Sweet Love (Psycho love)

The time was exactly eleven o'clock when my uncle came to pick me up at the motor park.

To my wildest surprise, he came in a BMW and I thought that he probably borrowed a car or a friend offered him a lift to come pick me up.

For a brief introduction, my name is Jennifer Onochie, I was born and brought up in Egenyi 1, a village in Ezza South L.G.A, Ebonyi state of Nigeria. I am 19 and I just finished secondary school Education.

I don't think it's nice to tell you about my school because it's just a community school for the downtrodden if you understand what I mean.

I came to spend the holiday at my uncle's house while I wait to write my JAMB by next year.

Though my parents aren't educated or rich, they are trying their best to see that I pass through College and work in a beautiful office.

I am an only child and it wasn't easy to persuade my Parents to come to Port Harcourt to visit my uncle, but I did it and here I am.

Undeniably, my uncle looked happy to see me, he barely came home (village) to visit us and I can't remember the last time he did since last year.

I can't even describe his wife or children, his children haven't been to the village before and his wife visited only during their marriage ceremony.

Whatever their reasons may be, I still feel it's abnormal to forsake your father's land only because of the city that belongs to another.

I got more surprised when the car pulled up in front of a big gate, he punched the horns and the noise blazed over the place.

The gates opened widely, it was opened by Musa, my uncle told me he is his gateman. I chose to call him Aboki (my friend).

I got more amazed when I realized the house belongs to my uncle and I saw two other cars parked in the compound.

I kept quiet though, if he chooses to hide his wealth and pretend to be poor when he comes to the village, he has his reasons and I don't want to interfere in his privacy.

He took me inside and Aunty felt delighted to see me, at least, she just found someone to help with home chores... African's and wisdom...lolz.

Wait! I forgot to tell you something!!

I am very beautiful, I grew up in the village, yes! But I don't look any different from City girls, I can actually take their boyfriends away from them if they aren't careful.

One thing is for sure, I am decent and I don't actually have time for boys, if a Nigerian babe wants to get higher, it should be plus meditation minus men!

I was also introduced to their little daughter, Nancy.

She's six and a bit troublesome. She showed me around the house with lots of giggles and sister this, sister that. She's a darling and I liked her instantly. Hope you do? Maybe you won't, 'cause she's a wide mouth.

At thirty five minutes past four, I was overwhelmed by tiredness due to the day's travel. I laid down on the couch and dozed off.

The doorbell woke me up minutes later, I cursed whosoever that was disturbing me and I forced myself out of the couch when nobody came to answer the door.

Where are the others? My uncle, his wife or daughter? I looked around but found no other presence in the parlor, I stretched myself and yawned heavily as I went to open the door.

I opened the door and beheld a very handsome face. Every other thing became blurry in my eyes and the only thing I could see was the face of the young man staring down at me.

I swallowed hard as my heart skipped a beat, words can't describe the feelings I felt and the dirty things that ran through my mind just at that mind blowing moment.

He towered over me so I had to throw my head back to look up at his awesome face, I have seen and met many boys but none as good looking as him.

I can't even compare his perfect face to the face of the best male model in America. He touched his face cap and that caught my attention and drew me back to reality.

"Ehm, who are you looking for?" I asked him when I caught myself.

"Excuse me?" He looked amused.

"How can I help you?" I refrained from answering his question.

"I should ask you that question, babe" he said and touched my chin as he smiled slyly.

Do you know what I want to do now?

I don't freaking care who he is or who he is looking for, all I wanted to do is to wrap my arms around him and tell him to take me there and then!

What?

I never felt like that before, what's wrong with me? I wondered.

I was fine and normal moments ago before he interrupted. Jenny, get your acts together!

"What do you mean?" I blocked his path when he wanted to go into the house.

Does he think touching my chin will earn him freedom into my uncle's house?

I feel with my heart, not my head, my senses are intact.

"This is my house, damsel!" He said playfully and walked into the house.

I stared at the doorway, looking stupid, looking dumb.

He must think I am a dummy right now!

Oh! How foolish I am!!

