" Waiting for someone? Okay, I'll sit there while we wait. " he went over to sit on the bench and busied himself on the phone. After some minutes, he heard a running footstep and raised his head to see a petite girl's back on him. She was in white crop jumper and black boyfriend, her black hair falling just above her backpack. He could swear that she looked familiar, and her voice, when she spoke, confirmed his doubts.
" I'm sorry if I'm late," AJ said, panting from running.
" You still had one minute.needn't to run," he answered and chuckled at how breathless she was.
" Really now? Aren't you the one that said that if l don't reach here in five minutes, I will be left? " she said, crossing her arm over her chest and glaring at him.
" You are right. Just stop glaring at me," she laughed proudly at how her glare always managed to shut him up.
" Let's go, Alan." Now it was AJ's turn to be surprised. She was running faster earlier than she didn't recognize another person, and the name itself made her start doubting if she heard it wrong. She turned around following Quen's gaze, and her eyes almost popped out of the socket.
Alan stood and walked to them.
" Hi Alan," AJ was the first to greet, offering him a hand for a shake. He hesitantly slid his hand in hers and said hi.
" You too know each other," Quen said more like a statement than a question.
" Who doesn't know Alan in this school. He is the superstar of the school. The handsome, best singer and DJ, " she said, flailing her arms in air dramatically with a smile all over her face.
"I didn't know I was that famous," Alan said, shyly scratching the back of his neck.
" Well, now you know," she gave him a smile.
Quen shrugged." Okay, now let's go. I don't want Angela to scold me for being late. "
"Shouldn't you say something like maybe a compliment cause if he is going to be your DJ, I can say your choice is good?" AJ asked as they hopped into the car.
" Oh, should I? " He asked back indifferently.
" You are unbelievable," she rolled her eyes at how clueless her uncle was to other things except work.
" Thanks God, I was starting to worry,"Angela exclaimed when their car parked.
" Everything set?" Quen immediately asked when they reached where she were standing,waiting for them.
" Yeah, everything set. And this is?" She asked, averting her eyes from Quen to AJ.
" She is AJ, my stupid niece." AJ frowned but smiled when her eyes met Angela, who looked amused.
" Adriana Jimenez Okefe," she introduced herself by full name while shaking Angela's hand. " You must be Angela, I heard a lot about you from Quen and grandpa".
" Really? " Angela smiled but also a bit surprised.
" Didn't know you made a name at Okefe's kingdom." Alan, who was now standing beside Angela, teased.
" Didn't know, too. But wait, I think I know you somewhere, " she suddenly said, confusing everyone except Alan. Who knew well who she meant.
" Me ? " AJ asked bewildered.
" Yeah," she was sure she saw her somewhere. What she couldn't get was where." I mean, your eyes and smile. I'm sure this isn't the first time. " she holds her chin in thinking way, confusing Quen and AJ even more.
Her eyes suddenly brightened as if she recalled where she left her life and pointed at AJ before turning her gaze to Alan and grinning.
" I now remember," a smirk formed on her lips, but Alan pinched her, and his eyes begged her to spare his life just for today. Quen noticed their facial exchange but didn't give it much thought.
" You look like an actress," she lied and winked at Alan, which goes unnoticed by AJ, who was busy laughing but unfortunately not Quen.
" You know what? You are so funny. No wonder my grumpy uncle is interested in you. " Now it was Angela's turn to laugh since it seemed a joke to her. Everyone can be interested in her, but not Quen Okefe.
As embarrassed as he was, Quen decided to end their small talk by reminding them that they would get late.
The competition started early in the evening. A lot of potential and real investors came, and clients not forgetting newspapers. After some dances, they could take five minutes to present their brands. It was a well organized event with cosy decoration and everything. More than five TVs were showing it live, as youth dancing competition held by L group. Because AJ didn't know anyone else there and Quen was also busy talking to people here and there, she stayed beside Alan as he burned the place.
At the end of the competition, only two girls and two boys were able to stand out as the best dancers, though other top ten were also rewarded. The top four were to receive their rewards but also sign contract with the L group as their brand ambassadors and they will support their talent. Angela and Quen went on stage to hand the winners their prizes. After taking remembrance photos, they gave a little speech, mostly thanking those who managed to come and explaining briefly their new liquor.
Angela was descending the stairs, slowly taking one step when a flash of light from the camera blurred her sight, which made her lose balance of her foot. She closed her eyes, waiting for pain from falling, but she was luckily caught in time by strong arms, which she recognized to be Quen's from his scent. She slowly opened her eyes to find his ocean blue orbs staring at her with mixed emotions. Worry and fear, those two things she witnessed in his eyes for the first time.
" Are you okay?" He huskily asked, which she nodded in response. His facial expressions relaxed a little before new emotions filled them. Adoration. Her beauty always managed to steal his thoughts away that he found himself admiring her pretty face not forgetting the image from earlier when she came to the party after changing her clothes into a tight blue dress which hugged well her curves reaching slightly above her knees, revealing her long legs and it almost turned him on.
Now he was holding her in his arm,His control was even less. Only God knows that this angel he created was irresistible to him. He took a chance to admire her face by removing a strand of her short hair, which managed to fall into her face,obviously from the fall and tucking it right behind her ear. Angela was taken back by what was happening, she knew well that it wasn't right to be in Quen's arm mostly in public place like this but she felt safe besides she couldn't avert her eyes from his. She was completely drowned.
Quen slowly lowered his head towards her, not cutting his gaze, which was locked with hers depriving her of an opportunity to come back to her sense.
What the hell was happening? Was he going to kiss her? "Angela thought and realized that he perhaps was. But did she want it? Well, she wasn't against it, too. Then, if she can't avoid it, she better not see it coming.
So she closed her eyes....