Chapter 28

Twenty three years had already passed after the birth of John and Joana. Pearl was in her office, going through some documents. The friendship between Pearl, Otubea, James, John and Joana had grown very strongly over the years into a solid bond that they all relied on. Through their childhood years, they became like brothers and sisters. The bond their parents shared had also strengthened their friendship. James and Pearl went to the same college. Their friendship grew stronger during their college days, and their friends began to tease them about it. Their friends used to call them Mr and Mrs Adams.

Pearl had always told them they were not dating, however, their friends never believed her. She had no other option than to let them be. She decided to ignore them whenever they teased her.

"Mum, my friends are always teasing me with James." She complained to Afia one day.

"Even when I tell them we are not dating, they don't believe me. They always think I'm deceiving them. James is just a family friend to me and he helps me out with all of my assignments. Even his sister Otubea thinks we are dating." She lamented.

"Well, I don't think it's a bad thing. You and James would make a great couple." Kojo Ganyo said after listening to his daughter's complaint to Afia.

"Oh, Dad, you too?" she asked her dad surprised at his comment.

"I'm just teasing you, my Dear, however I like James very much. He is my very good friend's son and I wouldn't mind having him as my son in law." He added playfully and Pearl chased him around the house, causing Afia to laugh hysterically.

"You two should stop already before you get tired of running around." She teased as she watched them running.

Pearl and her father were very close with each other and Afia usually complained about how Kojo pampered her.

"Don't you want her to learn anything? You are always in a habit of pampering her. She is no longer a baby." Afia had told Kojo one day after Pearl had requested ice cream.

"It's just ice cream, my Darling. Ice cream. Or do you want some?" He teased and held her close to himself in the kitchen as he kissed her.

"I just want to make sure that our daughter doesn't become afraid to request for anything."

He said.

"However we must not always give her everything she asks for. You're spoiling her. When she doesn't get what she wants,then she starts behaving like a crybaby." Afia replied and Kojo laughed.

"Don't worry, I'll ensure that the man she marries will pamper her just like I do." He responded and Afia just shook her head. She knew that nothing was going to convince Kojo to stop pampering their daughter. She was their only child and he adored her so much. He made sure she never lacked anything and she always went to him whenever Afia was hard on her. She knew her parents loved her so much and she swore she would do anything to make them proud of her.

"Mom, I want to have my hair styled like that of the queen of England."

Otubea said to Emily one day at the office of the main branch of their salon. They had branches all over the country and in many parts of the world. Otubea had learned how to braid and style many hairdos. She was stylish just like her mother Emily.

"Mom, give her a style just like mine." James teased and Otubea made a face, causing Emily to laugh."

"You two should not start with your usual fights this morning." Emily told them.

"But mom, he started it. Not me." Otubea complained.

"Daddy's girl." James teased her.

"Pearl's boyfriend." Otubea teased him too.

"Why are you all thinking that Pearl and I are dating? I said we are not dating. She is only a friend to me." James said.

"Mom, speak to her." He told Emily.

"You two should stop..." Emily paused as she saw Pearl at the door. Her face looking downcast. She had heard everything Otubea had said and she wasn't happy about it.

"Errrm Pearl, wh-when did you get here?" Emily stammered as she asked, hoping Pearl hadn't heard anything.

"Good day everyone." Pearl greeted them shyly.

"I just came to get my hair done. I'm sorry I didn't call you before coming." She told Emily.

"Oh, don't worry, Dear. I'm always at your service." Emily responded.

"Yes oo, Mom is always at the service of Mrs Adams Junior." Otubea teased and James almost hit her with the back of his hand.

"Would you stop that? Shut up your mouth!' Emily warned Otubea.

"I think I'll be back in the evening to have my hair done." Pearl told them as she wasn't feeling comfortable with the turn of events.

"Why is this so my Pearl?" Stephen asked as he entered the salon.

"Daddy!" Otubea screamed after seeing her Dad enter the salon.

"My angel Otubea." He responded as she hugged him.

"You are welcome,' Emily said.

Seeing how uncomfortable Pearl looked, James held her hands and dragged her out.

"But where are you taking her?" Emily asked with concern, however James neither said a word nor looked back.

"Let them be." Stephen told her.

"You have to warn Otubea. She's always making Pearl uncomfortable with her continuous teasing of her with James." Emily complained.

"But Daddy, I'm only saying what I see." Otubea tried to seek the support of her Dad.

"And what do you see?" Emily asked angrily.

"It's okay, Emily Dear." Stephen said to calm tempers down.

