I eventually agreed to go on the date with Johann. I felt no harm would come from sitting with him in PUBLIC at least. We met at a cinema and seeing him again actually reduced tension and panic in me. Like, He was very, very good looking. I had seen him at the party but my emotions had blinded me from noticing his cute round eyes. I was surprised seeing him so attractive, like what had come over me? He smiled at me and hugged me. He smelt good.
“I’m happy you agreed to come Juliet.”
“At least you’d let me be after this one date” I teased. He simply smiled. He was thinking something, I could tell.
We got popcorn and drinks and headed to the movie room. We watched “ghost busters”, he let me choose the seat space, let me feel comfortable. I was really happy, he let me be natural, like I could speak my mind, laugh out really loud and squirm when the movie got exciting. He was a complete gentle man, not talking too much but making me laugh, not drooling, not being a pest, but I could feel him staring at me, while I enjoyed myself. He would stare at me for say a minute, hesitate, and then look back at the big screen. When I got cold, he offered his jacket, our eyes locked and for the first time, I read the emotions that displayed in his eyes. I saw what I was afraid of, what I was afraid to see and tried to wave the moment off.
The movie ended well, I was happy for the first time in months and it all just seemed to burst in different flavors
“So, I have to go home now” I said, avoiding any connecting gaze.
“Oh well, it’s past 4 pm and I agree that you have to get going” he dropped. He came beside me, held my right hand urged us to walk together. Along the line we stopped to talk, facing each other.
“Can I kiss you?” he asked, sincerely. No guy had ever innocently and directly asked me that question before.. I looked around, I was shy first of all and I didn’t like attention from people. I looked back at him, I couldn’t hurt his feelings, he had been a complete gentleman. I nodded my head and what came next shocked me. He kissed my forehead, then my cheek and smiled at me, goofy smile that warmed me every time.
“I was expecting you to….” he kissed my lip and cut me short.
“There.” He looked into my eyes again and sudden shyness overwhelmed me again. He smiled again and urged us to leave.
I told my bestie, Esther all about it and she was surprised too, that he actually got me to smile and open up like that. She heard me giggle for the first time in weeks and was quite happy he left a good first impression.
“So, you are saying yes abi?”
She didn’t know what had happened between Zack and I, and I wasn’t going to tell her.
“I guess so, but….”
“But what? Abeg, you had a crush on Zack years ago, besides he has GF NOW. Let it go jor.” She completed. I sighed and assured her I wouldn’t leave Johann hanging.
I began imagining Johann and I together as a couple. I caught myself smiling to myself while I thought about it. Maybe this was finally a saving grace. Maybe he was THE ONE. Maybe God was finally answering my prayers to giving me a good guy.
So I thought.
We gradually began to hang out, talk more, and grow deeper feelings for each other. He would get me what I asked and didn’t ask for. He couldn’t keep his hands off me but not without my consent. He would share half of what he had, tell me his deepest thoughts and feelings, and tell me about his family and a lot of things he had told no one. He introduced me to his family and him to mine. One time, he followed my mum and I to church for prayers…to get through my initial rape incident with my step brother. My mother actually liked him! This was a shocker because she was very strict, when it came to the area of my relationship with both sexes. He would pick out my outfit, tell me he didn’t want me on make up because I was beautiful naturally, he became a part of me. He was everything I wanted. We had our slack off though. He was too protective and easily suspicious. He had been through a lot and done a lot that gave him the right too. But he took me very serious and he had to be bossy at times, stalk my social media pictures, dote on me, advise me, and correct me. It was one of the moments in my life where I actually felt valued and loved. I didn’t hate life anymore. I had a shoulder to cry on. He was understanding and very caring. He being hot was an added advantage because I paid less attention to looks.
But something kept hitting me. He had the right to know what happened between Zack and I. I couldn’t bring myself to tell him. Fear that he would leave, how he would react, his relationship with Zack and Diane, it would be all too complicating. Zack and I still weren’t talking as before, things had further gotten sour between us and….lord! It was more than enough drama. So what I did was make Johann love me more, so when he would get to know, he would be unable to leave me. But guess what?
Next chapter coming soon. Hope you like. Please leave a comment.