It isn't exactly my fault, how would I know he lives here, neither aunt nor uncle told me about a 'he'. Their son or his wife's brother? Well, I can't say!

I turned slowly to look at him as he took the stairs up, the hand on the railing is what I wanted on me right then.

I want more of that featherlike touch again!

What's wrong with me?! What sort of crazy things are running through my mind? I think I need to visit the hospital for my own good!

Jenny dear, you are here at your uncle's place which means he is your uncle's son and that should be enough to cut off any stupid thought in your mind.

I wish he will just be a friend of theirs and not in any way related to them.

There I go again!

***

"This is my son, Christian, your cousin!" My uncle introduced him during dinner.

My cousin... I should remember that!

But these feelings of mine aren't what I should be feeling considering the fact that he's my cousin.

Am not typically shy, but I couldn't even meet his gaze when he spoke to me.

"Nice to meet you and I hope you brought a lot of things from the village for us, especially fruits?"

"I did, but I don't remember putting yours because I didn't know Uncle had a son, one older than me!" I said with an eye roll.

My uncle and Aunt laughed, they took it as a joke, but I think I'm being serious, if not that I came visiting, I wouldn't know my cousins. A gorgeous young man and a cute little girl for that matter.

"Then, you should go back to the village and bring it with you now that you know!" He teased me.

"You know what? I will give you transport fare, go bring it yourself" I laughed.

I glanced at his face for the first time since we met again at the dinning, his eyes were intimidating and I had to look down at my food again.

"Okay ma'am, you win!" He said, throwing his hands up. Everyone bursted into laughter.

"You can't even argue, I thought you would do more than give up!" I mocked him.

"Would you rather I argue like a market woman? I don't do that, real men don't say too many words" he said smiling.

"Mmm, noted!" I exclaimed.

"But brother, I am a woman as well and I don't talk too much" Nancy came in.

"You are not a woman yet, ma'am!" Chris killed his sister's joy, everyone bursted into laughter at her reaction.

She threw her spoon at him angry that he isn't a supportive brother and reported him to their parents, I couldn't stop laughing.

"Who said you aren't a woman, baby? You're more than a woman" her mother supported her.

My Uncle could only laugh, he added simply; "Women and men in the house, let's observe some table manners"

We finished the rest of our food in silence. When everyone was done eating, they all left while Aunt and I cleared the table.

"Can I help with anything?"

I didn't look around but I knew it's Christian that came back, so funny my heart leaped into a joyful hop at the sound of his voice.

"We are good, son," Aunt replied.

He didn't go, he came to stand beside me and his eyes were on me even though he was talking with his mother.

When Aunt finished what she was doing, she left the kitchen. I forgot how to breathe, does he notice what his closeness is doing to me? Does he feel the same? Is he suffering me with his nearness?

"Should I help you with the plates?" He requested.

"I will take care of it, it's nothing" I said but he's already rinsing one of the plates, I didn't stop him.

I can't breathe while he's near, but am excited he was there with me. It's a crazy feeling.

"Tell me about the village" he raised a topic.

He's a good conversation starter, I don't need to be told, but I know that's not exactly what he wants us to talk about.

"Why haven't you visited the village all these while?" I changed the topic.

"You make a habit of answering questions with another question, I asked you to tell me about the village first, remember?" He retorted, chuckling.

"I guess you aren't ready to get the full gist about the village, if you are, answer my question" I returned.

"Okay, I don't know why, but my father doesn't want me to and I can't disobey his orders," he replied.

"Why would he do that?" I asked curiously.

"Did I not tell you that I don't know? And I can't question him, whatever his reasons are, he knows better" he said with a shrug.

I cleaned my hands on a towel after washing the last plate, I started setting the ones he had rinsed.

"So unfortunate" I murmured to myself.

"Excuse me?" He looked at me. Damnit! He's so close that the air from his nostrils was grazing my left cheek.

I just want to go on tiptoe, wrap my arms around him and give him a deep kiss.

"I wasn't talking to you, anyway, about the village, there's nothing special about it" I told him as I took the last plate, he was cleaning his hands.

"Special or not, I want to hear it" he said and went to sit down on the kitchen stool.

