Chapter 3 Asked out

Kevin's POV

Her eyes, he thought, remembering the hazel pool of her eyes that he almost drowned in when he first met her at the office. The sound of her voice melted his worries when he heard it.

He had come over to his uncle's place because he felt he needed a change of environment and to think his mind off the gothic pictures of war from his mind. Certainly, falling in love was not part of the plan, Yes he knew something was cultivated inside of him from the first time he set his eyes on her. His parents had pleaded he stayed with them until he went back to base but he had that push to come over here,whatever it is, he hoped it was for good.

Having had a prior notice of his coming, his uncle's family had welcomed him with open arms and excitement . He had told his uncle that he would like to keep himself busy while staying with them and his uncle had tried to convince him to work for him at the office.

He however had declined with excuses. Working at the coffee shop was more convenient for him. He had started working today at the coffee shop and never told anyone who he was,even his employer. He just wanted to enjoy the peace, quietness and solitude and possibly clear his head before he goes back to base.

His day started off well as he never expected to meet Rose on his way to work. He knew she had tried to pretend she didn't see him,but he wasn't giving her that chance. He also somehow thinks she feels the same way.

He wouldn't be so sure until she acknowledges it herself but first thing first, he would have to tell her how he feels.

"Will ask her out this weekend, probably to see the movie", he thought to himself.

"I hope she agrees", he muttered as he picked up his phone and dialed her number.

Rose's POV

She groaned when her phone rang, someone was depriving her of a much needed rest after the day's work. Thank God it's Friday, she would at least have enough time to rest even though she had things to do at home .

She grudgingly picked her phone and looked at the screen to know who was calling her but saw UNKNOWN CALLER written boldly on her screen. She dropped back her phone and laid back down.

But on the second ring, she picked it up and waited for the unknown person at the other end to speak.

"Hi, this is Kelvin", she heard the person at the end of the line say .

"Kelvin?", she said shocked.

She hadn't saved his number after the exchanged contact, she had forgotten.

"Ummh,hi Kelvin ", she said.

"Seems, you've forgotten me,huh?", he teased her.

"No, I forgot to save your contact after the other day, sorry about that", she replied honestly.

"It's okay, so how are you?", he asked.

"I'm fine and you",she replied

"I'm fine, just missing you", he replied.

"You are missing me?", she replied, shocked over his statement. "Why?", she asked again almost like she was asking herself the question as she felt she wasn't sure what she heard.

"I'm sorry if I'm sounding ... .too straightforward. I was just hoping you could agree to go out with me this weekend. We could go see the movie or sit out somewhere and talk for a while? ", he said, sounding unsure.

Rose was still very much dumbfounded. Kelvin asked her out ? She wouldn't have imagined it would happen soon. He said he missed her,does that mean he feels the same way as she does?. She didn't realize she has been keeping quiet for awhile as her thoughts took her away from the moment, until he heard him say:

"Hello, are you still there ?", with a voice ladened with uncertainty.

"Yes, I'm a bit surprised. Are you asking me out? I mean .... Yes i will love to go out with you ", she said blushing unashamedly knowing he can't see her .

"Thank God, for a send I thought you would decline. Okay, is Saturday evening convenient for you? Probably by seven pm?", he asked.

"Yes it is", she replied.

"Fantastic, seven it is then", he said.

They hung up later after discussing work.

Rose couldn't believe Kelvin called to ask her out . She called Clara immediately.

"Clar, guess what?", she said excitedly.

"What's popping girlfriend, why all the excitement? ", Clara asked.

"Clar , he asked me out", she said squealing.

"Who?"Clara asked, confused.

"Really? Like are you kidding me now Clar? Kelvin, remember?", she did not believe her friend had forgotten their discussion.

"Oh my God, babe are you serious?", Clara asked with excitement in her voice .

"Yes Clar. We're going out to see the movies on Saturday evening. Please Clar I need your help with what to wear and my makeup". She pleaded.

"Yeah sure babe anything for you. Will be there by 5". Clara said.

"Thank you so much Clar, I love you", she said blowing kisses on the phone.

"You too babe, see ya tomorrow ", Clara said as they hung up the call.

That night, she slept with so much excitement in her heart and a smile on her face.

She woke up the next day with so much energy. Her mother even noticed and prayed,whatever is making her daughter smile so much continues to do so. She made a mental note to engage her in a discussion about it later.

The day went on normal but to her, it was dragging itself. She dozed off after sending the Email Mr Conwell told her to send to their client.

She woke up when the doorbell rang, she opened the door to reveal her friend Clara smiling at her. She noticed Clara was carrying a small bag with which undoubtedly was not meant to carry a pizza box as Clara always comes with one when visiting her.

She however didn't ask her friend what she had inside the bag. They hugged each other and went into her room.

"Is your mom at work?", Clara said looking around .

"Yeah, it's her shift". Working at the hospital isn't that easy, I have to sleep here all by myself some nights if she has night shifts", she said.

"Sorry about that Rosy", Clara said.

"Don't give me that face Clar,you know it's normal and I'm used to it already", rolling her eyes at her friend.

" Okay, why don't you go have a warm bath, while i rummage through your clothing and see what I can find that would be fit for tonight", Clara said

"Okay Clar, will be out in a jiffy", She said entering the bathroom.

She gasped immediately as she stepped out of the bathroom seeing the red material laid out in the bed, beside a black flare gown.

Okay ... .the gown,she recognized as hers but the other material....., Rose thought to herself as she turned to her friend who was pretending not to have noticed her confusion and asked; "What's this Clar?"

"It's a lingerie duh, you need an eyeglass?"Clara answered, still searching for a matching footwear for her friend.

"What's it for?"She asked, confused.

Clara stopped what she was doing and looked at her friend like she had grown two heads.

"Its for skating, hope you're satisfied with the answer ? Clara joked.

"Hahaha, not funny Clar. Of course I know what it is I saw, but we're going to the cinema not to his house. Stop getting funny ideas", she said.

" Besides he stays with his uncle, who happens to also be my boss at the office, so how convenient is that ?", she added.

"Just put it on, Rosie. Besides you never can tell what he has up his sleeve. Better be prepared. C'mon babe, dress up he will be here anytime soon", Clara said.

Rose looked at her friend with gratefulness in her eyes. Happy she has a friend as thoughtful as her. She wouldn't have in her wildest thoughts, thought of getting lingerie for any reason at all and that's because she doesn't really know her stand with Kelvin at the moment... but it wasn't such a bad idea.

Kelvin was at her door to pick her up at 6:58. And when she came with her friend to receive him,she could see the look of admiration in his eyes.

"You look beautiful ", he said.

" Thank you Kelvin", she muttered blushing.

Clara cleared her throat to get their attention when it seems she has been forgotten. She smiled when they both looked in her direction.

"Oh ummh forgive me. Kelvin, this is my best friend Clara, Clara meet Kelvin. She said,

"Hi Clara, pleasure to you", Kelvin said, extending his hand toward Clara.

"The pleasure is mine", Clara said as she received the handshake.

"I trust you are a gentleman, pls take care of her and bring her back on time", Clara said as she hugged her friend goodbye.

"Hope you're with your spare?" Clara asked and watched as her friend brought a key from inside of her clutch bag and waved it at her face smiling.

"Alright, have a nice time", Clara added as she watched as they entered the car Kelvin came with and they drove off.