KIISHA

I'd just finished talking with Kiishi who told me she was back from the boot camp. She'd entered her book 'Crying in Dreams' into a competition and had been shortlisted and at such was invited to a 3-days writing boot camp.

"I'm going to the salon," Mom announced as she walked into my room immediately I dropped my phone.

"Oh, okay," I replied as I sprawled to my feet and took my phone. We both sauntered downstairs and I informed Sumayah to help me bring Chicken and Chips with Warm milk to the lounge so far I'll be staying there when Mom leaves.

I waved at Mom as she entered her car, standing motionless till she drove out of the compound. When she was out of sight, I went to the lounge and drew out a bikini chair as Sumayah served my order.

"Thanks," I muttered and she nodded before leaving.

I threw chips into my mouth and I brought out my phone, scrolled to m
My Music and clicked on 'Suzanna' by Sauti Sol before inserting the earpiece into my ear.

While chewing the chicken and tapping my feet on the ground to the song, I felt a hand remove the left earpiece and before I could react, a voice, which I instantly recognized as Jared's whispered, "You're hotter than the bottom of my laptop," the air on my neck stood up as the fireworks erupted in my stomach.

"You're not okay," I joked as he drew out another bikini chair in front of me.

"I'm perfectly fine," he replied with a smile as I removed my earpiece and turned off the song.

"So, why are you here?" I asked and he scoffed a laugh.

"So, I can't visit my Reina again?"

"You can," I replied with a pout.

"Good," he said as he dipped his hand into my food and picked up the chicken laps I'd been keeping for later, in a blink of an eye, I slapped his hand away.

"There is love in sharing," he whined.

"I Know but let me get you some," I told him before standing up as I headed into the house.

Few minutes later, I got back with his own and I looked over at my food only to realize it had vanished.

"Why did you eat it?" I questioned as I spotted a mop stick which was lying at the back of the lounge before going over to pick it.

"I couldn't wait," he replied nonchalantly and I made an attempt to hit him with the mop stick but he caught it.

"Let go," I warned with a murderous look and he stood up before moving closer to me.

"Can I borrow a kiss? I promise I'll return it," he said and before I could think or evade, his lips met mine as he cupped my face gently, instantaneously, I responded to the kiss.

I let go of the mop stick and he threw it to the floor before moving back when the kiss was getting sweeter and of course, hotter. I opened my eyes in annoyance as I glared at him while he chuckled.

"Useless goat," I mumbled.

"That's your punishment," he said as he picked up another chicken laps and sat back.

"Did I give you the permission to touch the food?" I questioned with a scowl and he winked at me.

"No, Reina, but the food is mine, lest you've forgotten," he replied with a smirk and I threw one of the chips at him but he caught it with his mouth.

"Fool," I muttered as I picked up the drumsticks from the plate.

"But you love me like that," he said with a grin.

"In your wildest dreams"

He chuckled at this before chewing the bone loudly.

"Stop eating like someone who is just eating chicken," I scolded and he chortled.

"Let's play 20 questions," he proposed as he picked up another chips.

"Okay, you go first," I replied as I crunched the bone.

"What is the embarrassing habit you have?" he asked and I held up my fingers.

"Chewing on my nails," I responded as I dropped my hand and he laughed.

"You?"

"I don't think I have one," he replied as he took a sip from the warm milk.

"What movie made you cry the most?" he questioned when he dropped the cup.

"I'm emotionless, I don't cry for movies, it's somehow stupid to me, why would I be crying for something someone acted?"

"Hmmmmm"

"What's your zodiac sign?" I asked.

"Aries, you?"

"Capricorn"

"We are compatible then," he said and I chuckled.

"Who is your favorite artiste?" I questioned before gulping down the warm milk.

"Ah, why did you drink everything nau?"

"It's pay back time," I told him and he eyed me.

"Back to the question"

"I don't have one, I just love interesting songs, you?"

"Same here"

He laughed as he picked up another chips.

"Our compatibility ratio is increasing," he said and I chuckled.

"Your best movie ever?"

"I don't know, you?"

"Me too," and he laughed loudly this time.

"See, our compatibility is really increasing"

"Shut up," I threw another chips at him and he caught it with his mouth again. Seems he was really skilled in this aspect.

"The most embarrassing moment in your life?" he queried and I heaved before squinting my eyes.

"The times you defeated me," I confessed and he laughed hysterically. Stupid thing.

The game went on and on until we finished the food, we then decided to watch film and at such walked into the house.

After dropping the plates in the kitchen, we went back to the living room and I connected my YouTube with the TV.

"Which movie is that?" he asked as he played with my hair.

"The gifted, it's a Philippine movie"

He scrunched his eyebrows as he turned to me, "Hope it's not love love film oo?"

"I don't know," I replied as the movie started. We stayed in silence while concentrating on the movie as he played with my hair.

"Won't you plait your hair?" he questioned halfway into the movie, when it was getting more interesting.

