Love Across Boarders

Chapter twenty-six

A week had passed since our heart-to-heart on the balcony, and I couldn't help but feel a sense of comfort in the space we occupied. Darren and I had settled into a rhythm that felt almost natural-texting throughout the day, studying together, and stealing moments of laughter between classes. We were navigating this uncharted territory without labels, and surprisingly, it felt right.
As I lay on my bed, flipping through my textbook, I heard my phone buzz beside me. I reached for it, my heart fluttering when I saw Darren's name on the screen.

Darren: What are you up to?

I grinned, already imagining him leaning back against his desk, his trademark smirk ready to break out any second.

Busayo: Studying... or trying to. You?

Darren: Just finished a workout. Need a break. Want to join?

I hesitated for a moment, the thought of working out making me cringe slightly. I had never been the athletic type, preferring to keep my fitness routines light and casual. But something about his invitation was enticing, the idea of spending time with him outweighing my reluctance.

Busayo: Sure! I could use a distraction.

Darren: Meet me at the gym in 30?

I quickly threw on a pair of leggings and a loose-fitting tank top, mentally preparing myself for whatever Darren had in store. As I walked to the gym, my heart raced, not just from the physical exertion but from the anticipation of seeing him.
When I arrived, I found Darren already there, doing some stretches. He looked up, and his face broke into a warm smile that made my stomach flip.
"Hey, you made it!" he said, standing up and wiping the sweat from his brow.
"Don't look too surprised. I can be spontaneous," I teased, trying to mask my nervousness.
"Spontaneous? You? I'll believe it when I see it," he shot back with a grin, and I rolled my eyes, unable to suppress a smile.
We started with a light jog on the treadmill. As we ran side by side, I tried to match his pace, but it was clear he was in better shape than I was. I glanced at him, noticing how effortlessly he moved, and felt a wave of admiration wash over me.
"Are you trying to impress me?" I said, trying to catch my breath.
"Maybe," he replied, a playful glint in his eyes. "But mostly, I just want to make sure you can keep up."
"Oh please! I'm keeping up just fine," I retorted, even though I could feel the sweat pooling at the nape of my neck.
After the jog, we moved to the weights area. I watched as Darren demonstrated how to lift a few dumbbells, his muscles flexing with each movement. My heart raced-not just from the workout but from the sight of him in his element.
"Your turn," he said, handing me a pair of lighter weights.
I tried to mimic his technique, but after a few reps, I felt my arms burning. "Okay, I think I'm done," I gasped, dropping the weights with a thud.
Darren laughed, stepping closer. "You did great for a first-timer! We'll get you stronger in no time."
"Yeah, right," I said, rolling my eyes, but I felt a small swell of pride.
"Seriously," he continued, his voice sincere. "You just need to build your confidence. I'll be your personal trainer."
"Is that what you're calling this? A training session?" I teased, a smile creeping onto my lips.
"Absolutely," he said, his eyes sparkling. "And I'll even throw in some free advice on how to impress boys."
"Oh really? I could use that," I replied, my pulse quickening at the thought. "What do I need to know?"
He stepped closer, his tone suddenly serious. "Just be yourself. You've already impressed me by showing up today."
My heart fluttered at his words. He had a way of making me feel seen and valued, and for a brief moment, it felt like we were the only two people in the gym.
We wrapped up our workout with some stretching, and I tried to ignore the heat radiating off him as we sat side by side on the mat. I was still panting from the exertion, and my mind buzzed with excitement.
"Thanks for today," I said, breaking the silence. "I really needed this."
"Me too," he replied, glancing at me. "It's nice to hang out outside of class."
"Definitely. I like this-us-getting to know each other more," I admitted, the words tumbling out before I could second-guess myself.
His gaze softened, and for a moment, I thought I saw a flicker of something deeper in his eyes. "I do too," he said quietly.
The moment hung between us, charged with an intensity that made my heart race. Just then, my phone buzzed again, breaking the spell. I reached for it, glancing at the screen.
"Looks like I have to go," I said, disappointment lacing my voice. "Sarah's been bugging me about some group project."
