Chapter 7

I don't know which was most annoying this morning, the bright sun rays piercing my eyes or the really loud sound of my ringtone banging my ears. I tried my best to ignore it by putting the duvet over my head plus the pillow, but it didn't work either, with a sigh of frustration I picked the call and sat up straight.

"Morning sunshine" My eyes shot open immediately, all the sleep in my eyes disappeared. Why didn't I look at the caller before answering? Stupid. Stupid. Stupid

"Uhh, hi good morning" God I sound like shit, I heard him giggle a bit,

"I take it my call woke you up?" I shifted a little on the bed to get in a comfortable position.

"Not really, how was your night?"

"It was great, thanks" we both stayed silent for a while, I guess we we're both looking for what next to say until he cleared his throat.

"Umm, sorry to call in so early I just wanted to know how you're doing...gosh I'm not good at this" he gave a frustrated sigh and all I could do was laugh, he sounded really cute I must say.

"I'm fine, that was really thoughtful of you, thanks " I began to blush and I was thankful he couldn't see me right now.

"My pleasure, I really hope I can see you again"

"Keep this up, and we'll see" I said biting my lips to stop the giggle threatening to come out

"Well, guess I must be doing something right then. I'll call you later, get some sleep, you sound really tired"

"Thank you" with that, I hung up and laid flat on my bed smiling foolishly. He actually called back, I didn't think he'd call me though.

Since I was in a good mood, I decided to turn on my Bluetooth speakers and play some songs and headed to the kitchen after doing my morning routine.

I started having my breakfast and when I finished washing up I checked my email and replied to a few before calling mom. She sounded fine but she couldn't stop teasing me about my date last night, I refused to tell her about Chris, at least not now, nothing seems to be going on between us though. I wouldn't want to give myself or her mostly false hope.

After talking to mom, I headed to the living room to watch some tv, just before I had a seat, Cass' call came in and I picked almost immediately.

"Heyyy" she sounded really happy, something is up.

"Someone got up at the right side of the bed this morning" I teased her

"Oh please shut up" she even giggled. There is definitely something up

"What's the occasion Cass? What happened?"

"Alright I'll tell geeshh, impatient much" I can picture her rolling her eyes.

"I've been seeing this guy for 2 months now and"

"Wait. Wait. Wait hold up missus, when did this start and I'm just hearing about it?"

"Will you let me finish" she half shouted

"OK. OK sorry, carry on"

"Thank you. While you we're busy burying your head at work and refused to call me or check up on me, I met a guy named Michael at a bar, we hit it off, I was kind of unsure about it all thats why I didn't want to tell you, I honestly thought he'd get tired and leave, plus I didn't want you feeling lonely and all that but when I got home yesterday, he surprised me at my doorstep and asked me to be his girlfriend, o my God I'm so happy Tee I think this might work" all this is just too much to take in at once, I was quiet for a bit before I could rake through my brain for something to say.

"Cass, are you sure about this?" It was all my head could come up with, don't get me wrong I'm happy for her, I really am, its just that I don't want her to make the wrong decision again.

"Tee I know you're worried about me but, I've had a lot of sleepless nights thinking of this. I know what I want and I wouldn't want to let him go because of my insecurities, I'm willing to make this mistake at least" I could do was sigh in defeat and agree with her, she seems to be figuring out her life better than I am of mine anyways.

"I understand, I'm happy for you babe, I'll always support you no matter what"

"Awwn thank you Tee it means a lot to me. How was the date though?"

"Oh that, geez Cass where did you find such a man from? Such a fucking womanizer"

"Oh my God I'm so sorry Tee, he is actually a friend of Michael and he has been disturbing me to find someone and since you we're both single I thought why not? I'm really sorry"

"Its fine, I'm over it"

"Wait a minute, there's more to this story isn't it? You better start talking missy"

"Wait, how did you-"

"Oh please I know you Tee, first of all you're supposed to be literally tearing my head off for setting you up on such a terrible date, but instead you're 'fine' with it, second ever since we started this conversation you've been way more cheerful than you've been in months and the most obvious of them all also the third, freaking music is playing in the background, someone's in a good mood, now spill"

Jesus. This girl

"Alright, alright, fine I'll tell you".

The previous night

I and Chris arrived at a fancy restaurant downtown, a couple streets away from the one we left earlier. I guess he had already booked a reservation before we got here because immediately we entered the restaurant a waiter took us directly to our table. He pulled a chair out for me and gestured for me to sit down before taking his own sit. Another waiter came and took our order and left. A few minutes later he appeared with a bottle of champagne and served us before disappearing back inside.

The restaurant was really beautiful with fancy chandeliers, tables, chairs and a classical pianist playing in the far corner of the tables, my eyes continued to wonder round the restaurant before he cleared his throat.

"Like the place?"

"Its beautiful" I gave him the best smile I could produce at that time

"So...what is a typical day for you like ?" He crossed his arms on the table and leaned a bit closer to look at me better.

"Umm..nothing much, I work at an ad company called ABC as a review manager, I pretty much have a quiet life between work and home, what about you mister, what is there to know about you?" I probably seem a lot more confident than I feel right now.

He leaned backwards from the table and sat up straight.

