(058 - Want.)

Ọmọ, this chapter will definitely make your body go Mirinmirin Waranwaran (in Bertha's voice). Chemistry overload🥺😭❤️🔥. I miss writing about Simi and Hilary together.

Before you go further, note that everything that happened in the last chapter, going to happen in this chapter all through to chapter 059 is taking place on the same day. It's important to note

Now, Let's Dive in✨.

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𝐇𝐈𝐋𝐀𝐑𝐘
(Hilary Idara Eghosa)

It wasn't up to thirty minutes after I made the call that I saw the familiar car drive into the streets of the memorial garden from where I stood.

Actually, it was fifteen minutes after I made the call.

Fifteen.

The memorial garden was located on the outskirt of Lekki Crown, on the island, and Whiteridge Estate was located in Ikeja City, on the mainland. The drive between both places should be nothing less than an hour, and that's if there's no traffic on the road.

Simi drove that distance in fifteen minutes.

I can't begin to imagine how maniacal he would have been on the road, swerving through cars and literally flying over them just to get to this place on time. Or maybe he was on the island already when I called him.

I wouldn't know which one it was, but the bottom line was that he left every single thing he was doing as soon as I told him to pick me up. He must have had plans of his own for today, yet he left everything behind just to come to get me when all I did was ignore him this past month.

The gesture almost brought tears to my eyes.

If I ever doubted whatever I felt for this guy... No More.

No More.

The closer the car got to where I stood outside the cemetery, the faster my heart was beating. I could feel it jackhammering against my rib cage and threatening to burst out from my chest. I wasn't sure if it was because I was excited to see him, or because I was very nervous.

A little bit of both, I guess.

Excited because I get to see him again. The last time I saw him was Monday before my parents came to pick me up from the health center. We didn't talk then, safe for him occasionally asking me how I was, or if I wanted to eat or drink anything. Other than that, he just watched me throughout that day, leaving the talking to me and my friends.

Nervous because I wasn't sure if things were going to go back to normal after everything that has gone down.

But I was willing to keep an open mind. I had to keep an open mind.

I just hope I haven't lost him.

If you had, he won't be here. My subconscious reminded me.

The car parked on the other side of the street, leaving a wide gap between Simi and me. The glass was wind up so I couldn't see him, but heaven knows I could feel him. Even with the range of gap between us, I could feel his aura emanating in waves from inside the car to where I stood.

So Strong. So Potent. All Simi.

My heart picked up a faster beat as I kept my attention on the car, very conscious of every movement that was about to be made. It was at this point I knew my nervousness was a lot stronger than my excitement. My palms were sweaty and my fingers were shaking.

Stay calm, Hilary. Stay Calm.

The door opened, and the first thing I saw was his leg hitting the interlocked ground, causing my breath to hang in my throat. Then his full body followed, exiting the car completely, closing the door, and leaning against the side of the car.

Looking right at me.

I inhaled sharply, rendered completely speechless just by one look. So, I allowed my eyes to sweep over his features instead, taking him in slowly.

And I felt my lips stretch in a smile at his unique look.

Simi was rocking a mustard yellow turtle neck shirt with grey wool chinos and a pair of white trainers. Then he topped the look up with a long deep blue jacket to shield himself from the cold harmattan, and his hair was in its usual signature messy curls.

(Simisola André Jordan Slaying like Dragon Slayer😭❤️)

The color combination was something I have never imagined together till Simi. And he still managed to pull it off so well. He looked good.

Really Good.

I looked back up to meet Simi's eyes and found him checking me out just like I was checking him out.

Not like I was even dressed as well as he was. Just a casual baggy off-white knitted sweater on top of a crop top, and over a pair of black leggings and winter ankle boots to go. Besides, I haven't changed my hairstyle in over three weeks and they were in rough cornrows that just sat on my back.

(See Hilary's fit na! And she's downgrading it😭❤️🔥; Didn't get a picture of Hilary's face claims with the fit I had in mind.)

Still, I didn't miss the look of utter fascination and immense longing that marred Simi's face as he took me in.

A look that told me he missed me just as much as I missed him, if not more.

His eyes met mine again, amber orbs sparkling with emotions nameable and unnameable, beautiful and intense, invoking an uncontrolled heat to course through my veins. I involuntarily shivered under his gaze, knowing that I'd have to say something sooner or later.

I was the one that called him here.

"H-Hi,"

My voice came out in a crooked whisper, breathless and barely audible. But we were in front of a cemetery. It was quiet, so he could hear me loud and clear. And I knew he heard me when he leaned off his car to stand upright.

But he didn't say anything.

All he did was watch me intently, making it so difficult for me to think about what else to say. I searched my mind repeatedly for words, sentences, phrases, clauses... anything to say to him but my mind was blank.

Omo.

