The Road of Love

Chapter Sixteen

"Gerald?" the beautiful dark girl asked with her arms open for a hug.
"Yes?" Gerald asked, his brows furrowed with confusion written boldly on his face.
"You don't remember me?" the girl quizzed.
"I'm a bit lost. Could you please remind me of where and how we know each other?" Gerald requested.
"Yeah, why not?. I'm the sister of your sister's best friend."
"Achiaa?"
"Yeah"
"Oh, I'm sorry. I didn't take a closer look at you the last time" Gerald apologized.
"Don't worry, at least you've remembered" the dark girl assured.
"Uhm, may I introduce myself properly?" Gerald asked nervously.
The girl nodded in affirmation.
"Gerald is the name, you already know that. I'm a student here and I'm sorry for not recognizing you earlier" he finished with a bow.
The girl laughed and Gerald was captivated.
He studied the girl's face for a while.
She had beautiful amber eyes that glowed when she smiled or laughed.
Her lips were dark and beautiful.
She had petite stature with a round face and an even complexion.
Gerald was still admiring the girl when he heard the snap of fingers.
He jerked out of his world to see two different pairs of eyes staring back at him.
"Oh, I was thinking about something" he said with embarrassment.
"It's fine" the girl told him.
"I'll see you again" the girl announced and left. Gerald and Emma nodded.
Gerald looked at Emma with an eyebrow raised.
"Hmmm, who was she?" Emma quizzed.
"Who?" Gerald answered with a question.
"That girl" Emma answered and pointed in the direction the girl went.
"She's a friend of my sister" he answered.
"I see"
"What do you see?" Gerald queried.
"Nothing" Emma snapped and walked in the opposite direction the girl went.
"Wait" Gerald called.
Emma stopped without turning around.
Gerald stood in front of her and smiled.
Emma didn't smile back.

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"Where are you going?" he asked, breaking the uncomfortable silence.
"Nowhere" she answered.
"So you're just walking about?" Gerald stated and nodded.
Emma chuckled.
"I was coming to your hostel" she confessed.
Gerald's eyes widened and a smile formed at the corners of his lips.
"What for?" he quizzed.
"What's going on between you and my friend?" Emma threw the question at him.
Gerald stopped walking.
"Why?, did I say something wrong?" Emma said sarcastically.
"I don't know what you're talking about" Gerald said.
"Are you going out with Livia?" Emma asked in a soft voice.
"What?!" Gerald exclaimed.
"You heard me" Emma added.
Gerald opened his mouth and closed it  again.
He composed himself and spoke to Emma in an innocent.
Emma's eyes were full of years as she stared at Gerald.
"So you're saying you're not doing out with my best friend?" Emma's voice broke.
"No, Em. You know I wouldn't do that to you. You know how much I love..." Gerald allowed his last word to drift away. He turned his eyes from Emma.
Emma stood there motionless.
She looked at the tall, fair complexion man and felt sorry.
Not for him but herself.
He was everything she wanted but she couldn't and didn't want to tell him how she felt about him
It was too soon to confess her feelings, or so she thought.
"What are you thinking about?" Gerald asked in a low voice.
"Nothing. I only hope you're not telling me lies" Emma stated.
"No, I'm not. I have eyes for one woman even if she's not mine" Gerald disclosed.
Emma blushed.
"Well, that's all I wanted to ask. I'm going to my hostel now. I have a few things to do" Emma announced and began to walk away.

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"Emma" Gerald called and ran after her.
He caught up with her and held her hand.
Emma stopped walking as she felt chills go up her spine.
There was something about his touch she couldn't lay her mind on.
It made her feel secured and protected.
"May I ask a question?" Gerald asked.
"Yes, you may" Emma answered.
Gerald looked around to make sure there was no one around except both them.
Emma raised her brows in question.
"What?" she asked throwing her hands in the air.
"I'm asking because I don't want any regrets in the near future" Gerald told her calmly.
"Okay..."
"Do you feel nothing for me?. Well I mean, do you not love me at least a little to give me some hope of winning your heart someday" he finished and took a step back to be able to see Emma well.
"Gerald..."
"Please answer me" Gerald cut in.
An uncomfortable silence hang around.
"I don't know" she said barely audible.
"You have to know, Emma" Gerald said pleadingly.
They both sighed.
Gerald looked Emma straight in the eyes and asked her one last time, "do you love me?"
Emma's heart was beating rapidly.
"I..., I" Emma's sentence was interrupted.
She turned around to see Leo right behind her. She took a step forward.
Gerald's face showed disgust.
"Did I interrupt a romantic scene?" Leo asked and covered his mouth in laughter.
"Let's go, Gerald" Emma held Gerald's hand and pulled him along.
"Oh this so beautiful. The girl falls the shots" Leo teased.
"So you love him Emma?. You love this confused guy who has nothing good to offer you" Leo went on.
Emma couldn't take it anymore.
She stopped walking, let go of Gerald's hand, walked slowly and stood in front of Leo.
"The man you think has nothing good to offer me, has everything you don't have including, dignity.
Do you consider yourself a man?
Oh, I bet someone told you you're one.
Sorry, to be the bearer of bad news.
Well, sorry but I have to tell you the truth, in fact, the bitter truth. You're not a man. Yes, dear. You're just a baby in a man's body.
You're a coward without a doubt, Leonard Michael Bruce.
Go get yourself some baby food so you grow up real quick" Emma ended and pursed her lips.
Leo looked hurt and embarrassed.
"Oh, did I hurt your feelings?" Emma asked feigning concern.
Gerald was amazed. He didn't see that coming. He moved to Emma's side and held her shoulders.
"Let's go, Em" he whispered in her ears. Emma nodded.
Leo's voice was gone.
"You're a cheap girl, Emma Dickson" Leo shouted.
"I know. But did you forget birds of a feather flock together?" Emma retaliated.
Leo raised his hand to slap Emma but Gerald caught it right on time.
"The next time you'll try such a thing, I'll beat the crap out of you" Gerald warned with gritted teeth.
He dropped Leo's hand and wiped his palms on his trousers.
"I hate it when I touch dirt" Gerald added.
"Em, let's go. We shouldn't be seen with such an excuse of a man" he stated to Leo's hearing.
Emma nodded in affirmation and took Gerald's hand.
They looked at each other and giggled in satisfaction.
         
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Leo couldn't grasp his shameful defeat.
"This is not over both of you" he shouted.
They didn't bother to turn around, they just walked on hand I  hand.