It's lunch break, I, Adrian and May are in the cafeteria. I'm with waffles and strawberry syrup along side a glass of coconut water and I'm eating silently while May and Adrian keep on talking. I'm remaining silent and not participating in their discussion not because I'm that kind of person but my mind is occupied with the handsome stranger I met earlier today.

Suddenly the noise in the cafeteria increases and I wonder why so I looked up from the waffles I just realised I have been staring at instead of eating it. The noise is coming from table 54 which is the direct table beside us because the three of us are on table 55. I could hear their muffled whispers which is not low.

"Have you seen the new literature teacher?"

"Yes, he was introduced on the Assembly and I was present." The lady with an heavy makeup replied.

"He is damn handsome!! He is so so so so so so so so so so so hot. I could die for him."One of the female teacher whom I recognized to be in the Literary and Arts staffroom said.

"You're exaggerating again." The other one who was not really interested in the conversation from her expression remarked.
   
"I am really not exaggerating. Look at him at table 49." She says pointing and my eyes followed her fingers. I realised it is the guy I met earlier today. I quickly looked down when I found him staring while the ladies beside us gave him a shy wave of hands.

"She is truly not exaggerating." Is that me?
     
Did I just say that out loud? Oh, I did. I looked up and saw Adrian and May staring at me while the ladies attention on the table beside us was on me too. My eyes flickered towards his table and saw him looking at me intently with a smirk. Wait, was he listening on the entire conversation? I am an expert at making a fool out of myself. I excused myself from the table and on my way I hear the female teacher who called him hot telling her friends that,
"You see! She agrees with me on that." and I closed my eyes and gritted my teeth because I felt so mortified. How I wished I could just hide in a hole till everyone in the cafeteria leaves. I could feel him staring at me and I quickened my pace.

                             ¶¶¶¶¶
          
It's a Friday already and I am super glad it is the end of a work schedule for this week because I am so exhausted. I got out of Grade 10 and I am heading towards the language staff room when I sights that handsome stranger in the Literary and Arts staff room. Today, he is wearing an Italian purple blazers accompanied with a black trousers. I stare at him for a very long time to notice that he is wearing a gold 'Gossip' wristwatch and a 'Versace' black shoe. These are fucking expensive to be covered by a teacher's salary. Perhaps they are fake! I chuckled at that thought and his head snapped over to the doorway. I wanted to run but since he has seen me already, I decided to enter.

Immediately I entered, George who is the Fine arts teacher sighted me and called me over and I was really glad for that. I cheerfully went over to his desk.

"Hey! What a pleasant surprise! What are you doing here?" He asked enthusiastically as he offered me the chair opposite his chair with thee desk in between.

"Just came to greet you! I haven't seen you in like forever." I joked lightly.

"You still saw me at lunch break today." He said and we bought laughed.

"Do you have any other class for today?" He asked and I shook my head.

"Perfect!! Then keep me company. Bring a chair over!"

He starts to show me his next project idea. He plans on making a cabinet with clay so he is running over his idea while I, who is supposed to be his audience is staring at an handsome guy whose appearance is breathtaking. I soon excuse myself on the basis that I got some things to submit before the end of today and I was glad he didn't insist. As I passed by him, I could feel his eyes on me. I joined my palms together nervously.

                                ¶¶¶¶
      
I am currently lying down on a couch tweeting and wearing a big flowery pattern long gown in the sitting room. My hair is loosely packed in two messy buns front and back and some hair escapes from the loose packing thereby falling on my face but I do not care about that. Clarissa is having her afternoon nap. The doorbell rings and I stand up from the couch to open the door. It's Rick and I am startled. It is not like I am not happy to see him, I am but considering the way I look I am not at all glad to see him.

"No welcome?" He says jokingly and I open the door wide for him to come in. While I close the door behind him, I make an attempt to smoothen my hair with my hands but fail.

"You did not inform me you are coming." I said while placing my cellphone beside me.
    
"I wanted to surprise you and I have missed you." He replied and I smiled wishing I could return those same words because I know if I do they are nothing but lies. My entire week has been filled with thoughts of an handsome stranger so I did not miss him. If I tell him that then I am really foolish.

"Where is Clarissa?" He asked
    
"Taking a nap." and he immediately rushed over to the couch that I am sitting on and hugged me. His touch made me remember earlier this week when I bumped into the man who has invaded my entire thoughts and when he caught me. Rick immediately pulled off.

"You seem distracted, what is the wrong?"

"Nothing just some school issues." I say while trying to convince myself at the same time that it is not a lie.

"Is it anything I can help you with?" He asked.

"Not at all but thanks for the offer."

"It's my pleasure." He said with a smile.
     
"Erica, I have been wanting to ask you this for a long time now. Will you please be my girlfriend?" I was a bit shocked by that. Yeah, we have been going out on dates for almost a month now but we never clarified what we are. Of course, I would be glad to be his girlfriend but my thoughts strayed to another him, making me feel guilty.

