<I'm a girl who doesn't expect expensive things in a relationship. I'm fine with going out in a field, lying down on the blanket and looking up at the stars>

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WE WALKED slowly as we breathed in the crispy night air, our feet not making any sound in the springy grass beneath us. With everywhere being very quiet, Kian and I were careful to avoid disturbing the serene environment we trampled upon although every once in a while, the comfortable silence was agitated by the chirping of a thousand crickets and cicadas.

Kian's fingers gripped mine, his touch steady and guiding me through the stone benches placed randomly in the park, the street lights exposing the way.

Then he suddenly paused. I paused too, wondering why he'd stopped. Just when I was about to question his action, he took a flower from the jacaranda bush and tucked it in my hair, near my right ear.

"There, you look more pretty," he said, the moon beams illuminating our faces. His, smiling warmly and mine blushing. Bowing my head to the ground, I thanked him, my heart pounding a mile.

Kian led me to a large white picnic mat placed on the ground. On it, was a small open cooler containing food, some tasty snacks and drinks. Another dish had different succulent and tempting fruits arraigned in it. Everything would have seemed normal if not for the fact that the comfy mat was surrounded by red gleaming candles that beamed forth a soft glow, making the scenario seem both magical and romantic at the same time. Awed, I gasped softly.

"Like it?" Kian asked, grinning widely.

"Yes, it's so beautiful. . ." My voice trailed off in wonder, not knowing what to say apart from, 'this date is turning out to be amazing by the minute' but then I couldn't say that.

"Well, don't you go on standing there and staring at me, come sit and eat. I'm famished." He patted his flat stomach and shot me a 'come hither' look that no hot blooded girl living on planet earth could resist.

I nodded, mortified he thought I was gaping at him excessively and sat down. It was a silent and sweet meal consisting of fried chicken, grilled fish, cold fruits, fruit juices and a huge slab of yummy mint chocolate.

"Say ahh," Kian piped up when we were midway into our meal. He drew up close, his left arm hiding something behind his back. Hmm.

I raised my right eyebrow and halted the grilled fish's short journey to my mouth. "No."

"Just say ahh," he begged, his lips forming a small sexy pout. Nuh uh, not falling for that. No matter how cute his pout was, I wasn't about to back down on my decision.

"No, why should I?" I asked, curious now. Why on earth should I say ahh? I was sure he was up to something mischievous.

"Jamila can you please say ahh?" His cute pout was gone now and in its place was a tiny frown. Ah, pretty boy was tired of being charming.

"Not until you tell me why I should say ahh---" My speech was cut off because once I mentioned ahh, he sneaked a huge strawberry dipped in chocolate into my mouth.

"Oh no Kian, you did not just do that. I swear I'm gonna give it back to you!" I yelled after reluctantly chewing the chocolate covered dessert forced into my mouth.

It was war.

Instead of eating as we were before, we cleverly began forcing on each other little snippets of food. Kian won most of the time because he was always tricking me but despite that, we enjoyed our little fight.

After we'd finished eating or more like play eating, we laid down---with me gingerly placing my head in a position that wouldn't mess up my buns or the flower he'd placed ---to regain our strength and gazed at the starry night sky, each of us lost in thoughts.

It was a glorious night sky. The beautiful moon and the blinking stars shined so brightly, the ever luminescent stars prompting me to remember the starlights in my room.

"Wanna play 20 questions?" Kian asked after a few minutes of us gazing upwards in dazed wonder.

"I'm game but you're going first," I replied, and deceptively scooted a little bit closer to him. Why I actually did that, I didn't know.

If he noticed me shifting nearer he didn't bat an eye---thank God or that would make things awkward---, instead he said, "No problem. So, number one question's why didn't you accept when I asked you out that first time?"

Of course, he had to ask that. I stopped myself from sighing out. "Because it was weird, no offense to you. I just couldn't believe you wanted to date me, not after what happened and uhh it was also kinda fast."

He heaved out a small sigh. "Okay, I agree it was fast and all but I think you shouldn't have laughed at me."

I could sense a tiny hurt in that statement he made. So my outburst of laughter had hurt him deeply, bummer.

"Yeah, my bad. I'm sorry. I tend to find humour in things that aren't funny," I apologized, since he was bringing it up and I had to confess, I hadn't done the right thing then.