"I don't even have the time to loosen it but I'll plait it when we get back to school," I told him as I turned back to movie.

"Let me help you with it," he said and my head jerked to him in surprise.

"Have you ever done it?" I asked with scorn and he smiled sheepishly.

"Of course, I do help my mom and Jacinth," he replied proudly and I rolled my eyes in disbelief.

"Okay oo, let me quickly bring the comb," I told him as I stood up and paused the movie before going upstairs to my room, I got back seconds later as I gave him the comb.

"Sit on the floor," he said and I pouted before sitting on the floor.

"Sha don't tangle my hair oo," I warned while picking up the remote and starting the movie player.

"I won't," he assured.

We stayed in silence till the movie ended.

"I'm done," he shouted and I touched my hair before turning to him.

"Thanks," I said as I stood up and headed towards my room while he followed, I later went to the bathroom to wash it and he helped me dry and pack it.

"You hair is very long oo," he commented and I smiled. I had a very full and dark hair just like Kiiti and Kiishi.

We were both at the music room playing the piano before he decided we should sing, just then we had Jacinth playing Jericho by Simi ft.Patoraking so we decided to go with it and at such recorded the video.

"That's why you're disturbing the whole house but you guys were cool sha," Jacinth said as she barged into the music room.

"Thanks," I said and Jacinth smiled in return.

"Anyway I'm leaving now, my boyfriend is downstairs, we have a date," she announced.

"Why are you now telling us?" Jared asked rudely and Jacinth rolled her eyes before replying.

"So you guys can go with us, we can have a double date, you know"

"Thanks but no, thanks," Jared replied and I scowled at him but he ignored me.

"Okay, see you guys later," she said as she walked out of the room without waiting for our response.

I then turned to Jared with a questioning look.

"Let's just enjoy ourselves at home, you know we're going back to school tomorrow," he explained and I nodded in agreement before sitting on a stool.

"I'm tired, I need to go swim," he said as he touched his forehead.

"Just because you sang and dance now, you're tired, lazy boy," I teased.

"Call me lazy but I want to swim," he said as he dragged me to my feet before dragging me out of the music room to his room.

"What are you doing?" I asked as I sat on his bed.

"What does it look like?" he questioned as he proceeded to pull off his top.

"Stop!," I shouted with a held up palm and he chuckled.

"Go and change in your bathroom," I told him with a stern look.

"So, you can't take in this handsome body," he said proudly while pointing at his chest.

"Meet me at the pool," I said as I sprawled to my feet and walked out of the room without waiting for his response though I was hearing his laughter behind me.

My heart almost jumped out of my chest as I saw him approach the pool in only shorts, I choked on the orange juice I was sipping while coughing. On getting to me, the cough stopped as I swallowed the lump in my throat, he smirked at me before jumping into the pool.

I decided to sit by the poolside with my legs playing inside the water.

"Won't you join me?" he asked as he placed his hands on my laps.

"No, I'm not," and before I could blink, I was already in the water.

"Ah," I screamed while trying to catch my breath. I hated swimming and I never knew how to swim. While struggling in the water, I felt his hand around my waist as he helped me out of the water.

"Do you want to kill me?" I yelled as I pushed him away from me.

"I'm sorry," he begged with a pleading look and I stood up angrily heading to nowhere.

"Reina, I'm deeply sorry," he begged and I stopped on my tracks after feeling the regret in his voice.

"I didn't know," he said when he got to me as he held my hand, I didn't reply but rather glared at him.

"Oya smile," he coaxed as he tickled me, I couldn't help laughing and wriggling so far I was ticklish.

"See, I got you," he teased with a huge grin.

"You didn't get me," I countered as I feigned a frown which turned to a smile when he proceeded to tickle me again.

"See the way water is dripping from me and my clothes are wet now," I complained while touching my body.

"Let's change your clothes then"

I narrowed my eyes, "You can't expect me to go home with water dripping from my body and a wet cloth"

His lips curved into an amused smile before he responded, "Let me find something for you to wear"

I squeezed my face before agreeing as we both walked into the house and headed to his room. On getting to his room, he went to his wardrobe and in a second, he brought out a neatly folded jersey.

"Here," he pointed it at me as I collected it before unfolding it, JARED was written at the back of the top.

"Have you ever worn it?" I questioned while taking a good look at the jersey.

"Twice, am sure," he replied and I rolled my eyes before going into his bathroom.
I took in his smell from the jersey, it was a nice and tickling smell, I smiled before changing into it.

"Wow, you always look gorgeous in everything," he complimented and I pursed my lips before giving him my wet clothes.

"I'll take this to the laundry, it should be dry soon," he said without waiting for my response as he walked out of the room.

I stood in front of his wardrobe which had a mirror on it as I took a good look at myself, the jersey fitted me perfectly as I felt comfortable in it. I made a mental note to take it home with me.