blurring the line

THE ICE CREAM ACCIDENT

*DESIRE

The next day, I went to write my second paper and came back early because it was a morning exam. As I entered my room, I found Princess sitting on the bed, looking pensive with her head in her palms. I walked up to her and asked,

"Princess, what's wrong with you?"

I hate seeing her sad or in this state. She turned to face me and held out her hand, offering me ice cream. I was taken aback - why was she giving me ice cream? "Whenever we give each other ice cream, it's when one of us breaks the law,"

she said. "Am I sorry if I wronged you? I didn't do it purposely."

I was confused. "Princess, you did nothing to me."

She replied, "Yes, I did. If not, you wouldn't be acting rude to me."

I thought to myself, "Wahala! Is she on her period?" I apologized, "I'm sorry, but I wasn't angry with you.

You just came back late yesterday, and when I showed concern, you snapped at me." She explained,

"I was stressed out yesterday. I didn't know you were sad." I asked her to smile, and she assured me she wasn't angry.

She brought the ice cream close to her mouth, about to lick it, and my eyes fixed on her lips. Those pink, smooth lips... how would it feel to kiss her? I swallowed hard.

"Wait, I thought you bought the ice cream for me," I said.

She replied, "When I thought I offended you, I bought it. Since it wasn't my fault, there's no need to give it to you."

I disagreed, "Since you have me in your mind and bought this ice cream, I'll have it."

We started tussling for the ice cream, with her running around the table in the middle of the room. The table was a barrier between us, but I wouldn't give up. I climbed onto the table to catch her, and we both ended up falling onto the couch together. I was on top of her, with one hand resting on her exposed thigh and the other around her waist. Our faces were close, and my lips were itching to kiss her.

She was laughing, and her face was covered in ice cream, especially her lips. Before she could lick it off, I caught her, and it resulted in ice cream splashing all over her face. I grinned, acknowledging our compromising position. She stopped laughing, looking shocked at our state.

"I caught you," I said in a husky voice.

She replied, "Yeah, but you didn't get the ice cream."

I chuckled, "Who said so?

It's obvious it poured away."

I bent down to her face, licking the ice cream off her cheek and then her lips. "Tastes sweeter," I said, my eyes locked on hers. She looked surprised and shocked.

I couldn't resist anymore. I seized her lips with mine, sucking and nibbling them. She looked taken aback, her mouth slightly open. Maybe she wanted to say something but couldn't get the words out. My opportunity had arrived. Her lips tasted delicious, and I couldn't get enough. I deepened the kiss, no longer just about the ice cream. I really desired to taste her.

I kissed her slowly, and she didn't attempt to stop me or kiss me back at first. But I couldn't stop; I continued. When I thought I'd gone too far, I tried to stop, but to my surprise, she started kissing me back. Slowly at first, then deeper and faster, as if we'd been craving this for a long time. Her hands were on my chest, and mine were roaming her body.

I kissed her until she was breathless. She pushed me away slightly to catch her breath. I looked at her, searching for any regret, which I saw on her face. She pulled herself out of our moment, looking upset.

"Oh my God, this is more than what I expected," she said.

"Right?" I asked. "This wasn't supposed to happen,"

she asked. "What did you do?"

I felt a surge of anger. Why was she acting like this? I thought she liked it and kissed me back. Why was she shifting the blame to me? I knew I started it, but I didn't regret it. The question shouldn't be "what did I do" but "what did we do?" I thought to myself,

"Stupid me."

I looked at her, trying to act nonchalant. "Please forget this," she said.

I replied, "What?" I thought to myself,

"Are you trying to manipulate me again?" I asked her, "Are you trying to manipulate me again?"

She denied it, "No, I'm not manipulating you. This wasn't supposed to happen, okay?

To stop her from acting weird, I made it seem like nothing big had happened.

"It was just a play, no big deal. I just licked your lips," I said with a laugh. "You thought you'd win, right, Papa? You won't."

She was shocked but played along. "Yeah, yeah, I don't accept defeat. Not at all. Anyways, to win, I'll strive for it, even if it's kissing or falling into a pit. I'll do it."

I immediately changed the atmosphere to a normal state. "But man, you are amazing. You bought ice cream for me. Maybe I'll start acting angry so you buy me more."

She smiled and entered the bathroom, blushing. "So, how was your exam? You came back so early. Didn't you have an exam today?" she asked from the restroom.

"Nope," I replied. "It was postponed."

