The Road of Love

Chapter Fourteen

The room was silent except for the hymn Livia was humming.
Emma knew that hymn very well.
She was only waiting for Livia to start her questioning.
As if Livia could read her mind, she raised her head and looked her in the eyes.
"Are you waiting for me to ask you questions?" Lucia questioned.
Emma's eyes widened.
"Which questions are you talking of?" Emma questioned back.
She didn't want to talk about it.
"Well, since you want to play dumb with me, let me go straight to the point."
"What's going on between you two?"
"Us?" Emma asked, hitting her palm on her chest.
"Yes. You and that guy. I've forgotten his name again" Livia said hitting her wrist on her forehead.
"Gerald?" Emma asked.
"Yes. Gerald"
"Nothing is going on. He's a nice guy and I feel great when I'm with him" Emma explained.
"Mmm, that's nice" Livia remarked.
"He looks at you with love and affection in his eyes" Livia stated after a while.
"Do you read eyes now?" Emma asked surprised.
"I know love, Emma. He looks at you differently"
"Since you know so much about love, why don't you get yourself a boyfriend?" Emma questioned.
"My prince charming will arrive soon" Livia assured.
"Good for you. But please be sane before he arrives. You'll surely drive him away even before he gets here with all that crap in you"
"Birds of a feather, flock together, Miss Dickson."
Emma shook her head.
"On a more serious note sweetheart, he's a great person and he loves you. I think he doesn't want to lose your friendship and he wants you to get over your past before he makes a move.
When he does, give him the chance" Livia advised.
"I never knew you had a brain" Emma said, dodging the plastic bottle Livia threw at her.
"Walk with the wise and you'll become wise, says the good old book" they said in unison.
They looked at each other and laughed their hearts out.

                             *****
"How to impress a girl you like?" Vivian asked with her eyes popping out of its sockets.
"Who do you want to impress?" she inquired.
"Will you help me or not?" Gerald asked impatiently.
"I will help you but on two conditions"
"Which are?" Gerald questioned.
"She has to be beautiful and intelligent. I wouldn't want to give you an advice that'll be wasted on an ugly and unintelligent girl" Vivian said with a serious face.
"Vivi!" Gerald exclaimed.
"Your reaction shows she's ugly and unintelligent. I'm keeping my tips" Vivian snapped.
"No, she's not. She's an older version of you" Gerald said calmly.
"Really!?" Vivian exclaimed with surprise and excitement.
"Yep. She's the most beautiful girl I've met in my life. Her beauty matches her brain. She's a very smart girl" Gerald complemented.
"You really love her, right?" Vivian asked in a motherly tone.
"Yeah, I love her a lot" Gerald replied.

                            *****
"The first thing you have to know about impressing a lady is you do the right thing at the right time. If you don't, you'll scare her away and ruin your chance" she explained.
Gerald was listening with rapt attention.
"As I said earlier, a step at a time.
You shouldn't make it so obvious though.
Known who she really is before getting close to her and know what you want.
Do you want moments or movements?
Second, make your intentions known.
Don't follow her around, buy her gifts, be sweet to her without her knowing your intentions, you'll surely be her best friend or 'brother' for the rest of your life because another man will do same things for her but with his attentions fully known.
Another thing you have to know is to be sincere, supportive and caring.
No lady wants a guy who lies like he's drinking water. One lie would be enough to question all truths.
Being supportive is not always about agreeing on everything.
It's also about showing genuine interest in the things she loves.
If she sells something, do well to help with the advertisement.
When she needs help and asks for it, don't turn her down.
And when you see it, don't act like you don't care, help her.
There's nothing like small or big help.
Don't belittle her dreams, she'll hate you for life.
Show her you care about her. When she needs a shoulder to cry on, give it.
When she needs a listening ear and non judgemental mouth, be just that for her.
If you do all these, you'll win her heart in no time and you'll surely leave a good impression"
"Are you sure about it?" Gerald asked in a tremulous voice.
"Very" Vivian answered.
"Thank you so much, sis" Gerald acknowledged.
"You're welcome, son" Vivian remarked.
Gerald smiled at his sister and she smiled back.

                             *****
Emma and Gerald were together most of the time. They enjoyed each other's company.
They sat together during lectures, went to the cafeteria together and studied together.
Emma liked being around Gerald a lot more than she expected.
He was funny, sweet and caring and she felt at peace with him.
She would find herself smiling most of the time.
Livia suspected something was fishy and she wouldn't let Emma rest until she found out what's going on.
Emma wouldn't tell her a thing .

Gerald's friends couldn't understand the change also.
All efforts to get him to talk proved futile. They were not going to give up.

                             *****
"How was your day?" Gerald asked Emma who was busy with a stone on the ground.
"Emma?" Gerald called softly.
"Hmmm?"
"I'm waiting for an answer to my question" Gerald stated.
"Oh I'm sorry. It was fine" she replied.
"You're very beautiful, you know?" Gerald complemented her.
Emma stopped walking and looked at Gerald.
Her gaze was soft but sad.
She blinked thrice, said thank you and walked on.
Gerald walked slowly behind.
"I want to tell you something important" Gerald said, breaking the uncomfortable silence.
"Listening" Emma said without turning.
"Let's get to your hostel first" he suggested.
"Oh okay. I have no problem with that"
The wind blew and Emma's long brown hair danced.
Gerald looked on admiringly.

                         *****
"We're here now. May I know what you want to tell me?" Emma questioned.
They climbed the stairs in silence.
They got to Emma's door and she invited him in.
He placed the books he was holding on the study table and looked around the room like he's never been there before.
"I'm waiting, Gerald" Emma snapped her fingers to draw Gerald's attention.
"Well..." the word drifted off Gerald's tongue.
He moved closer to Emma and took her hand. He squeezed her hands and closed his eyes.
Emma was getting nervous.
"W..., what is it?" Emma stuttered.
"I love you, Emma. I fell in love with you the very first day I saw you. I can't control nor hide my feelings anymore.
I want to love you more with each passing day. I don't mean to scare you but..."
Emma withdrew her hands from Gerald's and took a step back, surprise on her face
She looked away for a some time.
Gerald lifted her head, gently holding her chin. Their eyes met.
His eyes were sincere and full of love.
Emma looked away but Gerald's palm held her left cheek.
She took a step back and looked at Gerald with teary eyes.
The room was tensed.
"Please say something" Gerald pleaded in a thick voice.
"I'm sorry but I can't reciprocate that feeling" she said in a tight voice.
Her face was expressionless.
"I'll wait..."
"Please don't" Emma cut his sentence.
"Em..."
"Please don't press it" she stated in a wheezy voice.
"Okay" Gerald said and moved back.
"I have to be on my way" he announced and walked out of the room.
Emma felt numb as she watched Gerald go out.
She sat on the floor hugging her knees and telling herself, she couldn't love him or anyone.
She rocked herself back and forth and fell asleep on the floor still hugging her knees.