CLIFF

We'd just ended the meeting on the New Year's resolution and had decided to have fun. We had arrived at Lakeland two days ago for the retreat and ever since then we'd engaged in different fun activities.

"So we'll be playing seven minutes in heaven", Alexia announced as we all sat down in a circle, everyone nodded in agreement and in no time the game started.

"This is the male and female containers", Frank whistled as he pointed to the containers that were placed right in the center of the circle.

"So, I'll start", Alexia decided as she motioned to draw out a name from the containers, succeeding the drawing out, she smirked before calling out the names.

"Lola and Abel", she pronounced widely as we all cooed. Lola and Abel stood up gently and smiled as they walked hand in hands to the closet, they were a popular item in the company as everyone voted for their love.

In the medium of that seven minutes, others engaged in Truth or Dare. Fun was in the air as we all grinned.The alarm beeped loudly to convey the end of the seven minutes as Lola and Abel walked out with a plastered grin on their face with Lola looking shy as she bowed her head till she was sitted, it was crystal clear that they'd kissed.

"I'm the next", Priss announced with a smile, the smile I'd been wanting to see, she drew out the names from the container with my gaze fixed on her as she called out the names,"Alexia and Chika".

Everyone gushed at the mention of the names, Chika was Alexia's best enemy, she hated him with passion while Alexia was Chika's ever crush. Alexia stood up reluctantly with a scowl as she eyed Chika menancingly, they both ambled towards the closet with Chika following her like a puppy with a grin.

Truth or dare continued as my eyes rested on Priss, she was aware of my gaze but she feigned oblivion as she didn't even spare me a glance. I was hurting deeply.

The bottle spinned towards the two of us, Priss looked up at me and in no time she looked down, dared to give me a peck , she did it without hesitation and I couldn't help but smile, I'd missed that her soft lips, she went back to her seat which was beside Tenola and wore a blank expression, I couldn't get what was going on in her mind.

The alarm beep cut my stare as Alexia and Chika walked out looking expressionless, no one had the hint of what had transpired between them.
"My turn", Frank yelled as he smiled broadly at me, drawing out of the papers, the smile grew wider as he tossed a glance at Priss and I before screaming, "Priss and Cliff".

WOW!!!

Trying so hard not to show my happiness, I only gave a small smile, inwardly I was a happy lark, finally I would have a moment with her after all the period of pushing me away.

🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟
PRISS

Upon hearing Frank scream my name together with Cliff, I knew this was it, it was bound to happen, trying really hard to cloud my expresstion with a straight face, I stood up willingly and prowled towards the closet while Cliff followed silently.

An awkard silence fell as soon as we walked into the closet but soon the typical Cliff broke the ice.
"This is your favorite place right?", he questioned looking intently at me as my eyes roamed the closet. I just love this place. I loved his beautiful voice and I couldn't help but smile inwardly.

"Yeah", I mumbled trying really hard not to meet his eyes as I looked away.
"Can we talk?", he asked calmly and my heart melted as I looked into his pleading eyes.
"Sure", I nodded as I looked away from that eyes if not I might do something I'll regret. Why was he tormenting me?

"Why have you decided to avoid me?", turning to look at his pleading eyes, the debate raged furiously in my head. Why did I really avoid him?,I didn't have a good reason.
Looking away from him, I responded,"I really don't know, maybe because we were getting too close and I didn't want it to turn to another thing".

"What other thing?", he questioned with a hurt laced tone.
No response, I looked away and in some seconds, I felt his hand on my chin, he cupped my face in his hand as he brought it closer to his face. We were only few inches apart,my heartbeats race faster as my stomach tightened.

"Truthfully, I've been more than pained since you started avoiding me, I cherished every moment we spent together as close pals but suddenly you broke it, we stopped being penpals and even close friends, Priss those days without you felt like hell", his voice sounded hurt and I couldn't help but feel pity as I drowned in his eyes, our gaze were locked and I was feeling somehow breathless.God!

Sighing, I muttered,"I was afraid of seeing you as a man and not as a friend, I'm scared".
He smiled as I looked straight into his eyes, it felt like a mirror to my soul, his hands felt like warm laundry and I couldn't help but smile back, that smile was contagious, no matter how hard I tried to conceal it, my face still creased into a smile.

"I understand what you're afraid of".
"And?", I inquired nervously, trying so hard not to touch his face. Why was I feeling this way?

