Renata: Hey, Kayla. How'd you sleep?

Makayla: I slept alright and how did you sleep?

Renata: 😏

I looked at my phone in curiosity. Why did she send me a smirky emoji?

Makayla: I hardly saw you around when I visited Volterra

Renata: Yeah, Aro keeps me busy

Makayla: ?

Renata: I'm his personal bodyguard

Makayla: 😧

Renata: Sorry, I didn't mention it. So, did you enjoy the festival with me

Makayla: Yah

Renata: Do you want to go for a movie?

Makayla: Sure, with Demetri?

Renata: No. Just a girls' night 😉

Why did Demetri, Renata and Marcus only want to hang out at night? And Renata and I didn't seem to have much in common.

She was quiet and liked music that was classical. I was loud, very loud! And I preferred hip-hop and R'n'B.

She didn't even want to go to Rome initially. She wanted us to go around Volterra for our night out. I was with Demetri on exploring the rest of Italy.

Now, she wanted us to be alone. And that made me anxious.... she, during the concert would rub against me like a housecat, and gaze at me with sensual glances here and there.

When we were at the bar, she shifted so close to me that our legs were touching and if I tried to distance myself, she would hold my hand tightly and smile at me. Tethering me there to her, unwillingly.

It was more than suspicious. I ignored the message. A knock resounded on my door. My housemates were out; if it was one of their friends, I would tell them to come later.

I stood on my tiptoes to gaze out the peephole. A guy was outside wearing black sweats and a grey hoody and cap. I jumped but when I analysed the features carefully, I quickly unlocked the door. The guy jumped too.

"Marcus, that is you right?"

I felt stupid asking but he didn't look like himself at all. He actually looked his age. He gave me a wide-white toothed smile.

I tilted my head and my loose, ombre braids cascaded down from my back to my neck.
"You tell me," he said winking at me.

I was floored. He didn't seem the sort to flirt. Ok...
"You don't look like Marcus; I think you are lost."

I could play along. I looked head on. My braids went down my back again. A braid got in my face. I pushed it behind my ear.

"Hmm, I don't think so." He said with a newly acquired smirk.
"Why is that?" I said leaning against the open doorway.

"I am looking for a handsome woman by the name of Ms Benjamin. Have you seen her, perhaps?"
I smirked myself.

"I do not think I have, Mr..."

He strutted to me then he angled his head down toward me. He caressed my face and the game changed. I paused and stared at him wide-eyed.

"I have missed you. May I come in?"
I gulped and nodded prolifically.

"Of course, you can."

I made room for him. I took him towards the sitting room, but he directed me to my room.

"There's no-one here, today. We can go there."
"I know."

He preferred my room. He had chosen for us to sit in there. He sat down on my bed and took off his cap. I rested my back against the headboard. Marcus and I sat cross-legged on my bed. We looked at one another.

He had shown up unannounced, but this was the nature of our relationship, it seemed. I showed up in his life unannounced.

But what was strange about this occurrence was that he had come back so soon. It was only two weeks since he was last here.

But it was different; he was happy. I had been introduced to this sombre Marcus and a jubilant one had replaced him.

"Marcus, is there a problem?"
"No, there are no qualms tonight."
I tilted my head as I contemplated what to say.

"Then why are you here..." with me.

I never finished that statement. He grinned and as he was about to speak a braid got caught in my face again this evening.

Stupid extensions; this is why I always went all natural. These things were always getting in my face. I made a move to remove it but I stopped.

Marcus bent over the space between our legs and pushed the infernal thing from my oval face. He untied a scrunchy from his own head, loosening his hair from the ponytail it was in. His straight hair fell down his back.

He put his cool hands at the nape of my neck. He lifted my head and gathered the blue-tinged braids individually and raised them. He carefully tied them into his go to hairstyle, a ponytail.

"That way we can conversate without these getting in the way."
I sucked in my cheeks and a warm feeling came into my gut.

"Thanks."
His eyes became smaller as he smiled. His cheeks dimpled. He leaned away and the space was back.

"I like the extensions in your hair. It suits you."

"I definitely hope so; these cost me an arm. I'm going to be living slim for a bit."
"Well worth the money, my dear. I actually have a gift for you."

He reached beneath the bed. What was he searching for?

He took out a peach toned gift bag with silvery lettering. Piombo. The lettering was done in beautiful swirled and curled calligraphy. My mouth opened.

"What's this?"
"It's not a gift for you if that's what you're thinking." He said sarcastically.

I huffed.
"Who taught you sarcasm?"
He winked.

"Demetri had a hand in that, but do not expect this type of speech to be formalised, by myself. I can only manage such a feat if I am jesting. I cannot imagine speaking in that manner on a daily basis."

He held the gift bag towards me; the bag straps were balanced on three fingers.

"Go on," he coaxed gently with another addictive smile.

I smiled tentatively and took the bag from him.

I peered inside and wrinkled my nose. There was this dusty yellow tissue paper inside. I looked into his eyes, curiously.

"There's something underneath the decorative tissue paper."

I glanced back at the dusty yellow tissue paper and pushed it aside. It revealed a yellow dress with black, green and dark pink flowers.

I gasped and brought it out into the light. It was a gorgeous, mini flared dress with spaghetti straps.

"You got me a dress?" I said exuberantly.

"Does it meet your standards?"
"No, it exceeds my standards. It's really beautiful."

Marcus placed his arms on my bed so it took up more than a quarter of the room.

"I am glad. You know I came here to discuss something important."

He inclined his head. I put the dress back in the bag and placed it near the headboard. I focused on him. He closed his eyes.

"I don't know how you'll react," he said vulnerably.
"You can tell me anything that's bothering you."

He laughed anxiously. "I know I can but I don't know how you will react."
"I won't judge you; I promise."

He put his much larger hand over mine.

"I guess I have put this off long enough. Makayla, we have known each other for three months really.

I had ample time, nine months to acquaint myself with you before your return for tertiary studies but I thought keeping my distance from you would be better for us both.

But after you came to see me after nine months since I first saw you, I saw the unadulterated joy at seeing me. I never felt so loved since Didyme's passing."

He inched closer and I was entranced by his words.

"You stirred something in my spirit. I still think of her but I want to move on and improve myself.

And nothing has improved my life more than you. You are like the sun. Everyone revolves around you because of the warmth and life you exude. I want a light like that."

I now had large eyes.

"Marcus what do you mean?" I whispered, lost by the transformation in him.

"Makayla, I want to have some happiness again and the thing that has given me back that happiness is you. I want to grant your wish."

I scrunched up my forehead.
"My wish?"
He smiled.

"You told me you are in love with a man. Is that man, me?"
My heart stuttered.

"I...yes...yes."
I waited and he smiled.

"I had a feeling all along but I wanted to be sure of this before engaging you. If you would not mind, would you be my girlfriend?"

It had to be a dream. I closed my eyes and pinched myself. I awoke to find Marcus staring baffled at my behaviour.

It was real. Then my heart tossed and a beam covered my face. I jitterily nodded.
"I thought you would never ask."

I hugged him. My stomach growled. He chortled.

"Let's go on our first date then; to a cheap outlet selling greasy food."

I raised a brow.
"Why fast food?"

"I heard it's a traditional American first date."
I laughed but did not correct him, happy to have a little fast food after a long time.

"Is there anywhere you would like to eat in particular?"
I smiled. "Actually, there is. I always wanted to try Italian KFC."