< Life begins at the end of your comfort zone >

- Neale Donald Walsch

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            Ivan
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While reading in my room, someone walked in. Turning, I saw Damilola standing at the door with a smile on her face. She closed the door behind her and collapsed on my bed.

"Damilola," I chuckled, while she furrowed her brows.

"Who's Damilola?" That question made me snap back to reality. "It's mom, not Damilola."

"Oh, sorry mom, I thought you were -"

"Damilola," she cooed, lifting an eyebrow with a smirk. "Who's Damilola?"

I smiled just thinking about her. "She's a fine girl in my class."

"Hmm, fine girl," mom cooed further. "You see, you don't tell me anything. You've got a crush and I don't know anything about it," she pouted.

I collapsed on my bed, next to her. "Well, Damilola is an angel."

"I can see that, the smile on your face says it all. And also, your room window is open, which is something you haven't done in ages."

"Mom, can I tell you something?"

"Always."

I took a deep breath, letting the words spill out. "It's about Damilola. I really like her, Mom. No, I love her." The words felt surreal, but true.

Mom's eyebrows rose, a gentle smile spreading. "Tell me more."

I sat up, my enthusiasm bursting forth. "She's amazing, Mom! Her smile lights up the whole room, and she's so smart. We're each other's tutors, and she's always got these incredible ideas. Plus, she's helped me improve in literature, mom! I swear, I love her die."

Mom listened attentively, her eyes shining with warmth. "Sounds like you're smitten."

I blushed, feeling a mix of embarrassment and relief. "I guess I am."

Mom wrapped me in a warm hug. "I'm happy for you, Ivan. You deserve someone special."

I hugged her back, feeling a weight lift off my shoulders.

"Thanks, Mom. Just...don't tell Makayla yet, okay?" I whispered.

Mom chuckled. "My lips are sealed."

I grinned, feeling a sense of freedom. Maybe, just maybe, I'd find the courage to tell Damilola how I feel. I already tried finding out if she still has a crush on me — with the help of anonymous tee. Although, she said she'd ended the crush, but I don't believe that. Damilola is an open book, you can see right through her.

Mom stood up, smoothing my hair. "I'll leave you alone now. Think about your feelings, and we'll talk more later."

"Where are you going?"

"To court."

"Court? Why?"

"I sued Mrs Elena for harassment. I want her to rot in prison for the rest of her pathetic life." I nodded, my face getting serious. Mrs Elena really deserves to rot in prison, she's ruined our lives enough.

As she left my room, I gazed at the ceiling, Damilola popping into my head. A smile plastered on my face.

A maid entered my room thirty minutes later, saying, "Sir, you have a visitor."

"Really?" I asked and she nodded. I went downstairs to see who it was.

Damilola.

Seeing her just lightened my mood drastically. She wore a black crop top and baggy jeans, gosh she looked hot!

Why am I just noticing Damilola? I wish I noticed her before dating Megan.

"Hey," she greeted with books in her arms. "Are you ready for literature?"

"O-of course," I stuttered.

"Why are you staring at me like that?" She asked with a grin and I regained my composure.

Love with composure!

We walked to my room, Damilola was ahead of me since she's already familiar with my house.

I closed the door behind Damilola, my heart racing. We're supposed to be reading invisible man, but I knew focus would be scarce with her in my room.

Damilola dropped her backpack on the floor, surveying my cluttered space. "Cozy," she said, smiling. "I see your room isn't dark anymore."

I grinned, gesturing to my desk. "Fine girl, make yourself at home." She playfully slapped my arms while laughing.

As we settled in, our legs touched under the desk. Electricity sparked. My heart almost jumped out of my chest, I've never felt like this for any girl in my entire life!

"Damilola?" I whispered, my eyes locked on hers.

"Hmm?" She looked up from her notes.

"You're beautiful," I said, my voice barely audible.

Her cheeks flushed as she blinked , trying to recollect my statement. "Ivan..."

I reached out, my fingers tracing her jawline. She didn't pull away.

Our faces inches apart, the air thickened. Damilola's eyes fluttered closed.

My lips brushed against hers, soft and gentle.

