(044 - No Capping.)

Congratulations to olaworetenny and chiosom118 for winning the first position in the Quiz two weeks ago! Well done guys 😌✨. You people should go and read o, we have a quiz next week.

Guys😫😭, me too I will fall in love one day and I and my boo will have a catchphrase like "No Capping". I don't doubt that Chima and Dawn are going to make your heart jump plenty in this chapter.

Something good is about to happen. Or rather, many good things😌✨.

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𝐃𝐀𝐖𝐍
(Dawn Damipe Dayo)

It was painful.

It was so painful sitting down today at Gomery and listening to Semeeha repeat everything she said in the garden that day, unapologetically spewing out insensitive and invalidating words again like she didn't know... or couldn't see the glaring effect it had on me.

Very painful.

She didn't have to use the exact words she said to me that day. She reconstructed her statements but that didn't water down or diminish the fact that they still meant the same thing, and still carried out almost the same progressively detrimental effect it had on me back then.

I couldn't sit back and listen to her talk about me that way again. I had to leave, for my sanity. Even Hilary couldn't stay.

Leaning back on the tubular steel chair I was sitting on in the middle of the park, I allowed myself to think back to all the questions that bombarded my mind as soon as I left Gomery. Questions I couldn't help but ask myself.

Why exactly did she say those words to me?

What sick pleasure did Semeeha Malik derive from putting me down and treating my feelings like they didn't matter?

How did she feel watching me bawl my eyes out, right in front of her because of her hurtful words?

How was she so comfortable, seeing her best friend cry out in hurt because of the words that came out of her mouth?

I could still remember it vividly... the smirk on her lips that day while she watched me cry. It almost felt like she was enjoying it, like she was relishing in the feeling of seeing me in tears, in pain, hurt beyond measures.

Semeeha Malik enjoyed making me feel sad.

Why?

It was unsettling, almost creepy in fact.

And the fact that she still could have made her point without invalidating my feelings, without making me feel ungrateful, without justifying the sexual comments I was getting from stupid men... the fact that she could have still made her point without attributing the reason for all my hard-earned accolades and success as a dancer to my body... but didn't, proved that.

Did she do all of that on purpose? Did she say all of that on purpose?

I mean, she couldn't even apologize properly.

...Maybe I'm sorry for how harsh I presented my words...

Maybe? She wasn't even sorry.

Semeeha didn't feel bad about what she said. She didn't feel any remorse. In her mind, she was right, and for her to adamantly refuse she wasn't in the wrong for what she did, it was like my opinion about the situation didn't matter. My feelings didn't matter. My hurt didn't matter.

Wow.

All of this, these thoughts made me doubt if we were ever friends in the first place. Because someone won't intentionally hurt their best friend the way Semeeha Malik keeps hurting me.

Maybe she was never my friend, to begin with. Maybe she was just with me because she knew how sensitive I was. She knew she could prey on my insecurities because that's what she has always been doing. Subtly or not.

But what kind of joy did she derive from doing that? Or did she just do it for fun?

It was hard to figure out the answers to these questions and trying to figure them out only brought about more unanswered questions that left me confused... and sad.

But I tried my best to push out the feeling of sadness or insecurities that had begun to plague me, telling myself that I wasn't going to let her words get to me ever again. Semeeha Malik has hurt me for the last and final time.

Never again.

I felt a presence behind me, the shadow of a figure hovering above me and acting as a shade to block the ray of sunlight shining on me. Before I could turn around to see who it was, strong, familiar arms wrapped around me from behind and drew me into a taut body.

That familiar, firm body.

I inhaled on instinct, every thought I had in my mind disappearing into thin air as I caught the faint whiff of an intoxicating scent that I was very much acquainted with. I couldn't stop the smile that stretched across my lips, humming softly as I leaned into him.

Him.

"Hey," He whispered and I sighed, feeling his lips brushing my ear just by a breeze.

My lips widened further with a smile and I leaned back against his body, bringing my hands up to hold unto his that were still around me, hugging the both of us tighter. Thankfully, the armrest connected to the steel chair was low enough, so there was no form of discomfort between us.

"Hi,"

I whispered back, tilting my head to the side a little bit to nuzzle my cheek with his. He hummed, pressing a soft kiss to the side of my head and squeezed me a little tighter before finally pulling away, coming to the line of my vision. I didn't think I would smile any wider than I was already smiling until he did.

He looked good. Really good.

I took my time, allowing my eyes to sweep over his features.

As far as I have noticed, Sochima Ansel Johnson wasn't someone that paid close attention to his choice of clothing, or a specific fashion style or brand like most guys in Crestview would. But when he dresses up, he ends up doing it in style, like he was doing right now.

He was dressed in a simple white top beneath a denim jacket, black jeans, and black tennis kicks. Nothing more, nothing flamboyant, but he was still able to pull it off, looking effortless drop-dead gorgeous.

