UZO'S POV

The second shoot was awesome. I couldn't help but feel so good about it. I was seated in the dressing room, the makeup artist and hair stylist doing wonders to my face and hair respectively. The launch was in thirty minutes and I was excited. I was to walk the ramp with the other female models and the male model.

I was done in no time and I could hear the sound of music. I made my way backstage to wait till I was called. Timi and I have spent quality time with each other and I was very happy. He seemed to give me all the time in the world and that was more than enough for me.

When it was time, I sashayed all the way to the end of the ramp and back Beyoncé's brown skin girl was played making the whole thing more original. A few shots were taken here and there. Afterwards, Tara walked up to the stage and started talking about the product while we the models were backstage. We didn't change yet because of the photos to be taken after the launch.

"Hey there" He breathed against my neck and I felt the current running through my bloodstream. I turned to face him. "Timi! What are you doing here?" I whisper-yelled. He chuckled and at that moment, I thought that was the best sound in the world.

"I came here to see you. Or can't I come to see my sugarplum" I blushed at his statement and looked away. "Oh you look so cute when you blush"
"But I was not blushing" I pouted. He smiled and let it go "You look smoking hot by the way"
"Thanks" I whispered. Not because i didn't want anyone to hear us, but because I couldn't get myself to speak up.

In no time, the launch was over and we took pictures and then changed and left the building. Michelle and Mide were with Tara while Timi and I left.

Timi drove a red 2019 Toyota Avalon.
"Where are we going to?" I asked as we hit the road. "Have patience Uzo" He replied whilst chuckling. I sighed in defeat and averted my gaze to my side watching as we drove past buildings.

The car came to a sudden halt and I snapped my gaze at Timi."Here we are" He beamed and we got down from the car. The big Board read City park. We walked into the park side by side and our hands touching each other slightly as we moved. I looked around me at the evergreen grasses, and sighed. "Now this is fresh air. This place is beautiful Timi" He smiled. "Very beautiful. I'm glad you like it"

He led me to a bench and we sat there for few minutes, silent. The silence was warm, calm and accommodating.
"This is where I come to watch the sun set. Its a beautiful sight to behold" Timi said finally breaking the silence.

"Yeah. Nature is beautiful. And I don't get to see this beautiful sight everyday" I couldn't help but smile at the way nature was unfolding itself.

"How about we do something" Timi started and I nodded urging him to speak on. "You ask me all the questions you've always wanted to ask me" He finished and I nodded in approval. "Okay"

What should I ask him? I thought. Suddenly, the question came across my mind. "Why did Sean leave me just because you asked him to" Timi smiled. "Well, you know, he has always been acting like a rich kid and stuff giving him that reputation of his" He paused and I nodded to show I was following. "Well it's a lie. His dad was my dad's ex driver" I couldn't believe it "That would totally ruin his reputation" Timi nodded and turned to face me. "I wasn't going to say it. I just threatened him. It wouldn't be nice on my path"

"You're really considerate. If it were me, I just might have spilled the beans"
Timi chuckled, his voice resounding in my ear even after he had stopped. "Why was he picking on you though?"
Does he not know? Or does he want me to say it myself?. "He asked me out"
"And you did not accept. I don't blame him, any guy will feel a great loss if the girl they like doesn't accept them"
I snorted causing Timi to burst into a fit of laughter. "Okay, my second question" I said in between laughter.

"Why don't you attend a private school with the kind of wealth your parents accumulated?"

"Rich kids are spoilt brats. I can't bear spending a term in such a school. I'll definitely loose my mind"

I smirked. "But you're a rich kid"

"And so are you. Tell me, why don't you attend a private school"

"I started secondary school at a private school you know, I came to FGC in JSS2."

He nodded in understanding "Uzo I don't know much about you. Just one term wasn't enough. I'll make up for it. Get to know the things you love"

Another question popped in my head. "How did you know that I love banana cake?"

"Mide told me. Apparently you two have been friends for a while" He sighed and I watched him as the evening golden sun casted upon his face making he look more appealing than ever.

"Why are you staring so much?"
I snapped my gaze to the side as my cheeks burned "I wasn't" I stuttered.
"Even your voice gives you away. You're free to baby, I'm all yours"
My cheeks burned furiously and my complexion gave me away. I'm guessing Timi saw that because he started laughing uncontrollably.

"Another question, why did you leave the country abruptly" I asked trying to change the topic and also because I was dying to know why he left.

"My dad made me. He said I was not safe and that his rivals in the business world would attack me"

I nodded and my final question stood on the tip of my tongue just waiting to be uttered. My heart was racing erratically. "Say what you have to say" He said staring straight at a distance.

"I'm nervous" I whispered but he heard. "It's okay to be nervous. Come let's walk a bit to ease you of nervousness" He said holding out his hands which I gladly took as he helped me up.

