Love Across Boarders

Chapter twenty

I woke up to the blaring sunlight streaming through my window, piercing through the haze of sleep that clung to me like a heavy blanket. My head throbbed mercilessly, each pulse reminding me of the reckless choices I'd made the night before.
Sitting up slowly, I glanced around my room, disoriented. The remnants of the party flooded back in a disjointed rush a mix of laughter, loud music, and the taste of cheap alcohol. I groaned, pressing my palms against my temples, trying to will the pain away. How much did I actually drink?
My phone buzzed on the bedside table, and I reached for it, squinting at the bright screen. There were several messages from Sarah, peppered with concern and a sprinkle of teasing. "You really know how to party, girl!" and "Did you even remember the walk home?"
Panic surged through me. Did I embarrass myself? I rifled through my memories, but it was like trying to piece together a shattered mirror-fragments scattered and unclear. I remembered being outside, talking to Darren... but how much did I actually say?
The thought made my stomach churn. Did I tell him anything I shouldn't have? I buried my face in my hands, feeling heat crawl up my cheeks. I needed to talk to Sarah, to figure out what had happened after I left the party.
With a deep breath, I swung my legs over the edge of the bed, the cool floor grounding me slightly. I stood up, my head spinning for a moment, but I forced myself to take a step toward the bathroom. Splashing cold water on my face helped clear some of the fog, and I caught a glimpse of myself in the mirror. My hair was a wild mess, and I looked like I had gone ten rounds with a heavyweight boxer.
"Okay, Busayo, you can do this," I muttered to myself, shaking my head. I needed coffee, and I needed to find out what happened last night.
After a quick shower, I dressed in a comfy oversized sweatshirt and leggings, hoping that would help me feel less fragile. I navigated the few short steps to the common area of the hostel, the smell of burnt toast and coffee wafting through the air.
Sarah was there, her head buried in her laptop, but she looked up as I entered. Her eyes widened with concern. "There she is! The party animal!" she exclaimed, laughter bubbling in her voice.
"Don't," I groaned, taking a seat at the table. "What happened last night?"
"Let's see," she started, mockingly tapping her chin. "You had a few drinks-"
"A few?" I interrupted, recalling the moments where I had definitely overindulged.
"Okay, maybe more than a few," she admitted, a smirk creeping onto her face. "But you were fine! Well, mostly. You were laughing, dancing, having a blast until... well, you know."
I winced. "Until what?"
"Until you decided to have a deep and meaningful conversation with Darren outside," she said, raising an eyebrow as if trying to gauge my reaction.
My heart dropped. "What did I say?" I asked, panic rising. I couldn't remember much beyond that moment we'd shared on the bench.
"How would I know I wasn't there," she said, shrugging, though there was a hint of mischief in her smile.
"Great," I muttered, burying my face in my hands again.
"You have to admit there's some tension between you two. Like, I've never seen you react to anyone the way you react to him."
I chewed my lip, considering her words. "It's not like that," I protested weakly, but even I could hear the uncertainty in my voice.
"Busayo, it is absolutely like that. And you can't deny it," she said, leaning closer, her eyes sparkling with mischief. "I think you might actually like him."
I leaned back in my chair, feeling a mix of dread and confusion. Did I like Darren? We had spent so much time antagonizing each other that I hadn't stopped to consider what lay beneath all that tension. "I don't know, Sarah. It's complicated."
"Maybe it doesn't have to be," she suggested, her tone softening. "Just take it one step at a time. You've already made a connection. Don't run from it."
I stared at her, conflicted. I couldn't shake the memory of the way he'd looked at me last night, that flicker of concern and curiosity in his eyes. I had felt something real-a connection I hadn't anticipated.
"Ugh, I can't deal with this right now," I said, trying to shove those thoughts away. "I need to recover first."
"Fine, fine. But you know where to find me when you're ready to talk," she said, her grin wide.
As I sipped my coffee, I couldn't help but wonder what might happen next. Would I see Darren again? Would I have to face whatever awkwardness lay ahead? The prospect was both thrilling and terrifying.
For now, I just needed to get through the day, shake off the remnants of last night, and figure out what I really wanted. Because one thing was clear: nothing would be the same after this.
After finishing my coffee, I tried to piece together the night, my mind still hazy from the aftermath of too many drinks. Sarah busied herself with her laptop, but I could sense her glances darting toward me, as if she was waiting for me to make the next move.
"Okay, so what's next?" I finally asked, trying to shake off the remnants of embarrassment. "Do I just pretend last night didn't happen?"
Sarah laughed lightly, glancing at me over her screen. "I don't think you can. Not with Darren around. I mean, he's bound to bring it up at some point."
Great. Just what I needed. The thought of facing him filled me with dread and anticipation all at once. How was I supposed to act around him now? Would I be able to look him in the eye without cringing?
"What if I run into him? Like, right now?" I asked, my heart racing at the thought.
"Well, you'll have to face him eventually," Sarah said, a teasing glint in her eye. "You can't hide in here forever. Besides, I think you should just be honest. If you liked talking to him, why not tell him?"
I shook my head, feeling the heat rise to my cheeks again. "You make it sound so simple."
"It can be," she replied, her expression serious. "Just take a deep breath and be yourself. You don't have to put on a facade with him."
As I contemplated her words, I felt a flicker of hope. Maybe she was right. Maybe if I just approached the situation honestly, it wouldn't be as complicated as I was making it out to be. After all, there was a reason I found Darren so captivating despite his cocky demeanor.
"Okay, I'll try," I said, my voice steadying. "But first, I need to make it through the day without embarrassing myself further."
Sarah grinned, leaning back in her chair. "Deal. Just promise me you won't shy away from confronting whatever feelings you have. You deserve to explore them."
With a reluctant nod, I returned to the comforts of my coffee, the warmth easing my tension a little. As I sipped, my phone buzzed again, and I glanced at the screen. It was a message from Darren.
'Hey, you okay? Heard you had quite the night.'
My heart skipped a beat. I hadn't expected him to reach out so soon. I hesitated, fingers hovering over the keyboard. What could I possibly say?
'Yeah, just recovering. Sorry if I was a mess last night.'
There, that felt safe. I hit send, my breath hitching as I awaited his reply.
A moment later, my phone buzzed again.
'You weren't a mess. Just lively. Anyway, if you need a distraction, I'm down to grab food later. My treat.'

