Adedayo sat on the couch, turning his shoulder back and forward, trying to get the pain flowing between his neck and shoulder to come to an ease. For the past few days. The pain only increased and he was well aware of the reason for it.

Joy stood at the entrance into the room and watched him. When she couldn't anymore, she walked up to him without him noticing. Joy rolled her lips in and her hands hung over his shoulder. Without any warning, she laid her hands on his shoulder and before she could squeeze, he startled away and turned immediately to her.

"W-what are you doing?"

She unrolled her lips and locked her hands together, trying her best not to feel embarrassed. "I'm trying to help you."

"You don't need to." His reply was quick as he shifted to the seat right next to him.

Joy was silent. Of course, she'd expected this behaviour from him. Giving up would mean wallowing in her embarrassment. As Joy would figure out, she wasn't the type to throw in the towel easily and for some reason, she was more adamant when it came to Dayo.

"You're in pain because you sleep on the couch. The least I can do is give you a massage." Joy explained as she walked around the couch to his front.

Adedayo shook his head a bit more violently than she'd ever seen him do before. "I'm fine. I can handle myself."

She narrowed her eyes and folded her arms below her chest. "Are you scared of me?"

A cheap scoff left his lips. "No... no, I'm not."

She rubbed under her chin in pretense thinking. "So, you wouldn't mind if I did this?" She reached out in an instant for him but his reflexes were good. He'd jerked off his seat before she knew it.

"See!? You are... you're scared of me touching you."

Again, he shook his head at her words and couldn't stop the amusement from detailing on his face.

"Yes." She nodded, taking a step after the other, closer to him and with each step, he took a counter step back. Again, without any sign, she reached out for him. This time, he caught her hands and their eyes met. The space between them was thin. His eyes wandered from her eyes, the way her long lashes battered, to the line down her nose and to her lips. Adeday involuntarily swallowed down. His heartbeat was fast. He was having those thoughts again. The ones he was trying so hard to avoid bringing it to reality. Joy didn't understand and he didn't think he could ever bring himself to make her understand.

His breathing had deepened. "Yes... Okay?"

Slowly, she smiled. "Two options. Choose one. Option one, you let me give you a massage or option two... we share the same bed starting tonight."

His gaze glazed from one orb to the other of hers. Dayo saw she meant her words.

Joy felt satisfied with herself. She'd handled it like a pro. Surely, Dayo had nowhere to run and he would definitely choose option one.

Joy turned on the bed and squinted her eyes at the sight of Adedayo's back. Who would've thought he would choose option two? She laid on her back and stared at the ceiling. He had to be really scared of her touch to pick the second option. Again, she looked at him. Why, though? Why was he scared of her touch?

Adedayo could feel Joy's eyes on him. He shut his eyes, unable to avoid the frown that surfaced between his brows. Even till this moment, the scene from earlier played like a movie in his head. How easily he'd ended up here. Why wouldn't he let her touch him? Adedayo wasn't sure how strong he could withstand it. This feeling wasn't something he was eager to explore. There were rules. Rules he'd set for himself. Rules that made sense for him alone. Rules that kept him safe and intact. So far, they've done a good job. He wasn't about to compromise everything for a chance to explore something he wasn't sure of.

Dayo laid on his side, his arms folded below his chest and wouldn't dare turn to her. The bed was small and affordable. It was meant for his occupancy alone and wasn't supposed to keep two people comfortable at once. He bit his lower lip. Hating his choice right now. He should've thought this through.

The next morning, Adedayo lazily opened his eyes. It was the first time he'd slept comfortably since his neck ache started. He made an attempt to get up and realised after all, he'd turned to her in his sleep. Dayo rested his head back on the pillow and stared at her face while she slept. Somehow, it felt soothing enough for him while he watched her sleep. Her snore was light. It made him smile. She moved and Dayo immediately rolled off the bed. After he sat up from the floor, he checked if she was still asleep. Thankfully, she was.

Adedayo stood ready to leave the apartment. He stretched his neck to the view of her seated up on the bed. He cleared his throat. His manner of announcing his presence. But she showed no reaction. Finally, he walked back to the room and stood by the door.

"Aren't you... you're not coming along today?" Dayo asked.

She shook her head while she hung it low and spoke. "What's the point... You're scared of me." Then, she lifted her eyes to him. "We'll never be close enough."

Adedayo's lips parted. He hoped to say something. Anything that would let her know it wasn't as she thought. But nothing came through. It wrenched at his heart. He knew nothing would make sense except the truth and he wasn't sure or didn't think he was ready to share a truth he wasn't sure of.