"If you desire so much to get village gists, you shouldn't have been so engrossed in your City life that you forgot your ancestral home!" I kicked his guts with my words.

"Fine! I don't want to hear it anymore" he walked away, I ran after him.

"Hey, don't take it too seriously, I was only joking!" I caught him at the base of the stairs.

He's a fast walker, his strongly built long legs aren't for fancy. I held onto his arm so he wouldn't go away.

"I see, I'm not angry, I just lost interest in your gist!" He said, I thought he wanted to shove my hands away and go off but he didn't.

"I... I will tell you..."

"I don't want to hear it anymore" he cut me off, but he still stood there and looked at my face like he can't just go.

"Okay, then" I moved away from him and turned to leave.

His laughter stopped me in my tracks and I turned to mope at him.

"Surprised?" He snorted, still laughing loudly.

"Shocked, I... I didn't expect that" I stuttered.

"Don't worry, I am not angry and I don't think I will ever be with you. Even if you don't want to tell me about it, I have something to show you in my room, let's go!" He didn't wait for a reply, he grabbed my hand and we ran all the way to his room.

"Sit down on the bed, let me see..." He squatted beside his CD player, I presumed that he wants to select a song.

I sat down on his big, soft and beautiful bed. The bedspread was wonderfully designed with Mickey mouse sketches.

His enormous room has a few, but carefully selected properties. The blinds, brown in color with flowery designs covered every wall that it would have been dark if the lights weren't on.

I can't even guess where his window is located because of the non-transparent nature of the blinds.

Everything seemed in order, no dirt, no disarrangement of things or tattered pieces anywhere.

The room smelt like him, his soap, body cream, and body spray all mixed together to form one scent, it's all whole and male.

He inserted a CD disk and Lil Wayne's song, Popular, filled the air. I don't usually like music but I like peeping into celebrities' lives especially foreign ones like Wayne, that's how I got to know it's his song that was playing.

He removed his round cap for the first time today ever since I met him and I saw his head for the first time. There's no single hair on his head, carefully shaved and neat, but if anyone should be awarded for the best head shape, it must be him.

If it were otherwise, I would have laughed at the hairstyle but I can't even take my eyes off of it, it suits him just fine.

"You wanted to show me something" I started as my eyes followed him.

He hung his cap and brought out a PS from his bag, and a laptop too.

"What's your name?" He asked.

"I thought..."

"My father didn't mention it and you too, so stop thinking" he said and sat beside me on his bed. He reads my mind pretty much for him to know what I was going to say.

"Sorry about that, my name is Jennifer"

"Lovely, Jenny!" He praised grinning.

"Thank you" I said and watched him log into his computer, he connected the PS to it.

"Do you know how to play games with PS?"

"Not really, actually I haven't used a laptop before and I don't know anything about PS or how to play games with devices except physical games" I admitted shyly.

"Okay! Let's play this one together!"

Chris is a very good companion, I observed. He accepted all my flaws and was patient in teaching me how to operate and play video games with his laptop.

I felt really happy, he laughs at every little thing I do and I couldn't help myself but laugh as well, he's a cheerful fellow.

I was sloppy in learning at first and I wanted to give up playing some of the games, but he cajoled me to keep trying and you need to see me jumping up in jubilation when I won for the first time.

I played six different games before I told him that I was tired. I wanted to go out because I didn't trust myself when I was around him and in his bed.

"You still don't want to tell me about our hometown?" He said, winking at me contemptuously.

"You don't forget, do you?" I asked.

"Yes, for your information. And, it doesn't seem like you have anything to do now, let's make use of our time, babe!" He said, logging out of his laptop.

He returned it to its former position before joining me on the bed again.

"What do you want to know about the village?" I asked him.

"Many things, everything if possible!" He shrugged.

"Well, in the..."

"Do you have a boyfriend?" He cut me off with another question, I knew that had been the question on his mind. Now, what exactly does he want to know?

I only gave him a side look.

"It's fine if you don't want to tell me, I mean..." He started, but I answered, anyway.

"I don't have a boyfriend, I actually have boyfriends" I laughed at his reaction to my reply.

