Heyyyyy!

How's everyone doing?

We're to see some major #Phetachi cuteness😍 (or should it be #Taneas as Damsella_d_Diva suggested?).

Anyway, get comfortable and put on some romantic music if you've got it.

Hopefully, this chapter will give you all the feels😌💖( until you read the part 2, of course🌝)

Let's get it!

~~~~~~~
"The world is mine, but I want you
I close and déjà vu help me realise
I'm right where I should be, yeah,"
~~~~~~~
-Pink Sweat$
(Nothing Feels Better)

Phineas

After getting over the initial shock of Chetachi accepting my offer and referring to it as a date, we agreed to meet up on the beach and then walk down to the Planetarium.

But I have better plans than that.

I looked at my watch. 5:58.

We were both supposed to be here by 6:00.

I couldn't stop the jitters that enveloped me. I was nervous.

And why wouldn't I be?

It's not everyday you get to go on a date with someone as magnificent as Chetachi.

Just the mere thought of it gave me slight shivers.

We spent this afternoon together at school, just the two of us. It felt so nice to have her by my side. It felt right to have her by my side.

Heck, her presence had made me whip out my poem book to start writing, but I couldn't fine the right words, words that would encapsulate who she was to me.

Instead, I had spent most of the time just looking at her, wishing I had brought my camera, wishing I could capture her smiles and her laughter and make them last forever.

What exactly has this girl done to me?

I couldn't explain it at all.

Sure, it was basic impossible for me not to notice her beauty and presence all these years we've been set mates, but ever since our collision on the first day of the term, it's like some invisible rope keeps pulling us together.

And, well, I'm not resisting the pull any longer.

I want Chetachi, and hopefully tonight marks the beginning of someone for us.

My hands absent-mindedly fondled the black pouch hung on my shoulders. My camera -a moderately sized, digital one equipped with night vision- was in there and I took it out.

I switched it on, raised it to my eye and took a few random shots of the sea in front of me.

I examined the shots, proud of myself and awed at the simplistic yet astounding beauty of God's creation.

Turning round, I took a few more shots of the sky and the scenery around me.

Everything was calm, serene, beautiful.

The sun gradually leaving the sky was beautiful.

The palm trees swaying softly to the breeze were beautiful.

Everything was just-

"-Hey!"

I turned round again and my breathing faltered for a second.

"Beautiful," I muttered under my breath.

"What'd you say?" Chetachi asked, tilting her head slightly.

I blinked. " I..uh..I said you're beautiful. I mean, you look beautiful. Not that you're not beautiful on a norms, but you look really nice right now." I was stumbling over my words and Chetachi was giggling softly. "Basically, what I'm trying to say is you're-"

"-Beautiful? Yeah, I got the message," she cut in with a smile.

I smiled back at her, really taking my time to assess her. I couldn't tell if she had on make-up or not, but her skin
was glowing radiantly under the evening sun. Her now loosened hair was held in a neat, low bun, that was gelled to perfection.

Her outfit choice was simple, yet stylish; a black crop top on black baggy jeans, with a long-sleeved, flannel shirt on top as a jacket. She had on white kicks and no jewellery apart from the silver pendant on her neck.

(Chetachi's look and 'fit for the date✨)

I didn't look so bad either, if I do say so myself. My outfit was a grey sweatshirt over a plain white T-shirt and dark brown slacks, paired with white socks and sneakers and a single silver chain round my neck.

(Phineas' look for the night😩🤎)

"Oh, you brought your camera," Chetachi said, staring at it with an almost childlike fascination.

"Yeah," I said, raising it up for her to see.

"Cool," she said, smiling a little.

"Wanna grab a smoothie or something before we head to the first place on our itinerary?" I asked, placing my camera back in the pouch.

"Sure."

I held out my hand, hoping she'd take it.

She did, and the second her small, soft hand fitted in with mine, I paused, reveling in the sweet sensation of it, of our hands being joined.

We walked over to Smoothies-R-Us, which was just behind us, and stepped in.

