Chapter 6 --- Our First kiss

The dinner night was in few minutes time and I was a little bit nervous and happy at the same time I was desperately looking forward to seeing Michael, it’s been 3 days since we last saw each other and I have missed him so much, even though we chatted about 2 minutes ago.

“Oh my God, you look so beautiful” my roommate Sonia said, Jackie and Florence had already repeatedly told me the same.

“Thank you” I replied with a big smile

“Michael is going to be so happy to see you, he’s going to be jaw dropped” Florence said

“I hope so” I laughed out loud and reached for my shoes. It was almost time for the event and Mic’s message already came in asking me to step out

“Take care and have fun” Florence raised her voice so I could hear as I stepped out.

“I’m right here mi amor” I turned to see Michael, I was just about to put a call through to him because right after he asked me to step outside, I did, but couldn’t find him anywhere outside, that’s because I didn’t look towards his direction though because I just heard his voice, and apparently he was right beside me, he was well suited and looking like a model who’s about to hit the runway.

“Hey you” I smiled

“Damn, Ladi you look so beautiful” he held my fingers and placed a kiss on it

“And you look breath taking” I replied

“Oh, well. I guess we are a perfect match” he folded his arm for me to hold onto as we headed to the venue for the party

The event had already started and I and Michael were now seated. The hall was designed in such a way that it was four persons to one table. Asides Michael, I didn’t know anyone well enough to want to share a table with them and be looking directly into their eyes. But Michael did, over the years he was able to capture the hearts of all our course mates but these two particular girls found a way to him. Betty and her best friend pearl, they were always all over him, and it got to a point where it started to seem like I was in a competition with them for Michael’s heart or attention, every time I had an info about class to pass to Michael, Betty would have already told him, it was obvious betty had a thing for Michael but I never said anything about it because even though I and Michael already confessed our feelings for each other we are still just friends. Till he asks me to be his girlfriend, he was free to do whatever. I’m pretty sure if we get to date there would boundaries.

Apparently Michael had asked Betty to save a spot for two. I figured this out when she called us over to the table as soon as we stepped into the hall. I wasn’t too pleased with that but then it was nothing. They were just friends. That was what I thought at least.

The event was going smoothly even though Betty didn’t stop talking to Michael all through, cracking lame jokes and laughing out loud. I was getting tired already, I wasn’t a fan of big events like this, I would rather stay curled up in bed and watch a movie. The only reason I was excited about this was because of my favorite person, Michael. But here we are, people who didn’t see us come together would think Betty was his date.

“And the award for best dressed goes to……Betty” the Mc for the event said as he made gesture towards Betty. Well it was accurate because she had such a great fashion sense and was also a rich kid so she bought the latest designer outfits and matched them well.

She stood up laughing out loud, I was happy for her, I looked over at Michael to see him smiling as well, I could understand that. Of course he had to be happy for his friend. What I didn’t understand was why he stood up to give her a hug and just then she whispered something in his ears and he walked her down to the stage without even giving me a hint he was going to. Her best friend was seated right there but she decided to go with Michael. I tried to convince myself it was fine and no big deal after all they were good friends and he had to be there for her.

“Congratulations” I said to Betty as she sat down with the glass award on the table

“Thank you” she smiled.

Well that wasn’t so bad. I guess we could all be friends. I tried to convince myself. I stared back at Michael who was now holding out his phone to snap pictures with Betty pointing out her award and pouting at the camera. And right after he snapped pictures of Betty and her best friend.

I hated the event so much already, I felt so bored and left out of everything. My social skills sucked because I was an introvert so this made things worse. And to be honest I really wanted to be alone with Michael, just the two of us on our table. I wanted him to see me and nobody else but I guess we don’t always get what we want.

“And the award for most popular and influential goes to………Michael ” the Mc let out a big grin as he looked towards our table. He was our course mate as well but he had great Anchoring and hosting skills so as soon as it was time to select someone to host the program for the faculty dinner, he was the first on everybody’s list.