"I thought as much," he said.

"I'm not into a relationship if that's what you meant, but half of my mutual friends are male."

"I know" he mumbled something else but I didn't hear it.

"You?"

"What?"

"Do you have a girl? Serious relationship I mean?" I inquired and I could see my own jealousy boiling up.

"None for now, I have two ex's already" he said simply like it meant nothing, he waved it away.

I wish I could simply wave it the same way he did, but I couldn't, I felt really jealous that some girl...not just one but two...has impressed him before.

"Not surprised at all, someone like you doesn't need to work hard to get a girl into your web, you can as well change them anyhow, anytime" I snorted, batting my lashes.

"Whatever you say, girls are literally stupid" he shrugged not finding it funny anymore.

"Are you collectively referring to every female species!" I interjected.

"Don't get me wrong, but I haven't come across any girl that has some common sense, they..."

"Stop! I don't think this conversation is going to end well" I interrupted him.

"Jeez! You haven't heard the last one, I was going to say they..."

"I still don't want to hear it" I covered my ears with my palms playfully and he tried to remove my hands from my ears so I would listen as he continued talking, I didn't hear it.

That's it, we played around his room like two kids in a playground. We ended up scattering his bed. I found where the window was located when I used his curtains as a shield, we crashed quite a lot out of his few properties.

I don't know what happened next when he caught me between the blinds and shoved me to his bed. Everything happened fast, like a fast-forwarding movie on a television, he pinned me to the bed and his lips descended on mine.

That I was surprised is an understatement, he had knocked air out of my lungs and I couldn't describe the sort of magic his lips were performing on mine.

A voice kept ringing a warning in my head that he's my cousin, that I should push him away, that it's not normal, that we have to stop but my heart and body shimmed in jubilation.

I wished that we could remain like that till eternity. My whole world spinned and my body vibrated as it wanted more.

In a second, I forgot the world, I forgot how to think, I forgot who he was, I forgot right and wrong and decided to make this moment a sweet memory.

I threw my arms around his neck and pulled him closer, and closer. My legs went around his waist and pushed him so close that I cursed the material (clothes) that separated our skin.

I felt him hard and ready, pressed on my lower abdomen. If he wasn't in jeans, I swear, it would have torn it and sprang out for good.

His mouth and tongue sought, found, tasted and savoured every part of my face and neck, hungrily. Greedily. Possessively.

His hand was restless, it tried to get my zipper down and it succeeded.

"Oh" I couldn't help the moan that escaped my lips when his fingers caressed my breasts, our tongues fought for dominance.

I lost it, my hands traveled down to his waist, and started working on his trouser's buttons.

In one quick splitting second, he jumped off me like I just pressed the right button that snapped him back to his senses.

We stared at each other in amazement, as we fought to keep our breaths slow and steady.

When my eyes went down defeated, I saw my half naked body, I drew at the hem of my cloth and closed my zipper with shaky fingers, I stood up slowly from the bed. He stood frozen until I walked towards the door, he caught my hand.

"Don't go, Jenny. I mean...not like this, I'm really sorry. I didn't know what came over me, I...shit!" He cursed when his voice trailed off.

"You don't have to be sorry, it wasn't exactly your fault. I mean...what was I thinking, I should have stopped us from... I... I will just go to my room" I half ran out of his room.

I rushed into my room and shut the door. There are a lot of empty rooms in my uncle's house, so I was given a separate room. It was when I ran inside that I figured his room was actually the one opposite mine.

I went to look at my face in the standing mirror, I couldn't see my face but I saw what happened in his room vividly.

What would be going through his mind now? No! What actually happened right there? I don't trust myself but I remember he was the one that...

Gosh!

My whole being wept and craved for his touch again.

"How am I going to face him tomorrow?" I murmured to myself.

I am tired, it's been a long day. I thought of taking another shower but I dismissed the thought because I didn't want to wash off his scent which still fills my nostrils.

His touch still lingered on my body and my mouth felt supple and swollen from his kiss. I threw myself on the bed and went on dreaming about what's coming next.

