Please be mine

That night, Kamsi lay awake in her bed, her mind a tangle of thoughts. The memory of Xavier's touch, the heat of his kiss, lingered on her lips like an unspoken promise. The third kiss. It was different. Was it really? Her mind couldn't settle, replaying the moments again and again, searching for answers she wasn't sure she even wanted.

What does this mean ?She rolled over, the cool sheets twisting around her legs. Her phone, still warm from her earlier search, sat on the bedside table. She grabbed it, tapping the screen with trembling fingers. "How do I know if a boy likes me?"

The results flooded her screen. She scanned the list:

- "He smiles at you."

- "He makes excuses to touch you."

- "He's protective of you."

- "He pays attention to little details about you."

Her heart raced as her thoughts shifted to Xavier. Did he make me smile? Yes. Did he touch me? Yes. He did more than that. Her cheeks flushed at the memory of his fingers brushing against her skin, his lips so close, whispering words she didn't quite understand.

Her stomach churned with confusion. Was it more than just physical attraction? She thought of the way he looked at her, his eyes burning with something unspoken, something deep. The way he held her close after the kiss, his hands gripping her with an intensity that sent shivers through her body.

Does he really like me? The question lingered, but the answer felt elusive. She closed her eyes and remembered the softness of his voice, the way his words had brushed against her ear, sending a ripple through her. "You look mesmerizing in this moonlight." His whisper had been thick with something dangerous. Desires? Possessiveness?

She bit her lip, feeling the warmth spread across her skin. But then, the doubt crept in—doubt that always followed when something felt to am,o good to be true. But how do I know? Her mind spun. Was he just caught in the moment? Was it all just... Chemistry? Or did he actually mean it ?

Her fingers hovered over the keyboard, hesitant. She typed out a new search: "How do you know if a boy is being serious about you?"

The answers seemed to blur together.

- "He makes time for you, even when he's busy."

- "He opens up to you about his emotions."

- "He values your thoughts and opinions."

Did Xavier do all these? The memory of his quiet confession echoed in her mind: " But what about his behavior afterward? He had been so close, his gaze so intense, yet guarded, as though keeping parts of himself locked away. Was that part of the game he was playing, or was there more to it?

She thought of the way he had pulled her into that hug, his arms tight around her like he never wanted to let go. But then he pulled away... Why? There was that underlying tension in his touch—possessive yet restrained. *He's not letting me get too close. But why?*

Kamsi ran a hand through her hair, her heart beating faster as the answers eluded her. What does he want from me ? She squeezed her eyes shut, as if shutting out the doubt for just a moment, but it was still there, nagging at her.

The air in the room felt thicker now, the silence pressing down on her. She glanced at the phone again. Her search results had long since been forgotten. She didn't need to read more. The answers she needed weren't in a search engine. They were in the moments she'd shared with Xavier—the way his voice had deepened when he spoke to her, the way his lips had lingered just a moment too long.

But was he just being playful? Or was he being sincere?

The answer was tangled in the space between them, in the way he looked at her when their eyes met. She could still feel the heat of his gaze on her skin, the softness of his voice that stirred something deep inside her. But it wasn't enough to dispel the uncertainty. The fear lingered. What if I'm reading too much meaning into this?

Her heart thundered in her chest. She wanted to be sure, to know for sure whether Xavier cared for her in the same way she was starting to care for him. But how could she be certain when he kept so much of himself hidden? When his emotions seemed buried beneath that cool exterior?

A sigh escaped her lips as she locked the phone and tossed it aside, her body sinking into the pillows. For the first time that night, the uncertainty felt almost unbearable. Does he like me? Or is he just... Playing with me ?

---

Kamsi and Zendaya strolled down the sidewalk, their footsteps the only sound in the stillness of the evening. The streetlights flickered overhead, casting long shadows, but Kamsi wasn't really seeing them. Her mind was elsewhere—on the conversation she had just had with Xavier. She couldn't shake the feeling that things were changing, but how fast? And was she ready?

"So, how's it goin' with your mom? Still givin' you the silent treatment?" Zendaya asked, her tone light, but there was a hint of concern in her voice.

