CHOOSING.

9. That went well.

Talking with Cathy made me feel much better. I realised just how badly I was in need of a friend I could talk to. "Wait up, how do you that guy from the club," I asked her.

"That's my brother, Kevin," she explained. That explained why he was here in the first place. After talking a little more, I left to go home. I couldn't help the disappointment I felt when I failed to spot Caleb anywhere. The rest of my day passed in a blur of movies and a lot of junk. Cathy often told me I misused my inability to gain weight by eating unhealthy. Well, a girl got to take advantage of what she got.

Next day I woke on time for my favourite event of the week, Sunday service. It seemed like all those many years ago since the last service whereby I took Ombachi with me. Speaking of Ombachi I hadn't seen him since we came back from The Pelican and I was in no hurry to either. I know I was procrastinating but I was not ready to have that talk yet. I prepared myself for church and put on my best dress to cheer up my mood. It was a long flowing dress that hugged my torso. I wear my hear cropped short so it didn't need much attention and within no time I was ready to leave.

Sitting in the service without a certain good looking guy next to me was much harder on me than I thought it would be. I wished things hadn't gotten out of control so fast. Caleb on the other hand looked so captivating and every so often my eyes would wander towards him and my heart would skip a beat. Cathy's idea to seek solace in prayer did give me peace but my feelings were still muddled up. Every time I saw Caleb, my breath would catch his smile sent a flutter to my stomach. However, with Ombachi I felt alive and free and I craved his company when he was not around. I did not know what to make out of all this but I knew that only one of them could be the right one for me. I just didn't know whom and this is what made everything so complicated.

After the service I wanted to seek out Caleb to talk to him since we hadn't left off at a good point. I felt I needed to explain. This decision was taken from me when Cathy dragged me with her towards the choir so I could help her come up with the perfect design for uniforms. My protests about my lack of a fashion sense were duly ignored and I soon shut up because I knew she wouldn't relent and I realised Caleb was in the group. Ideas were popped, some accepted while some shot down. All I did was stand there trying to catch Caleb's eye but he seemed to have decided not to look at me. As soon as the meeting was over, I walked over to Caleb only he didn't wait for me to get to him. He strode away determined not to look back and it stung so hard I was rooted where I stood fighting back the urge to cry. It is no wonder I walked home with a heavy heart and a sad face.

I got home to find Ombach standing at his door leaning on the doorframe. He smiled when he saw me and advanced towards me. "You didn't ask me to go with you to church today," he said.

"I can't do this right now," I told him tiredly.

"Is this about the kiss?" He asked but didn't wait for my answer. "I do not regret doing it, but it doesn't have to change anything between us."

"It doesn't?" I asked relieved.

"No, it does not change anything. We're trust  friends," he said smiling.

"Buy you kissed me, on the lips," I insisted. "Doesn't that mean anything?"

"It means I like you, but seeing as you are not so happy about our friendship evolving into something else, I will wait." He said. And I was so relieved I threw myself at him and hugged him. Well, my hands could barely circle his wide frame but its the thought that counts. He hugged me back and as I let out a deep sigh I felt a weight lift off of my shoulders. "You know I should be hurt by this," he said. I pulled away to look at him puzzled.

"I did not say anything bad, did I?" I asked.

"No, but you act like being more than friends would be a terrible thing. And here I was thinking you at least liked me," he said sadly.

"Oh no! Of course I like you, very much in fact. No wait, I don't just like you very much but very very completely much. Its just that am confused, and my feelings are all over the place and you're very handsome but I don't know. It wouldn't be bad to date you, trust me it wouldn't but..." I stopped my  rambling when I heard Ombachi break into an amused laughter. I was trying to be serious here but he thought it was funny. I glared at him but this only made him laugh harder. When I realised he wouldn't stop, I turned to get into my room but he pulled me back.

Still looking quite amused he looked at me and said, "you're one amazing lady and am honoured to be your friend. And you think am handsome so that makes up for everything." I could have died of embarrassment. I told him I thought he was handsome? That's what happened when I panicked.

"Um. Cool, I guess that's settled then," I said trying to pull myself away.

"And I think you're beautiful too," he said with a smirk.

"Friends, remember?" I told him with a raised eyebrow.

"That's okay by me sweetheart. But am still entitled to my opinion you know," he insisted. I swatted him on the hand to which he responded by laughing. I got into my apartment with a stupid smile on my face. Well, that went better than I would have expected.