Chapter 32: Chapter 32

Uyai met Effiong halfway and for some unknown reason her eyes were fixed on his form; they didn't waver a bit to acknowledge the other party who silently observed the duo like he would do to two football stars making a standoff.

They could feel it.

The charged atmosphere, and like magnets they were drawn to each other, nothing else existed, only the two of them.

Perhaps it was the look in his eyes that pulled her into it's depth; it swirled with untamed emotions she couldn't for the life of her decipher. But, it gave her chills, a delicious chill that coursed her entire being. It felt foreign to her and that perturbed her so like a snail, she recoiled a bit into her imaginary shell that had suddenly appeared. It didn't go unnoticed by Effiong and suddenly he felt unsure of himself. Still, it didn't stop his fingers from twitching and seeking hers only to stop cold when she recoiled further as if to escape his touch. He couldn't stop the pained look that crossed his face and reluctantly his hand fell back to his side to form a fist.

So close yet so far...

It was maddening. Yet, he forced a smile.

Uyai bit her lip guiltily. At this point she was at lost for words. She saw when he reached for her but in her confused state she had shrunk back and didn't miss the hurt look that overcame his facial features.

"Are you done?" He asked referring to her work in the studio.

Uyai nodded wordlessly, making it more awkward.

A loud cough resounded and on impulse she looked over Effiong's shoulder and spotted a bemused Peter. His brows were raised over his head line as he observed the duo.

Peter resisted rolling his eyes heavenward instead muttered a noncommittal word that wasn't intended to be pleasant.

These two were ridiculous, especially Effiong, Peter grimaced.

Effiong was as timid as a--hell he was timid and Peter could not imagine himself in his shoes. He was more of a straight on guy and was known not to mince his words and very apt at portraying his feelings in sweetening words and dramatic actions that was sure to get any girl. Surely he was a romantic at heart and definitely knew how to appease the female race unlike his friend here who was terrible at it, it was embarrassing to see.

"I have to go." He announced, unable to bear the scene any longer. It was better they talked without an audience like him that that was at any time ready to make himself comfortable on a sofa with popcorn in hand while he amused himself with free live drama without a television as a hindrance.

"Oh! Okay." Uyai said as she watched him with wary eyes.

Peter smirked and gave her a wink.

Effiong scowled but didn't say a word...

"Later kids." He waved in farewell before tucking his hands into his trousers only to brush pass them but not before he had purposefully bumped his shoulder with Effiong's to shoot him a look of pity knowing that was going to annoy him.

They both turned to watch him walk away until he left their field of vision. Then, simultaneously, they turned back to each other and after locking eyes for a handful of seconds without talking, Effiong broke the silence.

"We need to talk." He said looking intently at her.

Uyai slumped her shoulders in defeat and nodded with a "Indeed we do."

"Can we go somewhere quiet for a bit?" He asked cautiously as he searched her face.

"Sure. Do you have a place in mind?" Uyai angled her head to look at him while she rubbed both her arms. The dress she wore was a little revealing; exposing the span of her neck down to her neckline which showed a little cleavage, plus the studio was quite cold due to the ACs stationed in almost every corner of the studio.

"Yes, there's an eatery just outside the studio, if you don't mind?" Effiong said while watching her carefully, silently hoping she'll assent to his choice of a more intimate setting where they could properly talk without any nuisance like Peter where her sole attention will be on him and only him.

"Sure." Uyai shrugged lightly and noticed Effiong heave a sigh of relief.

He turned and began walking towards the sliding doors that would lead to their exit. Uyai followed closely behind him. Till they got to the eatery they didn't say a word to each other until they were safely seated in a secluded corner facing the busy expressway.

"Welcome, what would you like to eat?" A waitress came to stand by them, wearing an apron that had some oil stains that signified that the apron had seen many years in the kitchen. Her eyes were enquiring as she clasped both palms in waiting.

"Erh...Uyai?" Effiong swiveled his gaze to her. "What would you like?"

"I'm not hungry, but I'll like a drink though. A bottle of coke will do." Uyai said to the waitress.

"Make that two." Effiong said without acknowledging the lady. His focus was now on Uyai.

Uyai being aware of his intense gaze squirmed in her seat.

From the corner of his eyes, Effiong could see that the waitress had left them to carry out their order giving them the seclusion he desired.

"You wanted to talk." Uyai said boldly meeting his eyes. This time, it was his turn to look nervous.

"Yes. I-I wanted to t-talk about u-us." he stuttered.

Uyai hid a smile. Goodness! She missed it. The stuttering Effiong was back in full force and she reveled in it.

"Uh...what about us?" she asked with a calm demeanor, placing her hand before her on the table that separated her from Effiong as if she was an interviewer, and the interviewee, was Effiong.

"Er..." Effiong began his speech, but his throat felt constricted, he found it difficult to voice his thoughts. Just when he was about to blurt out a few nonsense, he was interrupted by a hand holding a tray of drinks, blocking Uyai from his view. He exhaled deeply relieved.

Too soon the lady left and Effiong was forced to resume his speech and of course Uyai didn't spare him, she looked at him with a sickening calm expression with one eyebrow quirked daringly.

He swallowed loudly. He felt like he was in a court room with no substantial evidence to back him up.

"You were saying..." she trailed off.

The vixen! Effiong thought. She definitely had not changed.

He forced a smile, more like a grimace even.

"Y-Yes as I was s-saying--" he cursed his tongue for failing him at this dire period. "I want you to be mine." he blurted out immediately, his voice raspy.

"What?" Uyai gasped surprise, her calm demeanor had become disoriented.

Effiong winced. What was wrong with him?