"Otubea, your constant teasing makes Pearl so uncomfortable. You know that she's a shy girl. You must put a stop to your continuous teasing." Stephen told Otubea.

"Okay, Dad, I've heard you." Otubea responded.

"That's what you always say." Emily retorted.

Otubea always apologized for her wrongdoings however never stopped doing what she had purposed in her mind to do. This wasn't the first time she was apologizing for teasing Otubea and James however she always continued with her teasing.

"This time, I'll make sure she stops." Stephen assured Emily and Otubea made a face, causing Emily and Stephen to laugh.

"Wait, James where are you taking me?" Pearl asked as James kept dragging her.

"Just wait, you'll see." He told her.

She watched as he took her to where his car had been parked, and opened the door beside the driver's seat.

"Please sit." He told her and she complied. At least, she was going to feel comfortable in his company.

After closing the door for her, he went to the other side of the car, sat and drove off as Pearl looked at him, confused as to where he was taking her.

"Where are you taking me to James? I could have as well reported you to the police and let them know you kidnapped me." She said to him, as though expecting a response. However he never said a word. He just drove on.

She decided to keep quiet and wait to see what unfolded next.

He parked the car at Garden Restaurant and they both stayed in the car. There was complete silence and Pearl was beginning to feel uncomfortable. James was the first to speak up.

"I'm sorry for what Otubea did today. She's just being silly. Seeing how uncomfortable you felt in their midst after those crazy words came out of her mouth, I decided to bring you here just to ease the tension you're feeling in your heart." James said to her.

"Well, I don't think there was a need for that." I'm perfectly fine." She said distastefully.

"Oh Pearl, can't you just appreciate what I did?"

James retorted.

"Fine, thank you for your unwanted services."

"What? My unwanted services? Spoilt girl. You don't even appreciate what I did for you. Why did I even bring you here? I should have left you there all alone." James said and Pearl laughed. She held his nose playfully.

"I was just joking James. You know I love what you did. I was feeling uncomfortable and I wished I could vanish without a trace." She said and they both laughed, causing the tension in the car to ease. They've been very good friends and joked a lot. The playful attitude they displayed towards each other was one reason why their friends teased them.

James tuned into one radio station and a love song was being played. Pearl began to feel shy and uncomfortable as the love words were coming out of the song. She didn't know what to do and began to play with her hands, in order to take her mind off the song. James sensed she was uncomfortable and asked why.

"Are you okay?" He asked her while looking into her face. She looked as cute as ever and James felt like kissing her pink lips.

"Y-yes I'm perfectly fine. I'm perfectly okay." She stammered, trying to avoid his eyes.

"Why do I have a feeling you are not okay? And why do you seem to be avoiding my eyes?" He asked and she was caught off guard.

She felt embarrassed that he knew she was avoiding his eyes. Her hands were shaking and she couldn't help it. He took her hands in his and saw how her hands trembled as he touched them.

"Could you please change the radio station? I think I'd like to listen to the midday news." She said, rather uncomfortably.

He began to understand why she had started to feel uncomfortable. He liked her, just that he hadn't made his intentions known to her.

"I'm sorry. I didn't know the song was making you feel uncomfortable." He said to her.

"I never said the song makes me uncomfortable."

She defended herself, so it wouldn't appear as though she liked him.

"Very good then, the song would continue to play." James said and she looked at him with a look that seemed to ask him whether he really wasn't going to change the radio station.

"Ok fine. It makes me uncomfortable so please let's change it." She told him.

"And why does it make you uncomfortable?" He asked her.

"Well, well, I can't say why. I'm just not okay with it." She said to convince him however he wasn't moved.

"There surely has to be a reason." He said stubbornly.

"What reason is there? I said there's no reason. I'm just uncomfortable." She lamented.

He got out of the car and went to her side of the car and signaled her to come out of the car, making a straight face that seemed to frighten her. She had never seen him in that manner and she was taken aback. Hurriedly she came out and he pressed the key to lock the car. He held her right hand and walked through the grass with her. They saw a garden seat and went to sit there. For five minutes, nobody said a word to anyone. They were both silent and she was expecting him to speak up; same as he. Finally James decided to break the silence.

"I know you feel so uncomfortable whenever our friends tease us that you are in a relationship with me." James began.

"Honestly, I behave as though I were not happy whenever people call you Mrs Adams. The truth is that deep down in my heart, I get excited. However in order not to make you uncomfortable, I just behave as though I'm not happy with the teasing." James said while Pearl remained quiet, listening attentively.

He turned to look into her eyes, as though expecting a response from her.

"The truth is..." He paused, not knowing what to say next.

