Chapter 8: Friends

*Later That Day*

The school gates had students going out. Al'ravee, Murry, Selou, and Ivan walked out of the school gates while engaging in a discussion.

"Ravee, what do you enjoy in those novels that you read all the time," said Ivan.

Murry remained quiet as he walked behind them with Selou.

Al'ravee responded as if he had waited for such a question. "You see, there's a certain joy I get when I get to see someone's life pass before my eyes, kinda like a spectator."

Ivan clearly didn't get the vibe of what Al'ravee said. "I wonder, if you had time for your academics just the way you do for your e-novels, maybe you would have better grades. hehe. "

Al'ravee was speechless. It wasn't like there was anything he could say to refute those words though.

Ivan turned his head sideways just in time to see Murry wink at him from the corner of his eyes.

"Psst" Ivan called out to Ravee. He nodded his head backward. Al'ravee immediately understood.

"Remember, just as we planned, first the gaze thing, then the vague speech, and be direct with the poem," Al'ravee said to which Ivan nodded, He suddenly started slowing down while Murry increased his own pace. This caused Selou who had been staring at her mobile device to subconsciously try to keep up.

As Murry seemed to try to catch up with Ivan and Al'ravee, he spoke out awkwardly. "So Selou, have you ever been in a relationship?."

Selou was confused as her gaze left her phone. What could he be thinking to suddenly start such a conversation? "I have actually, but that's a long time ago," She said, not really in the mood to talk about it.

"What do you think of Ivan," Murry asked out of the blue.

Selou's cheeks slightly turned red. Murry, upon seeing this nodded to himself inwardly 'It seems that psychology fact that there is an eighty percent chance of your crush also having a crush on you is correct, besides even I noticed it.'

"Ivan?... I-I don't know... Um... maybe, he never said anything about himself ever being in a relationship though" She stuttered.

Murry face-palmed in his head. 'I'm being direct for a reason you know.' "No, not that..." He began.

"Some girls have actually come to me to tell Ivan that they have a crush on him. Ivan is quite good-looking, and I'm able to notice the googly eyes they give him but he doesn't even notice it. How come he's so dense."

Murry was flabbergasted. 'Look at the pot calling kettle black. You are the dense one, you are both dense, I won't be surprised if even your kids become dense both your uncles are dense. And why didn't you tell Ivan about those girls, and why are you telling me this now?' Of course, that was what he was thinking.

They soon passed Al'ravee and joined Ivan. Murry then started slowing down but Selou kept her walking pace. Ivan was already walking beside her so there was no need for her to slow down.

Al'ravee glanced at Murry as they slowly drew back, increasing the distance between them. "Do you think he's gonna pull it off ?." Al'ravee asked.

"This is the third time we're attempting this, if he gives up again I'll just forget about it," Murry said.

Ivan who was in front took in a deep breath. He looked at Selou who was now back to texting, he looked towards the sky as his life flashed before his eyes. He took another deep breath.

With great difficulty, he spoke out. "Hey, Selou.."

"Whoa, did you hear that? he actually said something this time," Al'ravee whispered to Murry.

Murry shrugged. "He might have grown some guts but let's hope it'll carry him to the end."

Ivan continued "... I heard from a certain friend of mine that... that t-there's an easy way to make a girl....b-blush..."

Al'ravee had a strange expression on his face as he whispered to Murry. "You know, now that I hear it, it sounds just as cringe as you do when you are depressed."

"*cough cough* It's all part of the push for his momentum."

Selou was stunned. A way to make a girl blush, why was he even telling her something like this? "Oh really, what is it." But she was also curious to know.

"Ai, curiosity kills the cat" Murry whispered.

Ivan stopped walking and looked straight at Selou. He took another deep breath and said. "Why don't I just show you."

He looked into her eyes and started. "First of all, I have to look at your left eye.." Ivan focused his gaze on her left eye.

Selou gazed back at him unblinkingly.

