The First Time

15. Late Night Calls

TIMINI'S POV

I sucked in a deep breath and repeated what i said even when every sense left in me was screaming for me not to and with the way her soft breath was sounding through the phone, i couldn't think of anything more perfect to say to her.

'Timini i– '

She was about to reply to what i previously said when i interrupted her.

'I want to meet you again and i want to know more about you. And when i say that, i mean everything. The deeper things about you. I want to know what makes you you. I want to know about your childhood, your little flaws, your insecurities and every single thing you love doing.'

I heard her take a sharp breath in and my heart thrummed in nervousness.

'I– i don't want to scare you in any way and i certainly have no right to want to know everything about you since we are practically strangers. All i am saying might seem crazy to you but i cant lie to you and say i don't want to know more about you and also know that i am not going to ever force you to do anything you don't want to do. i mean you can even decide not to talk to me anymore if you don't feel comfortable, i would understand.' i said, my breathing getting heavier by the minute and i was about to continue when she spoke.

'You- you are not scaring me off. i just– i don't understand why you would want to..' she broke off and sighed.

i blinked in confusion. 'Why i would want to do what Deborah?' i asked, rubbing my temple to chase away the small headache forming there.

'Why in any way you would want to waste your time to get to know me.' She replied, her voice sounding small and unsure.

I sucked a breath in and frowned. What did she mean by that? Why i would want to waste my time trying to know her? I shook my head with my frown deepening.

'I think anyone would beg to want to spend their time knowing you Deborah. Please don't ever try to put your self down again.' I said genuinely, my voice turning serious.

She was too naive to know how pure and perfect she is. How beautiful she is and it only intrigued me more. Made me want to show her how much she is worth and more.

She paused for a while without replying, probably too embarrassed to and i could already picture her biting down on her full red lips.

I was pushing her and i was f*****g up big time.

'This is too sudden and I am totally sorry if- if i am rushing things.' i let out a nervous laugh before saying. 'Okay lets act like i didn't say any of these crazy things love.' Clearing my throat, i asked the only normal question that could pop up in my head.

' Did you get home safely?'

I heard her let out a small sigh and a ball of anxiety creeped nerves into every inch of my body.

'Yes i did. Thank you. And- you are not rushing me in any way. I am sorry but i am a bit rusty in stuffs like this. I um– don't have much friends and just one best friend and i am a bit of an introvert.. okay i am an introvert.' she admitted, giving out a small nervous laugh and i felt my heart beat calming down. My lips twitched into a small smile from the sound of her laugh.

'So- you collecting my number and calling me and then telling me how you want to know more about me is a bit overwhelming. And again, you are you and.. and i am me.' She said, her voice dropping down a notch.

My eyebrows pulled together in confusion and i tried to think of what she could mean by that. An idea popped into my head and my lips thinned into a line.

'I don't really understand what you mean by that Deborah.' i said suddenly, praying she wasn't implying what i was thinking.

She gave a dry chuckle and said. 'Timini Egbuson. One of the most popular people in the whole of lagos and you have caught the eyes of more than half of the women in lagos. Almost everyone wants to know you. Every woman wants to date you. You are successful, hardworking, and very ummm- ' She stopped talking like she figured she was saying she was supposed not to and i almost begged for her to continue. And you are if not, a celebrity. You wanting to know more of me is still very difficult for me to digest.'

I was about to reply but paused. Does that mean she was scared of me knowing her because basically, i was a celebrity and that was what was pulling her back?

'Are you bothered with my popularity? if it bothers you in any way and you don't want all the paparazzi or people in our business, especially yours, then we can keep our friendship private.' I said reminiscing in the fact that i wasn't even a person who liked to share my personal life and relationships with the public in the first place.

This time when she answered she sounded a bit guilty and a little– breathless.

'i would never in any way imply that i am scared of getting to know you because of your popularity. No its not that at all. She said and i breathed out a small sigh of relief.

'What do you mean then?' I asked politely.

Her breathing increased from the phone and i didn't know when I held mine.