"Nah, it's good. I'm cool," he responded, his tone lighter than before. That meant he accepted my apology and wasn't bothered.

"So it's my turn," I muttered, trying to think of an amusing question.

"Mhmm, I know and I'm waiting." Kian had stopped gazing at the stars now, rather he laid on his side; propping his head on his left hand and earnestly staring at me, his face all placid and calm. Needless to say, that look made me feel conscious and all the questions I wanted to ask him ran away from my head.

"Can you please stop staring at me please? I'm trying to rack my brain for a good question and your drooling isn't helping one bit!" I ranted and waved my fingers awry.

All he did was to just nod in his head in the negative and continue staring at me, this time grinning. Oh bother!

"I'm facing the other way," I announced to him and did just that.

He tapped me and I turned my head back a bit. "Yeah?"

"My question if you may." He smiled mockingly at me, those sensuous lips of his lifting up to show white pearly teeth.

Gulping because I was affected by that smile and wasn't about to admit to myself that I was, I huffed and gave him my back. "Coming right up."

The gears of my brain seemed to be working in futility until a good question, hopefully, finally popped up. "Would you rather be handsome but stupid or ugly but intelligent?"

"So that's the question you racked your brain for. Men! All those minutes gone to waste, such a big shame," Kian tsked, his tongue making a clicking sound.

I rolled my eyes. "Just answer already." It was a somewhat hard question. Knowing Kian he wouldn't want to be ugly or stupid so I couldn't wait to hear what his answer would be.

"Handsome and intelligent," he replied, and even though I wasn't looking at him, I knew he was smirking. Of course, he thinks he's smart.

"No, that's not how it's done," I reminded him and faced his way. I was very right, the boy was smirking. Like a dumbass.

Kian's smirk slinked away and he pursed his sexy lips that had kissed m---nah, I'm not going there--- and grudgingly uttered, "Okay, ugly but intelligent."

"Hmm, is that so?" I arched my brows, and tried to prevent a smile from slipping.

"Yup, surprised?" He flipped his hair and grinned.

I grinned too. "Somewhat and it's your turn to ask moi. Make sure it's better than mine."

"Aye aye captain." Kian saluted and knitted his brows closer in thought. I watched him, admiring how cute he looked despite wrinkling his forehead while thinking.

"Describe your ideal man."

"Hmm, okay. Uhmm, how should I start? Okay. Well, I don't really have a colour or race. He could be fair, dark or chocolate, it just depends on what my eyes behold." I smiled sheepishly and let my eyes wander to my hands.

"He should be cute please, there's nothing like love is blind here. Not dealing with that shit. He should also be caring and romantic, I mean I want someone who'll surprise me with outings and kiss me on the neck and sweetly nibble my ear." I blushed a little, praying that the semi-darkness covered it.

I licked my lips and continued, "Also, he should totally understand me, most people don't understand me at all. Another is, he must have very very beautiful eyes of any colour, so far they're gorgeous. I need someone that's fun, basically complements me and even if we do argue we'll definitely come back together. I know he'll not be perfect but then neither am I. Again, he must be totally God fearing, mhmm and treat me with respect, after all I'm a spec." I giggled nervously and peeked a look at him. He seemed to be studying me curiously, probably thinking that I was dreaming.

"Perhaps, all these I mentioned are just fantasy but oh well." I shrugged my shoulders. "There are many more but I can't remember others. Oh wait, he shouldn't ever cheat on me, I'm a jealous motherfucker," I mumbled the last part and hid my face behind my hands, peeking at Kian through the gaps they made. He looked as if he was struggling to hold in his laughter. Bonehead.

Kian sat up and got closer, prying off my fingers and held them away from my face, all the while hooting loudly in laughter. "You were right, that's a whole lotta fantasy but the last two lines hit differently though!"

I angrily took my hands away from his and screeched out, "But I'm being truthful at the very least."

He was still trembling with laughter, the idiot. Wonder what I said that was so funny. Hmmph, and I actually thought I was pouring my heart out.

"Dude, could you please stop laughing? I really don't see what's funny," I snapped and crossed my arms in a heated manner.

"Sorry buh it's just. . ." He laughed. "It's just. . ." He laughed again and held up his hands. "It's just the way you were saying it."

Fed up of his laughter, I thumped his back hard. He stopped laughing and shot me a mean glare. Very good.