He put his hands on hers, and could feel them trembling. He knew she liked him too. He was glad that his touch caused her to tremble. He moved closer to her and continued.

"Pearl, I have fallen in love with you. That's the truth of the matter. I have fallen head over heels in love with you." He said his words one after the other. Pearl still remained silent and looked straight ahead of her. She was trembling all over and James slowly and stealthily,held her waist with his right hand, causing her heart to skip a beat.

"I love you Pearl, and I hope you love me too." He whispered in her ears, sending shivers down her spine. She tried to free herself from his hand which had held her waist, and as she did so, her breasts brushed against his chest and before they knew what was happening, they were engrossed in a passionate kiss.

Pearl freed her lips from his, angry at herself. Her mother had always told her not to kiss a man before marriage.

"Why did you have to kiss me?" She asked him angrily and almost teary.

"Pearl, I love you and I know you love me too." He told her and she shook her head.

"No, I don't love you James. You and I are just friends and nothing more." She said to him,her anger almost cooling down.

"But, Pearl I I..." He stammered, surprised at her reaction so far. He had thought she loved him and he felt really bad that he had even talked about love with her.

"You say you don't love me. I'm going to do something very crazy and if you still don't reciprocate this love,then I'll be truly convinced that your words are true." He muttered under his breath with his face cast down. She turned to look at him with a stupefied look, wondering what crazy thing he was going to do.

He turned to look into her eyes as though he were examining them. They looked innocent and full of love.

"Your eyes say otherwise Pearl. Your eyes tell me that you love me deep down in your heart." He told her and she looked stupid. She knew she liked him, however she was scared of the reaction of their friends who teased them.

"Just leave me alone James, please just let me be." She whimpered.

"He smiled and she felt uneasy.

"Even my smile makes you restless." He said and moved his hands slowly on the side of her neck, causing her to shiver.

"Please, please stop it James. Please stop." She pleaded with him, almost crying.

"I don't think I want to stop." He said softly and drew closer to her. As she tried to stand in order to move away from him, he quickly made her sit on him, making her look puzzled and shy.

She didn't try to get up as he had held her firmly. She was already shy and tried not to look into his eyes.

"My Pearl." He called her and she was as quiet as could be. Her heart was beating really fast.

She tried to calm herself down however she couldn't help it. He didn't want her feeling so uncomfortable so he decided to allow her sit on the garden seat.

"You can sit." He said to her and helped her get off from him to sit down beside him. He went closer to her again because Pearl had taken her seat a little farther away from him.

He decided to do the crazy thing he had told her he'll do. Suddenly,he stood and went on his knees. She thought he wanted to apologize for his actions and asked him to stand.

"It's okay, you can stand. Don't kneel for me."

She told him,yet he refused to stand. She decided to stand,so he'll do same.

"Ok I'm on my feet now. So please stand." She told him and realizing she was on her feet, he decided to stand and she helped him up.

Before she could realize what was happening,he held her by the waist and kissed her with so much passion and full force. She tried to resist him however he was so engrossed in the kissing that she couldn't. When he finally let go of her, she gave him a hot slap on his left cheek.

"You're a freak. What did I tell you? Why did you have to kiss me? What's the meaning of what you did?" She asked him angrily and he was confused, not knowing which of her questions to answer first.

The slap she had given him was very painful, he held his left cheek.

"You are warned James. Don't you ever come near me again or try to ever hold or kiss me like I belonged to you!" She said angrily and walked away, as the tears poured freely down her face.

He run hurriedly after her, calling out her name.

"Pearl, Pearl." She didn't mind him. She just walked on.

"Where are you going Pearl? Do you want to get lost?" He asked her anxiously.

"Pearl! Wait for me!" He shouted after she still didn't respond to his call but rather went on walking.

"Pearl, don't you care that you could get lost?" He asked again, almost catching up with her.

"I don't care! Once I'm far away from you!" She retorted angrily. He finally caught up with her and stopped her.

"Pearl, please I'm sorry. I won't do that again. If I allow you to go, you might get lost. That's why I came after you." He said, trying to get her to change her mind.

He had held her hands and she looked tired and exhausted.

She sat in the grass and afterwards lay down, panting heavily.

He also sat down beside where she lay, admiring her curvy shaped body. Pearl Ganyo was very beautiful, he couldn't help but admire her. He took his eyes off her, to prevent himself from getting tempted to kiss her.

"Haa, I think I need some water." She said after a long pause. She turned to look at him and realized he was looking elsewhere.

"James, won't you mind me?" She teased him playfully.

