[Continued]...I was suddenly engulfed by a lustful flame the moment I fixed my eyes on Shelly's -- so strong I doubted if I could resist! All i needed now was some sort of distraction; something that could clear my head from the bitter events that took place at the bar tonight! 

"I don't feel like talking about it" I sighed, lowering my gaze from Shelly who immediately placed her right hand underneath my chin and slowly lifted up my head.

"You know am here for you Liam... And you can always talk to me about anything" Shelly whispered softly to my face with her head leaning closer while she spoke. 

Then as if loosing control of myself, I found my right hand raising on its own accord to cup Shelly's left cheek before slowly moving behind her neck to pull her head closer as I leaned in and kissed her briefly - pulling away to watch her reaction as I remained uncertain about my intention, wether or not it was the right thing! 


But Shelly was surely yearning for more than just a kiss. So she gently cupped the back of my head with her left hand and kissed me very slowly my eyes flickered and went shut in ecstasy as our lips stroked rhythmically on eachother while her right hand traveled over thighs - reaching for my di*k when I snapped out of my lustful desire.

"Am ... Am sorry I can't - we shouldn't do this" I stammered awkwardly as I pulled away from our kiss - holding Shelly's right hand from reaching any further while giving her a confused look. 

"Why? What's wrong?" Shelly inquired breathlessly with desperation in her eyes. 

Although she looked smashing tonight, but I couldn't continue -- not with images and thoughts of Chloe flashing into my mind! 

"You won't understand" I answered, clearing my throat as I stood up from the bed.

"Then make me understand Liam!" Shelly urged in a depressed voice, sounding almost frustrated as she stood up from the bed and stood in my way - halting me from even moving a step. 

"Am off to sleep in the palour... See you tomorrow. Good night" I replied plainly, ignoring her questioning before walking past her towards the room door.

"Seriously Liam?" She exclaimed in a low voice behind me as I reached for the door. But I wasn't in the slightest of mood ready to give her any response. So I twisted the knob and opened the door - shutting it quietly behind me as I walked into the palour and collapsed to lay on the three sitters couch.


'C'mon, please pick up.. just pick the call' I murmured inaudibly as I laid, dialling Chloe's number with my phone pressed on my right ear while it continued ringing. 

Then suddenly, it stopped ringing and went to voicemail. 'sorry the number you dialled is unreachable, please leave a message at the tone of the beep.'

"Chloe, I know you don't want to pick up my call but am sorry -- I truly am. The bet was never my intention and I won't want our friendship to end because of this. Please forgive me and I hope you get this voicemail...Bye" was all I could say on the phone. 

"Pffff" I heaved a sigh from my mouth and lowered my phone on my tummy when my voicemail went through before closing my eyes with my body gradually becoming light from the sleep that took me.


*** TWO DAYS LATER ***


Chloe barely replied to the voicemail and texts I sent to her the previous nights, which had me thinking whether she was completely done with being my friend! 

As for Andrew, i totally ignored all his pestering calls and pleading texts. Not that I was holding a grudge or something - no! I just wanted to teach him a brief lesson so he could value our friendship more rather than take it for granted! 

"I'll be home by 2pm mom" I called out to my mom who was seated in the dining - having breakfast with Shelly who sat beside and only raised her gaze to look me as I stood motionlessly near the palour door while looking at their direction. 

"Okay dear... Till you come back" my mom voiced out from where she sat before I opened the palour door and left. 

It was a sunny Saturday morning, and my whole body yearned to see Chloe again since I haven't been to her place for the past two days after our little misunderstanding -- plus, her dad instructed that I'd only work thrice a week and today was my third time this week. 

'Just be open to her... tell her everything and the whole truth' I chorused in my mind, trying to motivate myself on what to do when I see Chloe as I sluggishly walked towards the main road ahead. 


"Liam wait -- wait up man" Andrew's voice startled me as he called out loudly from behind the second I reached the road - bringing me to a sudden pause just as i was about raising my right hand to signal an available taxi that will take me to Chloe's house.

'Now what does he want?' I muttered rhetorically to myself as I slowly turned around to see Andrew who was fast approaching as he jogged down to meet me.

"You... You've been avoiding my calls" Andrew panted heavily as he brought himself to a halt in front of me.

"Why shouldn't I when you ruined my friendship with Chloe?" I blurted plainly. 

"And am sorry bro, I swear I didn't even know myself or what I was saying that night... I was high as fu*k... Look at me, do you think I'd do that on purpose?" Andrew apologized, spreading his arms wide while waiting to hear my response.

"I knew it wasn't on purpose" I sighed regrettably and narrowed my gaze to give him a serious look. "But you'd better go slow on your drinking -- plus, you're lightheaded"

Andrew returned his arms back to place as he chuckled and said "Trust me when I say I've vowed never to get high again --erhh... Buh maybe on special occasions though" 


I scoffed and shook my head in amusement on hearing Andrew's response. He wasn't even sure of the promise he was making to himself. The Andrew I know very well is going to forget this vow in the coming week and return to his jollying life. 

"So does that mean you've forgiven me?" He asked, giving me a wide teasing grin. 

