Chapter 2 Feelings

As she went home that day,he was all she thought about and all through the night he kept seeing his face . She tossed and turned and when she finally slept, she dreamt about his smile

Over the rest of the days, she didn't see him again . Until she ran into him at the bus station, she was surprised to see him.

They boarded the same bus and when he took his seat, she deliberately sat behind him and hoped he wouldn't talk to her. And he didn't, until they alighted from the bus. She walked away hurriedly as soon as her feet touched the ground but was surprised when someone fell into walking space with her.

She knew it was him. It was the same masculine scent of his, she couldn't have mistaken it, but she refused to acknowledge his presence and pretended not to have noticed him.

" Hi Rose, we meet again ", he said, extending his hands to her.

"Oh God, that voice", Rose thought as she turned her head towards him and tried hard to hide her rising blush. "Oh ummh, hi Mr Kelvin, nice to meet you again", she stuttered shyly , accepting his extended hand.

"Off to work?" , he asked

"Yeah " , Rose answered

"We're going the same direction then", he said.

" Oh ,you have something to do at the office? Mr Conwell doesn't really come to the office this early", she added without waiting for an answer to her question. " God pls help me, " she thought as she mentally hit her head with her palm.

"Oh no, I'm not going to the office nor do I have any business with my uncle. I came back from the force on leave . So I decided to come stay with my uncle here in Florida. I'm going to be here for a while, until I'm called back,that is. So I figured that instead of staying idle, I could be useful", he said.

"So you're looking for a job then ?", Rose asked him.

"Already got one, at the coffee shop down the street", he said.

"Wow, I'm surprised. I mean you could just work at the office", she said.

"I know, just wanted it low key. Plus wouldn't want to be the reason for a constant distraction at work", he said chuckling.

"I mean, I saw how everyone was staring the other day when I walked in, it was a bit embarrassing", he said chuckling again.

"That means you caught me staring too ", she said blushing .

He looked at her and when she turned to meet his gaze, they burst out laughing. He walked her to the door of the office and promised to wait for her after working hours so they could go home together.

Rose was overly excited all through the day, she smiled often and sometimes seemed lost in thought. That didn't go unnoticed by her colleagues at work, they knew her to always be by herself in her own little corner. And everyone was eager to know the reason behind the new development.

Work went smoothly for Rose, at least she thought it did go smoothly for her, she wasn't so sure about the others. She had almost forgotten, Kelvin had promised to wait for her after work hours , she almost jumped out her skin when she saw him leaning on the wall patiently waiting for her, when she came outside the office building.

"Hi Mr Kelvin", she greeted.

"Oh pls it's Kelvin, drop the formality already", he said smiling at her .

"Okay, Kelvin.....shall we ?", she asked as she returned back his smile.

"Yes we shall ", he nodded.

They walked to the bus station and conversed all through the way home and almost forgot themselves. They exchanged contact and She bid him farewell when they got to the bus stop and took the route to her home.

The excitement didn't leave her. She called her only friend Clara to at least find closure or some advice or anything at all. She just wanted to bare her heart out to.

On the second ring, Clara picked up .

"Hey girlfriend", she cooed.

"Hey, could you come over, I want to discuss something with you", she asked hoping she wouldn't say she's held up with work.

"Yeah, sure girl . Is everything alright though? I mean you sound very alright but it sounds urgent", she asked.

"Yes I am, it's just matters of the heart. I think I like someone ", she said blushing.

"Really, OMG Rose,you met a boy ?", Clara squealed.

"Might as well be a man, just come over Clar", okay?

"Give me thirty minutes", she said.

They hung up the call and Rose decided to freshen up and wait for her friend. Forty five minutes later,the doorbell rang. She rushed out to open the door for her.

"Sorry I'm late babe, I brought an apology gift though", she said as she produced a pack of pizza and two soft drinks from her bag.

"Aww, Clar, thank you for the gift. You know I wouldn't hold that against you, I knew you would be at work. I'm so glad you came", she said, hugging her friend.

They sat down and opened the pack of pizza and each took a slice. Rose told her friend how she met Kelvin And everything that has happened up to the moment they were talking. Clara only listened attentively and watched as her friend poured her heart out to her.

"...... So that's it", she concluded as she waited for her friend to say something.

"So,you love him?", Clara asked.

"Love? I don't know but if I'm being honest to myself, i really do like him", she said looking at the pizza she hasn't touched.... She took a bite and closed her eyes savoring the sweetness. She opened her eyes some seconds later to see her friend looking at her.

"What", she asked her friend.

"Does he feel the same way?", Clara asked her.

"Honestly I don't really know, we just seem cool with each other. I just love the way he looks at me", she said almost thoughtfully.

" Okay babe , I understand how you feel. But you have to keep your feelings in check at least until you are sure he feels the same way as you. I don't want you putting your heart out and having it trashed,just like that jerk did to you", Clara said.

At the mention of what happened in her last relationship, Rose frowned. But her friend was quick to notice.

"I'm sorry I brought that up Rose, I'm just looking out for you", Clara said as she put her hand on her friend's shoulder to comfort her.

"I understand Clar, that's why I called to talk to you about it. You know me better than anyone else and you've always been her to comfort me at my lowest. And you're right, once beaten twice shy. He hasn't said anything about having any feeling for me. I let my feelings ahead of me", she said.

"It's okay to feel this way babe, just be careful and give it time and don't rush things, okay ?", Clara advised.

"Yeah, Thank you Clar. I love you ", she said hugging her friend.

"You too girlfriend", Clara replied her friend and hugged her back.

Fifteen minutes later, Rose saw her friend off and retired for the night. Does he feel the same way as she does towards him, she slept with the thought in her mind.