"...Then I look at her lips.." Ivan switched his vision to her thin delicate-looking lips.

"... Next I look at your other eye..." By now, Selou was too focused on Ivan's eyes to notice Al'ravee and Murry giving Ivan a thumbs up.

"...And finally, I give her the same smile that's on my face whenever I think of her..." Ivan said while giving Selou a charming smile.

'Smooth bro, real smooth' Al'ravee thought as he smiled sheepishly.

'I can only imagine the amount of willpower needed for him to say that' Murry wondered as he continued observing.

*silence*

The edges of Selou's lips slowly rose upward until they formed a beautiful smile. Her fair cheeks lit up with a red hue and her eyes darted away from Ivan's.

'Ahhh, just as Murry said, she's avoiding eye contact with me.. wait does this mean... I have to use the momentum, I can't turn back now ... Wait, what was next again?.' Ivan's mind processed all the information rapidly.

"Selou!" Ivan suddenly called out, getting Selou's attention.

Selou stared at him again. "Y-yes."

With determination in his eyes, Ivan proclaimed. "I wrote a poem for you"

…

…

'Shit!' Al'ravee stared at Ivan wide-eyed.

'Hmmm, did he lose some brain cells from holding his breath too much, he missed an entire page' Murry was completely stomped.

"You...you wrote a poem?... for me?" Selou said as she blushed even harder. she brushed the strand of hair that had fallen onto her face with her finger.

"Yeah, just hear me out." Ivan's words did not even match his current expression.

…

…

"Roses are red..."

'wait, are you serious' Selou thought.

"...Violets are blue..."

' he's not kidding huh?'

"...I don't have anything to say..."

'I knew it.'

"... except I love you."

…

Selou. "..."

Al'ravee. "..."

Murry. "..."

Al'ravee and Murry watched as Selou and Ivan just stared at each other. If at this point, Selou didn't understand what Ivan was doing then that meant there was something wrong with her head.

"I...I like you too" She uttered in a barely audible and shy voice but that was more than enough. After hearing that, Ivan was figuratively no longer on that planet. In front of him was Selou and she was the only thing he could see. His mind was completely blank.

"I bet you they're gonna kiss right here, right now," Murry said immediately after seeing this.

Al'ravee was surprised at first but became excited at the thought of making easy money. "Hmm, I'll take that bet, let's make it five credits. Hahaha, how could they kiss, this is just the beginning of whatever is going on with them."

Murry shook his head as he said. "You have no idea what kids these days are capable of. Kissing on the first day? that's one of the more regular stuff."

Al'ravee said. "You talk like you aren't one of the children of this generation...."

Al'ravee wasn't done speaking when Murry held him by the shoulder and pointed forward.

Right in front of both of them, Ivan and Selou were kissing. Selou had one hand on Ivan's shoulder while Ivan's hand was on her waist. Selou just happened to have one leg raised off the ground like a helpless damsel.

If it was possible, Al'ravee's jaw would've hit the ground. Selou and Ivan slowly pulled away, smiling shyly, sheepishly, and cowishly.

Like that, the gang continued walking home but this time, two among them were holding hands.

Murry and Al'ravee had to follow another path though. " I won't lie, I'm kinda jealous. But don't you think they... you know.. were too fast."

"Nah, Ivan skipped a part of the script but it still favored him. Besides, they already knew each other as friends, what else is needed."

…

Eventually, Ivan had to part ways with Selou. They had talked about a lot of stuff on the way, not as friends though, but as something more.

As Ivan walked home, he couldn't help but talk to himself out loud. Sometimes laughing and limping at the same time.

Two old men sat by a small shop, chatting happily. When they saw Ivan skipping his way home and talking to himself, they could not help but shake their heads.

"Ai, he's so young, tsk tsk tsk..." Said the first old man. The other one just sighed.

"Kids these days and drugs are like five and six I'm telling you."

© February 13 2024 JEFFERY D IDOKO