Harmless

I couldn't help but notice the way he kept staring at me. I must admit at some point it got awkward and I just wished he would look away or the ground will just open up and swallow me.
Why would he do that to me? I asked in my mind as if the young man knew what he was doing.
I am sure he didn't even realize what he was doing either cause the moment I let out a loud cough to clear the tension that was surrounding the whole place, he got startled.
I couldn't help but wonder if he was already lost in thought while staring or if his mind just wandered off even when his body was still here and present.

Hey Mark what have you been thinking of?
Me? No, I wasn't thinking of anything he struggled to respond to me.
Are you sure? Well, then why didn't you notice when I took something from your plate? I lied anyway to see if he will still deny not thinking of anything.
You did? Mark answered yet with shock on his face.
But nothing is missing on my plate so could you tell me what you stole from me? He teased.
Young man, I took nothing from you, I was only pulling your legs.
Maybe next time you should consider fixing your eyes on your plate and finishing your meal instead of staring somewhere else.

He tried denying again and getting off the hook. It has always been his thing.
Mark always has a way of escaping things and he argues till his last breath.
Most times I intentionally let him win an argument because I am not always ready to get drained arguing with him.
But on other days when I am ready for him, I do the same until he gives up.

Gloria, you've got something on your face.
My face? I immediately tried wiping my face, I was already feeling shy and now I got something on my face? Could things get any more awkward?
No not your face as in your face but...Mark couldn't complete his statement rather he stood up, and wiped the leftover food particles on the right corner of my lips.
Jez...that sent some really good chills.
His hands were not only cold but soft, very tender like that of a baby.

I froze for a split second as if something just left me when he sat back after getting the thing off my face. No off my lips rather.
I kept staring at him when he sat down, it was now my turn to do the staring.
He noticed and asked me why I was suddenly staring at him. I retorted and said I wasn't, of course, he didn't expect me to tell him why I was staring or admit that I really was staring, did he?.
I don't know but I can only say I wasn't myself anymore throughout the remaining hours of the sit-out.

I was suddenly uncomfortable around him and I just wanted to get away from him and head back home already.
Mark could sense something was up and that I wasn't being myself anymore so he asked if everything was alright.
I told him that everything was fine.
After some minutes, he called the waiter and asked for our bills which he later paid off.

We both got up and dressed ourselves to walk out of the restaurant.
When we got outside, he slowly opened the car door to let me in.
I stepped in while he got over to the other side to help himself in as well.
He drove out and took me home.
When we got to my place, he opened the car for me to step out.
I gave my speech about having a good time at the sit-out.
He just smiled and asked if I would give him another chance to do this again.
Do what again, I almost let it out loud. I know I didn't mean it but did he honestly think I would give him another chance to make a fool of myself?
Another chance to have him making me go crazy just by staring and all?.
Okay maybe I was willing to do this again but not anytime soon I thought.

Well, we might do this again and we can, I finally responded.
I told him thank you and was about to walk out when I felt a cold hand pulling me from behind that I almost fell to the ground, a good thing he grabbed me before I did.
He hugged me for some minutes and I went death and blank, I felt emotionless and I couldn't mutter a word.
The sweet fragrance from his shirt was killing and I almost choked when I felt his heart racing and ticking at intervals.

I couldn't say anything until he was done with God knows whatever it is he was doing to me.
He held me by the shoulders and said he was sorry if he had startled me.
He said he couldn't just help it anymore that he just felt like hugging me and he was wrong for not asking politely.
I said nothing, other than just staring at him until he let go of me and looked away.
I left him standing there and went inside my house.
I closed the door behind me after waving him goodbye without even turning to look back at him. I was so shy and felt awkward that all I could think of was getting out of his sight.

It was just a hug, a harmless hug I thought. Why are you being so ridiculous my mind kept bombarding me with lots of make up stories. A hug doesn't kill Gloria, get off it.
I battled this in my mind that night until Mark finally got into his car and drove off.
Just then, I could be myself again, I headed to the bathroom to wash up and retire to bed.
It was such a long and dramatic day for me, I needed the rest.

The End!

Hey readers! Thank you for sparing this article your time. Reading and digesting every word and emotion in it. I do hope it wasn't so boring and even if it was (story of my life) hahaha, I hope you bear with me and give your feedback and constructive criticism, I welcome them.
By the way, I appreciate your time, upvote, and comment.

Still your baby girl ;)

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16 July 2021

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