AN: Please vootttee for the chapter

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Kapinga POV

"Would you rather go back in the past and meet your ancestors or go into the future and see your great-great grandchildren?" Kashala asked besides me.

Kashala was being a gentleman and walking me back home from dinner. Lowkey, I was worried that he would not stop making those comments. But luckily, after I managed to suggest this game of would you rather, he stopped. And now I was having so much fun with him that I was reluctant to go back home.

"That is such a good one actually. Mmmm... I think I would prefer to go in the past and see my ancestors. What if I do not have any great-great grandchildren?"

"Seriously?" Kashala said and stopped to face me. "Why would you say that? I want to go into the future to see my great-great grandchildren," he said and continued walking.

"Well to each his own, anyways it is your turn," I said.

"Would you rather have a rewind button or a pause button in life?" Kashala asked.

"Can I perhaps have both but just not use them at the same time?" I asked rather hopeful. My mind was already racing on the thing I would want to rewind back to.

"No, you must choose one Kapinga. That is after all how your game goes is it not?" kashala answered.

"Fine, but you are no fun," I said and crossed my arms annoyed. "I..I.. think I would take the rewind button," I said sounding very soft. Kashala immediately sensed my discomfort and closed the distance between us as we walked. When he was finally standing next to me, he placed his right hand into mine and squeezed gently. It was such a small gesture but it was so comforting.

"You okay?" He asked me as we kept walking forwards hand-in-hand.

I quickly glanced at him as I tried to figure out whether I should tell him or not. It was time I spoke to someone else about this after all. And Kashala despite being a flirt at times was a good friend.

"My mother...She," I said and suddenly my throat went all dry. The words were there but the emotion they carried with them made my tongue too heavy for words. I did not even realise that I was crying until Kashala stepped in front of me and gently wipped away my tears.

"Hey, you do not have to tell me. It is alright," He said looking at me with concern.

As he looked at me, I looked back at him and realised that I needed to do this. To unburden myself from all the weight I was carrying. Back in the kingdom, I had to always be the strong one for Mukendi. But now, I was free to feel and yet I chose to not feel still. It was how I dealt with all my emotions. But looking at Kashala, I knew that he would be there for me. I could feel it in my gut.

"I don't know if my mother is still alive...I really want her to still be alive but if she is still alive then she would be in pain. A lot of pain and despite knowing this I still want her to be alive...Because if she is not then... then I...I,"

Before I could even continue saying what I wanted to say, Kashala hugged me. No correction, he squeezed the breath out of me. After struggling against his very tight grip, he finally got the idea and loosened up a bit. Thus, allowing me to finally breathe again.

"Okay you can let go now. I have stopped sweating through my eyes," I said. At which I felt Kashala's upper body shake in laughter at my attempt to joke.

Kashala finally realised me from his embrace. However, as soon as we broke contact, he slipped his right and into my left one again and interlaced our fingers. For some reason this small action had me blushing profusely. Luckily, it was very dark, and I had dark skin, so I was safe. We then walked the last few meters to the school in comfortable silence. I for one felt much better having told someone else about my mother. I felt like the burden I was carrying suddenly became less heavy.

"You do not need to walk me all the way to my dorm," I told Kashala when we reached the school gate. To which he simply responded by opening the gate with his free hand. He then walked in pulling me with him. We then continued walking in silence all the way to my dorm room. It was only until we reached the door that Kashala spoke.

"I would have chosen the pause button," he said very quietly. I was confused at what he was referring to exactly. Then he turned to face me. As soon as our eyes met, I felt like I was locked in place. I could not look anywhere else and neither did Kashala. We started at each other like that for some time until I finally found my voice and said, "what?" I wanted to ask what he meant by that earlier comment and why was he looking at me like that but most importantly, I wanted to ask what he saw in me. But before I could even ask all of those questions, Kashala dipped down and claimed my lips.

The kiss was not rushed. Instead, it was slow. It was hot and very very wonderful. But before I could even respond to it, Kashala moved back and started back into my dazed eyes and said, "Well, because I know that we will have more moments like this one right now and I would like to pause time in those moments and just enjoy you're a little bit longer." Then he walked away leaving me breathless and still frozen in place until I heard someone clearing their throat.

"So, you and Kashala huh"

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QOC: When did you have your first kiss and how would you describe it?

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