“Congratulations my love” i said as I joined everyone in jamming my hands together

“Come on love, let’s go” he replied

Before I could think of standing up, Betty was up already, flinging her arms around Michael and placing a big kiss on his cheeks. I wouldn’t blame her, this was obviously what Michael wanted if not he wouldn’t have hugged her after her name was called for best dressed, I mean, a simple “congratulations” would have been okay.

“Congratulations, I’m so proud of you” she laughed out loud as she accompanied him to the stage. I was angry, sad, confused. I had all these mixed feelings. The fact that I couldn’t be mad at Betty was annoying because it’s obvious Michael never told her about his feelings for me and how we promised to wait for each other. Who knows maybe he had even promised her the same thing. I was mad at Michael and myself for falling so foolishly.

“They look so perfect together” I turned my attention from Michael and Betty who were on stage collecting the award and taking pictures with the MC, to see the ignorant creature who was speaking and just as I expected, it was pearl. She was the only one left with me at the table so it had to be her.

I didn’t bother answering and if looks could kill I’m pretty sure she’d be dead already because I couldn’t control whatever I was feeling or hide it anymore. I grabbed my purse and stepped out of the hall before Michael and his ‘girlfriend’ returned back to the table.

I stayed outside the hall trying to suppress my feelings and get over the whole scene that played out between Michael and Betty, but I just couldn’t. I didn’t even realize how disturbed I was till I felt the tears that dropped on my hand. I definitely can’t go back to the hall like this, I was in my feelings and any slight provocation would have me screaming and crying.

“Ladi!” I heard Michael call out to me. I was still outside the hall trying to get over myself and stop the tears from rolling down my face.

“Ladi, are you okay?” he said one more time after he didn’t get a response from me, I gently dabbed my face with a tissue and took a deep breath in and out so I could finally speak without drowning in tears.

“What do you care Michael?” I turned over to face him, “you should leave me alone and rush over to your girlfriend before she gets mad”

“Wait what! What girlfriend? What are you talking about?”

“Just leave me alone”

“Ladi, I do not understand you, what’s happening?”

“The fact that you have no idea what you’ve done wrong is driving me crazy, it shows this is really who you are and I don’t mean shit to you” I yelled

“Wait, is it betty? She was just being nice, there isn’t anything attached”

“Oh, really? Michael how would you feel if you and I were out on a supposed date and we end up dining with the Raphael guy you saw talking to me the other day and all through the event I don’t even look at you, I give all my attention to him and even go as far as walking him to the stage without letting you know I was going to, and right after that he gives me a kiss and calls me baby, how would you feel?”

He puts on a sober face and lets out a sigh “I’m sorry, I was so caught up in the moment that I didn’t think about how you’d feel or how those actions would hurt you”

“Its fine Michael, I understand you, we aren’t in a relationship so why should you think about my feelings? I mean, people who love and care for each other in a relationship will always think about how their actions will affect their partner, but we aren’t dating so I get”

He stepped closer and placed his hands on my shoulders while staring directly into my eyes “Ladi, you’re the only woman I love, Betty is just a friend and that’s all she would ever be. I can never hurt you. I would never want to hurt you because I really do love you. And I’m very sorry I didn’t think about your feelings. I love you” he holds my face with his hands and I feel his lips on mine. It was our first kiss, and it stirred all sorts of feelings, intense feelings. I couldn’t feel my face, just his lips. His soft tender lips. I kissed him back and felt his hands grab my waist. I couldn’t feel my face or my feet, my soul grew wings.

“I love you so much Mic”

“I love you more Ladi. I always will”

He placed a soft kiss on my temple. “Have I told you how beautiful you look tonight?”

“Uhm, let me see, no you haven’t”

We both laugh out loud, “well, my bad my lady, you’re the most beautiful creature I have ever seen, one I would always cherish”

He holds my waist and moves me closer to him, placing a kiss on my lips. I let myself give into the passion and emotions that we both felt.