"For now, maybe -- but I'll forgive you fully when am leveled with Chloe" I answered with a shrug of my shoulder as I looked at Andrew who gave me a relieved laugh. 

"But seriously man, I thought this chick was just going to be a one time fling because I seriously don't get why you still want to..." Andrew said, swaying his hands demonstratively in the air as he spoke before pausing quickly to give me a searching stare with his eyes widened in shock. "Don't tell me the mighty Liam has fallen in love?" He gasped in a mocking tone - rocking my upper body playfully with his right hand placed on my left shoulder.

"Man, think all you want" I laughed -- too shy to attest to his curiosity before shrugging his hand off my shoulder. Then I turned back to face the road - stretching out my right hand at an approaching taxi while saying to Andrew "I'm running late for work... We'll chat more when am back bro."

"Alright man... Catch you later" Andrew's cheerful voice faded behind me as he retreated his steps and left. 


FEW HOURS later after arriving at Chloe's house; I stood in front of the wooden table inside the garage and dropped the gardening scissors on top it before removing the handgloves I was wearing to take a quick break. 

It was now 12:30pm in the afternoon and still no sign of Chloe -- which was gradually making me loose hope of ever seeing her today! 

Her absence was beginning to take a toll on me - slowly draining every ounce of my energy with every thought of her. 

So I bent forward and placed both hands on the table - heaving out a worried sigh with my eyes closed as I struggled to clear my head of depressing thoughts. 

"Hi Liam... Can we talk?" 

I was drawn back to reality with my eyes popping open in shock when I heard Chloe's soft voice beside me. 

"Chl---chloe" I stammered and immediately stood erect to face Chloe who'd approached and was fidgeting her fingers in nervousness while struggling to level her gaze on mine.

"I got all your voicemail and messages" She said with a forced smile. 


There was something about her mood that I couldn't quite figure out. It was purposeful and yet of confusion -- as if she was happy to see me and sad at the same time.

"Am truly sorry for having you think you were a bet" I said in a remorseful whisper - taking slow tentative steps closer with a gloomy look on my face. 

"I know Liam and I've forgiven you. I totally understand it wasn't your intention, but..." Chloe replied in a reassuring tone before pausing halfway in her speech and lowered her gaze from mine. Then she continued speaking with her head still lowered, saying. "But I think it's best if we don't..."

"I love you Chloe" I cut in sharply with my voice sounding almost breathless as I could no longer hold back the wave of emotion that engulfed me. 

"Wah?" Chloe gasped - looking stunned with her eyes blinking in doubtful shock as she quickly raised her head to give me a searching stare. 

"I truly love you Chloe and I'm real about this. I've never felt for anyone like the way I feel for you" I whispered to her face - clamping her warm bare shoulders with my hands as I stood closely in her front. 


She was not only surprised to hear my confession but also speechless and unable to mutter a single word in response -- filling me with uncertainty as her facial expression remained blank and unreadable. 

So I squeezed my eyes closed and shook my head vigorously in doubt before opening my eyes again as my lips parted to speak in a somewhat stammering voice, saying "Look Chloe, I... I know you might not feel the same way for me -- because you already..."

"I do" She interrupted quickly in a tender voice with the warm breath of her mouth brushing lightly against my chin as she spoke. "Liam, I think I'm..."

"Chloe!" Kelvin's enraged loud voice filled the garage as he appeared few metres away - calling out to Chloe whose voice fell into silence as she quickly pulled away from my touch and turned to face him marching closer in long steps to meet us. 

"Kelvin, i... I wasn't expecting you" Chloe stuttered - nervously rubbing the back of her neck with her right hand as she looked at Kelvin who approached and stood - giving me a furious stare. 

"Babe, what are you doing here with this dweeb?" Kelvin asked in annoyance as he leveled his gaze on Chloe who was parting her lips to speak. 


"What did you just call me?" I blurted with an angry frown on my face before Chloe could even say a word. And what could she have possibly said in response?!

"You heard me right dweeb" Kelvin repeated spitefully and turned to give me a confronting stare. 

I scoffed with a slow shake of my head while bitting my lower lip from the rage growing within. I could endure anything but not someone ridiculing me -- nothing infuriated me more than that! 

"Call me a 'dweep' one more time" I urged angrily under my clenched teeth as I moved closer to Kelvin in a confronting manner. 

"Ple---please, you guys should stop this." Chloe begged in a worried voice as she rushed in beside us - placing her right hand on Kelvin's chest as he moved forward and stood so closely in front of me with our eyes glued on eachother. 

I didn't budge, neither was I frightened by his countenance but stood poised - curling my right fingers in a tight fist as I waited for his next move to see if he was going to repeat his previous statement.

Then without removing his gaze from mine, Kelvin lowered Chloe's hand down his chest and said to my face "You heard me, you're a dwe..." 

I instantly lost my cool and with a sudden swiftness...


TO BE CONTINUED... 


Let us know your reactions after reading this episode


Is Liam doing the right thing by responding to Kelvin's scornful insult? And what will be your advice to Chloe in this kind of situation??