She sighed. 'I- I need to be honest with you Timini and– and i- i am sure i sound like a fool saying this but, i am quite intimidated by you. You are obviously older and smarter than me.. and with the way you look.. you are um.. very good looking and very Manly compared to the others boys i am used to seeing in the university i am in. She paused for a while before adding again.

'And i cant even go with saying three words whenever i am with you. To be very honest. I get tongue tied and i– I don't know why.'

I felt a sweet smile graze my lips and my heart warmed at the naivety laced in her words and with how breathless she sounded, i could bet she was also flushed right now.

I have had several women compliment me on my looks before but all that didn't get to me untill now. Coming out from her pure, beautiful lips also didn't help matter and now my only wish right now was to be with her. To see how flushed and beautiful she looked and how her eyes would lower down shyly with every word she said.

Noting down that i was going to put in more efforts into my looks from now on because of her, i tapped my fingers on the bed as i searched for words to come up with.

'I.. uh thank you for the compliment.' I replied stupidly. 'And i would also let you know that you are not the only one always nervous. Uhh– ' Sighing, I had to say it.

'This afternoon, i was also nervous. Scratch that, i was terrified to talk to you and i have never been like that with anybody else.'

I heard her little gasp through the phone and i smirked to cover the full blown grin threatening to escape my lips.

'So you can see we were both very nervous to talk to each other and i promise you we would get over it with time and we don't have to rush anything. We don't need to meet up and we certainly don't have to discuss about anything deep yet. We can start with late night calls for now and talk about random things. I mean, that– that's if you want to of course. Like i said i wouldn't- '

'I would really love that too.' She blurted out and then just like she remembered something, she cleared her throat awkwardly.

'I uh– meant it would be nice to um- not rush things just like you said.'

I could feel my heart flutter again with how she sounded excited. I could already feel my own excitement bubbling in my chest at the thought of us talking on the phone every night.

Laying my head back on my fluffy pillow, I basked in the sudden warmth that filled my chest.

It felt.. really good.

'So this marks the first day of the beginning of our friendship Deborah.' I said, closing my eyes awaiting the softness of her voice to fill my hears.

i could feel the smile in her voice when she replied. 'Yes. And i am pretty excited to get to know you Timini.'

My lips spits into a grin and i felt my tensed shoulders relax into the bed. She was begining to slowly warm up to me from how relaxed she sounded now.

'Can you promise me something?' I asked.

'W-what?' She replied, intriguingly.

'I want you to look the fact i am a bit older than the friends you are used to having or the celebrity thing.' I scoffed, 'Most times, I don't even remember I'm one. And I need you to be totally yourself whenever you are with me. I am also going to do the same thing with you. And whenever you feel i am going too far with anything, don't hesitate to call me out on it. Okay?' I demanded gently hoping she wont find me too demanding.

'Yes i promise.' She answered honestly and i nodded, deciding to tease her a bit.

'Thank you and I hope we become best friends real soon. Bff forever or whatever you guys call it.' I joked in a high toned pitch and she bursted out laughing at how ridiculous I sounded, making me smile at the beautiful sound of her voice.

'That would be really interesting. Having a best friend who is also a celebrity. ' She teased.

For minutes we kept talking about the most random things, before i heard some voices in the background. She left the call for a minute to reply to whoever that was and after a while she told me her mother needed her attention downstairs and she had to go. I could already feel my mood sinking at the thought of her leaving already.

Trying to hide the distaste in my voice, i said to her.

'Okay. i would call you by 10pm tomorrow night just like tonight. Are you still in?' I asked just to be sure she was still up for our late night calls.

She answered yes almost immediately and i could already feel the excitement creeping in at the thought of speaking to her again tomorrow night.

'Alright, i cant wait to speak to you again.'

' I cant wait too,' She replied in a small voice and we both said our good night's before finally cutting the call.

I stared blankly at the screen of my phone and one side of my lips curved up.

The thought of taking my time to know every single thing about her was the most appealing thing I have ever felt in years and I couldn't wait to begin.

I initially felt being her friend was not going to be enough but it was more than that now. I would be her friend than anything else for now just to get her to open up to me and trust me.

And then I would show her just how special she is and how much she deserves to be treated.