"If you think I'm still mad at you, then you're so wrong. I don't hold anything against you okay?" She added and put her hands on his shoulders. Slowly,he took her hands off his shoulders and stood on his feet. She looked at him with concern, not knowing why he had taken her hands off his shoulders.

"James, perhaps did you take my hands off because I asked you not to ever come near me again?" She asked him, suddenly remembering her earlier actions and feeling bad about it.

"I'm sorry James. However I just want to prevent some things from happening." She told him.

"No, that's not it. I took your hands off so I could go to get you water to drink. Remember, you said you needed some water." He reminded her and she suddenly remembered.

"Ooh that's so nice of you James." She praised him, smiling. However he didn't return the smile and she was worried.

He went off to get her water and she began to brood over the events that had taken place earlier.

It was he who had taken her out because he didn't want her feeling uncomfortable in front of his family. He had also expressed his feelings to her frankly. She had also slapped him.

"But it's not my fault. He kissed me and I had warned him against doing that." She said to herself after she started to feel guilty about her actions.

"Well, I don't think slapping him was a good idea. I should have just walked away."

She said again to herself, feeling remorse for her actions.

"I'll just apologize to him after he gets back. I'm sure he'll forgive me." She said to reassure herself.

She saw him coming towards her with a bottle of water. She wondered why he hadn't gotten some for himself. He handed the bottle of water to her once he got close to her.

"Why didn't you get some for yourself?" She asked him.

"Ooh, I'm okay. I'm not feeling thirsty in anyway."

He said. However she wasn't convinced.

"Well, you can have some of mine." She offered.

"That wouldn't be enough for you." He said to her.

"I don't mind. Just take some." She insisted.

"No please, drink it all."

He said to her again.

"Then I wouldn't drink it at all." She told him and put the bottle in his hands.

There was a long pause, they could hear their hearts beating.

"Fine, I'll drink some of it then." He said and took a sip. She encouraged him to drink more and he did, almost drinking all as he was really thirsty too.

"See you almost drank all?" She teased and they both laughed.

She pushed him and he pushed her too.

She stood on her feet, pushed him again and quickly run.

Realizing what was happening,he stood on his feet and quickly run after her. She started shouting and laughing when she realized how fast he run after her. She knew he would eventually catch up with her in no time and he did.

She laughed heartily and they both lay in the grass, still laughing. He passed his hands through her hair playfully and she giggled. They were both panting very heavily.

"I,hhh, I can hear your... your heart beat from here." She said and put her right hand on his chest.

They lay down there exhausted in each other's arms. When they had rested enough, James suggested they go home.

"Let's go home right away." He said to her.

"No." She refused vehemently.

"I like it here. Let's stay here." She said while looking into his eyes, causing him to get confused.

He looked away again and this time, she seemed to understand why he had looked away the first time.

"Are you shy of me?" She asked him.

"Shy? No I'm not." He responded, still looking away.

"Then prove it. Look into my eyes Darling."

She told him boldly and he was surprised she called him Darling.

"No, I don't want to." He answered her and she climbed on top of him. It was a quiet place and they were far away from the view of people.

"Please get down Pearl." He told her with concern, still trying to avoid her eyes.

"Push me down if you can." She challenged him.

He however dared not to do that. He was afraid of what the results would be. Maybe he might end up kissing her like he always did.

She was sporting a red blouse with blue jeans to match.

"James, I'll do something very crazy if you don't look into my eyes." She dared him again.

"If I should dare, you may have to give me another hot slap Pearl." He said with his face looking up into the sky.

Suddenly, she removed her blouse and threw it on his face, exposing a cleavage of her firm rounded breasts in the black brassiere she wore.

"Pearl, what are you doing? Are you crazy or something?" He asked her anxiously.

"I told you I'll do something crazy and that's what I did." She said to him, and he shook his head while looking away. He tried hard to control himself however the movement in his boxers gave him away.

"Am I safe?" Pearl teased as she sensed the movement in his boxers.

"Pearl, please let's not do this. Please put on your blouse. I'm begging you please." He pleaded, surprised at the turn of events. Why did she seem to want him now after slapping him for kissing her. What exactly had come over her?

He thought to himself.

He felt her breasts brushing gently against his chest. She did it intentionally so he would come around. His dick moved as he smelled her sweet scented body.

She brought her lips down to his and kissed him passionately.

He freed himself from her grip and stood on his feet.

"No, Pearl, if we truly love each other, then let's get married first." He said and she looked at him, surprised.

He was the same person who had kissed her passionately earlier. She wondered why he had suddenly changed. She felt foolish and stupid. She quickly wore her blouse,as he left with his back turned towards her.