Whispers Of The Heart.

Bamidele watched Felicia flaunt her dress right in front of him and even though his eyes were fixed on her, his mind had slipped again into fantasy.

"You are not listening to me anymore, should I go with the red or black bag?" Felicia asked after dragging Bamidele out of his fantasy with a tap on the shoulder.

"They both look good so just go with your favourite," Bamidele stuttered.
He could feel that Felicia wasn't really happy about going on the dinner date but her appearance was the opposite of what he felt.

"It seems like a lot is going on beneath that makeup and smiles," Bamidele muttered and didn't realize that he was thinking out loud.

"Why did you say so?" Felicia asked.
"Say what?," Bamidele replied and readjusted on the Sofa.

"You just said that a lot is going on beneath my makeup and smiles," Felicia replied.

"It has nothing to do with you," Bamidele stuttered.

"Okay, if you say so. I am leaving now and might be out till dark," Felicia said to Bamidele and requested a hug as usual.

She stepped out of the apartment immediately after the hug and Bamidele rushed to the window to catch another glimpse of Felicia before she was completely out of sight. Bamidele was unhappy and wished he didn't allow her to go on that date.

Bamidele and Felicia's friendship started in secondary school. Topmost international college was one of the best schools in the state and only the wealthy people in the state could afford the tuition. Every year, the school gives a scholarship and it was Bamidele's only way to become a student in the school since his parents were poor.

He took the scholarship examination and emerged as the first winner to score over 90% of the obtainable points. Bamidele resumed classes after his registration was completed but he found it difficult to mingle with his classmates immediately. He knew they were sons and daughters of influential people in the society so he tried not to cross his limit with them.

As weeks passed, Bamidele felt like he was now part of the school so he decided to make friends but none of the students were ready to mingle with him except Felicia.

"Don't worry about them and you can always reach out to me if you need someone to chat or study with in the class," Felicia said to Bamidele on the day he was snubbed by his classmates while they were chatting.

"I really don't fit in here," Bamidele replied.

"I don't believe that and my mom always said that there is always a reason for finding yourself wherever you are today," Felicia replied.

They continued chatting since it was free period and the lunch break alarm sounded some minutes later.

Felicia reached for her lunch pack and returned to where she sat with Bamidele.

"My instinct told me to come with an extra piece of doughnut today. Please join me," Felicia said as she stretched a chocolate-filled doughnut to Bamidele.

"Are you serious? You barely know and you are offering me part of your lunch," Bamidele replied.

"My name is Felicia and you are Bamidele. I think that's enough to share my lunch with you," Felicia replied.

Bamidele collected the doughnut and took a deep bite that got his lips stained with the chocolate filling.

"This is delicious," Bamidele muttered.

"That's my mom's handiwork and she is a professional baker," Felicia replied.

As days passed, their friendship grew stronger and Bamidele was able to help Felicia improve with her studies while she blessed him with pocket money and lunch. Their friendship took a new turn after secondary school when Bamidele's parents couldn't support his will to further his education.

"It can't end like this Bamidele and you need to continue your education," Felicia replied immediately Bamidele broke the news to her.

"Felicia this is beyond me and you can't understand," Bamidele replied.

"I understand more than you think and we will find a way to make sure your education doesn't end here," Felicia replied.

Their conversation went on for a while and Felicia suggested that Bamidele process admission into the same school where she got admission into.

"I get a lot of allowance from my parents and we can use the money for you coupled with whatever your parents can raise for you," Felicia replied immediately after Bamidele said no to the idea of applying for admission to the same University she was.

"You are brilliant and that will attract opportunities but you have to get into school first," Felicia replied.

Everything worked out fine as planned and Felicia even allowed Bamidele to live with her since she had a big place and they couldn't raise money for his apartment.

---

_Source

Bamidele stayed up till night waiting for Felicia since her lines weren't going through and it was late.

"I hope she is okay," Bamidele muttered as he checked the time again.

A few minutes later, he heard a vehicle outside the compound and rushed to see who it was.

***"Thank goodness, I was really worried about you. What happened to your phone?" Bamidele asked immediately after they got inside the apartment.

"I am fine and just turned it off," Felicia muttered.

"How was your date? Hope you had fun?" Bamidele asked.

"Are you really comfortable with me going on a date with someone else?" Felicia replied.

"Why not? You should if it makes you happy," Bamidele replied.

"Bamidele, the truth is that I truly have a lot going on beneath this smile and you are the only one who has noticed it," Felicia replied.

Bamidele was surprised at her response and he moved closer to her.

"What's going on?" He asked softly and Felicia just shook her head.

"Nothing that I can't handle and I will be fine," She stuttered and retired to her bedroom immediately.

"What happened at the date?" Bamidele asked himself but couldn't figure out anything.

The next day, Felicia started putting up a cold attitude and it bothered Bamidele because she didn't tell him why when he asked.

"Only if I had come from a wealthy home, I would have asked Felicia to be my lover. I love her and hate to see her sad," Bamidele told his brother while they were chatting a few days later.

"You can't keep assuming that she would turn you down and instead of doubting, just ask her out. After all, you are the one who once told me that we only live once and should not let anything hold us back from achieving what we desire," Toyosi replied.

"You can't understand. A lot is at stake if she says no and what if she doesn't feel the way I feel about her or have you forgotten I still have a year left in the University?" Bamidele replied.

"We can't tell but you will regret it if you find out that she feels the same way when you can't tell her how you feel anymore," Toyosi replied.

---

Bamidele started thinking about everything Toyosi said and he was really bothered. On the day Felicia wrote her final exams, she came back drunk and it was her first time having alcohol.

She almost kicked the door down despite holding the key and Bamidele knew something wasn't right. He quickly helped her in and could tell that Felicia had drunk too much than she could handle as she reeked of alcohol.

"Why would you keep turning down my feelings? Do you think I have been going on a date? No, I haven't. I only hang out with myself and return home with the hope of you seeing the need to ask me out but it's not working. I love you and it hurts to know you don't love me in return," Felicia stuttered immediately after Bamidele helped her into her bedroom and she slept off.

Bamidele stayed awake all through the night trying to figure out if Felicia's words were influenced by alcohol or if she poured out her mind. Without concluding, Bamidele summoned the courage to ask Felicia out the next day and it made her really emotional.

"I have waited too long for this and didn't want you to think I am cheap if I had asked you out myself. Forget about our differences because we still have a long way to go in life and I promise to always love you wholeheartedly," Felicia replied to Bamidele who felt like the happiest man in the world at that moment.

Their relationship status moved from friends to lovers and it was the beginning of their journey to forever.