"I'm sorry that came out wrong." he rushed out. "What I mean is.. I-I want us to be close if you know what I mean..." he trailed off with beseeching eyes.

Uyai shook her head. "No. No I don't know what you mean by that. You want us to be close how?"

Effiong grimaced. Suddenly he could feel a burst of perspiration, escape the tiny pores of his skin. He felt so hot--goodness! She was making things difficult for him. It was now he wished he was suave like his friend Peter. "I want us to be c-closer than how we were before." he told her deftly avoiding her gaze.

"How close? I'm really confused. I feel like you're speaking in parables. Isn't there something in particular you want to tell me?" Uyai queried.

Effiong wanted to smack his head. The girl was so clueless or was she doing it on purpose?

He fixed her an accusatory look. Her expression didn't waver? She still looked confused.

Goodness! He mentally scowled.

"I like you." he whispered.

"What?" she frowned.

"I like you." He repeated, this time louder. "I like you a lot." He said, then then exhaled deeply, as if he'd just ran a marathon.

"O-Okay..." she began, Effiong's heart rate picked up. Unconsciously he had edged closer towards her with anticipation... "But--" Effiong stopped, a frown beginning to form and unconsciously he redrew. "did you hate me before?" Uyai asked finally and Effiong cursed loudly. He couldn't help himself. Either she was dense or she was doing it on purpose. Effiong thought the latter.

So he played along, becoming bold. "No I didn't hate you. I liked you, but I like you more now like a boy would do a girl." He said to her. He was so curious how she was going to respond to that.

He saw how she gulped. Her tongue had left the abscess of her mouth to run over her lips. She was nervous, he could tell.

It triggered his ego.

"O-Okay...but don't you like Affiong? Love even?"

Really? Effiong thought. Okay he deserved that. It was his turn to squirm. Effiong gave it to her. She was good at her game.

"I did or I thought I did. But that was then." he told her imploringly.

"Yeah?" she smirked, one brow was wickedly quirked in challenge.

"Yes." He said firmly.

"Really? What happened? Don't tell me it's because she's pregnant with another man's child--" she feigned a gasp "Because I'll be totally surprised" She said mockingly.

"Okay I deserve that, but it isn't the reason, though it also played a part don't get me wrong. It's just I realized late that what I felt for her was a long time crush which was almost bordering on obsession. Although It took me a long time to realise it, thanks to that incident--" he said referring to Affiong's escapades that resulted in her pregnancy.

"And how do I fit into this? Is it because of how I look now?" She asked sceptically as she motioned to herself, afraid to hear the answer.

"Partly that but no." He immediately assuaged her.

"You're awfully honest aren't you?" Uyai commented in dissatisfaction.

Bt

"I don't mean to--sorry that came out wrong." he paused then fixed her with an intense look once more. She avoided his eyes, taking time to pour the content of the coke bottle into a glass cup that'd been made available. Slowly, she took it to her lips and sipped it, reminding Effiong of his own drink which he had left untouched.

That was not his problem. His main concern was trying to convince the lady sitting across from him that he liked her and his intention was pure.

"Could you look at me for a second?"

Taken aback, she immediately raised her head up and her eyes locked with his.

Satisfied, he smiled wryly. "Before you became insanely gorgeous. Forgive my choice of words,"

Uyai couldn't help but smile.

"I loved talking to you. When I was with you, I was myself compared to when I talk with other ladies. You were a breath of fresh air believe it or not. Though you might not have looked as good as you undoubtedly do now, I still felt you were pretty, a natural beauty even. I loved your humor, your wit and the fact that you were more willful with me. Yes I did notice. It kept me on my toes and unconsciously I do wait to hear some of your crazy ideas. Being with you felt good and though I had not realised it, I came for you and not really for Affiong. I think she was more of a distraction, no offense." he said watching her face seeing as her expression went from shock, confusion, wary etc...

"I-I am..." Uyai was at lost for words.

"Speechless I know." He completed. "I know it's much to take in but trust me it's harder for me 'cause I just laid bare my heart and soul. Do as you see fit, I won't take offense, I'm actually prepared for anything." He said confidently.

"Are you?" Uyai quirked an eyebrow.

"Actually I'm not. My heart is racing here. Please put me out of my misery and say something. Anything would do."

"Okay--" Effiong interjected.

"Wait." Before you say anything, I just want you to know that whatever you say next would decide the state of my heart."

"I...frankly I don't know what to say. I mean I'm astonished. This is just so overwhelming for me." Uyai said to him.

"I know." He nodding mournfully. Can I go out of my way and ask you a question?" he asked

Uyai shrugged.

He took that as an affirmative, "Do you like me?"

"Yes I do." Uyai nodded.

"I mean do you like, like me?" He asked again, insinuating each word.

"Err...yes I do like you."

"Like a girl likes a boy?" He specified.

"Yes, Yes I do." She again nodded.

"I'm sorry it's just that you're answering so fast so it's not convincing." Effiong grimaced.

"How was I supposed to answer? You expect me to stutter a reply?" Uyai smirked.

"Well yes. You're so confident with me it's quite intimidating." He squirmed, avoiding her eyes.

"Interesting. Well I guess you want me to say I'll think about it? I can't do that unless you pop the question." she told him with a smirk.

"Really?" Effiong's eyes widened. He looked to the bottle of coke, picked it up, drained it's contents into a glass cup and proceeded to gulp it down his suddenly parched throat. When he finished, he slammed the glass on the table with a clang, then looked to Uyai who had been watching him all this while, and met her gaze squarely "Since its been established that the feeling is mutual, he paused with a deafening silence... "would you be my girlfriend." He finally said in a blurt.

"No." Uyai bluntly replied.