Love Unfolding

ERIKA LEIGH PARLAM

Right, my apartment doesn"t have a separate bedroom. It"s just a four corner room; no part.i.tion, with the kitchen, living room and my bed in sight as you enter the door.

So as I left Andy in the kitchen, I only took a few steps to reach my bed.

I curled myself up under the blanket in embarra.s.sment. I could feel Andy sat on the edge. She tried to pull down the blanket but I held it tight.

"Love…" she called but I didn"t budge.

How could I?

I was so embarra.s.s.

Knowing Andy has that photographic memory as Donna claimed, so it would only mean that she has already imprinted in her mind my nakedness. Goodness…

That could also mean, even just once, she did imagine me walking in school naked even if I have my clothes on.

Gosh. Thinking about it made me feel worst.

"Love, I know what you are thinking and it"s nothing like that." She explained.

Wow, she knows what I"m thinking?

What is she?

A G.o.d of some sort?

"So you read minds too?" I asked sarcastically under the blanket.

I heard her chuckle.

"I thought you were hungry, eat up already." She offered changing the subject.

"I want to eat you, dummy."

"I don"t like mushrooms." I plainly stated as I remember she brought Truffle Pizza.

"But I saw you once at the pizza house..." She reasoned.

"It was Mei"s, not mine." I replied still in monotone.

There was a gap of silence but I could still feel her sitting on the bed.

"I pa.s.sed the test… with one mistake." She broke the silence.

"Hmmm…" I just moaned sounding uninterested.

"Can I get my reward now?"

I smiled. I don"t know I just felt like someone tickled me inside. I straightened up my body but still under the blanket.

"What reward?" I feigned an ignorance about it.

"The reward." She repeated sounding shy and reluctant.

"What is it?" I asked again suppressing my laughter.

I knew her. I know she can"t directly say "can I kiss you? " or "kiss me". I know she has difficulty uttering those exact words and so I decided to tease her more.

"How cute."

"The one I bargained." She again explained. Her voice started to sound annoyed.

"Bargain what?" I still pretended not to know.

My jaw started to hurt due to my suppressed laughter. Then I heard her exhale loudly.

I also felt her weight lifted up from the bed so I pulled down the blanket only to see her walking out the door.

"s.h.i.t"

Was she upset?

I leapt my way to stop her. I pulled her by the hand and pushed the door to lock.

I was catching my breath as I glared at her but… but my expression softened as those two deep brown eyes glared back at me.

"Gosh, she looks so upset."

"Love…" I softly called out.

"Stop making fun of me Erika." She directly stated. Her voice has a hint of anger.

"It"s not funny."

"Stop playing games with my feelings."

"d.a.m.n"

"Did I overdid it?"

I took a step closer to her but she took a step back too. I wanted to explain myself but suddenly there was a lump in my throat as my chest tightened. I can"t utter a word. I was feeling guilty.

"I know I lack most in everything." She continued.

"I know I have disappointed you many a times."

"I know I am no way nearer than your previous relationships."

"I know I look like a pitiful clown."

"And I"m frustrated in myself for that."

"But I love you Erika."

"I RESPECT YOU!."

"Gosh, let me say something!"

I could already see a glistening tears around her eyes. I again moved forward but she also moved back.

"I"m afraid to lose you Erika."

"I"m afraid that I might say the wrong words and that may displease you."

"So I"m reluctant and hesitant in everything I do that made me an idiot in the process."

"But I"d rather say the awkward words than lose you in any way."

"I love you."

"I"m already this pitiful, so don"t make me feel worse than I already am."

"...."