Me & You

I see You

CHAPTER EIGHT
He laughed as the wave submerged Happy with water. Happy glared at the water, just as it came back for her, showering her once again. He laughed louder as she hurried from the shores of the beach to where he sat under a palm tree.
"I don't blame you," Happy glared.
"I thought you loved water?" Andre teased.
"Not when it is cold and touching my dry skin," Happy returned as she opened a can of soft drink. They had come to the beach with a few of their mutual friends for a little outing. It was quite dull, and both of them had secluded themselves unintentionally.
Joan, a plump friend of theirs, dragged Happy off, but his eyes followed her. She had on black shorts, which revealed her long legs and a red camisole. Barefooted, she looked so beautiful, the wind blowing through her hair.
He wondered what it would be like to run his fingers through her hair. Or to litter kisses on that lips of hers. He looked away as he realized what he had been thinking of.
"Control yourself," he scolded himself. His train of thoughts had been going crazy these past months. What he felt for Happy scared the hell out of him. She had always been just a friend, but why was he now having romantic feelings towards her? Why does he want to touch her every time? To inhale her fragrance?
It dawned on him that Jennie had been right. He had always had feelings for Happy but had chosen to lie to himself that he didn't. This wasn't the first time he would think of her in such a way. Even back in the university, he had wondered briefly what it would be like between the two of them. And there were times when he had been with Jennie, and he had imagined it was with Happy. But never had he acted on those feelings. Their friendship was important, and he didn't want to ruin it.
Now, he was a single man. These past months he had been on a journey with Happy by his side. He had done a lot of self-discovery and healing, and he was in a much better place. His business was doing well, and so was his life. But he wanted more. He wanted to be happier, and he wanted more than friendship with Happy. But he couldn't. She was in a relationship with that ass called Tunde.
Life was indeed a joke. Now that he was single, and was aware of his feelings for Happy, she was in a relationship, and he had to respect this. She didn't tell him much about her relationship with Tunde, and he was glad for this. Otherwise, he would be more jealous than he already was. He was hoping she realized Tunde wasn't the right guy and ended things. Then, he would make his move and wish for the best for them.
It was nighttime when Andre dropped Happy home. He gave her a long hug, resisting the urge to kiss her, then watched her get into the apartment before driving off.
Happy had had such an exciting day. Her day at the beach had been full of life. She hummed happily, doing a little dance. Others may have surrounded them, but it had been like it was just the two of them on that beach. Had it been her imagination, or had Andre been throwing her flirty looks? Of late, it seemed he was getting touchier with her. Or perhaps it was just her imagination. She was just glad to see that he was doing better and was no longer nursing the broken heart that Jennie had left him. But this meant he was single and in the market. He was a good-looking man, with ladies all over him. She wouldn't be surprised if he started dating again.
There was a knock on the door, and she wondered who it was. She wasn't expecting anyone.
"Tunde?" she said, surprised when she saw him at the door. He had not told her he was coming around. She had told him she wouldn't be seeing him today. She wished she had changed out of her beach clothes with the way his eyes raked all over her body.
"I brought wine and chocolate," Tunde said, lifting a brown bag.
It was rude to send him off, especially with his good gesture, so she let him in. She took a deep breath as she walked ahead of him. One of these days, she needed to get around to ending things with Tunde. Their relationship or whatever was not heading anywhere. She felt no spark or interest in him. Even their supposed friendship was beginning to play out. She didn't feel comfortable with him as she had been when they first met. He was too... possessive. He wanted to know where she was and what she was doing. At first, it had been sweet, but not anymore. He could call fifteen times in a day, and if she missed a call, he would litter her phone with hundreds of calls. He invited himself over and refused to leave until she pleaded with him to do so. It didn't help that he wanted to have sex with her. They had kissed twice, and she had realized then she wouldn't be crossing past that base with him. Agreeing to date him in the first place had been an enormous mistake.
"Where have you been? I was around earlier in the day," Tunde said.
"I told you I was going to the beach with friends," Happy said. And she had made sure to put her phone on airplane mode so he couldn't reach her.
"Was Andre there?" Tunde asked.
"Yes," she said. She couldn't understand why the men didn't like each other, and she refrained from talking about the other in their presence.
"So he saw you like this, almost naked," Tunde said with a frown.
"Umm... I was at the beach Tunde. People saw me this way," Happy pointed out. Next, he would be dictating to her what she should wear and where to go.
He took a deep breath and said, "You're very hot, Happy."
"Thank you," Happy said, surprised at the switch of their conversation.
He moved and joined her on the couch. He tried to kiss her, but she moved her face and got up. "It has been a long day, Tunde, and I would like to rest. Let's see tomorrow," Happy said.
He pulled her forcefully to him before she could walk off.
"Tunde, you're hurting me," Happy said, trying to pull away, but his grip on her was firm.
"You think you're all of it, don't you? You act all Miss. Perfect, like you are better than everyone. You flaunt around, but you don't want to give me a piece of it. I'm going to take what's mine, today and no one can stop me." Tunde said in a voice that sent chills all over her body. His eyes were hardened, and she gulped.
"Tunde, let go of me!" Happy said. She yelped as he pushed her on the couch. Before she could get up, he was upon her. They struggled as he tried to get rid of her camisole. There were tears in her eyes as she fought him. "Stop this madness! Tunde, stop this! Please don't do this!" she pleaded.
He ripped her camisole and began to unbutton her shorts. Her punches were feeble, but she kept on hitting him. She could not be raped! She needed to fight him!
"No, I'm going to have my way with you, and there's nothing anyone will do about it," Tunde said with a sneer. He tried to shove her shorts down, but she stiffened her legs. He began to pinch her stomach as he struggled to get them off. That was when she spotted the perfume bottle she must have left on the couch while hurrying off in the morning. She grabbed it and sprayed it into his eyes.
Tunde yelled, getting off her. She quickly ran out of the living room. She closed the hallway door, locking it from behind, then ran to her bedroom, locking the door. Her phone was on her bed, and she called the only person she could count on while Tunde banged on the door in rage.
"Please, Andre! Please, I need you!" she cried into the phone.
The next hours were an ordeal for Happy. Andre had turned around his ride home right after he called the cops. He had gotten into a fight with Tunde and had been separated by neighbors who held Tunde down while he went for Happy. The police had arrived, and she gave them their statements while the police took Tunde to the station.
"It's okay, I'm here now," Andre comforted as he hugged her. He hated himself for not trusting his instincts, and for letting that bastard into Happy's life. He was never going to leave her side now.