Kamsi sighed, the weight of it all pressing down on her chest. "Yeah, still. I don't know what to do anymore. It's like… she can't just accept my apology. It's been days. I just tire sef, Na wa o . She too do."

Zendaya chuckled softly, shaking her head, her braids bouncing with the movement. "Girl, I feel you. But, you know, give her time. She's probably just trippin' over it. I'm sure she'll come around."

Kamsi wasn't convinced, but she appreciated Zendaya's optimism. "I hope you're right."

They walked in comfortable silence for a few moments before Kamsi's expression shifted. Her steps slowed, and she looked over at Zendaya, hesitation in her eyes. "Z, I gotta tell you something. But, you gotta promise me, you won't say anything to anyone."

Zendaya raised an eyebrow, intrigued. "Now, you got me real curious. Of course, I won't say nothin'. What's up?"

Kamsi bit her lip, her stomach flipping. This is crazy ,she thought, but it felt right to share it with Zendaya. After a beat of silence, she let it spill. "Xavier kissed me last night."

Zendaya's jaw dropped, her eyes wide with disbelief. "Wait, wait, wait. Hold up. Did you just say Xavier kissed you? As in, the Xavier?!" Her voice rose with excitement, and her hands flew up in mock shock. "Girl, you killin' me! For real?!"

Kamsi quickly raised her hand, pressing her palm to Zendaya's mouth. "Shh, you promised!" she whispered, though her own cheeks were flushed with embarrassment.

Zendaya pulled back, still grinning wide enough to stretch across her face. "Okay, okay. My bad. But I gotta ask—was he good? Like, helloooo, of course he is, right? That man got some lips!"

Kamsi rolled her eyes, trying to hide the smile tugging at her lips. "You're unbelievable."

But Zendaya wasn't letting it go. "What did he say to you? You're practically bursting with secrets right now, Kamsi. Spill."

Kamsi hesitated, the memory of Xavier's words echoing in her head. She took a deep breath, letting the words come out in a rush. "He told me... he wants me to be his. He said, 'Please be mine.'" Her heart raced as she said it, the weight of his words still hanging in the air between them.

Zendaya's eyes sparkled, her mouth forming an exaggerated "O" shape. "Oh. My. Gosh," she breathed, her hands clasped in front of her chest. "Kamsi, you've done the impossible! You got Xavier to want you—Xavier! The same dude Patricia Newman couldn't even get a whiff of. Girl, you got game!"

Kamsi's smile faded as a shadow of doubt crossed her face. "I don't know, Z," she said quietly, her voice tinged with worry. "I don't even know what I'm doing. And… my mom will kill me if she finds out I've got a boyfriend in high school. It's like one of her rules: no boys until after college." Her stomach tightened as she thought of her mom's strict expectations.

Zendaya's expression softened, the playful spark in her eyes dimming. She put a hand on Kamsi's shoulder, giving it a gentle squeeze. "I get it, girl. Your mom's tough, I know. But maybe… just maybe, you should let things flow? You can't fight feelings, y'know?"

Kamsi paused, biting her lip. Is she right?She looked down at her shoes, unsure. Part of her wanted to obey her mom's rules, but another part—the part that had felt Xavier's kiss, his touch, and his words—wanted to see where this could go. She wasn't sure she was ready for the consequences, but for the first time, she wondered if she was more afraid of denying herself what felt real than of facing her mother's anger.

"Maybe," Kamsi murmured, glancing up at Zendaya. "But I just... I don't know. It's all moving too fast."

Zendaya grinned again, the excitement returning to her voice. "Girl, life's short. You gotta take chances. Besides, what's a little rule-breakin' between friends, right?"

Kamsi gave a small laugh, but it didn't reach her eyes. "Yeah… maybe."

They continued walking, but Kamsi's mind raced. Was she really ready to navigate this new territory with Xavier? And even more pressing—was she ready to face her mother's wrath if she found out? The fear gnawed at her, but a part of her, the part that had felt Xavier's arms around her, his lips on hers, made her wonder if she could handle it after all.