Kilig.

I was in my room -turning, twisting, dancing never knowing what's truly happening. I'm so happy, full of life, but never knowing why everything around me seems extremely familiar and exceedingly mysterious too.

Strong arms engulfed me from behind. The touch seems incredibly familiar. I relaxed in our embrace. He rested his chin on my shoulder while pressing his lips there and everywhere whenever he gets a chance.

"Ele, I love you..: "he said. I turned my face in the opposite direction, all smiles. I wanted to see him, know him. I turned to him and lifted my face to see him but then all of a sudden he brought his lips to mine, his lips soft against my stupid lips, but to my disappointment, he never revealed his face, a haze perpetually covered my visions whenever I wanted to see him.

The whole scene, felt like I'm on my very own personal cloud, everything seems magical. We floated around the room in perfect harmony, holding each other close. He was taller than me but I could see his eyes, the way he looks at me-love, love, and love is all I could think, and his nose and his touch - all enchanting me but never revealing his entire face.

my room is all covered with white fairy net and curtains, bed all covered with roses-white roses and daisies, all my favourites, and he's wearing a white shirt-a see-through shirt for his freaking perfect body.

I'm all dressed in white too, my curly hairs framing my face, he raised his hand and tucked my hair strands behind my ears, It's all freaking romantic!

"I love you more.." is all I replied and started kissing him. He deepened the kiss it is intense, immense and blissful.

"You know what Helen? sometimes I dream of you and me in a beach, sipping cocktails and playing around." he started, while I interfered

"You mean playing around like sand, water and spade or like physical touching of skin and bod..." he didn't let me finish as he started kissing me again, this time a little fiercer than before.

He stopped and said, "yeah, a little of both." I was once again gifted by the sound of his dazzling laughter.

This guy does things to me just with his smile and casual behaviour, but I just don't understand why I can't see him fully.

I wanted to see his full face not parts of it, I wanted to run my fingers from his eyebrows to lips and touch him like it's the end of my life.

"I love you Ele, I can't explain what you mean to me, you're soo. .." Suddenly I heard a loud thud and the lights came on, I blinked hard, I wanted it all back.

I want him here, holding me, but I know it's all a dream. He is all dreams. I wondered why couldn't my destiny bring him to me? and I realized if only life is that easy...

I looked at my mom with a heavy heart and asked sarcastically " goodnight mom, what do you want? it's 3 am mom!" Emphasizing the time.

She gave an apologetic look while saying "I have an emergency shift now, I need to leave, come down and close the door Ele."

I gave her my best-disappointed look, thinking of my lost dream, a hopeless dream actually, and said

"Okay, I don't think you can make it home before school, I'll leave the key under the doormat in case you come home early."

She offered me a small smile while she left and I waved her a bye and locked the door and settled on the couch.

I pondered over the dream and the realization hit me hard -he freaking spoke with me longer this time, other than the 'love you's part', this never happened in my dream before...

..............

The sun shone brighter, shittt !!! I'm late, I rushed my shower and dressed in a simple white oversized hoodie and indigo denim.

I locked the door and placed the key under the doormat and kept a flower pot on top of it safely and started walking, suddenly Liz's car stopped near me and Anne stepped out of it, it's a little disappointing that it isn't Liz that stepped out...

' Good morning Ele." Anne started, but her expression fell unexpectedly and she asked worried now

"Are you alright with the whole of Liz's sudden departure? you seem a little down."

"Morning Anne, yeah I'm alright, just a little nervous. Are you still on leave to work?" I inquired casually.

"I have to go to the office after lunch, actually Liz asked to lend her car to you until she returns, here .. take the keys, I'll walk home."

Oh, Liz, I started missing her already.
"Anne, please don't walk on my expense, take the car..."

she interfered and said, "no, take it Ele and I like to walk, it's been years since I walked, actually I miss it, take the car it'll be more helpful to you than me." She gave me the keys and started walking already.

I looked at Anne walking, it seems like she's enjoying it and realized how hard she works every day to give her daughter a decent lifestyle, a mother's sacrifice and love is the most blessed thing a child can endure. And I'm happy that I and Liz have them in our lives.

I parked the ford at the deep edge in the parking lot, I was nervous beyond words to face things alone and the next thing I knew was that I'm dialling "Hi Liz". And let out a peal of nervous laughter, she sensed my discomfort and guessed " you are at school." she stated.

"Yes, Liz can I ditch classes until you come back? I can give an excuse letter saying I'm sick." I started hyperventilating inside the car but I'm more concerned about not stepping out and facing the school population, alone!.