"Now you're done being amused even when shit isn't funny, it's time to ask you." I smiled rather wickedly.

"Ask on and your touch is really painful, aww." Kian rubbed his back, trying to soothe the pain I had gladly gifted to him.

"You deserved it. Your question. If you could choose 3 people to go on a vacation with, who would it be?

Still caressing his rear, Kian replied in a grumpy voice, "Me, myself and I."

Face palming I told him, "Be serious, three other people. See." I showed him my right palm and counted off three fingers.

Kian simpered. "I know what three means but alright. Okay, let me see. My mom, brother and girlfriend. But if I'm still single, then pops."

"Okay."

His pops, the mere mention of that man always had my blood heating up dangerously. The way I so wanted to punch Richard, it would take the intervention of God to save him. Keeping my dark thoughts at bay, I smiled at Kian and plopped back on the mat.

"That's nice."

"Yeah. If you were to choose a guy in our class that you are most attracted to, who would it be?"

Ah! Did he really have to ask that? I studied the stars, in the guise to prevent my face from giving me away. One star appeared to be winking at me.

"I guess that'll be Jayden."

"Ohhh," he drawled, snickering and nudged me with his foot. "Okay. So Jayden huh?"

"Yup," I popped out, lying confidently in the bid to hide the sad truth. Yeah, I finally admitted it to myself. Truth, that I was attracted to Kian. Sad, I couldn't tell Kian about that. I didn't want to muddle things up because honestly I'm clueless and also confused as to how this affection for Kian came about.

"Hmmm, ask me." He moved next to me, his warm body in close contact to mine. I swallowed nervously and shivered slightly when his leg brushed mine.

"Uhh. . . nothing seems to be in my head at the moment, so do ask me," I requested because honestly nothing seemed to be in my head. His proximity was overwhelming and my traitorous body desired to do nothing but snuggle closer to him.

"Boring girl, how about the craziest and most stupid thing you have ever done before?"

"I'm thinking. Hmm, I'm yet to do anything stupid or crazy," I acknowledged, still too muddled to think. A cold breeze blew and I cuddled up to Kian wanting more of his warmth. But Kian didn't seem to notice, he was staring fixed at the moon and I could see its reflection in his eyes.

"Think," he drawled in a husky tone.

I closed my eyes and attempted to think except that the musky scent of Kian's cologne enveloping me made it hard. Coupled with his body heat and spicy scent, the siren voice of sleep lulled me away.

I was on the verge of dozing off when he gently nudged me awake. "It's almost eleven sleeping beauty."

Packing up, I sluggishly made my way to his car, my mind still dazed. Driving home, I no longer felt sleepy as I remembered I owned Kian something. The moment we arrived, I ran inside immediately not even stopping to greet Mom who'd opened the door. Both of them probably thought I had gone loco.

"Olayinka! What has gotten into you?! Why are you running like you've seen a ghost?" Mom shouted, her voice like a rumble of thunder coming after me.

"Nothing mom, just needed to get some stuff and will you please stop standing akimbo at the doorstep?" I yelled back, my shoes thumping on the stairs.

"Whatever, be fast about that 'cos I don't need you keeping this young man waiting!" Mom hollered.

I had just had my very first date and it was fun, I thought giddy and drunk with happiness as I rushed to my wardrobe to get him his jacket and the clothes he'd given me.

"Here. I insist you take them and thank you once more for today. I had fun," I mumbled, feeling shy--- and stupid I ran up earlier without telling him why--- as I handed over the bag that contained his clothes.

He looked at me for a moment, hooded eyes staring unwavering on my face and I stared back, spellbound by him.

Then he leaned in towards me, his lips coming my way and I waited, heart throbbing fiercely as he came closer. And closer.

Thank God, mom's not here, was the only thing racing through my mind.

A/N: Hi peeps, it's been a month plus since I last updated and was active on Wattpad. Reason: Exams but that's over now. And guess what?! You're reading a high school graduate's story and isn't that so great?! Yes! I've finally graduated from high school last week despite corona, sars, lockdown and every other difficulty we all faced in 2020. I'm so grateful to God for making it possible and I'm so happy to be back here 'cos I seriously missed here and you guys, no cap. Thanks guys for the 2k votes and 14+k reads, I totally appreciate :-)))

Loads of loves and hugs,
Lol, that's me in the picture above looking all spec--yy :-))
Nita❤