All through the school period, Adedayo wasn't himself. Her words bothered him a lot. The look she had on her face. He recalled how lonely he'd felt walking out of the street by himself, without her company. A lot of the time, he would space out. His thoughts went back and forth, filled with contemplations and what ifs. It made him unstable. It made him a little jittery. A few coworkers had asked if he was alright. He'd simply nodded and feigned a smile that lasted nothing more than five seconds.

Adedayo stared outside through the glass window of the bus and watched as the rain water rolled down the glass. The thunder revolted in the sky and the rain poured down heavier. A sigh left his lips. What a way for the universe to further dampen his spirit. Dayo had been too carried away in his thoughts that he'd failed to realise he was at his stop although the conductor yelled the name of the stop. Luckily for him, the bus had barely moved an inch when he recalled himself. They let him get off and he hurried to the shade.

Adedayo knew he couldn't trek under this rain so he decided to get a ride within a keke. On arrival at his stop, he paid the driver and prepared his mind to run under the rain. He held his briefcase close to his chest and would rather be soaked wet than the contents within the case. Dayo stepped down and had run only three steps under the rain when an umbrella hung over his head. He stopped and looked at the person who held the umbrella over his head. It was a medium sized umbrella and wasn't enough to protect more than one person.

"It suddenly started to rain and I thought it was only right to bring an umbrella to you." Joy explained and drew closer to him, trying to protect both of them at once.

Adedayo stared at her, dumbfounded and frozen to the spot on the ground which he stood on. Why? Why would she go through the trouble? He'd never asked any of this of her. Earlier today, she was upset with him and it had bothered him the whole day. More than he would prefer to admit. Adedayo felt it. His heart thumped faster and louder than never before. The sound was like a ringing in his own ears. Right there, he finally figured out how he felt and what his feelings meant.

Dayo released his briefcase from his hold and took the umbrella from her. He kept his arm around her shoulder, drawing her closer to him as if that was enough to prevent the rain from getting on her. Joy couldn't stop herself from looking at his hand on her shoulder before she lifted her gaze to his face, somewhat surprised by his action. He took the first step forward which propelled her to join him. Together, they hastened their steps towards their home.

Joy unlocked the door in a hurry and both of them went in as soon as she pushed it open. Dayo left the umbrella slightly open and lying close to the door. Both took off their footwears by the door. Joy went to the bedroom and returned with a towel. They might not have been completely soaked wet by the rain but the sides of their arms and legs with the clothing were drenched wet. She cleaned herself with the towel before reaching to use it on him. He watched her without uttering a word. When she felt satisfied, she took a step back.

Adedayo knew what his feelings were but some things on her part didn't add up for him. Abominable thoughts of breaking his rules filled his head. Yet, before that, he would prefer to hear her answers.

"Why did you do that?" He asked.

Joy furrowed her brows. "Do what?"

"Why did you come outside when you knew how heavy the rain was?"

She played a little with the towel in her hands and shrugged her shoulders. "I thought you might need my help."

Dayo bent his head a bit to the side. His expression was stern. "Why would you think I need your help?"

Joy's silence was five seconds longer than normal. His questions weren't what she expected he would throw at her. At the same time, she was well aware that he was full of surprises. She sighed and replied. "It started to rain and I remembered you didn't carry an umbrella with you. So, I decided to take one to you."

"That's... that's all?" He asked as disappointment slowly creeped in. His gaze was steady on her and his heart hoped not to hear the word 'yes'.

Joy was hesitant. The look in his eyes was different. Almost as if everything was going wrong. But how could it when there was no wrong or right to begin with. What did he want to hear and why did he want to hear that?

"I mean... you've been nice to me. You took care of my needs. There are only so few ways I can show my appreciation."

Gradually, Adedayo sucked in a silent and deep breath. "So... you were trying to repay me?"

Joy felt a little more on edge and she didn't have the slightest clue as to why. "I... I guess you can put it that way."

Even worse than a minute ago, the look in his eyes held a deeper meaning and Joy could see that. Something was definitely wrong. Could she have said something she shouldn't have?

"Dayo, is something wrong..."

"Thank you for coming to my rescue. Next time, please refrain from repaying me." He said and walked past her. Joy's eyes followed him until he walked into the room and closed the door behind him. The frown on her face deepened. She was certain she'd said something he didn't want to hear. Lightly, she bit her lower lips and wondered what part of her words were wrong.

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