for the first time...

The door creaked, with immense speed, I dropped the diary and in the same second plopped on the couch. Heat-filled happiness limitlessly flowed freely inside of me, my palms sweaty. I had really underestimated him. He is good at hiding secrets, and keeping his emotions well concealed. All the while, he loved me so deeply, but veiled it perfectly good. In recent times, my hand had shook with nervousness, now it did in excitement. On the first date, he wrote. He knew exactly what he was up about when he was busy joking about treasuring casual likeness and all. Ginormous joy streamed with such a force I gathered all my will not to leap off the chair like a child who received a Christmas gift.

Daniel walked in wiping his face with a towel. I accidentally got a glimpse of the blue boxers he wore, I turned my face away forcing down the lump of saliva that rose to my throat.

"Did I waste a lot of time?"

"No..."

"Do you prefer I change while you are in here, or excuse me for a minute?"

Without having to consider his options, I bounded out of the room without looking back. Heard his laughter as I shut the door.

I paced around the pavement, restless with overwhelming radiant pleasure. Impatient for him to be done so we can leave... tell each other how we felt. And finally be at peace. Nothing to remonstrate about him, apart from his plausible expertise at hiding his true feelings.

Ten minutes felt like ten years, the sound of the door opening had me facing toward it to behold, Daniel. The strong smell of his perfume lured me a step to him to inhale more.

I raved my eyes on him; his black sneakers, up his blue jean, black designed T-shirt that fitted him exceptionally, further to his face, eyes that never stopped to stun me. I noticed his gaze was focused ahead of me, taking the opportunity to explore more on his physique, I traced to his lips, so red it partially begged to be touched... with mine. The firm line of his mouth beautifully carved and frankly alluring.

My studying jerked down, my heart hammering. The sensuality was as disturbing as his defiant posture. As I trailed up to know why he hadn't said a thing, with a jolt in my guts I understood he was waiting for me to finish checking him out. Meeting his gaze lingering on me, proved that. "Shall we?" he asked, apparently assuming I was done.

Scowling, I whirled around. "We shall."