16 Chapter 15

*love looks not with the eyes but with the mind and therefore is winged cupid painted blind"

William Shakespeare

"Iris at least give me a reason why you have been avoiding me" Liam asked as he scurried after Iris who ignorantly walked away from him acting all deaf "pretty please" he pleaded

"Am not avoiding you William, am just busy" she said still walking ahead until he caught her arm slowing her pace

"Wait...slow down please...so we are back to William,did I do something wrong"

Iris breathed momentarily speechless as she caught a whiff of his channel signature cologne mixed with his masculine scent

"Liam i really can't do this,I will prefer if we just stay away from each other"

"Why is that...I mean why would we just stay away from each other"

"Can't you see everyone around us is conspiring to make my life miserable since I started hanging out with you,I can't even walk on the streets of this school without anyone whispering about me,last night I was confronted by a girl ,she warned me to stay away from you" Iris said in annoyance

"What? Is that why you are angry with me"Liam asked annoyed

" no that's not the reason"she sighed at her frustration "am not just used to been the sole focus of someone attention, especially from an attractive man,you confuse my emotions and I have never received such expensive gifts"

Liam looked at her surprised she was admitting something "I never hid my intentions from you ,I love you Iris"

Now hearing him say those words made her head jittery ,her eyes meeting his piercing ones,her heart flutters as she saw the truth in his eyes.

What did he really see in her ,she is the daughter of a nobody compared to him ,she could be mistaken for a church rat,she's been called that several times while he was rich,too good for her,they are worlds Apart.

"William..." She broke off in a hush when she couldn't think of what to say,getting lost in those beautiful depths of his eyes ,she loved him too but was not ready to admit it,she cowered in fear of getting hurt ,all her life her mother had warned her about love ,about men but would never tell her about her father.

Oblivious to the people passing around them Liam fingers grazed her cheeks,still holding her gaze to his

"I have never felt more alive or attuned to anyone until I met you for the first time that faithful day at the canteen, you fill up the emptiness inside of me,I want to continue feeling this way when am with you if you would give me a chance"

"Liam please not now..." He caught her off silencing her lips with the tip of his finger

"Just allow me to show you how much I love you Iris ,I want to be the reason for your bright smile ,I have never been in love with any woman ,I want to stay in love with you ,with only you"

Liam realized he was confessing his feelings for her ,he didn't mean for it to happen like this ,maybe he would have taken her to a beautiful island ,a cruising ship or an airplane ,but he never knew he had that romantic side of him,since he had never professed such poetic words to any woman ,it felt foreign coming from his lips but he meant every word .

dammit ! This wasn't ordinary sentiments and now he finally understood what love is ,Iris was his little piece of heaven ,he didn't want to let her go.

Erin interrupted the two couple who seem oblivious to her presence or the passerby's that thought they were a scene to watch ,she had endlessly watched them ill at ease at Liam declaration of love for the shitty low life .

This act alone had increased Erin already slow burn hatred for her ,now Erin knew her as a threat,a big threat to her plans .

"Hey Liam" she purred with an air of nonchalance as she walked towards them.

Iris let out a whoosh of breath in relief not realising she was holding her breath ,thankful for the distraction ,else she would have given Liam a resounding YES! She turned to see the young beautiful girl she always saw hanging around Liam .

Her designer clad form spelt sophistication and class ,though her face was somewhat familiar at the female hostel but they had never exchanged words, most times Iris had caught the girl watching her with disdain ,now at that moment Iris thought the girl was ready to spit nails at her,as she possessively slide her arms down to Liam giving him a seductive hug making a point she was staking her claim.

And those points was not misunderstood, that was one of the hundred and fifty reasons why she should stay away from him.

Iris concluded inwardly.

"What are you doing Erin" Liam asked as he looked at her amazed at her attitude

"I saw you heading this way and thought I could hitch a ride with you back to the female hostel" Erin spoke lushly with an accent that matched that of Liam answering the derisively arched brow of Liam's pointed at her though she also glinted a touch of annoyance in his eyes and impatience to dismiss her but she she knew better he was never the one to make public scenes,Erin smirked back at him feeling rebellious.

"Erin what happened to your car " He asked with controlled patience which surprised Erin.

Iris looked at the both of them then at Erin arms draped possessively over Liam's .

"Don't be rude honey won't you introduce me to your new friend" she asked smiling down at iris but Iris knew better than to follow suite

"What? I don't think its necessary ,you should go Erin"Liam spoke calmly

There and then did Iris decided she did not like her,the girl was petite ,classic and knew how to flaunt her exposed assets around Liam though she would score her fifty point she looks beautiful and another fifty point she was a perfect match for Liam, it was another hundred and fifty one reason why she should stay far away from him.

Iris watched as the petite beauty brought out her elegant prettily manicured hands at her " Erin Osazuwa ,a close friend of Liam,I mean a very close one at that,more than close" Erin emphasized more as she used her left hand to sweep strands of her Brazilian long wig from her face to emphasize high cheekbones.

Her words left Iris dangling to get the pieces fit together,her gaze bore holes into her .

Iris thought a pretty facade was not enough to make up for the flaws in her character, damn the spoilt brat,she didn't have to emphasize her relationship with Liam,she couldn't even stand there for fear of bursting out into pool of tears,why does imagining the two together hurt so much.

"Am sorry but I have to go"

Iris replied Ignoring the prettily painted fingers pointed towards her ,she was not ready to be a copy mechanism for Liam's philanthropist lover ,she quickly walked away trying not to run, not wanting to look back at Liam as he called out to her.

Iris called herself stupid for a hundred and fifty two times as hot tears spilled down her eyes .

"Iris" Liam called out again,but Iris was now too sensitively emotional to hear him.