"Ele listen to me, there will come a time where you are said to choose from integrity and cowardness, things happen for a reason Ele, go in who knows? Maybe you'll meet your ' The one - The great ' go in and I'm not waiting for your response have a nice day Ele, bye sweetie pie ." She rushed the whole conversation and cooed the last part while I begged for her to listen ...

so much for best friends!!! Ughh, but I also think she has a point, I wanted to choose cowardness but something in me said to step out and enter the class and like the said loser I'm met with the whole audience to be judged.

"The princess is alone today," said a blonde, while

" It's not her car, and she's alone," said the brunette, as a.matter of fact.

" I think she stole it," said a jerk, while

"It's Liz's guys, stop it and mind your own business," said the kind one.

I really liked the kind one but I had no idea who he was or what was his name so I rushed passed them.

I soo wanted to offer the sandy-haired kind guy a smile but I couldn't afford to get judged by the group, again.

I grabbed my things from the locker and started heading to class, boom!!!
I heard a loud cracking sound and turned toward the sound and saw the whole commotion take place.

I saw a guy hitting the jerk, who said that I stole Liz's car. But I couldn't see the guy's face, but he has a very sexy and angular body, I kept admiring him from afar while he kept punching the jerk a.k.a Alex Camwell. He was taller than Alex and also muscular.

Alex now had a black eye and a broken nose.

The guy started with a rough and rugged voice "you shouldn't have spoiled my brother's car! You shithead, next time you pick on my brother or anyone else, I wouldn't just leave you only with minor injuries, mind it asshole." And started walking in my direction.

That's when I saw him. He's tall, lean and has a muscular body, sun-kissed skin and dark hair, sharp eyes and strong facial features but he's not the guy pegged as the good boy, he has a touch of dark in his behaviour but his eyes spoke a different language. He was attractive, like smoking hot attractive.

Something in me said that I know him, a feeling like I've known him forever but also a sane part of me said to stay away from him. It was like my mind and heart doesn't want the same thing, so I kept quiet.

He walked passed me, well it's not new that I'm unnoticed, and I stared at his back, it wasn't so bad to take a peek at strangers back if the stranger is a freaking hot god.. yeah... not so bad at all, I was practically swooning.

He met with a slightly younger version of him from my science class. He is Cole Elton's brother.
I noticed their resemblance and it all fits perfectly.
Cole's got the same dark hair and complexion. Cole Elton- the school's nerd has an amazing, freaking hot badass of a brother!
Wow!! Two poles. ..

They spoke for a few minutes and the facial expression of the hot god has gotten soft and now he looks like the swoon-worthy perfect good boy.

I heard the sound of the bell and walked towards the class half-heartedly.

I couldn't concentrate on my lesson, my mind kept wondering why I'm interested in a stranger who doesn't even know a girl like me exist, who didn't even spare me a glance while he walked passed me.
Perfect!!!!

During the lunch break, I went to the library but suprisingly met with an upset Cole seated in my usual place, in the farthest end of the library.

I tried to make small conversations
"Hi Cole " and gave him an awkward smile.
"If you're going to inquire about the commotion this morning, I don't think I'm going to share it or if you're going to inquire about my brother Aiden, he's a first year university student. I'm not interested in saying more or if you're sympathizing me, I don't need it ." He stated and went back to reading.

I concluded that he was most likely sabotaged by the students and I felt pity towards him and also instantly liked him because he, like me doesn't pry for attention.

"Actually I was going to say that it is my usual place your sitting in, I always come here during lunch break". I stated as a matter of fact.

For a moment he gave me a blank look and then he shook his head slightly and said: "I'm sorry for bursting out at you, I just don't like the sudden spotlight ".

" It's okay, I understand" I shrugged and he gave an apologetic look so I asked

" Have you had lunch yet?" now it was his turn to shrug so I pushed my lunch box towards him and said

"take it, its plain sandwich, but anyways, stick with it " I stated playfully and shrugged.

He looked at the sandwich like I gave him something nasty out of the waste bin and I immediately regretted offering lunch, it's not his fault really, we were strangers until this moment.

I thought of pulling it back, but before I started moving Cole took a piece of sandwich from the box and started eating, he finished my box quickly and said

"It was good you know, did your mom make it for you?" He had a sad unreadable expression. So I decided to make the conversation light and said,

"No, I stole them from a beggar in the street" I managed to keep a straight face.

"Sometimes I do the same" he too kept a straight face and then we both started laughing...
"Happiness looks good on you" I stated while he settled for a contended smile.

"By the way, I'm Cole Elton, and you?"
Wow, he didn't even know my name.

"I'm Helen Eddison, nice meeting you"I offered my hands to shake.

" Nice meeting you too, Helen," he said and we shook hands.

"Ele please," I said with a smile and just like that we became friends"Ele will you be my friend?".

Occasionally integrity was the best thing that can happen in our lives.
Change is inevitable, and I wondered what life holds for my future.

***
White hoodie and the indigo denim