Chapter06:Butterflies In My Tummy

Mark picked the closest cinema to us while I picked the movies we were going to watch.

We were to go see the movie around 11am in the morning, as that was the most convenient time we could go for, other interesting movies were fixed for late evening/night. Mark picked me up at my estate gate. He actually insisted he picks me up from home but I refused—for some reason I don't want him to know where I live just yet.

It's thirty minutes past mid day and we had just finished seeing a movie. Mark decided we drive down to one of the fancy restaurants In the area—he is starting to seem like a fun person to me rather than the introverted person I perceived before now. He sure has good taste of things.

"Can I have the menu pls?" He said to the waiter just as we walked in.

"Sure sir." The waiter responded.

The waiter brought the menu and I scanned through to see if they have my favorite. Unfortunately they don't have my perfect combo—plantain and fried eggs. They only have plantain.

"Can I have a plate of fried plantain and chicken pls? I said as I turned to the waiter.

"Yes ma'am." He nodded in affirmative.

Mark ordered a plate of fried rice and coleslaw with chicken. Seems like the usual of every other guy.

"I have a confession."

That's definitely not me—I might be confessing too tho. Rolled eyes.

"About what?" I asked as I raised up my head to meet his.

"Errmm I have liked you for a while now." He said slowly.

His eyes are all over my face trying to know what my exact reaction will be to his words. Should I tension him a bit? Nah, I will be nice. Chuckles.

"Really? Why are you just telling me this now?" I asked inquisitively.

"I was just being careful, I didn't want any unnecessary drama that comes with liking someone at work. And I didn't know how approachable you are."

"I understand your point actually."

"You do?" He asked with a more relaxed face now.

"Yes I do." I replied with a wide smile on my face.

"I hope I'm not going to get into trouble with any guy for liking you?" He asked teasingly.

Really? Is this a way to know if I'm in any relationship? Must be cute. Chuckle.

"Not any that I'm aware of." I replied teasingly too.

"I'm on a safe page then." He said laughing out this time.

It's my turn to make a confession—should I just let it be and enjoy the feeling of royalty of the moment. Winks.

"I have always liked you too…" I said with a pause, trying to read his reaction.

"All those cute smile you flash at me during working hours… they are soothing balm for my stress.

"Wow! I had no idea the feeling was mutual." He said surprised.

I'm definitely not thinking about a relationship with him.The fact that we work in the same office wouldn't even help either—I'm keen on respect so I better just keep us as being friends.

"So what are the things you do for fun?" I asked.

"I'm a fun person, even tho I don't look like it." He said

"I was about to say you don't look like a fun person actually, but I guess that is where the saying of never judge a book by it cover comes in."

"Hiking, swimming, road trips and a lot more." He responded.

I think I finally found a fun partner! He could just be a perfect ginger that I need to explore fun.

"That's beautiful. So how do you create time for all of these considering how our job takes more of our time?" I asked.

"I create time for it, you wouldn't really enjoy life except you create time for it." He said.

"Most time I have a plan out schedule every month for places of fun and relaxation I want to go to. It might be one or two weekends in a month. It just depends on how occupied the month is for me, but irrespective I still create the time."

I'm really impressed—I love when a man knows and plans out what he wants out of life. I think men like this have more sense of responsibility rather than men who live their life on auto-cruise.

"So what do you, do for fun?" He asked.

"Play games-both indoor and outdoor games, sight seeing and anything that can keep a smile on my face for hours."

"That's lovely, so I presume we should visit a game arcades on our next outing." He said winking.

Wait first. Is this man trying to seduce me now? Oh well! It's working.

"Sure we should." I replied with a little excitement.

It's few minutes past 2pm when we left the restaurant. Mark suggested we go to a art gallery not too far from where we are before we head home. I enjoyed every bit of my time with him. I mean he is effortlessly a fun person. And the way he accord me respect too—I love every bit of his gestures.

He dropped me at my estate gate exactly fifteen minutes to 4pm. I was walking home reminiscing about the happenings of the day swinging my head from left to right like a happy kid who just got new toys.

"Hey,hey." I heard a voice bring me back to the present.

It's Zoe—the lady I met down the next street to mine, the last time I took a walk. We haven't been in touch since then. I had even almost forgotten that I met a new person in the area.

"Hi Zoe!" I replied with a wide grin on my face.

"You look so happy." She said looking amused.

Hello! Is looking happy not supposed to be a normal thing? Oh well, I wouldn't blame her, sometimes I wear my emotions on my sleeves.

"Oh yeah. I'm like this almost every time." I replied.

"I have been home all day so I decided to take a walk." She said smiling.

" oh that's good. You stay home all day often times?" I asked.

"Yes. I don't really have friends." She replied.

"You necessary don't need to have friends before you go out or do you?" I said to her, even tho my words sounded more like a statement than a question.

"I'm bad with mingling with people, I'm just learning to start making friends recently." She said.

"Really?" I asked with a puzzled face.

"It took me a hundred and one silent encouragement to say hello the last time." She said chuckling.

By the time we were done having the conversation we were already at my gate.

"Would you like to come in?" I offered.

"Okay, thank you." She said as she followed me in.

"Make yourself comfortable pls." I said as I walked into the room to change into something more comfy.

"You have a really nice apartment." She said smiling as I walked out of the room.

"Thank youuuu." I said as I head towards the kitchen to get juice and glass cups.

I must say Zoe is really beautiful. Her elegant curves and beautiful skin complements her pretty smile—she gotta got a really good heart too.

"I must say you are really beautiful." I said smiling as I handed her a glass of juice.

"You are really pretty too." She responded smiling.

I'm beginning to like her—there is something about her calmness and humility that captivates me.

"You know you can come here anytime you feel like." I said smiling to her.

"That's so welcoming of you. Thanks girl."

"You are welcome."

"You must be sort of tired and probably needs some alone time, so let me start heading home."

"You can stay really, it's not a bother pls."

"I have something important I need to attend to so I will just leave now. Thanks for offering me in." She said.

"You are sure welcome."

"I would love to host you at mine soon too if you don't mind." She said as I walked her through the door.

"It will be my pleasure." I responded.

Tomorrow is Sunday, I need to get my church clothes ready.

It's a relationship Sunday today and out of all the things I have heard in the past about relationships and getting it right, this seems like a point I'm going to be holding on to for a long while. These are words from the invited relationship coach;

"Intentionally self-sabotaging your feelings because you want to be an understanding partner will cost you a lot. This doesn't mean you should pick up fights always or turn to a chronic nag. Rather air your opinion—make them understand that their words or actions hurt you at that particular moment and you understand they don't mean to intentionally hurt you. Trust me most times they truly might not mean to intentionally hurt but you not airing your feelings won't make them know either, hence they don't know the limit to what and how they need to adjust. You on the other hand keeps on fostering the records of wrongs and when it eventually blows off it comes right back at your face."

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