Chapter 73 THE HEAT
Godiva POV
“That’s not a deal,” I said aloud.
“But why, Virgin Mary?” he teased, laughing hard.
“Just maybe someone might have taken advantage of me and kissed me that night at the school trip,” I said, sounding downcast.
“That’s bad. Whoever did that isn’t a gentleman,” Jerald replied, dragging my head to his shoulder.
“Exactly,” I replied, forcing a smile.
How do I tell him it was his best friend? The thought alone made my guilt multiply.
“Enough of the sober talks,” Ben announced. “Let’s go dance like others.”
“Don’t bother about us. You can go unwind while we check around for soft drinks,” Dina replied, dragging me from my seat.
“Girl, I was enjoying that position,” I retorted, following her behind.
“My apologies,” Dina said. “The energy there was already suffocating.”
The second we got out of their sight, she spun toward me.
“Why didn’t you tell him straight up that it was Hakeem you kissed?” Dina thundered.
“Girl, you don’t know how guilty I’m already feeling. That’s his best friend. How am I supposed to tell him the same lips he wants to kiss were launched by his best friend Hakeem?” I said dispirited.
“It sounds funny if you say it like that,” Dina said, bursting into laughter.
“Yayyy, Cola!” Dina exclaimed as we entered the kitchen area where bottles of Cola lay buried in a basin of ice.
“This is so refreshing,” I exclaimed after taking a gulp of the chilled drink.
“Girl, this tastes better than some people’s relationship,” Dina said, sealing the bottle she had sipped from.
“Girl, that’s mean,” I retorted, laughing hard.
“I’ll pick one for Ben,” Dina said, taking another bottle.
“I’ll pick one for Jerald,” I said, imitating her.
We returned to our seats only to meet emptiness.
“They ain’t even here,” I said, disappointed.
“They are probably at the poolside,” Dina said, dragging me upstairs.
Halfway there, my eyes landed on a familiar figure.
“Wait up, isn’t that Jerald?” I asked, pointing at a guy and a girl seated at the edge of the pool in a compromising position. From afar, it looked like they were about to kiss, his arms firmly wrapped around her waist.
“I guess he has a thing for holding girls on their waist,” I muttered under my breath as I moved closer.
The closer I got, the clearer his face became.
“Oh damn it, he’s the one,” I said to Dina, already turning away.
I walked back downstairs and dropped into our former seat.
I stared at the Cola in my hand.
A flashback of what Dina had said earlier floated into my mind.
This tastes better than some people’s relationship.
Maybe she was right after all.
I blinked rapidly as tears gathered in my eyes.
“Hey, Zhino,” Jerald said, returning about five minutes later with Ben and Dina following behind.
Startled, I quickly wiped my eyes with the back of my palm and adjusted my sitting position.
“I wasn’t kissing her actually. I’m sorry you saw me in a compromised position like that. You can ask around, she grabbed my hands and wrapped them around her waist,” Jerald explained, stammering.
“If I had wanted to flirt around, I wouldn’t have insisted on you coming along with me,” he continued, holding my hands.
“Div, I actually went closer and noticed he was just talking to her,” Dina added reassuringly.
“But why were you both so close like that?” I thundered, acting petty.
“I’m sorry, Zhino. I won’t get that intimate with any girl again,” he said, placing his palm on his chest as though swearing an oath.
“Whatever,” I responded, blushing despite myself. “Here, I picked this for you,” I added, handing him the Cola.
“Thank you, my queen,” he said, pecking my lips before standing up.
The sudden peck made my heart do a stupid little dance.
“How about we play rock-paper-scissors to determine who gets us snacks?” Jerald suggested.
“Deal,” we all chorused.
“Rock, paper, scissors!”
Hands flew out.
“Damn, you all cheated!” Jerald cried after my rock smashed his scissors.
“Nope, we didn’t,” I replied, pushing him from his seat.
“I can’t accept defeat. We’d play again when I return,” Jerald said, moving backward dramatically.
“Jerald is definitely going to come back fiercer,” Ben said with a smile.
“He really loves competition, doesn’t he?” I said, smiling at Jerald as he returned minutes later balancing packs of chips, cheese balls, and marshmallows.
“Guys, let’s go join the others in the living room. They’re about to start a truth or dare game,” Jerald said excitedly.
“Count me out,” Dina said instantly.
“Me too,” I added.
“Every evil in parties always begins with a truth or dare game,” Dina said, nodding from left to right.
“You both can go catch fun. We’ll be waiting here,” I said, pecking Jerald on his cheek.
“Okay, if you say so,” Jerald replied, blowing me a kiss as they walked away with Ben.
“Girl, I’m pressed. I need to use the restroom,” Dina said, standing up.
“What!” I exclaimed, checking the time on my wristwatch.
“Di, we don’t have time. It’s almost eight,” I whispered, dragging at her arm the second she came down from the restroom.
“Chill, girl. We’ll leave after you see this,” Dina said enthusiastically, dragging me upstairs again.
“But Di, I’m sure the mothers are already searching for us.”
“I promise it won’t be long, and I personally will find Ben and Jerald to drop us off,” she replied.
“The hell!” I exclaimed, laughing in disbelief the second we stepped into the upper lounge. “What is happening here? And isn’t that Chloe releasing smoke like an exhaust pipe?”
“Hell yes, girl,” Dina replied, laughing.
“Look at that corner,” she said, turning my head toward where the DJ’s turntable stood.
I looked.
And my jaw nearly fell.
“What in the name of evil is this?” I gasped, staring at boys and girls tangled up in dark corners in ways that looked dangerously inappropriate.
“This is enough evil for a day. Let’s go find Ben and Jerald,” Dina said, dragging me out.
We hurried downstairs and were just approaching the living room when a familiar female voice rang out.
“I dare you, Jerald, to have a feel of a part of my body,” Abigail announced boldly.
My steps froze.
“Wait up,” I said, holding Dina back. “Let me see what’s going to happen.”