Chapter 5 --- colors, flaws, and perfection

Second Semester, Final Year. Ladi’s POV

I’ve had the best years of my life, filled with lessons, self discovery and a lot more of good times and bad times too. I and Michael have come a long way as friends and I am glad we made the decision to remain as friends till we were both ready and matured enough for one. I mean these past years we’ve learnt a whole lot about each other and turned out there were lots of differences we had and had to settle. If we had dated we would definitely be exes by now which would have been bad and a big loss on both sides because now what I feel for him is more than a mere crush, its more than mere admiration, I would say it’s true love because with him around I feel all kinds of things, good things.

The semester was coming to an end and we were rounding up our final year project so everybody has been really busy. I and Michael spoke every day. On the days when we couldn’t talk over the phone or see each other, we left a text. The school has several dinner and award nights coming up and our faculty dinner night had been scheduled for this coming Saturday which was three days away from now.

Michael asked me to be his date and I excitedly said yes, he was the only one who I could possibly say yes to. Raphael also asked if I could be his date for his faculty dinner which was last Saturday but I said No, he kept sending messages asking me why but I aired all of them and I feel bad about it but I really don’t want to lead him on when I know so well I have someone I’m insanely in-love with and besides I already had a date.

The date on Saturday was one I looked forward to, it was my first dinner date with Michael and I wanted to look really beautiful for him. I already purchased a dress a long black dress. It was really beautiful that I didn’t even bother about the expensive price, because it was worth it. I had everything ready for the date. I already braided my hair as well. Everything was set. That was what I thought at least till I woke up with some weird rash on my fore head.

“Are you the next person” a young lady asked as she stepped out of the doctor’s office to the waiting room

“Oh, uhm. Yeah I guess” I replied. There was one person before me but she stepped out with her friends and I overheard them saying they were going to get something to eat, so apparently I was next. I stood up and reached for the doctor’s office.

“Good morning” I took a sit in front of the doctor

“Hi, Good Mor-ning” he was quite lively for a school doc, “so what’s the problem?” he asked

“Okay, I woke up to this weird rash on my forehead and I need to get rid of it before Saturday” I said

“Hmm” he chuckled “what’s happening on Saturday?”

“Uhm, it’s our faculty dinner night and I really don’t want it to be a flop”

“I understand you perfectly” he nodded “but I hope you know having a rash on your forehead doesn’t stop you from having fun in any away. It doesn’t make your party a flop as well”

“Well, yeah I guess” I said reluctantly, a part of me understood what he was talking about. Whether the rash was there or not it doesn’t change who I am, people will still see me as myself but another part of me was worried about meeting Michael like this, I wanted to look really good for him and this rash didn’t look too appealing.

“Don’t worry too much about that rash so you don’t get anxiety. It’s completely normal and will be gone after a few days provided you use the ointment and drugs I prescribe”

“Okay doc” few days was long, few days was obviously going to be after Saturday. I guess I have to get over this feeling and just go on with life.

I got to the hostel feeling tired. It was miles away from the school’s clinic so I had quite a long walk. I checked my notification bar to see messages from Michael. I didn’t have time to check my messages while walking. I plugged my ears through the walk listening to the playlist I made for the weeknd songs.

*hey love. What are you up to?*

*Are you fine?*

*how many times did you eat this morning?. lol*

*are you there?*

I scoffed as I read his messages. He was probably worried I didn’t reply, because I always reply his text messages right after they get delivered to me. I wonder why he hasn’t called to ask what’s wrong though, he sent those messages about 30 minutes ago.

*yes, I am now*

*so sorry for replying late* I contemplated about telling him I was at the clinic but I didn’t want to get him worried

I waited a few minutes for his reply but didn’t get any so I dropped my phone on the bed and reached for the mirror to look at the rash again. “Arrgh” I muttered. There’s no way I could see Michael like this.

The loud tone of my phone called me out of my thoughts, I reached for it, and *incoming call from Michael* was displayed on the screen.

“Hey” I said

“Hi love, come outside, I’m in front of your hostel” he replied

“Oh, uhm, okay” I didn’t know if he felt the hesitation in my voice, but I could feel my heart beat so fast. I felt really nervous. He was going to see me looking tired and with some weird rash on my fore head. I guess I have no choice.

“Hi love” he stretched out his arms to hug me

“Hey” I replied. I felt his arms wrap me

“Why haven’t you been replying my messages? I was so worried” he said as we parted

“And what’s with this cap on your head” he added

Before coming out to see him I was really nervous so I wore this weird looking face cap so it could cover the rash. I didn’t know he was going to notice the cap or even ask why I was wearing it.

I let out a deep sigh and removed it “here” I pointed towards my forehead.

“This weird rash appeared on my face over night and I just didn’t want you to see it or see me this way”

“Ladi!” he exclaimed, I paused looking anxiously and waiting to hear what he was going to say next. He stepped closer to me and held my face in his hands.

“You and I are way past all of this, you will always be you to me, and You are beautiful, You are my perfect, nothing is ever going to change that, no rash can change that, do you understand?, you should always let me know what’s happening with you, because I always want to know, I want you to always be happy and also know that I will always have your back”

I could feel my heart beat loud and fast and this time it was different from how it was earlier, this time it wasn’t out of a place of worry or fear, but out of a place of love, because the beat my heart played was that of a love song, a perfect love song.

“Okay” I nodded. He placed a soft kiss on my cheeks and drew me closer to him now having his arms wrapped around me. I couldn’t think, or talk. I just stayed in his embrace and listened to the beautiful tune our hearts played.