"I know I should ask this words properly in a candlelit dinner and with romantic flowers but I am so nervous. Would you please forgive my manners and be my girlfriend?"

"Yes!" I exclaimed and he hugged me tightly.

"I love you, Erica" That is a shocker. I never expected that, I'm scared he is going to get hurt by me. I don't love him, I know I don't so why I still go out with him and agreed to be his girlfriend is a mystery to me. If we get too deep then I can't pull out successfully without hurting him.

"What exactly do you love about me?" I asked and saw his smile.

"I don't know. I just like been with you. You liven up the atmosphere! I just love you." Rick replied.

"I am touched." I replied sincerely."Rick, I seriously want to be your girlfriend but I am not sure if for now I can share the same feelings..."

"I understand babe and I don't expect it from you to soon. I am glad to be your boyfriend. Believe me when I tell you that." He said.

"Awwwn, so sweet!" I smiled as I said it."What should I offer you?" I ask.

"Your time." He replies seriously.

"Stop this"I said playfully.

"Ok, anything you offer me I'm ok with it."
     
I came back with a chilled sorrel. I saw Clarissa coming out of her room rubbing her eyes sleepily.

"Hey baby! You just woke up?"

"Yup Mum and I'm hungry."

"I would make you a delicious meal. You just go the living room and watch your favourite animation. It's showing now while I make something for you. OK?"

"Yes mum, who is the sorrel for?"

"Rick."
   
"He is around?"

"Yup, he is in the living room. Now go ." I said but she suddenly held my hands.
   
"Mum, I just realised I'm still feeling sleepy. I will just go back to my room." She says as she turns around.

"What about the food?" I ask surprised.
   
She shrugs, "I'm too sleepy to eat." She says and returns to her room. It felt odd, I don't want to think this way but is she avoiding Rick? Well I can't know if I don't check and I have a perfect plan. I return to the living room and hand Rick the chilled sorrel.

"Thanks babe." He said with a smile.

"When did you start calling me that?" I asked with a raised eye brow.

"Just today." He replied with a little smile.

"Clarissa! Clarissa! Come and watch this scene in Alvin and the Chipmunks!" I scream even though it is a lie.
   
"What are you saying, Erica? We are not watching that animation." Rick says obviously confused but I know what I'm doing. Soon Clarissa runs in to the living room.

"I thought you said you are sleepy?" I questioned with a suspicious stare.

"I thought you called me to come and watch an interesting scene but Alvin and the Chipmunks is not on." She replied flatly.
   
"I am really feeling sleepy that is why I am going to take a quick nap. Hi Rick, bye Rick!" She said with a smile, I, her mother, recognized as fake. That made me rethink all the smiles she has ever given Rick. Was I too blind to notice how fake it was?
  
"Rick please excuse us we would be right back."I said facing Rick then I turned to Clarissa;" You follow me."
   
"What is wrong, baby?"I ask as soon as we are within the four corners of her room... eight corners, I meant to say. The architect designed the room to be a sort of octagon. Back to the matter of the moment.
   
"You don't like Rick?" I asked even though I already knew the answer. She still refused to reply.
    
"Fine, there is no problem there. I can break up with him. Why would I wanna be with someone you don't like?"
    
"Mum please don't. It is true that I don't like him but not because he is not good enough for you but just my own personal feelings. I love you mum"

"I love you too baby"I say.
    
"And I want you to be happy." She continues.

"I also want you to be happy and I would not let Rick be a source of your unhappiness or unease." I say.
     "If been with Rick truly makes you happy, then I can be happy too because my happiness springs forth from your own happiness." She says and she bites her lower lip to suppress her tears. I smile as my eyes get glassy and I hug her.
    
"I hate when you are behaving mature like this. It makes me feel as if you are not Clarissa but an elderly woman pretending to be you." I said in Clarissa's neck and we both laughed.

"Now let us go to the living room, I'm sure Rick would be confused." Clarissa said.

"Are you sure?" I ask her.

"Yes!" She replies firmly.

Oh God, I thank you so much for entrusting me with this precious gift of life, is the only prayer of thanks I offered in my heart with a sincere smile. What more could I pray for?

Some may wonder what is up with Clarissa behaving mature than her age? It's in her gene, readers and I won't lie, I love it. These skills of her and her mentality would come handy very soon. Do you know someone like Clarissa? Let me know. I really want to know your thoughts of the story so far.

Experts, you can direct me but please no negative vibes. If you think it's not bad for a first timer let me know. I love y'all. If you enjoyed this chapter click on the star button below. (If you have done that, THANKS🤓🤓!!)
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And adding it to your reading list is really gonna go a long way for me. I'm sorry if I'm too chatty🗣🗣 but it is my first novel so I am overexcited. Bear with me😜