My pulse quickened. Was he actually inviting me out? A mix of excitement and anxiety churned in my stomach. Sure, that sounds good. What time?

'How about 5? I'll swing by the hostel.'

I blinked at the message, disbelief washing over me. "What's going on?" I mumbled to myself, a smile creeping across my face.
"What did he say?" Sarah asked, peering over at me, her curiosity piqued.
"He wants to grab food later," I replied, my voice barely above a whisper.
"See? It's happening!" she exclaimed, her excitement infectious. "You'll be fine. Just be yourself."
"Right," I said, trying to sound more confident than I felt. "Be myself."
As the clock inched closer to 5 PM, I felt the familiar nerves stir within me. I fiddled with my hair, trying to make it look somewhat presentable, but every time I caught a glimpse of myself in the mirror, my thoughts spiraled. What if I made a fool of myself? What if I couldn't handle whatever this was between us?
But beneath that anxiety was a flicker of hope-a yearning to understand the connection we had. Maybe it was time to embrace the uncertainty rather than shy away from it.
Finally, as I heard a knock at the door, I took a deep breath and opened it.
There he was, looking effortlessly cool, leaning against the doorframe with that familiar smirk on his face. "Ready to go?"
I nodded, my heart racing as we stepped out into the evening air together. The sun was setting, casting a warm glow over the campus, and for the first time that day, I felt a sense of anticipation.
Maybe tonight would be different. Maybe it would be the start of something I had been too afraid to acknowledge.