The place was reasonably packed, considering it was a Thursday evening.

We were about to head to the counter when someone behind us coughed and snickered.

We turned to see Azikiwe, sitting at one of the tables. She must not be on duty today, because she was dressed in a brown hoodie, coffee coloured baggy cargo joggers and red and white Nikes, with a small, cream coloured sling bag and a white beanie to complete the look.

(Zik's face claim and the dope 'fit she's wearing😩🤌🏽)

"Well, well, well," she started, a smirk on her face as her eyes zeroed in on our joined hands.

I glanced briefly at Chetachi, half expecting her to pull her hand away, but she didn't and that gave me a warm feeling on the inside.

"Out on another date, I see?"

"And what's it to you, Azikiwe?" Chetachi fired immediately, her playful smirk matching Zik's.

Zik raised both her hands in surrender. "Nothing o, just observing what a cute couple you two make."

I glanced at Chetachi again and laughed.

She was blushing hard through her melanin, biting her lip in embarrassment.

I squeezed her hand and stroked it with my thumb while still chuckling.

"What are you even doing here anyway? You don't work on Thursdays," Chetachi said, after her cheeks had returned to their normal colour.

"I'm meeting Efe at the skate park for an evening sesh," Zik replied, gesturing at the graffiti covered skateboard at her feet.

"Efe, as in Efe on the Basketball team?" came Chetachi, her eyes going wide.

"Yeah."

Chetachi gasped." Are the two of you-"

"-It's not a date, Adigwe," Zik stated with an eye roll.

"Oh, but it is though," Chetachi said, wiggling her brows in her usual cute way.

Zik rolled her eyes again, but I caught a glimpse of a small smile playing at her lips.

"I assume you two love birds came here for smoothies?" she asked, standing up form her seat.

"Nahhh, we came here to see you Zikky," Chetachi said with a huge smile.

Zik sighed and faced me. "What'll it be?"

"Uh..," I nudged Chetachi, not wanting to answer for both of us.

She hummed in thought and then pulled on my arm.

"How about we share a milkshake?" She asked, looking at me.

"What flavour?" came Zik.

"You choose," Chetachi said, giving my hand a squeeze.

"Um...I don't know. What flavour do you suggest, Zik?"

"Well, we've just introduced a vegan mint chocolate-chip milkshake, if you'd like that," Zik said.

I blinked.

Vegan mint chocolate-chip? What in the-

"We'll take it," Chetachi said.

And with that angelic smile on her face, who was I to refuse her?

Zik walked over to the counter and spoke to the attendant there.

We stood there, hands still clasped and I realised that, like Zik said, we must look like a real couple.

I smiled to myself and watched as Chetachi's eyes roamed round the whole place.

"Hey," I said softly and she looked up at me.

"Won't you sit down? We have a bit of walking to do," I told her, gesturing at the chair Zik had just left.

"Thanks for the offer, Mr. Gentleman, but I'd rather stand right here," she replied.

A chuckle escaped my lips and she smiled, her eyes crinkling in their usual way.

"You sure?"

"Yeah," she said, giving my hand a very small, very subtle squeeze.

Turns out we didn't have to stand long, as Zik suddenly appeared, bearing a large, pale pink, heart shaped, glass cup with small handles and two straws placed into the light green creamy substance it held, with small dots of brown all over it.

It was very pretty. Too aesthetic to drink even. The kind of thing you'd just want to stare at and take pictures of.

"Oh, wow," Chetachi said under her breath as she stared at the edifice in Zik's hands.

"Blessing just made this to place in the display glass, but you two can have it instead. On the house."

"You're giving this to us for free?" I asked, staring at her in surprise.

Zik rolled her eyes. "It's this new thing we're doing. The first couple to order something to share gets it for free. Don't spread the word, though, or we'll go out of business," she said and we laughed.

"Wow, Zik. Thank you," Chetachi said, her smile even wider now.

"Yeah, yeah, are you going to take this thing from me or what?" She snapped lightly, holding our her hands.