*Next morning*

I was woken up from my daydream by my aunt's voice when she called to wake me up that the day had broken.

Truly, when I left bed and looked at the wall clock at the parlour, I saw that it's almost twelve past eight. I had brushed my teeth and washed my face before coming out of my room inside my private bathroom, so I joined my Aunt in the kitchen.

"Good morning, Aunt?" I greeted her and looked around to see what I would help her do.

"Morning, how was your night, Jennifer?" She replied.

"Good, I overslept... you should have woken me earlier" I commented.

"I know you must be tired from yesterday's journey, so I had to allow you to rest, I woke you up so you would take your bath and then go back to sleep, it's good for you" She said tapping my shoulder.

"I don't usually sleep that long, I was just tired and now, am awake, so I have to help you out here" I said and took the tea mugs to rinse for her to share breakfast.

"Nice, I really won't mind if you take a good rest, you know" she shrugged smiling.

My Aunt is a very nice woman, she's jovial as well and she kind of likes petting people. My first impression of her was wrong, I discovered her virtuous side.

"Good morning, Mom?" His voice echoed in my head.

My heart sank. One of the mugs almost slipped off my hand, it was sheer luck that it fell back inside the washing basin.

My whole body shivered and I kept myself busy with pouring the tea instead. I have to make sure I don't look up, I might end up wobbling out of the kitchen.

"How are you doing son?" My Aunt asked her son.

"Am awesome, and you?"

"Not bad at all!"

"How was your night, cousin?"

Cousin? Is he referring to me?

I am busy minding my business, why can't he just go if he's done greeting his mother?

Wake up, Jen. It doesn't seem like anything serious happened last night, but why does it matter so much to me? It doesn't seem like it matters to him, anyways. It's no big deal!

I glanced at his face and forced a squeaky smile "It wasn't bad, kinda refreshing and yours?" I rolled my eyes and brought it down to pouring tea.

"My night was splendid, let me help you with that" He chooses his English words carefully, I must comment.

He took the jug from me to pour tea himself, but I didn't give him a chance.

"Mr helper, there doesn't seem to be another male presence in this kitchen, it's not meant for you, get lost!" I snorted.

"Huh? Jennifer, don't be rude when a guy wants to help you out in the kitchen, it takes an intelligent man to help out in the kitchen!" My Aunt jumped in.

"Mom, don't mind her, I know how to handle her!" he said as he carefully took out the tray pan to arrange the breakfast.

"Aunt, don't tell me you are standing in for a guy in this kitchen o, doesn't he know his place?" I objected.

A rush of aspirin ran through my body as his fingers brushed against mine when he took the last mug of tea from my hand.

I glanced at where he touched me and moved quickly away from him, what's wrong with me? Is this really my heart?

"I have to, men who help out in the kitchen are rare, it takes a real man to do that" My aunt said as she carried water to the dining table.

I took the tray pan hurriedly and followed my aunt out, one of the mugs ended up with him.

"Are you saying my uncle is not a real man?" I asked my aunt, hiding my amusement as we set the dining table.

He brought it to the dinning himself, when I stole another glance at him, a mischievous smile played on his lips over my expensive joke with his mother, or maybe about something up on his mind, that I don't know.

"I never said that, Jennifer. I meant that it isn't actually bad for a man to help women out in the kitchen, besides, your uncle used to do exactly that until they came along and he became more busy" My aunt replied with a smile.

The 'they' must be Chris and Nancy, and they are the source of my uncle being mostly busy these days. Good parenting ethics? But I think he creates time for them as well.

After breakfast that morning, everyone went to work and I stayed home alone. Nancy was dropped off to school by her dad and it's said he would be the one to bring her home.

The rest of the day was boring, I watched TV, played games alone and even made a play of cleaning the house and dancing around before I got tired and went into my room and locked myself in.

I dozed off to sleep after many minutes of wallowing in fantasy. I was awakened by a knock on the door, I stood up lazily and went to open the door. There was no one there, I looked around surprisingly only to find out that it's a bang on the front door.

Oh my God!

It's late already, I saw the wall clock when I ran downstairs to the parlor. I rushed and opened the door to see Chris standing there.

