CHAPTER 6: Feelings?

As I closed the door to my room, I approached the large window and gazed at the night sky. There was no moon, and the stars were sparse. With my thoughts racing, I decided it was time to get some rest. Due to my heightened senses, I sensed a presence in the room. After confirming it was just Dominique, I gradually relaxed, pretending not to notice. To my surprise, I could hear his thoughts, and they were mostly about me!

Early the next morning, I woke up to texts from Gwen.

'Babyy what's up?'

'You'd probably be still asleep so I didn't think of calling'

'Well, you Won't believe what happened! Aaron proposed to me!!'

'I'm so excited, today he said we'll be having dinner with his family to officiate things'

' so you might probably stay alone at my grandma's place or will you go home? You can take some books along tho'

First of all, I was so happy for Gwen, Aaron and her are a match made in heaven. I quickly called her, It rang for a while before it got connected.

"Babyyy!" Gwen's gleeful voice got through. I could tell she was very happy and she deserved it.

"Mrs.Gwendolyn Parker, How are you doing?" I said, tease apparently in my tone. 

"livv! We aren't married yet" she retorted but I could already imagine her cheeks tinted red. 

"ohh please, what's the difference? The idea of marriage is just a necessary formality. Plus just admit it you love the name...ugh even my best friend is gonna abandon me too! How depressing" I said dramatically in my best baby voice.

"Oh, will you shut up! I'm not gonna be like your biological parents! Never!!" Gwen said firmly. It was more like a promise and I felt her sincerity.

"But then again, can you do us a favor and get yourself a boyfriend? I mean you've been single for the past 24 years of your life, not even a crush! Girl go get yourself a heart!" Gwen exclaimed. I was bewildered! She just got proposed to and she's already nagging like a married woman.

"Yes, my queen... I think I already have my eyes on one tho" I revealed after contemplating and I was greeted with a deafening scream.

" Oh, my flipping meatball! Who? When?! How?! Where?! I need details gurl!" Gwen inquired, as expected of her.

"Well you'd probably call me crazy, Yesterday after I went out I got harassed by some men and well I used him as a shield calling him my boyfriend, so those men let me be and I entered his car and he drove me to his house and umm I slept over" 

' Holy sh!t you did all this just yesterday! How was it?" Already used to Gwen's screams and dramatic gasps, I couldn't help but hold the space between my eyebrows.

"How was what?" I asked utterly confused.

"Your first time? Hehe was he huge? I always thought you'd remain single and die a virgin but who'd have thought you're even faster than most of us" Gwen said her voice full of tease.

"W--what are you-- I didn't mean it that way! We didn't do anything!" I said my face already heating up. I'd never been caught off guard this way. I saw my reflection In the window and I was already scarlet red! Get a hold of yourself Liv!

"Yeah yeah sure you can have your privacy hehe, my baby is now a big girl' Gwen continued not buying my words. I was mortified, what exactly was in Gwen's head?

" Gwen I'm serious, nothing happened. I mean I kissed him but he's so cold and nonchalant and..." I trailed off pondering if I should tell her about Dominique.

"Omg, you really kissed him! And what?!" She urged.

" Well apart from making my heart skip a beat a couple of times, I'm not sure I have anything deep for him plus he definitely feels nothing for me," I said not realizing I was complaining instead. 

"Girl I think you've fallen in love cos listen to your tone! You sound dejected like a puppy who misses its owner" Gwen stated and I couldn't find the right words to refute her. Pathetic!

" Ugh, I hope you're wrong... Anyway got to go! I still need to speak to Dominique" I said matter-of-factly.

"Wait his name is Dominique?!" Gwen asked 

"What do you think?" I asked back before ending the call. I was suddenly feeling down, have I fallen for Dominique? 

"No it's just a fleeting feeling, it'll pass soon" I muttered seemingly trying to convince myself before getting up to freshen up.

As I descended the stairs, I found Michael and Dominique already there. They were engaged in a conversation, although Michael was doing most of the talking while Dominique stared blankly. 

"Good morning, guys!" I greeted, hoping to ease the tense atmosphere.

"Morning," Michael replied with a small smile, but Dominique ignored me, which was nothing unusual. 

"How can a person be this cold? At least have the basic manners to respond to a greeting," I muttered as I took a seat next to Michael.

"You definitely made the right choice by sitting farther from me," I heard Dominique say. What did he mean by that? Does he think I'm scared of him? 

I I stood up and confidently moved closer to him, a playful smirk on my face as I caught his glance. "Do you think I'm afraid of you?" I asked, tilting my head and almost closing the distance between us.

"What are you doing?" he replied, clearly displeased by our proximity.

"Just admiring how kissable your lips are," I shot back with a grin, letting my gaze linger on his mouth. I couldn't help but feel a thrill seeing his calm demeanor shift. In that moment, I realized I wanted to pursue him. After all, it's the 21st century—there's nothing wrong with a girl making the first move.

Of course, I still needed time to fully understand my feelings and avoid any mistakes. I'd never been driven to act this boldly for a guy before, but there was something undeniably different about him—a magnetic pull that I simply couldn't resist.