Sunday

Precious POV

I couldn't sleep!

Why?

Well, because every time I closed my eyes, I kept thinking about the what ifs. What if, I start to develop feelings for him? What if, I was just reading too much into this? What if, I can’t stop thinking about him? We already sailed that boat but still, what if I can’t get this stupid crush on him to fade away?

I groaned into my pillow, as these intrusive thoughts wouldn’t stop, and sat up. Since it was Sunday, I had to go to church. I found out there was a Redeem church just two streets away and I was one to never miss a Sunday service.

Getting up, I stripped and entered the bathroom, brushed my teeth then had my bath. Stepping out, with a towel hanging on my body, I walked towards my wardrobe and pick out a dress for today. I decided to go with the green patterned Ankara short gown and its scarf along with a pair of green heels to match.

I rubbed cream on my body and applied a little brown powder on my face and then put on a little lip gloss, before brushing my eyebrows up. I put on my clothes and tied the scarf, and then moved to the front of the standing mirror to check out my dress. Once, I was satisfied with the various adjustments, I had made, I took my bag and left the room.

Locking my door, I see Funke dressed as well about to leave, so, we left together but I ended up taking the left route as she attends a different church from me. Muttering our quick goodbyes, I decided to walk since the church wasn’t far at all.

I finally reached my destination and walked into the open giant doors, to find out the service had started. The pastor talked and emphasized a lot on ‘purpose’, as the sermon went on.

The service ended as we prayed the grace and I carried my bag and left. Just a few steps outside the church door, my phone vibrated in my purse. Funke’s name flashed on the screen as I swiped to answer it.

"Babe, where are you? Please tell me your home already?" Her panicked voice reached my ears, leaving me confused.

"I just left the church, what's wrong? are you okay?" I asked, my voice conveying my worry.

"Go online now and please get home quickly, the papa...." She couldn’t finish her statement as I see a flash on my face. I told Funke, I'll call her back and quickly hung up the phone.

Turning my back to look for who took my picture, I gasped as I see a lot of people, I mean a lot of people with cameras coming at me. I suddenly panicked and ran into the sidewalk, so they don't see me. My phone rang again.

"Precious, where are you? Are you okay?" Ethan asked worried, as soon as I picked up.

"I'm near the church, I just left but there are a lot of people with cameras coming at me, Ethan, what's going on?" my panicked voice did nothing to soothe me as I kept on looking out for any sign of persons trying to take a picture of me. What did I do? Who are these people?

"Listen to me carefully, Precious. That's the paparazzi, they saw both of us together last night and my best guess, is they want to know who you are. I’ll come to pick you up, just stay where you are” His soft voice made anger course through me and made me think of how stupid I was. I had somehow, forgotten that he was the most sought-after billionaire, which meant, the camera’s followed him everywhere.

"No, you don’t have to come, my apartment is just a few blocks away. I won’t get caught." I said, as my tone was on edge and then I hung up the call.

Pushing myself off the wall, thank God, my apartment was so close. I quickly diverted to another lane and walked so fast that I saw my house just a block away. Running as fast as I could, I unlocked my front door and got in, and then locked it from behind. I breathed a sigh of relief once I was safe inside.

Walking into my room, I removed my clothes and settled for shorts and a crop top. Entering the kitchen, I take a bag of chips and a bowl of ice cream then turn on the TV, and there it was. A freaking picture of me and Ethan on the dance floor, while we were talking but to anyone afar off, it’d seem like we were staring at each other’s eyes. But that was not what made me gasp. Right next to it, was another picture of us, as he pecked my forehead.

How did they even get this?

Slumping on my chair, I lick my ice cream. Thank God, it wasn’t a cunning picture. I mean, sure, we went to a party together, but that didn’t mean anything.

I’ll just give it a few days and everything would calm down. As I was about to change the channel, my doorbell rang and I froze. What if it's the paparazzi? How did they know where I live? I was very careful. Oh God spare me.

"Precious, open up it's me" I breathed out in relief as I heard Ethan’s voice. Standing up from the couch, I walked to the door and opened it, to be met with a still handsome, Ethan.

Even though it was partially his fault for not warning me about all these, I couldn’t blame him for being who he was. He was a celebrity, a billionaire and he pretty much worked to be where he was. Those vipers of paparazzi just had nothing else to do.

