[Continued]...My mom scolded at me with a stern voice that had my under arm sweating profusely - dampening the shirt I was wearing; even the hunger I once felt seemed to have disappeared. And besides, how could I have appetite for food when I was in a slim chance of fathering a child from a girl who I barely love or have feelings for! 

"No mom" I shook my head and answered in a low submissive voice that even surprised me. I never knew I could be this humble, not until now!

"Good" my mom heaved under her breath and returned her attention back to Shelly who opened her mouth to speak.

"My rent got expired and I had nowhere to go to before I'll find a new apartment to rent. That is why I decided to come ask for your permission -- just for this week at most" Shelly said in a low voice, facing my mom with her head slightly lowered. 

I drew in a deep breath from where I stood in front of them and squeezed my eyes shut in pleasant relief with the hard pounding of my heart gradually subsiding. For a split second I thought I was doomed, but hearing her reveal to my mom her purpose of coming really calmed my nerves - infact, I wasn't going to kick against her staying over; atleast, to show that I was remorseful for my previous outburst. 

"She can stay in my room mom" I voiced out suddenly, looking at my mom turned to give me a surprised stare which I ignored by glancing at Shelly whose pressed lips broke into a relieved smile.

"I'll help you get settled in" I suggested, reaching out to collect the travel bag she was holding before walking for my room - leaving my mom and Shelly totally bemused by my sudden change of heart. 


*****


'ping'

My phone message tone rang out behind my pocket as I leveled Shelly's bag on top my bed. 

"Is she missing me already" I chuckled to myself the moment I took out my phone and glanced at the screen. It was a message from Chloe and it read: 'Hey, is everything okay at home?' 

So I placed both my thumbs on my phone screen and began typing: ['Yes beautiful, everyth...']

'Beautiful?' I scoffed rhetorically under my breath and paused when I realized how romantic my text was by adding the teasing word 'beautiful' -- the least thing I needed was Chloe thinking that I was somehow catching feelings for her! Well, maybe not now, until when I'm ready to make my feelings known. 

So I deleted the whole text and started typing afresh. This time I wrote: ['Yes, everything is fine at home. How about yours, did your parent notice your absence last night?']

I heaved out a deep breath from my mouth and turned slowly to sit on the bed while I waited patiently to see if Chloe was going to respond to my text which I hoped she did -- a part of me just wanted to connect with her, even though she wasn't present!


Suddenly, my lips broke into a wider smile when my phone pinged again with a response message from Chloe - so sooner than I had expected, which made me wonder if she was waiting for my message with the phone in her hand.

Her message read: 'Yep, they asked me where I slept last night but I told them I was at the playhouse... You needed to see the relief on their faces - especially my dad who said he would have called the police if I hadn't returned this morning. Lol'

I chuckled to myself on reading her text and replied to the text. 

I wrote: 'Well, am actually glad he didn't call in the cops. So what are you up to?'

She replied: 'Am actually trying to fix myself breakfast, see [Photo]'

I shook my head in amusement and clicked my tongue with my eyes glued on the phone screen - staring gleefully at the selfie photo Chloe attached to her message. 

She posed with her right hand holding the handle of a frying pan on top a lit gas cooker and was wearing a printed yellow top on a blue jean trouser with her hair sweeping down her shoulders. I was captivated - most especially by her cute smile and the innocence in her facial expression. This was one picture of hers I wasn't going to be deleting anytime soon - maybe never!


'Ugh, fu*k this... I better stop lying to myself' I cursed under my breath and began to type. 

I wrote: 'You're so beautiful Chloe... I can't stop staring at the photo'

She replied: 'Awwn, thanks Liam [kiss emoji]' 

The romantic feeling in her response only heightened my desire - making me wish for nothing more than to see her again. So I licked my lower lip and inhaled deeply before typing.

I wrote: 'Can we hang out later today? I know a nice bar I could take you to'

I could hardly stop my right foot from tapping nervously on the floor as I waited for her response which was taking much longer than I'd hoped. What if she declines by telling me she has somewhere else to go to later in the day with that her Kelvin of a boyfriend?! This thought troubled me - crippling my patience with fear that she might turn me down! 

So without waiting any longer, I held my phone firmly with both hands and was about typing when her message came in. 

She replied: 'Yes, that'll be fun... Will you come pick me up by 6pm? Or is it too late?' 

My lips stretched in a wide grin as I began typing with my thumbs tapping quickly on the letters over my screen keyboard. 

I wrote: 'Great! 6pm is fine... I'll come pick you up by then. Take care [rose emoji]'


"It seems you've found someone else" Shelly's voice startled me as it sounded inside my room, drawing my attention towards the doorway where she stood leaning her back on the wall with both arms folded below her belly while wearing a faint smile. 

