Love Across Boarders

Chapter twenty-five

It had been a few weeks since that chaotic night at the party, and the memory of Darren's kiss still sent shivers down my spine. Despite the thrill of that moment, I was surprised by how quickly we fell into a comfortable routine. We spent almost every day together, sharing meals, studying, and laughing at the ridiculous things we found online. Yet, despite our closeness, there was an unspoken question lingering in the air: what exactly were we?
I sat on my bed, flipping through my notes as I tried to focus on my studies. But my mind kept wandering to Darren-his smile, the way his laughter echoed in my ears, and how I felt when he looked at me. It was unsettling to feel this way, especially since we hadn't defined our relationship. Did he feel the same way? Or was I just another person to him?
"Hey, are you coming to the mixer tonight?" Sarah called from across the room, breaking my train of thought.
I glanced up, surprised. "What mixer?"
"The one at the student union. It's supposed to be fun, and a lot of people are going," she replied, her eyes sparkling with enthusiasm. "You should definitely come! I mean, I'll be there, and I think Darren will be too."
The mention of his name sent a jolt through me. "I don't know, Sarah. I've kind of had my fill of parties lately," I admitted, biting my lip. "I'm not really in the mood to go out."
She rolled her eyes dramatically. "Come on, Busayo! You've been cooped up in here for too long. You need to let loose a bit. Plus, what if you see Darren? You can't keep avoiding the question of what you two are."
"Who says I'm avoiding it?" I retorted, even though I knew deep down that she was right.
"Right," she said, raising an eyebrow. "Just remember, avoiding doesn't solve anything. If you like him, you should find out where you stand."
With a heavy sigh, I closed my notebook. Sarah was right, as always. I needed to confront this uncertainty instead of letting it fester. "Fine. I'll go," I said, trying to sound more confident than I felt.
"Great! It'll be fun, I promise. I'll help you pick out an outfit!" she exclaimed, jumping up and down with excitement.
As the evening approached, I found myself anxiously rummaging through my closet, searching for something that would make me feel confident. I settled on a fitted black dress that hugged my curves just right, paired with ankle boots that added a touch of edge.
"Wow! You look amazing!" Sarah said as I stepped out of the bathroom. "Darren is going to have a hard time keeping his eyes off you."
I tried to ignore the flutter of nerves in my stomach at the thought. "Let's just hope I can keep my cool around him," I muttered, feeling a mix of excitement and apprehension.
We headed to the student union, and as soon as I stepped inside, the music enveloped me. The atmosphere was lively, filled with laughter and energy, and I felt my nerves start to fade away. I scanned the crowd, looking for Darren but not seeing him at first.
"Let's grab a drink," Sarah suggested, tugging me toward the bar. As we waited, I caught sight of him across the room, talking animatedly with a group of friends. My heart skipped a beat at the sight of his relaxed demeanor and charming smile.
"There he is!" Sarah said, nudging me gently. "Go say hi!"
Before I could respond, she pushed me toward him, and I stumbled slightly, trying to regain my composure. As I approached, Darren turned to me, and his eyes lit up.
"Busayo!" he exclaimed, breaking into a wide smile that made my heart race. "You look incredible."
"Thanks! I decided to come after all," I said, trying to sound casual, though my voice wavered slightly.
"Good choice," he replied, his gaze lingering on me a moment longer than necessary, causing my cheeks to heat. "You've been missed."
"Really?" I asked, my stomach fluttering with hope.
"Of course. It's not the same without you," he said, taking a step closer, the familiar warmth of his presence wrapping around me.
Just then, Sarah reappeared with drinks in hand, breaking the moment. "I got you a sparkling water, Busayo. Can't have you getting tipsy again!" she joked, winking at me.
I shot her a glare, but Darren chuckled. "That's probably a good call," he said, glancing between us. "Last time was quite the adventure."
"Yeah, an adventure I'd rather not repeat," I muttered, rolling my eyes. "But I'm glad to be here tonight."
As the night wore on, we danced and laughed, and I found myself enjoying the mix of energy and camaraderie that filled the room. I felt alive and carefree, and Darren's presence only intensified that feeling.
At one point, we broke away from the crowd, stepping outside onto a quieter balcony. The cool night air brushed against my skin, grounding me amidst the swirl of emotions.
"Thanks for coming," Darren said, leaning against the railing, his eyes focused on the stars above. "I've missed hanging out with you."
"Me too," I admitted, my heart racing. "But I've been thinking...about us."
He turned to me, his expression serious. "Yeah? What about us?"
I hesitated, the weight of my words pressing on me. "I just... I don't want to put a label on things if we're not both on the same page. I like what we have, but I'm just not sure what it is."
Darren's eyes softened as he studied my face. "I get it. I've been thinking about it too. I mean, I like spending time with you more than anyone else. But I don't want to rush anything."
My heart raced at his admission, and for the first time, I felt a flicker of hope. "So... what do we do?"
He smiled, a mix of mischief and sincerity dancing in his eyes. "How about we just keep enjoying this? No labels for now, just... us."
I nodded, feeling a wave of relief wash over me. "I can do that. I like the sound of it."
As we stood there, the tension eased, and I couldn't help but smile at the possibilities ahead. We may not have defined what we were, but for now, that was okay.
And as I glanced up at the stars, I realized that maybe, just maybe, the journey of figuring it out together was the most exciting part of all.