Just Listen

Chapter 1✔

Before reading, KP stands for Kamilah Paisley.

3 years ago...

KP's POV

"It all takes sacrifice you know, if you want to succeed in life-"

"Princess, what are you watching?" I heard my dad walking into my room. He ruffled up my brown hair and kissed my temple.

"An interview with Uncanny Valley, dadd-"

"Never mention that name again," he cut me off. I was baffled.

 "But Daddy," I tried to reason with him.

 "No Kamilah. Learn to listen. You have your way with anything you want, but on this subject, I cannot let you." I sighed. Feeling sadness engulf me.

Daddy sat next to me. "Sweetheart I know you have your fantasies that Ms. Valley could be more than a role model to you, but please..." he sighed. 

"She has a sandy complexion, smooth and more or less like a caramel tone. She makes me feel as if, I am not alone." I wholeheartedly admired Uncanny. Something about her drew me to her.

"And so does everyone else, my little princess. It doesn't mean anything bad. I love you just the way you are." He kissed my forehead.

That night, Daddy went to bed early. I wondered what was his problem. I mean, Uncanny was the most successful woman in Brewsfort. Who wouldn't adore her?
Although his sudden outburst got me thinking, I loved my father with all that I had, but the fact that we didn't quite have the same complexion...gave me sleepless nights at times. Why was I different?

"I was fearless and daring. Looked at danger and laughed at its face. I loved the thrills of life. Throughout my ups and downs...I never realized that I was losing a part of myself in some way. I always felt like I was searching for something, but I couldn't quite put a finger on it." I continued the interview.

Some of Uncanny's interviews at times got to me when I read between the lines. It was as if she was crying out for help, but, I mean, come on--who on earth that has succeeded in life has issues?

________________________________________

In the year of my tenth grade, I made a friend. His name was Angelo Santos. He knew everything about me. Our friendship sparked a lot of questions amongst our peers and I for one didn't care. He was my best friend. There was something about Angelo that I simply adored. Gazing into his cerulean eyes was hypnotic. At times I caught him staring at me.

Everyone around me had either rosy cheeks, fair, tan, or pale faces. Have you ever had that feeling whereby you're in the presence of people, and still felt lonely?

"How is your love life as of late?" I asked.

He fell silent to what I had asked. "Come on Gelo, don't give me that face." I tried cheering him up by hugging him and it worked. I loved being around him and I was way too comfortable. His presence was home to me but unlike any other person, at times I felt like Gelo was too nice to me and I did not like it. It was a different kind of attention. Not that guys usually give when they wanna hit on a girl. His was just different and unique in some way. As the days and months progressed, I noticed that Gelo was being bullied. I studied him and his circle and it hurt me to see him that way.

It was the typical bullying. His was about body shaming and our relationship. How he could easily hang around me and not want to bed me. "Gelo?" I asked during recess as we had lunch. "I don't mean to pry, but are your friends treating you good?" He chuckled as if I had cracked a joke. "You can tell me you know that right? I'm your friend. Best friend." 

"I'm okay Kami. Nothing to worry about." I gave him the 'are-you-serious-right-now'  look.

 "Are you kidding me? Why don't you stand up to yourself Gelo? Don't let them bully you."

"I won't Kami. Don't worry, I'll be just fine." He reassured me. I took his words for it. I could tell Gelo anything and all I wanted was for him to do the same freely too. His cerulean eyes reassured me once more. His dimples though, the way his lips curved up when he smiled gave me butterflies. It wasn't just his good looks that I liked, Angelo was chubby. He was chubby, yet he kept his body in check. Whenever he hugged me, he always made me think of teddy bears.

I wanted to look out for him the same way he was for me. "Kami, have you ever thought of dating and sticking to one guy?" His question shook me.

 "Nah, I don't think so. That's too boring. They must be two so that if one doesn't give me what I want...the other can fill in." He stared at me.

 "What is it that you want?" he asked, seemingly disinterested.

 I smiled. "All I want is to be loved, Gelo. A guy who'll show me what I've been missing. Give me the time of day, treat me as his only. Then maybe; just maybe, I'll settle for one." Gelo went silent.

I gently leaned on his chest, he faced my back and set back on the chair. Getting comfortable and making sure I was comfortable too. We sat that way at times and just enjoyed each other's silence and company. A friend of mine walked in and gave off a huge grin.

"Okay, I just have to say it. What is going on between you two?" She asked.

 "We're just friends," Gelo replied. I could feel the smile on his face without having to look at him.

"Why don't you guys just date? You'd make a really cute couple. You already do. You balance each other's hues perfectly. You're basically ying and yang. You're perfect together. Or maybe you just don't want to tell us..."

"Tell you what?" I asked Luu, my friend.

 "That you're dating." Gelo and I stared at each other and laughed our a**es out. They just couldn't quit. "Come on, tell us the truth. You can't be just friends with the way you're treating each other. It just isn't possible..."

"It's possible." I began, sitting up right and facing her. "We're best friends and that's that. Get used to it." I said what I had to and laid back on Angelo. I felt safe in his arms for some strange unknown reason.

Angelo and I shared a unique bond. I had known him from primary, due to a change in schools, we were separated. Thankful that we met again in high school. He made me feel all sorts of emotions. He was my best friend, yet I could not deny the feelings that were in bloom.

I could never hide anything from him. I trusted him more than Luu. Strange, but those cerulean eyes made me feel at home. "I like you Kamilah, I have, for such a long time," he blurted.

My mouth hung upon. Flabbergasted. I knew right there and then that he wanted me to be his girlfriend. "I can be all that you need."

"Give me that chance to prove it..." That day, our friendship took on a different toll and with that, I also lost my best friend.

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Author's Note

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