The world melted away.

Damilola's hands found mine, our fingers intertwining. Time stood still. We broke apart, gasping for air.

"I've wanted to do that for so long," I confessed.

Damilola's smile lit up my room. "Me too." We leaned in again, lost in each other's eyes —

"Ivan?" Damilola tapped my arm and I flinched. "Where's your mind?"

"Huh?"

"I've been asking you to get your literature notebook, where is it?"

I was lost in the daydream, reliving the moment Damilola's lips touched mine. I blinked, my gaze focusing on the familiar surroundings - my messy bed, the stack of textbooks, and the window filtering in the afternoon light.

Damilola was busy sitting opposite me, flipping the pages of her invisible man novel.

I imagined all that!!!

I'm really starting to lose my mind, and it's getting worse. I might die if I don't confess my love to this fine girl.

"As I was saying," Damilola continued. It's not like I was listening to her earlier, so I didn't know what she was saying. I wasn't focusing.

I needed a time out.

I stood up from my seat, maneuvering to my wardrobe.

"What are you doing?" Damilola asked.

"I'm going for a swim," I responded, bringing out my swim trunk.

"Eh?" she creased her brows. "But we aren't done with lecture."

"I know, I'm tired," I whined, while she yapped.

"Tired? What do you mean by that?!"

"I'm not focusing, Damilola, I need to clear my head first. Feel free to join me in the pool."

"No, I..I..I..can't swim."

"What?" I laughed.

"What's so funny?" she frowned.

"Who doesn't know how to swim?"

"Uh, most people don't. What are you talking about?" she stated and I agreed.

But it's important to learn how to swim. Just imagine you're standing close to a pool or river, with your worst enemy. Let's imagine your enemy decides to kill you by pushing you into the water, what then?

That'll be the end!

So, if you can't swim, go and learn how to. Take that story as a reminder to learn how to swim.

"I'll teach you," I said.

"What?"

"I said, I'll teach you how to swim, come on," I grabbed her hand.

"Wait, right now?" she asked and I nodded.

"Yeah, why not?"

"Oga, have you seen my dressing? Is this what they wear to swim?"

"Erm, I'll give you one of Makayla's swim trunks."

"No thank you, I don't want to -"

"Why?" She lowered her head, I could tell she felt conscious of her body, since she's always being called fat. "Damilola."

"Hmm?"

"You're not fat," I said firmly. Her eyes widened as she stuttered, and scratched her elbow. She was surprised that I knew what was on her mind.

"But Ivan -"

"Shhhh," I placed my index finger on her lips. "Let's go." I pulled her arm and led her to Makayla's room. I opened Makayla's closet and saw one of her new swim trunks. It's not like I care, so I gave it to Damilola.

Thankfully Makayla wasn't at home.

Damilola still hesitated, but I insisted. I waited for her at the poolside, and when she finished dressing up, it was like a goddess fell down from heaven. Damilola is HOT as hell!

I didn't give her a swim trunk that'll expose her body part, hell no! But she still looked so hot.

"Ivan, I can't swim, I'll just seat on the pavement and watch you swim first." Since she was insisting, I agreed.

I canon balled into the pool and started swimming. The water was cool, it calmed my medulla oblongata. Literature almost burnt my brain.

While swimming, I splashed water on Damilola. "Ivan are you okay?" She twitched, cleansing her body with a towel.

I grinned, splashing water on her again. This time she fumed with a bit of laughter. "Ivan stop it, it's not funny."

Then why was she laughing?

I ignored her and splashed water on her again, this time she got angry and dived into the pool unknowingly. She swam towards me, splashing water on me while I swam for safety.

When she caught up with me, she held my arm and made me drink the water. Goodness, she's fierce.

I held her hands back, begging for her forgiveness, but she still struggled to make me drink more water. She slipped but I held her waist to prevent her from falling. Damilola's eyes locked onto mine, shining with excitement.

"Ivan!" she exclaimed.

"Yeah?" I whispered.

"I just swam."

I grinned. "You sure did."

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A/N

hmm, love oo🌚

thank you for reading, please don't forget to vote and comment your thoughts.

CiCi 🌹