"And I think you need to fight that fear, you need to let go of that mindset or else you'll hurt yourself, that fear is nothing but empty, Priss those days without you talking to me felt like a day without sunshine, I miss you every minute we are apart and I could feel my life empty without you,your letters do bring me comfort then and I'd sincerely hoped we'll meet one day and here we are, why can't you give me a chance to take away that fear, to show you true love really exists?".

I looked away from him as his hand dropped from my face ,I could feel the void his hand left on my face.Taking few steps backward, I sighed. Gosh!he was getting into my brain, I could feel a lump in my throat, opening my mouth to talk, I was speechless as all I did was stare hard at him.

"Do you think we should give it a try?", he asked out of the blue .
Turning to look at him, I questioned,"Try what?", opening my eyes wide.

He smiled charmingly as I drowned in that smile of his, "Us", he mumbled in my ears as I stiffened.
He moved back to his former spot and I looked at him in a dreamy way,dazed with admiration.
"I guess we should", I finally consented as I bowed my head, smiling and hoping I hadn't chosen the wrong path.

Raising my head, I could see the smiles dancing on his lips, he was smiling and laughing and I wondered if he had gone crazy.
"I hope you're not psychotic?", I queried sarcastically as I swinged my arms.
"I could go senile because of you", a smile of pleasure fitted his face as I beamed with smiles, I felt relieved and complacent.

CLIFF

I couldn't get any happier. This day was one of my best days on earth and I do hope I won't regret it.
"You know I do think of you as someone weird and psychotic and I think you are turning me into that", I admitted as I grinned, she smiled beautifully at me .

Silence fell as all we did was stare into each other's eyes and smile dreamily.
And then the sunlight found its way into the closet, we both turned into the direction as we realised the door was opened,Tenola then screamed,"Time up".

We took another glance at each other before walking out of the closet beaming with smiles. Sitting back in my position, Frank nudged my arms but all I did was give him a smile before looking back at Priss. She was sitted beside Tenola who kept pestering her but she only smiled.

PRISS

That night all I did was roll on the bed without my eyes closing for a second, all I did was think about what had happened in the afternoon, I really do hope I'd chosen the right path. Tenola had been more than happy to hear the news as she kept teling me I'd done the right thing, she'd called Zavrina to break the news and Zavrina had almost screamed her lungs out.

Deciding to go out to drink water, I walked out of the room I shared with Tenola, Lola , the blonde, brunette and Alexia without anyone noticing,they were all sleeping soundly. On getting to the Kitchen, I noticed a figure in there, recognising who it was, I decided to turn back but his voice stopped me.

"Priss", he called.
"Cliff", I answered with a small smile. Walking up to him, I collected the cup from him and gulped down the water as he looked at me mesmerized.
"What are you doing out here?", I queried as I placed the cup in its position.
"I couldn't sleep so I decided to come out for a water, you?"

"Same reason as you".
Silence fell as we didn't know what to say again, I decided to go back to my room but after taking a step, Cliff's voice stopped me.
"So far we couldn't sleep, why don't we watch a movie together?".
Turning back to him, he was just a step from him as our eyes were met ,I hadn't realise he had gotten to my back. My heartbeats quickened and I decided to talk before it exploded.
"Sure".

In no time,we were in the parlor which was at the centre of the house, it was a very big apartment with several rooms, I didn't know the actual number.
"So which movie?", he asked as he sat right beside me.
Turning to look into his eyes that met mine, I said quietly, "I thought you knew everything about me, so you should know the kind of movie I love".

He smiled and got up, switching on the TV, he brought out his phone and connected it to it and in no time 'Beauty and the beast' popped up. Wow! he really knew everything about me, Beauty and the beast was my favorite film, I loved watching cartoons and had watched a lot of them, yes, I was twenty-eight but I still watched cartoons. Zavrina and most especially Tenola had condemned me numerous times but that didn't stop me. Apart from cartoons, I do watch action movies but cartoons were my favorite.

"You really keep it in your heart", I complimented as he came back to his position.
"So won't you give me a kiss?", he smiled at me and I was charmed by it as I planted a kiss on his cheeks.
We settled down to watch the cartoon in silence, Cliff was the first person to drift into sleep as he placed his head on my shoulder, soon I joined him in that beautiful dream as we both slept there till daybreak.

💃💃💃💃💃💃
Finally Priss and Cliff are together.
Let's now look forward to their blossoming love.
Well,a new drama is coming.
So do you think it is right for them to be together?
What will happen if Zina should find out?
My lovely readers,comment to convey your answers and if there's anything you want me to add,just comment inline.
Vote and share.
Love y'all.