"I was right after all," he said, walking past me.

"I... I'm sorry, I fell asleep" I apologized for keeping him waiting but he waved it off.

"It's nothing, you must have been so bored in this big house!" He exclaimed, smiling instead.

"I guess I was, but it isn't too bad. How's work today?" I asked sitting down.

He sat next to me and tapped my chin. He seemed not to help touching me, especially my chin. What's so special about it though? I kept wondering.

"It was as beautiful as you, I made a lot of sales and I'm happy" he said unbuttoning his shirt.

"I don't even know what you do" I stated flatly, fighting my eyes to stop looking at his hands as it worked on his shirt.

"It must have skipped my mind, I actually import phones and their accessories from across many countries, mostly China and sell them here" he said bluntly.

"Wow! That's nice...it's a wonderful business, but isn't it kinda expensive to start and run smoothly?" I asked curiously wondering how he got so high at such a young age.

Well, my uncle is sort of rich as I can see and he must have started the business for his son, seems that's what he wants to do instead of going to university.

"I worked and saved up a little money and my father helped me out, and...here I am" he shrugged, slapping his hands together.

"Nice...so, where's your head office located?" I asked, holding his gaze.

"Jason plaza, it's a new plaza here in PH" he said

"Oh! I think I remember, I passed it on my way here, it's located at that Y junction!" I exclaimed, recalling the ash building I admired on the drive here.

Why didn't my uncle tell me even when I told him that I liked the building? My uncle is a man of few words and he's too secretive, I don't really like that.

"Yes! Exactly!!" He confirmed.

"Okay, I'll be in the kitchen, I have to put something together before Aunt comes back, I don't want her to stress herself after the day's work" I told him and tried to stand up.

He drew me back and made me sit on his lap, I was caught by surprise, what's he doing? He was even looking at me as if he didn't expect himself to be drawing me close.

He caught himself almost immediately and tried to push me off his lap but my mouth crushed on his own without notice and his tight hold loosened.

His arms pulled me closer to him and my hands fell loosely over his shoulders, we forgot about who we were for moments as our tongues mingled.

His mouth was too possessive when it moved away from my lips to tease my earlobes and hungry when it moved down to my neck.

"Jen..." He whispered my name like a lost man, I shivered, his voice held so much power over me and I couldn't figure out what I mumbled as an answer to him.

I lifted my left hand off his shoulder and plastered my palm on his chest, I felt the rapid thuds of his heart.

He lifted his face a few inches away from mine and studied me intently "We... we can't... really do this" he muttered but he didn't make any move to shove me off his lap as I expected.

Fine! He doesn't want me, which other form of rejection am I expecting, he's just being a gentle guy by keeping his cool.

This is exactly the second time and to the best of my knowledge, he's probably reminding me that we are cousins and there's no way we are going to...do whatever nonsense he sensed must be running through my stupid mind.

I leaped up to my feet "this shouldn't have happened, I... I...it's all my fault. Am sorry" I took the blame and turned to go into the kitchen.

"No! Jen, wait!!" He grabbed my hand before I could escape, I really wanted to because I didn't want him to see the tears that filled my eyes.

It's ready to stream down anytime so I looked away from his face "I have to go and cook, everyone will be home soon" I beseeched indirectly, he should better get it.

"Gosh!" He cursed and ran his hand through his hairless head, he spun around as if he wanted to hit something and he ended up hitting his palm since there's nothing close to him.

Why is he now overreacting? He had ended the kiss and made it clear that we aren't supposed to be doing that, what is his problem?

I took the opportunity and dashed into the kitchen, he should suit himself!

How's it that he is able to compose himself and behave in his usual manner as if nothing has ever happened between us, while I on the other hand find it hard to place the plates on the table when I am serving dinner, he was even the hero that caught the plate when it slid off my hand.

"Thanks" I mumbled and went back into the kitchen to bring water.

What is wrong with me? He is my cousin for crying out loud and these feelings...Jesus! This strange feeling is driving me nuts!

"Jenny! We are eating already, where's the water?!" My aunt's voice snapped me out of my mystery.