"I-I," I began, but stopped when my voice was still grouchy, clearing my throat to make it clearer. "I don't know what to say," A pause. "I don't know where to start–"

"You can start by hugging me,"

He finally spoke, cutting me off gently with his voice toned to a desperate plea. His shoulder was slumped and his face conjured in despondency. He looked like if I didn't hug him at that moment, he'll melt to the ground and wash away.

A soft sigh-cry escaped my lips, my shoulders dropping as relief washed over me.

"Please," He whispered, begging me.

God, punish me if I say no.

I don't know who moved first, but all I know is that in a matter of seconds, we met in the middle of the street and the next moment, I was leaping into Simi's open arms, wrapping my hands around his neck and feeling his wrap around my middle in that same instant.

Home. I sighed again.

That was what it felt like to be in Simi's arms again. It felt like Home.

Simi held me against himself like it was the last time he'd be hugging me, gathering me in his arms till I couldn't feel my feet touching the floor anymore, and tightening his hands around me, it felt like he wanted to infuse me into his body so that I'd never find a way to leave again.

And honestly, I think I'd very much like that.

I sighed in content when I felt his deep breathing against the space between my neck and shoulder, caressing my skin softly and daintily. He was taking deep breaths and exhaling them, eliciting goosebumps all over me. Just the slightest bit of his breath on my skin and I was shivering against him, almost melting to a puddle in his arms.

And all he had to do was hold me and breathe.

His essence cocooned me and I exhaled in satisfaction, remembering how addictive his aura always felt, how easy it was able to draw me in with just one pull. I could feel his heart beating rapidly just like mine was, the depth of all that was going on hitting me with full force.

I am in Simi's arms.

I haven't lost him.

I don't think you ever did, Hilary.

My eyes began to water and I buried my face into the hollow of his neck, tightening my arms around him but not right enough to strangle him.

"God, I missed you... so much," He whispered into my neck, his tone is a low breathless growl laced with undiluted emotions that expressed exactly how he felt. A small laugh escaped my lips.

"I missed you more," I whispered back. He laughed lightly before I felt his lips against the corner of my neck.

At first, I thought it was just him burying his face deeper into my neck, but when I felt his lips the second time, and the third... and the seventh, I knew he was kissing me there. I shivered against him and sighed, involuntarily tilting my head to the side a little to give me more access to my skin.

I wasn't even sure he knew what he was doing, or how much it was affecting me and making me feel. And I think that was what made this a lot more intimate.

Simi lowered me till my feet were back to touching the floor, pulling away slightly from me so that he could look me in the eye. There were so many emotions roaming through his orbs but one I could pick up, the most vibrant one was happiness. And it made my heart swell in my chest.

"Hi..." He whispered, his cupid-bow lips stretching in that beautiful smile of his.

"Hi," I answered, mimicking his smile and tiptoeing to be close to his eye level. Simi released his hands from around me and used them to cup my face in between his palms, lowering his forehead to touch mine. I held both his hands with either of mine, exhaling as I closed my eyes.

I don't know how long we stayed in that particular position, right there in the middle of the Memorial Park Street. But we stayed in each other's arms, memorizing once again what it felt like to be this close to each other, getting used to each other again. Because heaven knows I'm never staying away from Simi, either as a friend... or as something more.

We finally pulled away but still stayed close to each other.

"You look beautiful," He muttered, looking at me in a daze as he took his hand to the back of my neck and swept the tail of my cornrows over my shoulder. "I love your hair," He was grinning, playing with the locs. I giggled, averting my gaze from his with a shy smile playing on my lips.

"Thank you," I whispered back, fisting his blue jacket before looking back at him. "I'm sorry for calling so suddenly."

"Well, that makes one of us because I'm ecstatic you called," He cut me off gently, his words calming me down immediately. "God knows, I've been waiting by my phone all week expecting a call from you," He confessed, the seriousness in his voice told me he was exaggerating one bit.

I said it. I laughed.

"That's a relief," I said. "I actually thought you wouldn't pick up–"

"Hey," He cut him off with that soft whisper, placing his hands on either side of my arm and gently pulling me even closer to him. "I'm glad you called," He said, looking me right in the eye. "You have no idea how hard not being able to call you was. But I had to respect that you needed to do this on your own,"

"Yeah," I nodded, glancing over my shoulder at the cemetery. "I actually came to see my brother,"

"I figured," Simi answered, a small smile of understanding playing on his lips. Then he brought his right hand to my face, brushing his knuckles against my cheek. I leaned into his touch.

"How are you?" He asked. I know he wasn't asking me that just so that I could just say "fine". He was asking how I was feeling, after everything that happened this week... everything that has been happening.

And finally, I had a genuine answer to that.

"I'm okay," I answered, a gentle smile making its way to the corners of my lips. "I feel okay," I told Simi.

He believed me. I could tell by the sigh of relief that escaped his lips before he curved his hand around the back of my neck and brought my face closer to his. My eyes fluttered close when I felt his lips press against my forehead in a dainty kiss, lingering there for a little while.