It was like every new day I see him, he just keeps looking better, more handsome... hot.

So Hot. I mused, pulling my bottom lip between my teeth and bobbing my head to the side to have a better look at him.

(Picture of Chima's Outfit 🥵🔥✨)

"Why are you staring at me like you want to put off my clothes?" His deep voice tore through my racy thoughts, forcing my eyes away from his frame to look at him. He was staring down at me, eyes twinkling with mischief and his lips pulled up in a knowing smirk.

I squinted at him, unable to hold back my smile.

"Now you are just giving me ideas," I wiggled my brows teasingly. Chima threw his head backward in laughter and I joined him.

"But seriously, you look really good." I voiced out my compliment when our laughter had already subsided.

"Thank you," He answered, his lips stretching into a grin. "And you..." He trailed off, looking away from my eyes and down to my frame, taking me in.

He wordlessly focused on me, looking at me like he was just seeing me for the first time since he got here. I watched his eyes sweep over my frame, taking me in like I did him but slower, more intently... and way more sensually. I felt my breath hang in my throat, my heart picking up a rapid beat.

His stare made me feel like my body was being dipped into a volcano. It made me feel Hot.

But even with all the intense, profoundly fervid emotions in his stare, I could still see... and feel the warmness and tenderness of his gaze. The undisguised love, the irrevocable admiration, the glaring adoration. I could see all of it, more intoxicating and exhilarating than it has ever been.

Then I heard him sigh softly, a sigh that told me he was in awe of me. It made me feel beautiful... perfect

It enthralled me how a guy can bare his feelings out in front of the girl he's in love with like that... unashamedly, and without saying as much as a word.

His look said it all.

His look made me feel... Everything.

"You look Beautiful, Dawn," He said, his voice coming out husky and breathless. It was like all that time he was watching me, he didn't breathe.

And his words, what he said, no matter how many times he has told me before, it felt like he was just saying it to me for the first time. My heart skipped three beats.

Yes, I counted.

"Thank you," I sounded just as breathless as he did, if not more.

Just like his clothes I was in a simple outfit too, dressed in a turquoise long-sleeved body con round neck top, flowery short skirt, and nude sneakers. But I know I looked good

And Chima did too.

(Baby Dawn's outfit 😫💖✨)

"I'm so sorry for coming late though," Chima said after a brief silence, settling down in the space beside me. I brought my phone out of my purse to check the time. I almost chuckled when saw what the time said.

Was he seriously apologizing for being five minutes later than our meet-up time?

"My mum asked me to run an errand for her," He continued to explain himself. "She ordered a few things for her boutique so she asked me to pick them up for her. So I had to take her car and drive to Ikoyi to pick the items up for there, then get back to Crown to drop them off before heading this way-"

"Yet, you were still able to make it here in time," I cut him off, smiling at him.

"I was still late," He maintained. Now, I couldn't stop the chuckle from escaping my lips.

"Just by five minutes Chima," I told him. "It's fine. Besides, you already sent me a text prior." I reminded him and he sighed, the expression on his face looking like he was trying to gather his thoughts together.

"I just thought..." He began but I shook my head slightly, causing his words to trail off.

"It's okay, Chima. Really," I promised him and he sighed again, nodding.

Ever since I told him about my past with Tekena Tamuno, Chima has... well, he has been overthinking every action he makes towards me. At first, I thought he was just being his usual sweet and delicate self. But when it started getting a little too much, I realized what exactly was going on.

Chima doesn't want to hurt me the way Tekena Tamuno did.

And the simple understanding of what he was doing, and how intentional he was about not hurting me made me grow in love with him more than I already was.

Consciously or unconsciously, he was giving me more reasons to think that he was perfect.

To think that he is The One.

Once again, God forbid I let this perfect human being go.

"How was your hangout with Hilary and Kizito at Gomery? Chima asked me, bringing me out of my reverie.

The question he had asked, oblivious to the kind of effect it had on me immediately dampened my mood, my mind flashing back to my thoughts before he came and the hangout at Gomery, plus everything going on with Semeeha Malik.

I tried to force my smile back on, but Chima had already noticed the change in my demeanor.

"What's wrong?" He asked, moving closer to me and I looked at him, shaking my head. "Did something happen to Kizito or Hilary? Are they okay?" He asked, the concern in his voice evident. I almost smiled, appreciating how much he cared about the welfare of my friends almost as much as I did.

"Nothing happened to them," I assured him and he exhaled in relief, nodding.

"Then what is it? What happened?" He probed further, searching my eyes with it as if he wanted to figure out what was wrong without me telling him. And knowing Chima, he could. But maybe not in this case. There was no way he could guess exactly what was up.

"Dawn," He called calmly, urging me to speak.

"Semeeha was there." I opened up.

Chima didn't look half as surprised as I felt when I saw Semeeha. Even though I tried to hide it, I was shocked when I saw her standing right beside Kizito earlier today, staring back at me. I thought I was going to be hanging out and have fun with my two best friends today, only for me to see that it was more of a peace maker's meeting than a hangout.

