Broken | ✓

CHAPTER TWENTY FIVE: FIRST DATES AND BUTTERFLIES

"Then don't tell her"

"I have to you are not my actual boyfriend" I repeated.

"But I want to be your actual boyfriend" he said in a small voice, picking at his food like a thirteen year old boy confessing his feelings to his crush.

"What" I choked on the wine.

"Oh my God, take this" he handed me a serviette to dab my dress.

"I'm sorry I startled you, let's just eat" he looked a bit blue.

"Do you have something to say?"

"I do" he replied.

"Then say it" I urged him

"I don't know how normal people say this. You already know I grew up in a dysfunctional home and that shaped my view of life. I am a loner, I've been alone all my life" he paused and held my hands.

"Ireti, lately you've been changing a lot of my views on life, you've showed me life through another lens and suddenly I don't really like solitude that much. My brother said life is hard but having someone to share that life with makes it a little less harder, I want to share my life with you.. Oh God this sounds like I'm proposing. Forget it let's just eat" he let go of my hands but I grabbed his.

"Go on" I grinned. I wanted to hear all he had to say.

"I like you Ireti, the first time I said it I meant it. I like you a lot and I really don't know how that happened or when it happened. I might not be certain about a lot of things in life but I'm certain I want you in my life"

"Oh my God that was the hardest thing I ever did" he exhaled like he had been holding his breath.

"The first time I told a girl I liked her was in primary school and she rejected so you better not reject me or I'll fire you" he joked to ease himself of the tension he felt.

I also wasn't certain about alot of things in my life, I lost the feeling of certainty five years ago, that loss gave way to doubts and they were pricking me now. I wanted to tell him I liked him too instead I told him "I was raped five years ago on this exact day. It's my rapeniversary"

That statement was a turn off for a lot of men I had met in the previous years, it was why I no longer put myself out there. I was scared this was going to push Jide far away but I couldn't hold it in anymore.

He paused to look at me then he took my hand and kissed it.

"I don't really see you as a victim Ireti, I see you as more of a survivor and that doesn't make you any less beautiful to me. I like you Ireti, I really do" he said.

"What" tears streamed down my cheeks. I expected him to flee, make up some excuse and flee but he didn't, he stayed.

"Your birthday cake is here and you are ruining your makeup" he wiped my tears.

"Our birthday cake you mean" I corrected.

"You know I really never believed that there were forces that controlled the universe but now I kind of believe it. Five years ago too on this day was when I had the accident that almost cost me my life. I escaped death with a head injury and partial amnesia. So it's my accidentversary today"

I smiled.

"The universe brought two people with the same birthday dates and different tragic experiences, it's crazy. The universe does have forces that controls it"

"God you mean" I interjected.

"But we survived these experiences, I think our birthdays are things we should be thankful for. So how about we blow out these candles and begin a new era in our lives" he smiled.

" God Ireti what have you done to me"

"I agree" I beamed.

We both made wishes before blowing out the candles. I wished Jide stayed in my life forever, I didn't know what he wished for but I felt deep down that he wished the same thing.

We had dinner and talked about a lot of things, being with Jide felt natural.

"You know I really love this dress" he said as he opened the car door for me.

"You have a good eye" I complimented him.

"I would love to take all the credit but this was all Dunnie" he said.

"I see"

"So am I your boyfriend now?" He asked.

"No" I laughed. "This is called the talking stage. Don't worry I'm an expert on these things"

"Well I'm ready to pass through stages for you but do I get a kiss in the talking stage"

"Yes"

He didn't waste time to attach his lips to mine. His lips were soft and his tongue tasted like wine. This kiss was cozy, we didn't want to kiss pain away like the last time, we just wanted to experience this moment. I held onto his tux with my eyes closed. There were a million fireworks in my stomach.

Haew 😊😊😊 when i started this chapter I was feeling like it was trash but I ended up liking this chapter a lot more than I expected. It made me warm and fuzzy on the inside.

Congrats to everybody who survived this year.

A big thank you to everybody that has been following this book with all my procrastination and late updates, thank you for giving broken a chance y'all made my year, big shout out to _Bolutiwi_ a_l_h_e_r_i mimielad

I wish y'all a prosperous new year 😘😘😘