I murmured under my breath in annoyance and dipped my phone back into my front pocket before standing up from the bed.

The fact that Shelly caught me grinning to myself was a bit embarrassing and how come I didn't hear her entering? Or was I so lost in the bliss of my texting with Chloe?!

"Well, it shouldn't bother you if I've found someone else" I replied bluntly, steading pace towards my room entrance when Shelly rushed and stood in front me with right hand placed on my chest - pleading with me not to leave just yet. 

"Babe please, don't let our little argument in the past come between us. You know I love you" Shelly pleaded in a low voice. 

I gave deaf ears to Shelly's plea as I stood mute in front of her - looking over her shoulders so our eyes wouldn't meet. 

Then Shelly cupped my cheeks with both hands and gently straightened my head till our eyes met before whispering to my face "And I know you love me too because..."


"That's where you're wrong Shelly because I've found someone else" I cut in, raising my hands to hold Shelly's wrists before lowering her palms from my face.

"Uh huh. Then tell me, do you love her?" Shelly asked, forcefully pulling her hands from my grip after lowering it down my face.

"Well, I think I do..." I answered in a low voice and paused, trying to notice Shelly's reaction or facial expression. Visibly, she wasn't pleased on hearing my response. Infact, I knew she was annoyed and somewhat jealous - judging by the heaving of her chest which gradually increased tempo with every breath she drew. 

"And i might just love this girl even more than I ever did for you" I added in a spiteful tone, slightly moving my head closer Shelly's as I whispered to her face before walking past her -- leaving her extremely infuriated as she stood, crushed by the weight of my words. 

"Well... I hope you actually have the boldness to tell this girl you love her!" Shelly yelled in frustration, accompanied by the loud slamming of my room door behind few minutes after i came out. 

Her frustrative yell got to me and instantly brought my steps to an abrupt halt few metres to the kitchen. Somehow, I saw it like a challenge as it gave birth to so many worrisome thoughts which slowly began to cloud my head. Was I going to be able to tell Chloe how I feel? Or will I chicken out and bottle up my feelings?! These questions I couldn't give answers to -- atleast not yet!


***At The Bar Around 6:30pm***


Chloe giggled as we conversed while walking towards the bar. It was her first time coming to a place like this without her parent knowledge whatsoever. She was wearing a white body hug sleeveless top on a short navy blue coloured pleated skirt that swayed seductively as she walked. 

"After you" I teased, holding the bar door open for Chloe who blushed before following behind her as she entered.

"Yo!... If it isn't my man Liam" Andrew called out to me at the far corner of the bar in a loud voice with both arms spread apart from where he sat on a three sitters sofa - flanged by two sexy girls on both sides. Even with the chattering noise inside the bar and subtle music playing in the background, his voice still managed to get to me. 

'Oh God' I cursed under my breath when I caught sight of him - glancing at Chloe who stood by my side as she turned her gleeful gaze to face me. 

"You know that guy?" She asked with her white teeth flashing from her widened smile. 


"Yes... That's my best friend Andrew" I heaved out a sigh. "But look, we can go elsewhere if you don't like this place" I suggested, hoping that she'll accept the idea of changing location. I didn't just feel right being here with Andrew present -- not after the bet we made concerning Chloe!

"Are you kidding me... I'll love to meet your best friend" Chloe chuckled, pulling me by the hand as she led the way to Andrew's table. 

"Bro, look at you" Andrew laughed as he staggeringly stood up from the sofa and moved closer to hug me. I could perceive the stench of alcohol in his breath when he pulled away from hugging me - even his swaying stance and slurred speech suggested that he was tipsy which was my only fear now!

"And you are?" Andrew inquired, pointing his right index finger at Chloe the moment he faced her. 

Chloe giggled faintly - holding her phone below her belly with both hands before saying "Am Chloe by na..."

"No shit!" Andrew exclaimed as he interrupted with a surprised laugh, holding his head in shock before turning quickly to look at me and said. "No way dude! Don't tell me I've lost the bet already?"


'Oh no Andrew... You should never have said that, Fu*k!' I groaned in my mind.

At this moment, I felt my heart sink with my palms becoming itchy from nervousness as I stood - unable to speak. It felt as though my tongue was tied or that I'd totally lost my voice all of a sudden. What even annoyed me the most was looking at Andrew who was too drunk to realize his own stupidity! 

"What bet?" Chloe's chuckling voice drew my attention as she replied Andrew before turning to face me with a confused smile while her eyebrows narrowed with curiousity.

So I gulped and faked a composed smile on my face before parting my lips to say something -- just any lie that could divert her mind from the subject when...


TO BE CONTINUED...


Hope this chapter was exciting? Episode 13 drops later today ❤️😊


What if Andrew foolishly reveals their bet to Chloe, do you feel she'll just brush it off as a joke or end her friendship with Liam??