Strange Love

Chapter Two

Alicia entered the living room with her friends and sister behind. Their chattering caught the attention of everyone present. They kept praising Alicia for rocking her ridiculous fashion choice.

Kofi was the first to notice the girls approaching. He quickly stood up from his sit and ran to hug Alicia.

He picked her up from the ground. Her body was locked in a tight grip that was strong enough to sustain her in the air.

Kofi was crying, literally. It surprised the girls cause they'd never seen him tear up in front of anyone including them.

They couldn't blame him. Alicia is his best friend, more correctly these two are inseparable. Ola might stand out as her female best friend but Kofi is her best friend in the world.

They've been friends for as far as they can remember. Though Kofi was older, they have known each since kindergarten from being classmates to becoming best friends.

Their hug refuses to end. It took the effort of the three girls to release her from Kofi's strong grip.

Kofi started wiping his face. "A, I can't believe you are leaving me."

"It's not forever, I'll always visit." It was hard for her to watch him cry and not tear up. Kofi never cries, no matter what.

It breaks her heart that she had to be the one to bring those tears down in public.

"You're probably going to come back visiting with a new best friend." They sniffled a short laugh.

"That's impossible Kofi, we are stuck with each other whether you like it or not."

Kofi laughed releasing more tears then he pulled Alicia gently into his arms. This time she wrapped her hands around him.

Though she had to stretch to be able to place her chin on his shoulder, she was comfortable still.

Standing behind Kofi was Marco who was waiting patiently for the two of them to finish hugging.

While still locked in Kofi's arm she fixated her eyes on Marco's gaze.

Phil was touched by the love between the friends that he almost didn't want to take her away but he had no choice. It's the promise he made to her, and he intends to keep it at all costs.

Slowly Kofi and Alicia left hold of eachother. But kofi still held her hands.

"Study hard Alicia, going overseas to study is not child's play."

Alicia nodded. "I'll do my best to kick all their ass."

"I trust you."

"I did have a great tutor." The two smiled and then hugged each other again.

Alice's eyes met Marco's again. He was still standing there waiting patiently for his moment.

Kofi caught Ola's eyes, she was smiling at him. He smiled back. Her gaze then moved, and his eyes followed until he noticed what she was gesturing at.

It was Marco, Alicia needs to have her moment with her boyfriend. He nodded at Ola before letting Alicia go.

He strides to the side to reveal her patient boyfriend. He stood there his hands behind him as he stared at her.

Neither of them was smiling at the other. They just stared into each other's glinting eyes thinking the same thing.

Can they do long distances? It is easy to say we'll talk on the phone every day but will that cut it for both of them?"

She couldn't stand there and do nothing. With long quick strides, she approached him but he stopped her before she could hug him when he showed her what he was hiding.

Alicia froze at the sight of the tangling necklace in front of her.

"Consider it a parting gift from me to you."

He handed her the necklace which she took still dumbfounded. She opened the heart-shaped locket and saw inside a photo of the first selfie they took together.

She covered her mouth with her palm at a loss for words to say to him.

"So?" he inquired.

She heaved a sigh and nodded. "I love it, it's... Perfect."

Marco finally sighed in relief, he didn't know if his gift was good enough hearing her say the necklace was perfect lit up his face.

He took it from her and wore it around her neck. Immediately the locket touched her chest she held onto it.

"Thank you."

"You're welcomed." He breathed on her shoulder.

The tingling sensation of his warm breath on her skin made her smile.

She turned to face him and met his eyes. He gulped dryly seeing how beautiful the necklace was on her. A silver necklace on her dark skin was perfection. He fell in love with her beauty yet again.

He still can't believe that after today he won't be seeing her around anymore. He had to be sure they would still be in a relationship by the time she came back.

"Alicia," He stuttered fidgeting a bit. Her parents were watching them, it's kind of hard to say what he feels in front of them without biting his tongue.

He might say something wrong and ruin what they have left of their relationship.

"Alicia I love you."

Her lips parted slightly as her eyes widened. It's the first time he is using the love word in front of a third party, talking more around her parents.

"I want to be with you, only you. That's a promise. I don't want you to go overseas and forget all that we shared. I'll be here waiting. Don't forget that."

"Young love," Philip whispered to his brother smiling.

Alicia felt her heart trying to pull its way out of her chest. It felt too heavy for her skin to hold.

Marco is her first love, her first boyfriend, and her first kiss. They've been together for nearly two years and are still a hundred percent in love with each other.

She has already promised herself to go abroad to study and come back to spend her forever with him. He doesn't need to tell her to love only him. To her, there are no other good enough guys in the world except Marco. He is good-looking, smart, patient, and many other good qualities she desires from a man. He is flawless.

"I love you too Marco, no one has the key to my heart but you."

He smiled and nodded. He knows these things are easier said than done. But he trust her, she trust him. They have to work if that's the foundation of every good relationship.

He closed the distance between them by taking one step toward her. He is still scared of her parent's reaction but his love for her is the most important thing right now.

He placed one hand on her cheek licking his lips. His touch tensed her up, she loves him but kissing is still a big deal for her, and he is about to do it in front of her strict parents.

She closed her eyes as his face drew closer to her. In less than a second she felt his wet lips grab her lower lip.

She waited for her parents to yell or object but no one said anything so she closed her upper lip on his. He placed his other hand on her waist pulling her close.

It was a short wet kiss. The lip gloss she applied earlier was gone. She touched her lip nervously staring at his hungry eyes. She looked at his hot lips, the way he bit his lower lip while staring at her like that.

If not that her parents been present he would have done way more to her soft lips.

"I'm going to miss you." He said to change the situation going on between them.

"Me too I'll miss you so much." She replied fumbling with the hem of her shirt.

"I’d hate to burst your bubble but if we don't leave now we'll have to reschedule our flight." Phil tapped on his wristwatch as he said this.

Alicia's mother then told Alicia in their dialect to hurry up her goodbye so she can be on her way. Marco has no idea what the woman said but he heard what uncle Philip said earlier.

"We'll talk every night, right?"

Alicia nodded at him smiling. "Every day and every night."

She jumped on him, wrapping her hand around him. He locked her in his arms for what seemed like forever before releasing her.

Her girlfriends came to hug her again. Kofi joined the group hug so did Marco.

"I'll never forget you guys." She said while still surrounded by her best friends.

Anna was touched by the beautiful moment. Alicia is a lot of people's favorite person. She smiled watching her friends shower her with love.

Alicia saw her staring though smiling she felt left out. She then beckoned her sister to join the hug.

Blissfully Anna joined them. Kofi allowed her to enter the crowd so she can get a hold of her sister.

The hug lasted a long while. Everyone had to let her go with her uncle. Everyone but Anna. The two sisters locked themselves in a tight hug until their father walked up to them and patted their backs.

"I promised myself I wouldn't cry..." Anna broke down then walked up to her mother and hugged her.

Her mom was just as sad as she was but with a brave heart consoled her daughter. Assuring her that Alicia will visit them soon.