WORTHWHILE

Chapter 18

A week after the joint class, Ivy's group were almost finished with their research, and they briefed the other members of the group on it. It was time for editing and proofreading, which Seraphina and some other girls were to start tomorrow once they received the printout of the research.

The day before, Seraphina chatted with her and asked that they meet today for the correction of mistakes made and revision of the presentation. Ivy said that she would be there. They talked about the location and convenience and all before deciding that the library was the best option

The next day, Ivy walked to the library and followed her usual route. She got there, and she didn't have to look too much before she noticed Seraphina. She could always notice that girl anywhere. Their eyes met and they both smiled at each other as Ivy walked towards her and sat down

"hi seraphina"

"Call me Phina"

"Alright, hi phina"

"How are you doing?" she asked

"I'm doing well, you?" Ivy asked, trying to seem as though she was just asking and didn't really care

"Not bad"

"What about the other girl? faith was it?"

"She'll be here in a few minutes, why don't we go over the project before she comes?" Phina suggested

"sure" before Ivy could say anything else, Seraphina walked over to her side of the table and sat beside her

Ivy didn’t know how long she held her breath before she released it and breathed in the subtle smell of Phina's perfume. Before she could say anything about it, Phina beat her to it

"You smell nice"

Ivy was sure that if she were lighter-skinned she would have been red by now, she coughed to cover up her blush

"Ehmm... thank you, you smell nice too"

Phina nodded and brought the project closer to Ivy, who had to force herself to focus. They both studied the first page and as Ivy reached her hands to turn the page to the next, Seraphina also did the same and both their hands met

sparks....warmth...butterflies.

Ivy felt all of that in that little moment before retreating her hands first.

Seraphina held her gaze for a second and it seemed as tho she wanted to say something before a voice pulled both of them out from whatever that was

" I'm so sorry guys, I hope I'm not too late"

They both looked at the person who owned the voice and it was the other girl they were assigned with.

Seraphina spoke first

" Oh hey faith, you're not, we just started"

"good" the girl said as she went to the other side of the chair.

The girl spoke again, this time directed to Ivy

"Hi, Ivy right?" she asked

Ivy finally found her voice

"Oh yes, and you are faith?" she asked with a questioning gaze

"I am, now let's get started"

The next 2 hours were spent analysing their project and casual talk here and there. They shared their opinion, and Ivy realised she was seeing this part of Seraphina for the first time- the serious side, not the cold or sometimes mischievous side.

They finally finished for the day and decided to meet again to continue with the next part. They said their byes and Ivy and Seraphina’s eyes met again before they went their separate way

Back in her hostel, Ivy was sitting and was suddenly startled when she heard her roommate's voice

"Ivy this is the third time I'm calling you, what are you thinking" Beatrice queried

Ivy couldn’t tell her she was thinking about a certain girl so she opted for another answer

" I'm sorry I didn't hear you"

"You were so out of this world, were you thinking about your dream man?" her roomie teased

Ivy replied to her with the 'huh' look before adding

"I have better things to think about than a man"

"yeah you do" Beatrice chuckled before adding

" I was calling you to tell you that I wouldn’t be around for some days"

"Where are you going to"

"My brother's wedding, the one I told you about" The girl said now going back to her bedspace

"Oh yeah, send him my congratulations"

"will do"

"When will you be coming back?" Ivy asked

"Maybe in three or four days, depending "

"Remember that we have exams soon to close the semester "

"I know" her roomie said as she walked to the bathroom

Ivy went back to her thinking, the girl who worried her thought, at this point, Ivy had to accept that there was tension between them but she didn't know if she was the only one feeling it- the truth was she thought she was the only one feeling it and that made her very unsettled, she wasn't gonna try something that might potentially ruin her stay in the university, she just couldn't. The sooner her mind accepted that, the better for everyone.

Oh how wrong she was.