Crush

!

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I watched from afar as she laughed. Her laughter was a sweet melody for my soul. An echo that keeps playing in my mind at night before I sleep. And when I do her face is all I see. I must be bewitched I thought. How can I be so in love with a girl from afar and have no courage to tell her?

I felt a breath close to my face., hot but familiar. It smelt like her. I sniffed again harder this time; I was wrong. It wasn't her. It smelled like Jeff.

"Guy! Wake up, jor", I heard Jeff's voice call.

It was faint at first; then it got louder like he was yelling into my ear. I jerked up from my sleep to see Jeff shouting into my ear, his breath all up my face. I was dreaming.

"Bro, stop! Why so close?" I muttered wiping my sleepy face with the back of my hands.

"So you now say her name in your sleep?" Jeff asked, standing with his arms wrapped around each other.

"Who?" I asked feigning ignorance of what he was saying.

"Don't act like you don't know who I'm talking about". He pushed on.

"Tell a word about this to anyone, and I'll deal with you", I threatened, mimicking a deep voice and keeping a stern face. Then I got up from the bed. "Are you done? We better get going before the school party ends", he added, trying to shut Jeff up from saying anything about what he had just witnessed.

"Yeah, I'm done. I was about to wake you up when I found you talking about her in your dreams." He said, picking up his jacket and throwing it over his shoulders.

I walked out of the door straight to the Uber we had ordered without waiting for Jeff to lock up his doors. He quickly locked the door and ran after me.

"Wait up bro. Don't you think it's time you tell this girl about your feelings for her? I mean, you guys have been friends since daycare, even before we became friends. What if she feels the same way?" Jeff advised as we got into the car.

"Can we not talk about this before the driver, please?" I pleaded as we got into the car.

"What if we do?"

"Jeff!" I yelled

Jeff raised his hands to signal he was done talking about it.

I sighed and leaned by the window.

Jeff wasn't wrong after all. I have had this crush on Millie for years but never dared to tell her. What's the worst that could happen? I asked myself. What if she felt the same way with me? I had several questions, but how would I find out their answers if I didn't try?

I shut my eyes and cursed. I felt like a coward.

I could feel Millie gradually slipping off my hands. She has already started telling me about her crush on the new guy in school Pascal.

I turned to look at Jeff, but he was already on his phone. It must be his girlfriend, Cynthia. I could tell from how engrossed he was in his conversation that he barely paid any attention to me. I shut my eyes again and let the wind from the window blow on my face. It felt soothing, relieving me from the temporary pain.

We got to the school and we got out of the car and walked our way into the party hall. As fate would have it Millie was the first person we would see. She was a beauty that night, dressed in a white sleeveless gown that flowed down to her lap. Her lips were red like the rose, her smile so peaceful and her strides were so angelic.

I nearly drooled on myself watching her walk up to us; it felt like she walked in slow motion. I shook my head, trying to be sure it wasn't my head playing tricks on me. But still, she was in slow motion, just like in the movies. I had no option but to fall for the tricks my mind was playing.

I turned to see Jeff lost as I was staring at the angel walking towards us. I shoved him back to life.

"Bro, that's the prize right there. Lose her this night, then maybe you've lost her forever. I better go grab my prize," Jeff said, walking off before Millie could get to us to meet Cynthia, who was at the corner waving at him.

"Hi," Millie said with a smile as she got to me.

"Where did you hide it?" That was all I could say.

"Hide what?" She asked confused.

"Your wings. An angel like you shouldn't be without her wings," I replied, keeping a mean face. I didn't know what gave me the audacity, but I was ready for it. Jeff was right, that's my prize standing before me.

I watched as she blushed hard. "Oh stop it, Richard"

But I wasn't ready to stop. I wasn't going to stop until I got a date with her. "What's your favourite drink?" I asked an unrelated question.

"Huh"

"So that I will know what to order for you on our first date" I added.

I watched as Millie paused, looked me straight in the eye and asked, "Are you asking me out on a date?"

I nodded. "Yes, yes, Millie. I've hurt myself enough being with you every day but not having the courage to ask you to be my girlfriend." I walked closer, held her hands and asked,
"Millie Miles, will you be my girlfriend and go on a date with me?"

Gradually, her face lit up with a big smile, and her words with a big "Yes! I've also waited long enough for you to ask. I even had to pretend to have a crush on the new guy, Pascal just to get you jealous. So yes!"

Then I took the bold step, leaned closer and sealed our love with a kiss.

My first kiss.