Chetcahi let go of my hand in hers and I almost grabbed it back, not quite liking the feeling of my lone hand without hers.

She took the cup from Zik and placed one of the straws in her mouth, taking a long, contented sip.

"Mmmm," she hummed, eyes fluttering closed for a split second. "This is one of the best things I've ever tasted!"

"I'll tell Blessing you liked it," Zik chuckled, going back to her seat.

"You have to try this, Phineas," Chetachi said, offering me the other straw.

I was about to take it when my eye caught the pineapple shaped digital clock on the wall.

6:10.

"Chetachi, we have to get going. We're walking over to the amphitheatre," I told her.

"Oh, okay," she said, taking another sip. "Bye, Zikky!"

"Get out of here already!" Zik groaned like we were disturbing her.

We laughed at her and waved as we left Smoothies-R-Us.

"What are we going to do at the amphitheatre? I thought we were headed to The Planetarium?" Chetachi asked as we started walking.

I glanced at her with a smirk. "Have you ever watched the dancing fountains light show?"

She shook her head as her eyes lit up.

"You legit live by the beach, and you haven't seen the light show? Even once?" I had to ask, laugher punctuating my words.

"I mostly stay by the water when I come here," she said, after giving me a punch for laughing at her. "I've been to the skate park with Zik once, and I've been to The Promenade once, but I've never sat in the amphitheatre before."

"Well, Miss Adigwe, tonight is your lucky night," I said, bumping her hip slightly with mine.

She giggled and took another sip at the milkshake.

Silence settled on us both as we made our way across the grainy sand.

I found myself focusing on the faint honking noises of cars on the road not to far from us.

The noise of people returning from their jobs on the mainland or the busier, more populated North side of the Island.

Chetcahi and I as well as most of our friends from school live here on the South side.

Like I said, the North side is bigger, more populated, with more sub-cities, companies and schools, bustling with life and affluence.

The South Side is calmer, more residential, a bit more vintage and generally the more chill side to live or school in.

We have the best beaches in my opinion, and some of the best attractions, like the amphitheatre Chetachi and I are headed to.

"Ooh, I see it," she said, nodding forwards towards the amphitheatre.

The concreted edifice sat at the edge of the water in a large semi-circle design. It was usually used for concerts, the catch being that the stage would be set up on the water. The light show, however, was the regular attraction, running on Thursdays and Saturdays every week and drawing in crowds from far and near.

(This is basically how the Amphitheatre looks,guys✨)

If we were to divert a little to the left, we'd be climbing up the wooden pier that leads straight down to the Marina where all sorts of  private boats and yachts were docked.

And if we were to make another left on the pier, we'd walk straight into The Promenade, a sort of sea-side boulevard complete with shops, restaurants and the works.

People were already seated in the amphitheatre and final checks were being made on the equipment for the light show.

The small yet very powerful speakers and projectors were placed on the sand, while the fountain hoses were right in the ocean itself, as the water would be sprayed from there.

"Let's sit at the front!" Chetachi said, nudging me with her elbow.

She started making her way there before I held her back.

"Slow down, soldier," I said with a chuckle. "Unless you want to take a bath, the front is not where you want to sit."

"I just want to be able to see the show," she said.

"You will, trust me. Come on, the best seats in the house are yet to be taken."

We climbed up to the last of the middle rows and sat down.

"Whoa," was what Chetachi said first, her eyes fixed on the ocean in front of us.

It was dusk already and the colours of the day were gradually slipping from the sky, making way for the velvety darkness.

I slipped out my camera again and snapped a few shots of the view.

Aiming downwards, I took about four shots of a family of three a few seats below us.

The sun was reflected on the happy father, mother and son at just the right angle, and their joyful expressions were completed the picture.

"Can I see?" Chetachi asked softly as she watched me examine the pictures on the screen of my camera.

"Sure," I said and handed it over to her.

"Oh...wow!" she gasped initially.

"You're shocked," I chuckled.

"Well, yeah. I didn't know you were this good!"

I chuckled again.

