The next day, Portia didn't want to go to school and face Kofi, he'd definitely ask for the truth if she said the date was cancelled, but Uncle Cloud encouraged her to go, encouraged as in dragged her and dumped her there, it was totally her choice.
She took a deep breath as she saw Kofi and that girl meeting again then squeezed her books to her chest and slowly walked towards him.
Kofi looked at her then said,"Portia, I have something to tell you."
"Is it about the date?"She asked, scared, but eager.
"Technically, yeah...I can't go on the date..."
Phew!
"With this girl, she's my cousin; Afi, I'll have to go with this girl I know, her name is Vulpine."
"Actually Kofi, I can't go..."
"...alone, because I'm coming with her."
Portia turned back only to frown at Leslie.
She froze time, which was also new to him, then asked,"What the heck are you doing?"
"Look, I'm sorry about yesterday and what I said, it's just, I loved you, with all my heart and you couldn't see it because you were blinded by grief and jealousy, but please, give me another chance."
"It wouldn't work Leslie, I can't use you like that."
"And I know you wouldn't, because you love me back, don't you?"
"...I don't know."
He kissed her forehead then said,"Then let's go on a date to get to know each other better."
She smiled at him then unfroze time and said,"It's a date."
Kofi smiled then shook Leslie's had firmly, before leaving.
Portia was called to meet Ms TT then when she walked into the room, the woman squealed and Portia didn't know why she joined in the onomatopoeic sound formation till Ms Terra said,"A double date!"
"Yes!"Portia yelled.
"I have gotta tell Manny about this."
"Quick question, the Manny you're talking about, is he the same Manfred that I know?"
"Yes he is."
Portia's jaw dropped then she said,"B- but how? Dang it! I should have allowed him to show me his real face!"
"Why? Are you also charmed?"
"No, okay maybe, but would be offensive if I got a picture of him as my wallpaper?"
"Do you know how many women he had at once till he met me?"
"I'm going to say no."
"And it's better that way, of course you can, if and only if you keep me updated on that date."
"It's a deal."
They both squealed in excitement till Portia then asked,"Could you help me shop for the best clothes?"
"Girl, you are looking at someone who can see all the possible combinations of clothes you could wear and which would fit you beat, of course."
"Not only for me though..."
"Oh, you mean..."
Portia nodded then Ms TT smiled then said,"Of course."
Then they opened the windows and looked at all the different species of drooling boys trying to catch a glimpse of them, the bad sides of being irresistibly beautiful...
Kofi went home after taking Afi to the bus stop when he saw something on his bed, he lightened up the room with a sphere of electricity then saw it...
***
The date came up and Portia took a deep breath while looking at the mirror, she wasn't the biggest fan of or guru on wearing makeup, so she didn't have any on, the dress was a sparkly one with sequins and glitter allover.
The skirt was made of three diagonal sisters, running to the floor with a belt of red, silver and pink roses running halfway across her waistline.
The blouse of the dress was red as roses with the beginning half of the skirt being rosy pink and the ending - lavender.
The dress was shoulder less with long lace sleeves with Kente borders, it was a perfect mixture of African, Konarian and European dress styles.
Portia turned and looked at her waist, it was thinner than she remembered, maybe it was because she was hungry?
Then again, she was quite plump by the time she had her first kiss, spontaneously slimming down by her first kiss.
Ever so slowly, she went out of her room and descended the stairs, everyone who saw her was stunned as she her arm through Uncle Cloud's, then he led her out of the mansion, everyone following for a better view.
By the time she walked out the gate, Leslie was stunned, he watched her as Uncle Cloud relayed her to him as she asked,"How do I look?"
"I... I'm speechless, because no existing words can describe your beauty."
She turned away, even though she couldn't visibly blush, her stomach was burning as Leslie opened his car for her and helped her in, she still didn't understand why men thought women were dainty enough to break an arm when they stepped into a car but, Courtesy was Courtesy.
He drove her to the rooftop restaurant building then left the car for valet and Portia again wondered why someone would trust a stranger with the car keys so precious, they wouldn't even trust their first child with.
They were barely inside building by the time a sleek, wine red limo rolled onto the driveway and out of it came none other than Vanessa Smith, world renown Ghanaian actress with the heart of a vampire and the face of an angel, this young woman had put Ghana on the map after winning the World Celebs Day awards or the WCD, six times in a row and being voted as the best blood themed actress for two seasons, each by a landslide and as usual, she dressed to impress.
She wore a peach, slim fitting gown which matched perfectly with her bedazzled purse which in turn matched with her diamond shoes and earrings.
Then right behind her came out a handsome young man Portia couldn't recognise, wait, is that Kofi?!
Portia could barely recognize him, he looked so... different.
She knew he was good looking but now, she was way over Manfred.
He was wearing the white leather jacket and black denims she got him, and had a faded haircut with two slits on either side of his head, the black leather boots he wore tied the whole thing up as their holding of hands tied their connection.
They walked towards Portia and Leslie then Kofi said,"I hope we aren't late."
"Oh no, no, no..."Portia said,"...we just arrived ourselves."
"Hi, you must be Portia, I've heard so much about you, I'm..."
"Vanessa Smith..."Portia said.
"I was actually about to say Vulpine Anderson, Vanessa Smith is just my stage name."
"Well this is Leslie."Portia said.
Leslie and Kofi shook hands, with Kofi's eyes fixated on Portia with a small smirk, then he looked Portia up and down then said,"Wow Portia, you look... magnificent."
Portia smiled nervously then said,"Thank you, I..."
"Look at the time, we really have to go."Leslie interrupted.
"Of course, lead the way."Vulpine added.
They went into the first floor and all eyes were on them as they made their way to the elevators.
Portia and Leslie entered one alone, while Vulpine and Kofi entered the next.
They were going to the top floor when the elevator stopped and Portia saw charges in Leslie's eyes, confused, she asked what he was doing then he smiled and said,"I just wanted us to have some time alone."
"But Leslie, that's the whole point of this date, to get to know each other better, we can't have this much closure yet."Portia answered.
"...right, of course."
The elevator continued moving and though Portia felt sorry for hurting him, she had seen her first red flag, he was moving way too fast.
Portia walked atop the roof, on the glass floor with colourful fish in the tank beneath it and colourful lights in the glass walls of the roofless restaurant floor.