I've missed this. I've really missed this.

"Do you want me to take you home?" He asked after. he pulled back to look at me again. I took a look at the time from my wristwatch. It read 2:38 pm. It was still very early and my parents would not even be home at this time. Besides, I needed to make up for all the lost time with Simi.

So, I shook my head.

"No," I answered. "I want to spend the day with you," I told him. His grin came back, stretching wide across his face. He definitely liked the sound of that.

"I was hoping you'd say that," He said and I chuckled. "Come on. Let's go grab something to eat," He added, pulling me along to his car. The only thing I've had today was the orange juice Chidera gave me. I could use a meal.

When Simi opened the door to the back seat, I stopped him.

"What's wrong?" He looked immediately concerned.

"It's nothing," I assured him with a smile. "But I want to sit in front," I said. He looked quite taken aback by my request, his eyes widening slightly.

"You want to sit in front," He repeated, astonishment laces in his voice.

I nodded.

"Are you sure?" He asked, double-checking. It did something to my heartstrings that he could still remember something as crucial as me always taking the back seat.

But not today. I really need to face this once and for all.

So I nodded again

"Yeah, I'm sure," I smiled. He smiled back immediately, and I could see the relief in that smile.

"Okay," He closed the back door and opened the one to the passenger's side before helping me to climb in. I thanked him and pulled on the seatbelt to hook myself in.

"Let me help with that," He offered and I let him.

He leaned forward, much closer to me before reaching over to get the seatbelt buckle over my middle and pulling the longer side from the retractor, holding my gaze steadily as he hooked the tongue to the buckle of the seatbelt.

Immediately, my heart picked up a faster beat.

I was suddenly very conscious of every little thing, especially of how close he was to me, literally towering over me with his face just inches away from mine. I could feel his minty breath fanning the skin of my face softly, and the way the tip of his finger slightly grazed my thigh, causing a soft gasp to escape my lip.

And when I saw his gaze drop quickly, almost unnoticeably to my lips, I swear I forgot how to breathe.

Oh, God. My chest rose and fell rapidly.

"All done," He breathed out, his voice huskier and deeper than they normally were.

"Thank you,"

I couldn't even recognize my own voice, how breathless I sounded. When Simi pulled away and closed the door, I was finally able to breathe properly, exhaling shakily.

He has definitely not lost his touch. I thought to myself.

He entered the car through the driver's side and closed the door, hooking his own seatbelt before he looked at me, his lips stretched in a smile.

"Are you ready?" He asked.

"I am," I answered, mimicking his smile. He started the ignition and I sighed, relaxing in my seat. For the first time this week, I felt whole.

Completely and Totally Whole.

"I missed you,"

I couldn't even help the smile I'd been fighting when he said those three words for the seventeenth time - yes, I counted - since we'd been together today. And I can tell that he doesn't even know how much he has said it to me, how many times he has told me that he missed me.

Or how his constant reminder made me feel.

It's so fascinating how someone could be so intentional with words and seemingly harmless gestures that made my heart swell with all kinds of unnameable but beautiful emotions, yet so clueless as to how it makes me feel.

That's the exact definition of what Simi has been since we left Memorial Park, all the way to where we had lunch, and now as we were taking a stroll through the park where the restaurant we ate was located.

Hand in Hand. Fingers intertwined with each other. His thumb unconsciously stroking the back of my palm in a dainty caress.

I was more than certain it was unconscious, but that didn't douse the flames his thumb left in its wake.

But I couldn't bring myself to pull away from his hold because I liked every bit of what I was feeling.

Scratch that. I Love every bit of what he's making me feel.

"I missed you too," I whispered back, looking down to intentionally avoid his gaze because heaven knows, I don't think I can ever handle looking at Simi right in the eye.

When I glanced up to take a look at him, he was already staring at me. And even though I expected that he would be, it didn't reduce the kind of effect his stare had on me. The kind of effect his stare has always had on me.

Right from day one, even before we got this close, his gaze has always had a way of igniting something in me.

It used to be nervousness at first, but now, it was that feeling that made my heart accelerate faster than it's naturally and biologically supposed to. That feeling that had goosebumps sprouting on my skin and had chills running down my spine in flux.

No, not fear.

The other one.

The one that has your toes curling and leaves you breathless. The kind of feeling that leaves you wanting more after one taste.

Simi looked at me like he could see all of me. Body, Soul, and Spirit. He looked at me in a way that made me feel naked.

Completely Naked in an amazing way.

God... I quickly averted my gaze from his, feeling my cheeks heat up and my heart beating faster.

Osanobua. This guy has turned me into what I don't know.

"Stop looking at me like that," I told him.

"Like what?" He asked.

I didn't even doubt the slight confusion mixed with laughter in his tone because I can bet everything I have that he doesn't know what he was doing.

And it makes it even harder to answer him.

How do I tell him that