"By coincidence or..." Chima began to ask but trailed off when I shook my head.

"Kizito planned it," I told him. "He tricked the three of us into meeting at Gomery so that we'd talk about everything going on between and settle it once and for all," I added.

In a way though, when I walked into Gomery and saw Semeeha, I had an inclining of what was going on. It kinda made me a little relieved that someone was trying to salvage what was left of my and Semeeha's friendship.

Little did I know it wasn't going to work out.

"Oh, and did it work? Were you guys finally able to find a common ground? Did Semeeha apologize?" He fired the questions at a stretch, optimism flashing in his eyes. A short humorless laugh escaped my lips as I shook my head again.

I wish.

"Not even in the slightest," I muttered, looking away from Chima's piercing gaze. I heard him exhale, and from my peripheral vision, I could see him bob his head to the side, feeling his eyes still watching me.

"Do you want to talk about it?" He asked quietly, carefully and I inhaled, thinking.

Did I want to talk about Semeeha Malik and everything she said to me again? Did I want to do that to myself? It was always therapeutic, that is talking to Chima. He always knows exactly what to say to ease me of every burden and make me feel a lot better.

But this time, I wasn't sure.

So, I shook my head.

"I rather not," I answered in a small voice, glancing at him from beneath my lashes. Chima smiled, nodding in understanding.

"Okay," He whispered.

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"She actually told me to suck it up and grow a pair," I said to Chima, my words a little muffled because my mouth was filled with hamburger.

Okay, I know I said I'd rather not talk about what happened at Gomery, but I just couldn't help myself. Chima had this very compelling presence to himself, an aura that made me want to tell him everything. This wasn't the first time I'd be opening up to him about something after telling him I didn't want to open up.

After I told him I didn't want to talk about it, he asked me if I had gotten anything to eat. When I told him I hadn't, he suggested we grab a bite from the nearest restaurant which we did. But as soon as our order came, I started letting it all out, ranting about everything Semeeha said... just like I was doing right now.

And he didn't have to pressure me.

All the while, the dark-skinned boy just sat right there in front of me, munching on his snack and listening to every word I've been saying without saying anything back. And even though he wasn't saying anything - and hasn't said anything since I started talking, I knew I had his full attention.

So, I went on.

"And then she told me that I was overreacting," I ranted on, taking another bite off my hamburger while Chima watched. "That I should stop acting like my problems are the biggest in the world, that people have far bigger problems than I do. As if that will ever justify everything she said to me, or will make me feel better," I paused, hiccuping because of the speed I was using to eat. Chima was quick to pass me my milkshake.

"Thank you," I muttered between hiccups, placing the straw between my lips and taking a drag. When I looked at Chima, his lips were tugged up slightly in a small smile, his eyes peering right into mine as he quietly, and thoughtfully watched me.

He finds my ranting funny. I thought to myself, averting my gaze from his for a moment.

"You find my ranting funny," I voiced out my thoughts, looking back at him.

"I find it really cute, actually" He corrected, his lips stretching further into a full-blown smile. I couldn't stop the small chuckle that escaped my lips.

"Just don't bother saying you don't want to open up when at the end of the day, you will." He added teasingly and I burst into laughter, throwing my head back over the headrest of the seat.

Well, it's true.

"So," Chima drawled after my laughter had subsided, and from that, I knew he wanted to get back on topic. "What else happened? Did she say anything more?" Chima asked, leaning forward against the table.

I exhaled.

"Nothing she hasn't already said to me. Just reconstructed her words, as if they'd hurt any less." I answered, trying to brush it off with a nonchalant shrug.

"With everything you just said, I take it that she didn't apologize," Chima noted and I chuckled, nodding.

"She didn't even feel sorry," I told him. "For some reason, she still feels like everything she said to me was the truth," I stated, leaning back against my seat. "Even if they were the truth, there was a better way she could have said it without making me feel the way she made me feel," I looked at Chima, who was watching me intently.

"You know," I continued, a sad smile tugging at the corners of my lips. "I felt a little relieved when I saw her today," I told him, and Chima leaned forward even more, listening to me.

"I thought I'd at least get the last chance to figure out if I really wanted to cut her off, or not. I mean, we have been friends for more than four years. It's difficult to just let her go." I said, averting my gaze for a moment before looking back at Chima.

"But now, I guess there is no more friendship between Semeeha Malik and me," I sighed, sounding more defeated than I was supposed to be. And Chima picked up on it.

"Why do you sound so sad about it?" He asked. I shrugged, a small chuckle escaping my lip.

"Because I kinda feel bad that I'm letting my almost five years of friendship with Semeeha go like that," I answered. Chima's thick brows furrowed in a slight frown as if he didn't agree with me.

But I went on nonetheless.

"I hoped she'd get to change my