"I'm Chris Murray I work in my family's company as its acting CEO for now, I like to hang out with my friends for fun and go to clubs but I'm mostly at business meetings or at the office these days because of the load of work" I began to nod a little, he even has a more interesting routine than I do. Gosh

"Girlfriend?" He stared at the floor before looking up again this time into my eyes, I couldn't help but look into his too.

"Uh no girlfriend at the moment, we uh broke up a few months back"

"Wow" I whispered and started to nod unconsciously. I was just hoping the food would come quicker so I can distract myself with it.

"You haven't done this in a while have you?" He tilted his head to the side to look at me as he tried so hard to hold the smile forming.

"Geez is it that obvious?" Embarrassment. I began to play with my fingers under the table.

He kept his face so neutral and few seconds later burst into laughter, I had no clue why? Is my situation really that funny? Gosh what a douche.

"I'm so sorry if that hurt your feelings, its your facial expression for me, you needed to see your face" he laughed in between every word.

"Jerk"

I huffed and folded my hands over my chest but he even lauged harder, his laughter's actually contagious, few seconds later I found myself suppressing a giggle.

"OK. OK., I'll stop laughing now, what's the most embarrassing moment you've ever had?" He placed his elbows on the table and his chin on this rounded fist.

"I've had a lot of embarrassing moments but I think I'll never forget this particular one. I was in high school then, it was a really busy day, I was talking to my friends and then excused myself to the rest room. When I was done and came out to meet my friends, people behind me began to laugh, immediately I turned obviously to see the source of this joke, the whole hallway erupted in laughter even my friends, they finally walked up to me and told me I had freaking toilet paper attached to my skirt, I was so embarrassed. I ran out of the hallway as people began to chant 'toilet paper girl'. I was the toilet paper girl for a whole year and you don't want to know how embarrassing it is to live through high school with such a record" by the time I was done he was laughing so hard and even rested his head on the chair before masking his expression to a serious one and looked straight at me. He couldn't even hold it in for 5 seconds before bursting into laughter again.

"God its your facial expression really....toilet paper girl?" he laughed harder.

" alright. Alright cut it out, you don't have to wipe off all my self confidence" I pouted as I folded my hands to my chest and rested my back on the chair.

"Alright sorry, my turn. I was very little and that time we attended a church few streets away from our home every Sunday, and on this particular Sunday, I messed up my clothes before we could even leave the house, mom was so pissed mostly because we we're really late. I don't know if it was the only way she could punish me but she walked into my little sister's room and picked out a pink skirt and a white shirt and dressed me complete, she even put those little colorful hair pins in my hair, the clothes were tight and uncomfortable as fuck, everyone was laughing at me and I mean everyone was staring at me throughout service" I actually started imagining him in a skirt and shirt and hair pins on, and the picture I was getting was pretty hilarious, I started laughing and almost spat out the sip of champagne from my mouth.

"You think its funny don't you, she makes sure she sends that picture to me every year because she knows I always delete it" he put his hands into his pocket and brought out his phone before showing me the really cute but hilarious picture, I laughed so hard, I couldn't even control myself, I was laughing like a maniac.

Shortly, the waiter arrived with our food, we ate in silence and after that, we talked a bit more before we left the restaurant, many eyes we're on us. I wouldn't blame them, we attracted alot of attention while laughing.

We got into the car and drove off right after asking for my address.

The drive to my apartment was filled with sing alongs to the songs on the radio and the both of us laughing at each other's terrible singing. He got down from the car and opened the door for me, we walked to my porch before turning to face him.

"Thanks for tonight, I haven't done this for a long time now, its nice to have a good laugh and some fun once in a while too so thanks again" I said, kicking the invisible stones on the floor while looking down before looking back up at him again.

"I should thank you too, you really made my night"

"My pleasure"

"Are you really going to let me go without giving me your number?"

"Of course not" I dug into my purse, brought out my phone and handed it to him as he handed me his too. After exchanging numbers, we stood awkwardly facing each other. I kept on staring into his eyes before shyly looking away. I walked closer to him and gave him a light kiss on the cheek and drew back immediately. He froze a little, I knew he was shocked because I was also shocked, where did all that confidence come from? Gradually a smirk began to appear on his face.

"Goodnight" I said before turning to walk inside. I heard him shout a goodnight too before walking away to his car and drove off. I stood behind my door smiling stupidly.

...........................................

"He didn't kiss you? why?" The annoying voice of Cass bursted out of my phone.

"I don't know Cass, maybe when you see him one day you can ask, maybe he felt it was too forward I guess"

"Yeah, true that. You kissed him Tee, look at you getting out of your shell again"

"It was just a light kiss on the cheek Cass stop making such a big deal out of it, its nothing serious"

"You just can't let me be happy can you?" She sighed in defeat "fine its nothing then. Did he call yet?" I think this girl is way more excited than I am.

"Uh..yes, this morning" she started shouting and cooing. I tell you, this girl is way more excited than I am.

"I really want you to be happy Tee" her voice became very low.

"I know and I really appreciate it. So tell me more about this Michael I hear of" she giggled before calming herself down and gave me the full story. We talked for an hour longer before hanging up. The rest of my day was pretty much lazy and I was able to finish all I planned to do. Later in the day, Chris called again and he kept me company, for the rest of the day, we talked alot before retiring for the night.