Crumbling Climax (Grey Love)

CHAPTER EIGHT

‘’THE EARLIEST BIRD CATCHES THE WORM, AND THE EARLIEST WORM GETS CAUGHT BY THE BIRD.’’'

Chloe would be leaving for Lusaka the next day then back to Australia on Friday so she wanted to spend as much time as she could with Angie and Michael. The lunch led to supper and before we realized it we were at a pub drinking and as we watched the sun set. After what happened the last time I didn’t want anything to do with alcohol so I just settled for carbonated drinks, I watched Angie and Derick drink and romance. Chloe and Michael had gone to the dance floor and were dancing their souls out. I received a text from Henry, he was asking me where we were and I gave him directions. Soon enough Henry showed up and joined us, he too was drinking but later on went to play pool. Michael went to join Henry at the pool table, so Chloe came and joined me. “I’m predicting Henry will ask you out tonight, I think he is crazy about you. Just look at the way he keeps staring at you. I wonder what the boys are talking about, don’t you?” Chloe asked waving at Michael and Henry. She was Drunk, and probably didn’t know what she was talking about.

Angie and Derick went and watched the match between Michael and Henry, out of
curiosity Chloe and I joined them. I asked Angie what was going on because many people had come to watch, and she told me that Michael and Henry were gambling. They had made a bet and whoever won would take it all, and the loser would lose it all. This was really interesting; I didn’t know much about pool but from the looks of things Michael was winning. The game lasted longer than I thought, I guess the bet was based on three rounds.  Henry and Michael were equally good at the game, but for some reason I was ruling for Michael but surprisingly he lost the match. Henry was super happy and was jumping up and down, the bet must have been really valuable because Michael was full of anger and was drowning in sorrow.
Michael started drinking, I wondered what was bothering him but whatever it was I
couldn’t do anything about it. Maybe he was grumpy because he had lost a serious bet and his father had frozen all his bank accounts so he was dead broke. Henry took me to the dance floor  and we started dancing, he seemed rather over excited but I didn’t think of asking. “it’s really loud in here, would it kill if we went outside?” henry asked.
“yeah it's really loud, my ears are starting to ache. Wait here, let me tell Angie and
Chloe that I’m going outside.” I said to Henry as I broke free from his embrace. I walked to the counter where Chloe and Michael were seated, I couldn’t see Angie and Derick. “hey Chloe, when Angie comes tell her that I’m outside with Henry.” I said to Chloe.
Michael looked at me like he was going to say something, I had seen him drunk but not to that extent. “alright love, have fun!” Chloe said to me really excited, she was really wasted but at least not as much as grumpy Michael was.

Henry and I went outside the club, we saw a park bench so we went and sat there. The night was really clear, and the sky was full of stars. It was a bit chilly, Henry noticed that I was cold so he gave me a jacket. “the stars reflect the beauty in your eyes, for your soul is as clear as ice.” Henry whispered to me holding my hand, and I couldn’t help but smile.
‘’ since when did you become a poet? Or maybe you’re just quoting Shakespeare.” I asked with a chuckle.
“I like being original, I came up with these lines just looking in your eyes. I told you, you’re my school motivation and poetry inspiration.” He said to me.
“stop flattering me! in fact quit teasing me.” I muttered with shyness. Henry stood up, rested one foot on the bench. He held my hand again, “I’m seriously Muwemi, these past few weeks that I’ve spent with you have made me discover a different side of me. you made me improve academically, and if it wasn’t for you I wouldn’t have realized that I had a poetic side of me.” he said to me gently. I was really speechless and just didn’t know what to say, I wondered what Henry was driving at. “I know this is probably a rush move, but I really like you Muwemi. I’m not asking for a commitment or anything but I’m asking for a way out of the friend zone.” He added. I was still speechless, the only thing that kept ringing in my mind was ‘oh my gash! One of the cutest guys in campus likes me.’ I couldn’t look Henry straight in his eyes, he was super cute and if I wasn’t black I would have sworn my cheeks would be pink. Henry smiled at me as he pulled me up and I stood facing him, “so what’s it going to be, yes or no?” he asked as he pulled me closer to him and looked down to my face, our noses were nearly touching and I could feel my heart racing.