DOWN THE SPINE

Chapter 1

I looked. At him and walked two steps ahead.
"You generally scare the hell out of me. Last warning."
He laughed in such a way to mock me. Everything about Melvin looked weird to me.  He had a mean smile according to me.  My friends found him interesting. I had just locked my boss's car and was walking back to pick my jacket. I had just called it a well spent day.
"Are you busy tonight?"
"Me?" i had dreamt of this day... Here it was.  But my answer would be no. Reason being,  i had to ask my friends.
"He asked me out" i said on phone to Celine.
"what did you tell him? You said yes.  Tell me so baby girl." she sounded excited. I surveyed my apartment as if i could get the answer from it.
" i said no. "
" Dream crusher! "she hissed.
" But Celine i had to confirm from you.  Actually,  i wont check in on such issues. Coming for supper? "
I really must have sounded very stupid to have just let my chance blow. 
Alittle bit of history about Melvin Ndale. He is my height of which i cant tell what height i am.  I am not that tall. Just one meter point something.  Numbers and i at times are not good friends.  He has this broad shoulders.... Just a hug is enough. I had a crush on him when i first went out with my ex. Drama started hence forth. Enough about him. He is mine now.
I lingered around the kitchen counter lost in mind.  He had told me to think over and call him. Two hours had gone and still that courage was gone.
The door bell brought me back to the real world.
"Diana! Diana! "
" Hey,  i can hear you. "its then that i realised it had begun to rain. All i could see was a dark silhouette at the door.
" who is it? " i waited for the response with a knife hidden by my back.
" Melvin. "i gasped.
" Are you lost? "was all i could utter.  He had said i should call him and not vice versa.  Actually coming to my place was no part of discussion. I leaned on the door listening to the heavy rain drops.
" why did you come? I told you to wait! " i barked.
I slapped myself and my lip started to bleed...is that you Diana? I asked myself opening the door.
" You really got the guts!  I am dripping wet.  Can i have some coffee.  May be a warm jumper.  Or am i too big?  May be your boyfriend's will fit me. "
I only stared at him.  At the mention of my boyfriend,  i found myself holding the knife at his throat.  He stared at me.
" i am sorry.  Please put the knife down.  No. Actually don't . Cut my throat instead. Do me a favour before i die, allow me to write my will and may be go for a unique horse ride at the only ranch in our country.  Aren't horses expensive to keep in this climate? But i don't mind keeping a white one. "
Very weird. All he could do was blubber out. I walked in to the kitchen to get coffee for him. I watched him as he made himself comfortable on my favourite couch. I now had a bet to win. I was right.  This guy was a maniac.
" Mr Ndale,  is this how you behave at people's home? "
" There are no people here. Its your place. "
His sister was my boss at work. Never had i suspected the two were siblings. Their noses rhymed though.
" I said i will call you. "i said pointing at him as he was seeping the coffee.  Then why come in while it was raining?
" I simply missed you. Don't give me that look. I like you Diana. " my coffee chocked me.
" Thats not enough reason to come in here at this time. "I tried to pretend i didn't like his presence at my apartment.  He smiled as if he had read my mind.
" I am leaving the country... "
" what!" he stared at me.  "I meant where to" i cursed myself.
" To a place where people want me. " he looked at me.
Feeling restless, i switched on the hi-fi system.
" who said you are not wanted here? " i asked him adding more coffee to my cup.  I had not prepared supper and generally i had no plans to.
" Is there supper? " he asked in turn. I had to tell him i had no plans to cook and the next minute he was in the kitchen checking on what to cook. I leaned on the counter and watched him cook.
" How comes you this easy going?  You have never been here but you act like you own the place. "
" Don't you feel any sense of belonging here? "he asked chopping coriander.
" Its my home so i feel it.  I like it.  Its not noisy. "
" Dont you find it odd that most of your friends are dating and you are  not? "
I almost hit him with a hand glove. He caught it just in time.
" My private life. " i replied smelling the sweet scent of the food almost ready. He folded his sleeves higher and smiled at me.
" Having several one nights and if they ask for another you shut them up like you will do with me? " he held me by my waist.
" Can you talk while standing next to that dish? " i asked him walking in to the small living room i so much treasured. A pillow came flying at me. Next was endless fun.
" Something is burning. "i said sniffing.
" Food! "
He had endless tales to tell to me. All i could do was listen and laugh where expected. I then remembered him saying he was leaving and dropped my folk on the plate.
" You said something about leaving. "
He leaned back and took in a heavy breath.
"  I am leaving soon. I realised if i don't make a move you will never make it. Its because of this African tradition where a man is the only one allowed to make the move.  Isn't it? " i nodded.  Ladies who made such moves had very little respect from the man's family as i had heard.
" I have been watching you,  bringing in loads of work for my sister so that i would just be back on time to see you leave.  Everyday i wish i do help you carry your handbag. May be drop you home. That's what i have always wished for.  You? " I played with the folk for sometime before answering him.
" This is what i wished for.  I don't want to look like some kind of a gold digger. You are my boss indirectly too. " i said drinking water.
" Boss marrying juniour is no breaking news now. We are used to this things but tell me, can we date? "
My phone rang and i walked to my bedroom to pick it.  Celine again!
" Have you called him?" she asked.
" Actually he is here. Should i date him? " i asked in what was more like a whisper.
" why not? "he said just as Celine said on phone. Celine screamt and hung up.
" You! " i said walking towards the door.  He pulled me back and with the other hand touched my lips.
"  Me. I know Diana. Make decisions for yourself now. " i kissed him and pulled away.
" I am sorry. "i felt ashamed. He kissed my lips one at a time and dropped on the bed. I was soo much carried away. He suddenly stopped and stood. 
" You know what Diana, i wont rip off your clothes so that you call it a one night stand. I want more than that.  When you are ready. "
The next minute we were doing the dishes together. All he did was kiss me goodnight. He was gone!