"What are you doing here, Ethan? I told you not to come” I said with a stern tone while he stared at me with apologetic eyes.

"Can I at least come inside?" I sighed and open the door wider for him to step in.

I quickly shut the door and lock it and then turned around to meet his gaze on me. I rolled my eyes and walked briskly to my room to get a big overall shirt and changed my shorts to joggers. I would not look like a piece of meat in front of a man. I walked back to the living room, fully covered to see him still standing by the kitchen table. I went over to the cabinet and brought out an orange juice box and set it in front of him, while I took my seat on one of the chairs by the table. He seats down, all the while staring at me with a confused look.

“Aren’t you angry?” He asked snapping me out of my small daze of checking him out.

"I am, but it’s not entirely your fault. I just wished you’d prepared me for this. You know?" My face was blank and my voice conveyed my annoyance at the situation. He sighed and ran a hand through his wavy hair before setting his eyes on me again.

"I'm sorry, I didn't know it'd turn out like this" I huffed at his sincere apology but he should have known. He carried these people along with him like handbags and I was their latest thing to put inside.

"You should have known, Ethan, I told you why I came here. I told you, I hate attention and I told you, I don't like distractions. Now, I'm going to be mobbed everywhere I go, even school" I voiced out my annoyance to which he just looked apologetic. His apology didn’t do anything but kindle the anger in me.

"I'm sorry, I didn't know they'll attack this soon. I'll fix it, trust me" he said making me snap my head to him. Oh no, he's not fixing anything, he's fixing got me, where I am now.

"No, don't fix anything, it will die down. I think it would be better if we are not seen together for a while, you know. Let them have another gossip to catch. I just want to focus on myself and my studies, Ethan. I can’t be mobbed everywhere I go" I stated firmly, he should just leave, that'd be better. Right?

"No, anything but that. I love your company Precious; I’ve not had a friend like you in so long and I don’t want to let that go" he stated, putting his hands on his ears.

"But you have to, Ethan. It’s the only way, I can get back to my life, the way it was. So, please, let me be for some time and if by any means we meet again, then we can be friends. I just want to stay in peace" I kept rambling until he cut me off.

"Why can’t you understand that I can’t and I won’t, you’re like a ray of light in my life and I’d be damned if I let it go" he looked like he was out of breath but to say was shocked was an understatement.

He was confusing me. He was screwing with my feelings.

“Ethan, I don’t understand you. We’ve only been around each other for a week, so we are bound to get comfortable but there’s no reason for us to…” I start to say but I’m cut short by him

"To what, Precious? Is it so bad, that I want to be in your life a bit more? You make me comfortable. I just don’t want to let go of you just yet. Is it so hard to come to terms with that I might actually like you?" he sounded defeated as it took him a lot to say that.

"We can't work Ethan, I'm not ready for another relationship. My time with guys has not been the best so far. And I need to focus" I sighed. We can't work, and even if we do, I'll have to go back to Nigeria, and trust me, long-distance relationships don’t work, except by the grace of God.

"Why not? I'll help you with anything. Okay tell me this, tell me you don't feel anything for me and I'll leave you alone" he sounded frustrated.

I do have a crush on him but that’s all, right?

I came all the way here, to heal and not enter another relationship or develop anything. I just wanted to be at peace.

"It’s not like that, Ethan. It’s just that, that’s not what I’m here for. I don’t have a grip on my feelings just yet and I can’t and don’t want to put myself in a situation of helplessness anymore" I look into his eyes and God, I hurt him. This was a mistake but I can't turn back now.

"Don’t push me away, please." He took my hand in his and rubbed it. I sighed. Why did God have to do this now?

"I think that’s what is best for us now, don’t you? Taking time apart will do us good” I held onto his hands as well and begged him with my eyes. If we were going to continue as friends, then I need to have a handle on my feelings.

"Okay, fine. I’ll give you space. I won’t bother you anymore” His voice suddenly turned cold. He took to his feet and left my apartment without another word.

"Dear God, please don’t let me make another mistake. I don’t think I could handle another one" I mumbled to myself as I stared at the door.

Space is good, right?

We needed space, right?

Sighing, I went into my room and tried to sleep before I start working on my notes for tomorrow’s class.