"The pictures of the ocean and sky are just...breathtaking," she said, eyes focused on the screen as she scrolled. "And these ones of the family? Just...wow. You can literally see the pride in the father's eyes and the love in the mother's. And I'm pretty sure the boy's smile is contagious."

She looked up at me as she handed the camera back. "You're amazing, Phineas," she whispered and I paused, lost in the way the sun was reflecting in those beautiful eyes of hers.

She was staring at me and I was staring at her, our eyes locked on each other.

"T-Thank you," I eventually said, with a small smile.

She smiled back as two girls passed in front of us to sit just a distance away from Chetachi.

The sun was setting lower and lower and I knew the show was about to start.

A movement of lasered lights and the sound of a bass thumping proved that was right.

"Ladies and gentlemen," came a voice over from the speakers. "Please sit back and relax. Cuddle up to your boo. Take out your cameras. Feel free to vibe to the beat, as the award-winning South Side Beach dancing fountains and light show begins NOW!"

I shifted closer to Chetcahi as Peace by Mannywellz and Tems started playing.

Thick needles of water shot up from the  ocean as the lasered lights moved back and forth across them, all in sync with the rhythm of the song.

The lights kept fading through all the colours of the rainbow and reflected in a crystalline effect off the shots of water.

The setting sun served as a backdrop for the whole thing and it was simply mesmerising to witness.

I raised my camera up to take a few pics and noticed I wasn't the only one. Several others were using their phones or posh instant cameras to take pictures and videos of the show.

The song changed to Show Up by Funbi, which was a bit more upbeat but still as chill as the previous song.

Chetachi pushed the milkshake to me and I drank using the other straw, immediately taken aback by the cold, smooth, delicious taste that blasted across my tongue.

"Save some for me, will you?" Chetachi said, laughing as she drank using the other straw.

Her right hand was on the placed down near me and slowly, I eased my left hand over it, moving it gently.

She shocked me simply grabbing it and weaving her fingers with mine.

I looked at her and she was looking at me again.

Gawd, her eyes....

The song changed again, this time to System Fail by Show Dem Camp and Nonso Amadi.

I swallowed down another sip of the milkshake as I gauged Chetachi's gaze. She was looking at me in a way she's never looked at me before.

I couldn't even describe it.

But I never wanted it to end.

Not now, not anytime soon, not ever.

.......

"That was beyond amazing!" Chetachi gushed for about the fifth time.

The light show ended about five minutes ago and, after placing the empty milkshake cup in a recycling bin, we made our over the wooden pier to The Promenade.

"I'm definitely seeing it again," she added.

I smiled. "The best part is that each time is completely different. Different lighting, different music. Like a whole new show every time."

"And I'll have you to watch it with," she said with a small, angelic smile.

"Yeah, yeah, of course," I said.

We walked forwards, leaving the beach behind as The Promenade came into full view.

The combined sounds of music blaring from stores, people talking, laughing and haggling prices were enough to sed one into sensory overload.

And the aromas of different cooked, fried and grilled foods of both local and international cuisine made my mouth water.

"Oh my gosh!" Chetachi suddenlygasped. "It's a...a-"

"Ferris wheel?" I chuckled.

Her eyes were as huge as saucers. "It's HUGE!"

(The HUGE ferris wheel, y'all😂💖)

Well, yeah," I said.

"Can we go on it-" Chetachi started, then tugged on my hand "-please!"

She kept tugging and bouncing slightly and I had to laugh.

"Of course we can," I began and she shined her thirty-two. "Buuut, we've still got a meteor shower to catch."

She pouted and I pouted back, squeezing her hand.

"Sowie," I lisped, tilting my head.

She grumbled in response and bumped her with my shoulder.

"Come on, I promise you won't regret this."

*cough*cough*

Heyyyy😗

Sorry for the lack of updates, but baby girl needed to rest🥲🤲🏽.

Sha, I hope this chapter was worth the wait✨.

Welcome to all my new readers😊💖

You all are LOVEDDDD😩💖💖💖.

See ya when I see ya💋