Chapter Eighteen
803 Words
MARIAM'S POV
As I descended the stairs with Seyram, I thought about the morning chaos.
My alarm hadn't gone off, and I'd woken up at 6 am, rushing to get ready. That's why I was late for lectures and traffic also didn't favor me.
The outfit? I'd thrown it on quickly, not thinking twice. I'd meant to wear it to work yesterday, but plans changed.
Not wanting any complain from my boss.
Miguel's reaction lingered. Why did he care so much? I wondered if he found me attractive, if that's why he was distracted.
" Let's grab breakfast from the canteen", I said to Seyram, feeling sarcastic about my day.
As we entered the canteen, the aroma of food filled the air. Seyram and I queued up, ordering our usual breakfast fare - over plate of waakye and eggs.
Seyram asked," what was that about with Miguel?"
I rolled my eyes. "He didn't like my outfit. Thought it was revealing and distracting"
Seyram raised an eyebrow."Distracting? What does that even mean?" she said looking me up and down.
I shrugged."No idea, Maybe he thinks am too attractive." I said smiling.
"Maybe. You're definitely eye-catching." Seyram teased making me playfully hit her arm." shut up ".
Seyram's eyes sparkled with curiosity. "When did you guys even become friends? I remember you calling him a jerk and all that."
I shrugged. "I don't know... He kind of dropped me off on his bike on Wednesday, so we're cool now, I guess." Seyram's expression turned surprised. "Really? Why didn't you tell me?"
I smiled sheepishly. "I don't know, it slipped my mind."
Seyram raised an eyebrow. "Slipped your mind? You're always telling me everything, and you forget about Miguel giving you a ride on his bike?"
I chuckled. "Hey, it's not a big deal. Don't make it one." Seyram grinned mischievously. "Like you wouldn't have," she teased, her eyes sparkling with amusement.
"But the jacket looked good on you" she said, adjusting it on my shoulders.
I shifted uncomfortably. "Stop it, it's hot in here ", I tried to get some air, feeling suffocated. I really wanted to remove the jacket, but something held me back. It felt warm and smell nice - like Miguel. I subtly inhaled, savoring the scent.
Seyram grinned, " I'm sure Miguel's heart skipped a beat when he saw your midriff." I laughed nervously, thinking she has caught me inhaling the jacket." Shut up, Sey! He's just being weird."
Seyram's teasing made my heart skip a beat." Maybe he's secretly crushing on you." she said, her words sending a flutter through me. I glanced around, relieved that no one seemed to be listening, except for one unfamiliar guy who caught my eye with an unreadable gaze. I quickly looked away, focusing on Seyram's teasing smile.
"Please, he's just trying to be my dad or something " I said my voice a bit higher than usual. But the thought lingered; Is Miguel really crushing on me? The idea sent flutters through my chest.
We finished our food and headed back to the hall for our second lecture.
As I stepped inside, Miguel's gaze met mine, and I offered him a small smile before taking my seat.
We settled in, and ten minutes later, the lecturer arrived, launching into a discussion on consumer learning. This was our last period of the day; with only two lectures on Fridays, we were done by 12 pm.
I finished packing up my things, ready to call it a day. Despite missing the first period due to lateness, I felt drained, like I'd been in lectures all day. A long rest was exactly what I needed.
I turned to Seyram, who was already heading out. "Hey, hold on a minute. Where's the rush?" I asked, surprised by her urgency.
"I have to pick up my sister from Kaneshie. She's coming back from school," she explained, waving goodbye as she hurried out.
I sat there, stunned, realizing how little I knew about Seyram's family. It dawned on me that we rarely discussed our personal lives, and I wondered if I was a bad friend for not asking more about hers.
As I stood up to leave, Miguel appeared in front of me, his sudden presence making me look up in surprise.
Then, I remembered I was still wearing his jacket. I tried to return it, but he stopped me and steered me toward a quiet corner of the corridor.
As Miguel led me to the corridor's corner, I felt a mix of confusion and curiosity. Why did he dragged me here? And why did he stop me from returning his jacket? My mind raced with questions, but I couldn't voice them yet.
Miguel's intense gaze made me feel like I was in uncharted territory, unsure what to expect.
- Writer