We took a short stroll around the park his hands in his pocket and mine picking at my neat fingers. An act of nervousness. "Why do you care so much for me and not anyone else. Not even Dinny that was your friend from JSS1?"

We stopped at the love garden decorated with different types of flowers. He turned to face me and held my hands in his and at that moment, In felt my knees go weak. "I do care about Dinny because she's my friend. I have other female friends. But none of them makes me feel the way I do when I'm with you. What I feel for you is way beyond me. I love you Isabella"

Those words melted my heart. It felt too good to be true. "I love you too" I responded and he pulled me into a warm embrace. I could feel his heart pacing and I smiled. I make him feel that way. Not Dinny or any other girl.

I smiled against his chest and sighed.
We pulled away and continued our walk. "Here. For you" Timi said handing me a white rose flower which I gladly accepted and muttered a thank you. "There's still so much I also don't know about you"

He beamed. "Speaking of things you don't know about me, come with me" He said and pulled me with him. We got into the car and he put in the ignition and started driving. I didn't ask any questions. I went through my IG. My followers had increased owing to the shoot at Tara's. I was at 41.7k followers. I also went to WhatsApp and viewed statuses. Dammy and Agatha were not online.

"Ta—da!"

I furrowed my brows at the building before us. "We're back home"
"True" Timi smiled. "Come on in" h3 urged and we made our way into the house. He went up the right curvy stairs  of the two sided exquisite stairs and I trailed behind him.

Timi walked into his room and I followed him in. "Lock the door behind you" What?! "Why?" I deadpanned.

"I hope you don't think I'm going to rape you?"

I nodded my head and he chuckled. "I'm not going to. Trust me you don't know how many times I've raped you with my eyes" He muttered the last part to himself but I heard. My cheeks heated up instantly and I didn't want him to notice so I spoke up. "Well, show me what you called me here for"

He nodded and locked the door before walking to his wardrobe. I was curious to know why I was in his room. It was actually my first time in his room. His room was quite larger than mine and it's monochrome themed. I looked around ogling his room decor.

"Hey Uzo!" I snapped my head at him.
"Promise me you won't think I'm a creep or something after what I'm about to show you" Curiosity was eating me up. "Okay" I responded and he smiled.

He pulled a switch behind his wardrobe and the wardrobe moved away making way for him to walk into a small cubicle. "Come on" he urged and I walked in. "Wow!" that was the first thing I could say. I was in Timi's miniature art gallery. I didn't even know he could draw talk more of painting.

I picked up a painting. It was the silhouette of a young boy staring at the stars. "This is beautiful. You're so talented Timi. Why the hell are you in the commercial class?" I asked. This talent shouldn't be wasted.

He sighed. "My dad made sure of that. He said I'm a potential business man and told me to give art up" I really hated it when parents imposed their rules on the kids especially in the aspect of career choice.

"There's nothing creepy about art Timi" I said referring to the promise I made earlier.
"Oh yeah". He opened a smaller version of his wardrobe and brought out a sketchpad alongside some other paintings.

He dropped them on the table and told me to have a look. I opened the sketchpad. It was the picture of a young girl smiling. Afro hair, plump lips...she looked so familiar. I turned to the other page and realization dawned on me. It was an older version of the girl. The girl was me!

I turned to look at him. He rubbed the back of his neck nervously. I didn't say a word because of how shocked I was. I went through the sketchpad. Only pictures of me filled them. I closed it when I was done and on the front page was written. ISABELLA'S

I couldn't help but smile. I dropped the sketchpad on the table and checked out the paintings. All paintings of me. A particular one caught my eyes. I was wearing the dress I wore at the first shoot in that painting. "This one is recent" He nodded.

The last one was the photo of a teenage boy and girl sitting on a bench watching the sun set. The boy with curls and the girl with an afro bun. I didn't need a soothsayer to tell me that that was Timi and I. And we just left the park. We were staring at the sun set.

I couldn't help the surge of emotions rushing. I was shocked, abashed, flabbergasted, who was I kidding? More than all that, I was happy, excited, delighted!

I couldn't check them all out, my emotions got the better of me. I walked towards Timi slowly. "I love them" I whispered. "You do?"
I nodded affirmative and he smiled. "They are so beautiful"

"So you don't think I'm a creep"

I shook my head. "Of course not. I think you're awesome" I responded and his smile widened.

We moved closer. Our faces was half an inch away. I could hear Timi raged breathing and his heart drumming. They mirrored mine. He snaked his hands around my waist and my hands found it's way to his neck.

Timi sighed and his breath fanned my lips making me to close my eyes instantly. Anticipation burning all over my body. He gently placed his lips against mine and clouded my senses with a mind blowing kiss.

Phew!
Chapter twenty three is out 💃💃💃

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Qhupid out 🐾🐾