Star-crossed - Episode 14

 

Raymond:

"What's with the look?" I drop my phone on the plastic table in between Comfort and I to focus my eyes on her. She's just sitting there batting her long lashes at me while biting down on her lips and it's doing crazy things to my mind right now.
"What look?" She blinks innocently and I chuckle.
"That one. You've been giving me puppy dog eyes at me ever since we left your mom's grave."
"Are you calling me a puppy now?" She pouts and I scoff.
"I wouldn't dare . A puppy doesn't quite compare to how cute you are right now with that look you're giving me. You are looking more appetizing than the food we're currently anticipating." I say cheekily. As expected, she turns red with embarrassment at my words.
"Where's the food anyways?" She mutters as she grabs the glass of water in front of her and chug the whole content down her throat. I have to stiffle the laughter bubbling inside of me so as not to embarrass her more.
"So?" I raise my brows up.
"What?"
"What was with the look earlier?"
"Well, you just look so out of place out here in this shabby mama put fast food."
"Are you calling me a rich snub again?" I playfully pout.
"Of course not. I mean look at you." she motions around and my eyes follow her hand

All episodes of this story can be found here >> https://www.ebonystory.com/story/star-crossed

. The restaurant is mostly empty of people but a few older men who are all spotting singlets and Ankara wrappers around their waist. Now that I'm looking, I notice that all eyes are on Comfort and I.
"You definitely don't look like you belong here." Comfort tells me and I shrug. I actually don't.
"You don't either." I tell her.
"really?"
"Yup. Have you ever thought about leaving? There's certainly more of life to see in the city." It's actually something I've been meaning to ask her for the whole of the day.
"Are you asking me to go to the city with you, Raymond?"
"huh? Well..."  Am I?
 Before I reply, the bulky owner of the restaurant comes to our table with a tray of hot jollof rice.
"Thank you, ma." Comfort says respectfully to the older woman who smiles brightly.
"Just tell me if you need anything else." The woman says cheerily as she drops two bottles of coke in front of us before she moves on to the group of men chatting noisily at the other side of the restaurant.
  Comfort digs in before I can say anything concerning the subject at hand so I decide to follow her lead on this one. We eat silently for a few minutes before Comfort pulls her head up.
"I've actually been trying so hard to get admitted into the university of Lagos but various lists have been released by the school without my name on it. I don't think any other list will be released by the school. Will just try again next year." She sighs long and hard at this but this actually gives me an idea.
"So you'll really love to get out of this village?"
"That's if I get admitted because it's the one wish my mother had for me before she died." she says wistfully.
"That's great." I mutter as I pick my phone back up.
"It is? Why?" curiosity drips off Comfort's voice as I type furiously on my phone.
"What course did you say you wanna study?" I ask without looking away from what I'm typing.
"Umm Law?" My head snaps up from the phone at this.
"I thought you'd prefer a course like music..."
"because of the guitar?" She asks and I nod.
"That's more mom's thing than mine. Mom liked the lawyer's robe." she says and I grin.
"It will definitely look great on you. I'm already getting excited." I say and finish off my text.
"Don't tell me you have connections in Unilag Mr Rich guy." I let out a full on belly laugh and reach out to tweak her nose.
"stop, that. I'm not a pet." She squeaks out and it only amuses me further.
"Again, you are much cuter than a pet. And on the issue at hand, I'll like to say that I have a few contacts I can reach out to on your admission issue but we'll just have to see how it pans out."
"say truth!" she squeals.
"Nothing is for certain but this guy helped my sister get in last year."
"oh my God, Raymond! You're a Godsent! Thank you. Thank you. Thank you!"
"Calm your horses first though. I don't want to disappoint you if it doesn't work out." I say seriously.
"No. No. No. I don't want to jinx it. Let's not spoil this with negative talk."
"But..."
"Stop na. I don't want to hear your bad vibes." I can't help but laugh at how adorable she looks as she puts her hands over both her ears.
"Okay, okay, fine. No more bad vibes." I reach over the table to remove her hands from her ears.
"are you sure?" She eyes our hands shyly and I squeeze both of her hands in mine. I can't express how happy I am that she doesn't pull away from my touch anymore. She actually leans into it.
"You're going to Lagos." I tell her.
"I am going to Lagos." She grins with those sparkly eyes of hers and my overactive heart pumps blood at a quick rate as my pulse quickens.
"Come sit beside me." I find myself saying to her.
"Huh?"
"I want you beside me. You're too far, I can't reach you without hurting my arm further." I pretend to nurse my hurt hand to my chest and concern immediately takes over her features.
"Are you in pain? Let me see that." she's dragging her chair to my side in seconds and taking my hand carefully in hers.
"Where does it hurt?" The concentration on her face is just adorable.
"Here." I point to my lips just to tease her but the way her eyes go wide as saucers has me second guessing myself. I quickly think to apologize so I don't scare her again.
"Comfort, I..." The words hang on my lips as Comfort's lips smack mine in a quick peck. I open-mouthedly stare at her. What just happened.
 It takes Comfort scooping a spoonful of rice and stuffing it into my mouth for me to close my gaping mouth. I quickly chew and swallow the food down.
"That's not fair!"
"What?" She has the effontery to blink innocently at me now.
"That was too fast." I complain like a little child but I don't care how I sound. This woman is turning me into a petulant child for a simple peck but trust me, the feeling that shot up my spine at the feel of her lips on mine no matter how brief was nothing short of exhilarating.
"That should be enough to cure your pain."
"It wasn't though." I tell her seriously.
"Look at you getting all serious. It was just a simple peck. You've definitely gotten more from your many exes."
"None is you. I want a repeat. Please.. I'll do anything. Just once. Muah! And it's done.

Read " Redemption " by the same author ( Ameh juliet )

. Come on. Just on this spot." I hold her head and pucker my lips playfully.
"Stop! Everyone's watching us!" She giggles as she push on my chest to get me off her. I chuckle at how she self consciously spy the group of men watching us.
 Just to tease her, I pull my hand up and wave at the group.
"Hey! Don't wave them. They're looking for sure now!" Comfort whisper yells at me and I chuckle.
"She's my woman!" I say aloud to the men as I point at Comfort.
  The men tip their beer bottle at me with a tilt of their head and I nod as well.
"You're incorrigible!" Comfort giggles quietly beside me and I feel so good with myself that I'm the reason for her smile.
"Madam! Get drinks for everyone in here and put it on my tab." I call out to the owner of the restaurant.
"hey!! My new Customer! Make I bring come for you and your girlfriend?" She asks while wiping her hands on her apron. I look to Comfort who wrinkles her nose up.
"I don't drink alcohol." She whispers to me.
"Another bottle of Coke then?" I ask her.
"I'm actually full, already."
"I'm not having anything then. Just give those men over there. We're good." I instruct the woman. She nods and carry our tray of mostly eaten food away.
"You can order for yourself yknow? Don't stop on my account." Comfort tells me when we're alone and I shake my head.
"Don't worry your pretty head about that. Where were we on the bargain of getting another kiss. Now that I've bribed our viewers, I don't think they'll mind some PDA."
"PDA?"
"Public display of affection." Her hand comes up to caress my cheek softly which has my brows raising at her in question.
"What are you doing?"
"This is displaying affection as well. Or don't you want it?" She starts to retrieve her hand but I quickly put it back on my cheek then kiss the inside of her palm.
"I'll take what I can get." I tell her.