Thirty two

He pulled me closer to himself and brought his face closer to mine. Was this happening? It couldn't be happening! What was he doing? Did he want to kiss me? I wanted him to kiss me but not now and definitely not here, in school with all these schoolmate of ours walking to and fro.

My heart started to beat hard against my chest because he was getting closer. I didn't even know how to feel now; this was something I have fantasized about, when he would kiss me but now I felt worried. Was he going to kiss me In front of everyone around?

I closed my eyes expecting his lips to touch mine but I just felt the tip of his nose caress my right cheek before he whispered in my ear;

"You see? You don't even want me this close to you." I opened my eyes when he said that, realizing I was squeezing his hands because I was super nervous.

"It's not that." I turned to face him because his face was by my side but our faces got closer so I turned back front.

"What is it? Tell me, you have to tell me stuff if you have something bothering you, maybe I can help."

"Fine," I was going to tell him why I did what I did when we arrived the school premises earlier."but first, can you stop being this close, people can see us."

Surprisingly he agreed and backed away from me, he let go of my hands too, I guess he really wanted to know what was on my mind.

"I'm listening." He said after giving me the space I asked for.

"Look," I sighed before I started with my explanation,"I don't want us to be open about...us because you, you are big here, everyone knows you, okay? If our schoolmates find out that you asked me out, they might just go ahead and troll me....."

"What?" I heard him titter in surprise at what I just told him.

"I know, it's not a good enough reason but think about it, since I came here no one's talked to me or even made an attempt to interact with me, no one likes me here and I saw what they did to that guy on the school blog; Imagine what they could post on there if they see you and me are in a relationship." I lowered my voice to say my last word.

"Okay....First of all, I like you....."

"Not that kind of like, Uche. It's like they are avoiding me even."

"No they are not," He chuckled," I mean, you've only been here for a week, is it up to that? Just some days, it takes time to blend and besides I talk to you, Nick talks to you, even Casey....."

"Please don't, you only talked to me because you liked me from the very start and Nick's my cousin, he doesn't have a choice most times than to talk to me and it's very obvious when he does that he doesn't like doing so and Casey?" I scoffed," Well Casey's a whole other story, she probably wants something from me." I said, remembering when she was drooling over Nick just before I came up to Uche. She probably wanted me to help her with Nick.

"Well, I thought you like being on your own, undisturbed by 'people'."He said putting emphasis on the PEOPLE.

"That's different." I said pouting and he laughed softly, getting my attention back to his face because I've been looking down occasionally; being shy.

"Okay, if you don't want anyone to know then I'm good with it."

"So, no touching each other in front of your friends or in school here?" I asked him after he agreed, just to be sure but I widened my eyes in surprise after hearing myself and how that sounded.

"Have I touched you?" He asked me with a smirk and I rolled my eyes knowing he was messing with me.

"Your lips are dry." He noticed but I just smiled with a shrug.

The school bell rang and Uche looked up in it's direction where it hung before look back at me. Many of our schoolmates who had been discussing in small groups in front of their lockers like Uche and I started to get their books and head to their various classes.

Soon, the hallway were I stood became crowded with everyone wanting to get to class. I smiled at Uche and was ready turn around and go to class; I would wait for him but I didn't want people to see us together.

"Wait." He said when I turned to leave and I came back to where I stood with him before. He was searching his locker for something. He held up a small tube, it was lip balm. Pressing a little onto his index finger, he smeared it gently on my lips; beginning from from the upper lip and then the lower lip which he gave more concentration.

My eyes looked around even if my head was steady as he applied the lip balm carefully, the bunch of students passing by weren't noticing us as Uche massaged my lower lip now with his thumb, they were all busy making their way to class.

I directed my eyes at him and he immediately stopped playing with my lips, withdrawing his hands. Why did he stop?! I didn't want him to stop.

"You could have just applied the balm directly from the tube you know." I told him even though I enjoyed what he just did.

"Nick uses it too, sometimes." He waved the lip balm shortly before putting in back in his locker.

Thank goodness he didn't apply the balm on my lips directly from the container, I couldn't imagine using the same balm Nick has used on my lips directly.

"I should go." I said turning to leave for the second time and he nodded with a smile.

******

Heyy, it's your author geni. Please note that everything written here is nothing but fiction.Please vote as you read, comment your thoughts and don't forget to leave a review, I am very open to constructive criticism. I'm on all socials as @genika3na.