I left the room, thinking about what had just happened. "Men, what just happened? I kissed my best friend... my best kiss ever, even though it didn't seem to matter to her. Her lips are soft and sweet, tasting like apple. I didn't plan to kiss her; it just happened. And I loved it. But she kissed me back. I couldn't stop thinking about the kiss..."

PRINCESS

Oh my goodness, this didn't happen. I'm dreaming. Yeah, I made out with my bestie. Did it mean anything to him? I felt something, like I wanted something more than the lick. I felt something slippery under my skin, like I couldn't get enough of him. The way he acted when I told him the kiss was nothing, that we should forget it, he looked angry. Wow, I know I have feelings for my bestie, and I want to kiss him like those guys in class or in movies. This is my first kiss. I want to give my first kiss to the love of my life. It has been my prayers. Wait, is it that my prayers are answered? My first kiss... so special.

But did it mean anything to him? Yeah, I told him to act like it didn't happen because it wasn't supposed to happen. I feel bad. I'm supposed to be jubilating, not feeling this way. I need to get my head clear.

I opened the door and came out, locking it with my spare key. Desire has his own spare key. But first, I need to drop an SMS to him informing him that I'm going to my friend's lodge. I need Angle, but am I going to tell her what happened between my bestie and me? Won't she laugh at me? She knew I loved Desire.

As I turned to leave, something else caught my attention. On the other side of the house, under the staircase, I saw a lady crying and holding this guy's trousers. He lives in our compound; I've seen him before. He's the one who likes bringing in different girls, but among all the girls he used to bring back, the girl begging him and crying comes mostly.

Why is she crying? I asked myself. I don't know why, but I stood to get a better view of the scene. They didn't see me from where they were, and I could hear them clearly.

"Please, Alex, don't do this to me. I love you, and I'll do anything to have you. What have I not done for you? I gave you my body, everything. Is it that all this doesn't matter to you? Is this all about you using me and dumping me?" the crying lady said.

"I don't love you," the guy replied. "Ah, is it too hard for you to understand? I don't expect you to catch feelings for me. What we had is all about s*x. I don't do love."

"No, no, please, Alex. You said it. You said you loved me," the lady begged.

"That was when I was banging you," he said. "I don't... Men do say this when they're having fun, okay. Are you even mad? Bia girl, just get out. I don't want to see you ever again. Do you get that?"

The lady continued to plead, but the guy remained unmoved. Eventually, she accepted her fate, never to let herself fall for men or catch feelings again. She left after abusing the guy, and he acted less concerned, climbing to his apartment.

"Men are scum," the lady muttered as she left. Before leaving, I wanted to repeat after her or agree with her saying, "Men!!! That guy is a d**k. Seriously, if that's how all men are, I'm afraid to fall in love." Oh, stupid me. I love Desire

Will he do the same thing to me if I let myself fall for him? I don't want to get hurt. I trust him; he won't hurt me. But I have to be careful with my feelings. I act strong, but I can't bear it if someone I love does this to me, especially someone like Desire.

I continued my journey to my friend's lodge. As I opened the gate to leave, the security man asked,

"My daughter, how are you?"

"Good afternoon, sir. I'm fine," I replied.

"Okay, my daughter. There's something I want to ask you. This morning, I saw you looking sad. I decided to ask you if you got back from school, but I didn't see you when you came back. You're writing your exam, right? How's it going?"

"Fine, sir," I said.

"Okay, so why were you upset earlier? Is anything the matter? Did someone disturb you?"

"No, no, sir. It's just mood swings," I lied. "Mood swings?

What swings your mood?"

"Nothing, sir. I was just having stomach pain."

"Oh, sorry dear. Ladies go through a lot. But you're okay now, abi? Have you taken medicine?"

"Yes, sir."

"Okay, I thought I'd tell them who you are if they don't know. You know, if they don't know who you are or who your father is..." I faked a laugh. "Yes, sir."

"How about your cousin brother? I see he still lives with you. Are those cultists still disturbing him?

"Sir, we're not sure if it's safe for him to go back to the hostel. We don't know if they've decided to give up disturbing him."

"Okay, abeg, let him stay with you as far as he's safe. University is what you see... some stupid people who will join what they won't benefit from, wasting their parents' money and looking for innocent people who have futures to join them and perform their evil secret things... all with the intention to destroy one's future... they won't succeed."

"Yes, they won't," I agreed.

"Okay, greet him for me." "Okay, sir." As I left, he said, "Come back early before the curfew." "Okay, sir," I replied.

I made my way to Angle's place, still thinking about what had happened with Desire and the scene I witnessed between the lady and the guy. I wasn't sure what the future held, but I knew I had to be careful with my feelings.