I didn't know I was standing in the middle of the kitchen, staring at space while my mind wandered.

"I'm coming!" I replied and quickly opened the freezer to bring out two bottles of water.

"Aunty Jen! Can you please feed me, I am sick and my hands are shaking, see...it can't even hold a spoon properly!" Nancy whined when I entered the dining room.

"Hey! When did you become so sick that you can't hold a spoon, eat or get out if you aren't hungry!" Chris doesn't know how to soothe a child at all, but he will make the best father in the whole world.

"Don't shout at my baby like that, come honey, let mommy feed you... your aunt needs to eat too" My aunt said carrying her on her lap.

"Jenny, are you okay?" My uncle asked, noticing my actual silence. Of course they know how playful I was when Nancy was concerned, but that day...

"Am okay, I just don't feel like eating... I..." I trailed off and forced a smile to my lips so they won't query me further.

"If you don't like this food, you can go make another one, this is your home too. Don't feel..." My uncle started.

"No! No!! Uncle, I'm really okay. Yeah! I just don't feel hungry and that's probably because I ate earlier this evening" I said quickly rolling my eyes.

Everyone else was busy eating comfortably, Nancy on her mother's laps eating with giggles and kisses while her mother played along with her.

Chris, well...his spoon is dancing harmoniously on his plate and he is munching on the food in his mouth, whatever is going through his mind now.

"Okay, if you say so, just feel free to tell me if you have any problem, you know" he shrugged and used the napkin to clean his mouth.

He pulled away from the table and stood up "the meal is awesome, thanks" He exclaimed and went inside.

"I...Aunt, I will be... inside, call me when you and your darlings are done eating so I will come clear the table" I said playfully and my Aunt relieved me.

"Don't worry Jenny, I and my honey pie will do that, go get some rest. Thanks for a wonderful dinner"

She said exactly what I wanted to hear and I didn't waste time getting myself inside. I locked myself inside my room and turned off the light, maybe I will force some sleep into my eyes and forget everything that happened earlier.

***

Oh, how stupid I am! It's 12:39 and I am busy counting the seconds and waiting for a tap on my door instead of going to a goddamn sleep!!

I tumbled over and over on my bed and the sleep was nowhere to be found, how will sleep come while everything in me yawns for the guy next door.

I see him when I close my eyes, I perceive him when I breathe and I feel his hands on me when I remember us on his bed and in the parlor.

I think I will need a mug of milk to clear my head and try going to sleep all over again, yes! That's a great idea.

I should remember that he is still my cousin and he said that to me, I should get off it and be a good girl.

But how will I do that? How will Jennifer be a good girl while he's like poison, he slowly moves into my system and breaks all my defenses in a twinkle of an eye.

I jumped out of bed and slipped into the kitchen, careful not to awaken people who were busy enjoying the night.

I made my milk safely and peacefully, I took a sip and turned to walk back to my bedroom in the same way I came only to pour my hard made tea on a bare chest.

"Eeeew! Why didn't you turn the lights on?" He winced in pain and went to switch the light on.

"Why do you have to choose the wrong time to make an entry, you are going to make another milk for me" I snorted, frowning.

Why am I even angry? I am the one who was making tea in the dark as if I am the only person that lives in the house.

And I just poured hot tea on him, who needs to be blamed? No! It isn't me, he shouldn't have come here, who invited him? He should be hurt from the hot milk for all I care!

"Really now?! You are being serious? No problem, I will make you another tea and you will also have to say sorry for the hot tea you poured on me." he emphasized.

"I'm not apologizing because this isn't my fault! You are the one who barged into this kitchen, I don't remember inviting you here!! And it's milk, not tea" I scoffed.

"Hello, young lady!" He waved a hand to my face as if to wake me up from my slumber "the last time I checked, no one needs an invitation to enter this kitchen!"

"Kitchen belongs to women! How many times have you seen your dad come in here, that..."

"Calm down Jen, you are shouting and you wouldn't want to wake everyone up" he covered my mouth with his palm making me swallow my words.

"No one intends to do that, just make my milk for me and there will be peace except you don't want to sleep tonight" I managed to say.