"Right," Darren said, and I could hear the slight edge of disappointment in his tone too. "Maybe we can do this again next week?"
"Absolutely," I said, forcing myself to sound enthusiastic even though I felt a pang of regret about leaving. "I'll hold you to it."
As we stood up, he looked at me, his expression serious. "Busayo?"
"Yeah?"
"About what we talked about... you know, not labeling things? I like where we are, but I don't want you to feel like you can't talk to me about how you feel."
My heart raced at his words, the understanding between us clear. "I won't. I promise."
With that, we shared a lingering look, one filled with unspoken promises and the excitement of what lay ahead. As I left the gym, I couldn't help but smile. Things were going well, and maybe this was the start of something beautiful.
As I stepped outside, the late afternoon sun warmed my skin, and I took a deep breath, savoring the moment. The gym had been more than just a workout; it was a reminder of how much I enjoyed spending time with Darren, even when I felt out of my depth.
Walking back to my hostel, I replayed our conversation in my head. Darren's words about not labeling things echoed in my mind. It was a strange comfort-knowing we were figuring things out as we went along. Still, there was a part of me that wondered if we should define what we had. It felt like we were dancing around something deeper, and I couldn't shake the feeling that I wanted more.
When I arrived back at the house, the sounds of laughter and chatter filled the common area. I found Sarah and a few other girls gathered around the TV, binge-watching a popular series. Sarah spotted me and waved me over.
"Hey! You missed the best part! We're just about to start the next episode!" she called, excitement lacing her voice.
I smiled and plopped down on the couch, trying to shake off the warmth that Darren had left me with. As we watched, I struggled to focus on the show. My mind kept drifting back to him-the way he had looked at me, the easy banter we shared.
"What's got you all distracted?" Sarah nudged me, her eyes narrowing playfully. "Is it a boy?"
"Maybe," I replied, a teasing grin creeping onto my face.
"Spill! Is it Darren?" she asked, her eyebrows shooting up.
I hesitated for a moment. Should I tell her? "We've been hanging out a lot lately," I admitted, feeling the heat rise to my cheeks. "But it's not... I mean, we haven't labeled it."
"Yet," Sarah said with a knowing smirk. "You like him, don't you?"
I bit my lip, my heart racing at the thought. "I do," I confessed quietly. "But it's complicated. We're just figuring things out."
"Complicated is what makes it exciting!" she chirped, leaning closer. "I can't believe you're actually doing this. You two are like a classic rom-com!"
"Don't jinx it," I warned, laughing. "Things can go wrong, you know?"
"Or they can go wonderfully right! Just keep being you. You're amazing, and he clearly sees that," she said, her encouragement warming me.
"Thanks, Sarah," I said, feeling grateful for her support. "I just hope I don't screw it up."
"You won't," she assured me, patting my shoulder. "Just be honest with him. That's what he deserves."
Her words settled in my mind as we finished the episode. As much as I wanted to enjoy the thrill of this new relationship, I knew I had to be true to myself. I needed to share my thoughts with Darren-about my feelings, about what I wanted.
Later that night, as I lay in bed, I stared at the ceiling, the soft hum of the dorm around me. My heart raced at the thought of taking that leap. What if I told him how I felt and things didn't work out? But what if I didn't say anything and missed out on something beautiful?
With a sigh, I rolled over and grabbed my phone, deciding to text him.

Busayo: Hey! I had a great time at the gym today. Thanks for pushing me!

I hit send, the flutter of nerves coursing through me as I waited for his reply. Moments later, my phone buzzed.

Darren: Glad you enjoyed it! You did better than I expected 😉. Let's do it again soon.

I smiled at his playful response.

Busayo: Deal. And... I've been thinking about what we talked about. I like where this is going.

The response took a moment, and my heart raced as I anticipated what he would say.

Darren: Me too. I'm glad we're on the same page. Let's keep figuring this out together.

The weight on my chest lifted, replaced by a sense of clarity. I didn't have all the answers, but I knew one thing for sure: whatever this was between us, I was ready to embrace it.
With a contented sigh, I finally drifted off to sleep, a smile on my lips as I dreamed of what lay ahead.