For the Dream of 5 Years: Chapter Three: Candy

Dan and Michelle had not seen each other for over one week since they decided to stop seeing each other. They did not decide to see each other because Michelle made that decision alone and imposed it on Dan. From nowhere, Dan received a call from Michelle that she had decided to stop whatever Dan thought was going on with them. Dan tried to explain, but Michelle was having none of it. Dan had been heartbroken for a long time that week, and any attempts to reach Michelle were met with cold silence. His messages and calls were not returned, which continued until he almost moved on when Michelle's mom suddenly called him to get some tools she needed from the local town. Initially, Dan was excited that he would see Michelle and probably have a word with her. Then he worried, wondering what would happen if Michelle had already left for the city. Dan was so disturbed that at some point, he wanted to send his cousin instead. However, his cousin had gone to the Local Centre, a habit he had developed. Therefore, he was unavailable for any of Dan's errands. He also wondered whether Michelle would talk to him if they saw each other. Even though he was skeptical about seeing Michelle, he decided to dress up, just in case they ran into each other. He put on a yellow shirt with blue stripes, tucked it well in his blue jeans, and put on black sandals. He made sure he smelled good by wearing a good cologne, his hair was neat, and his breath was fresh. He looked himself in the mirror and loved what he saw. He smothered his lips with an unscented lip gloss; they looked exaggerated. "I will kiss you today, Michelle until you beg for more," he said, laughing. Maybe he laughed at his thoughts and his ambitions. Or maybe it was a nervous laugh. He went to town and picked up the items that Michelle's mom had requested. Then he boarded a motorbike, the means of transport prevalent in the region. When they pulled into the home, he hoped that Michelle would be the one to pick up the items from him. He alighted and scanned the place to find only Michelle's sister doing her laundry outside. They talked a little before Michelle's mom arrived to pick up the items and pay the rider. After a little chat with Michelle's mom over the items and other tasks she wanted him to take care of the following week, she returned to the house. He turned down the offer to have a cup of tea because he sensed Michelle was not around. After the rider left, Dan talked to Michelle's sister about a library card he wanted to borrow. They had a long talk over many things as he continued to buy time to see whether he could see Michelle. After about 30 minutes, he asked her if Michelle was at home. "Michelle left for the shop, and I know it's just a matter of minutes before she comes back," she said. Dan decided to wait a little longer until Michelle returned from the local shop. He kept checking the gate to see whether Michelle was coming. When he heard someone opening the gate, he almost had a heart attack. When Dan saw Michelle's leg getting inside the compound, his heart sank into his stomach, and he froze. He stared at her with a weird type of grin, one more of nervousness than excitement. She looked so beautiful in a long flowery yellow dress. She looked radiant in the bright sun, and her beautiful feet were exposed in her string black Maasai sandals. He carried his eyes from Michelle's feet, up her dress, and up to her smiling face. He thought Michelle would be cold towards him and was shocked to see her smile at him and lost for words. He smiled back and unconsciously winked at her. "Oh, my goodness, why did I wink? I am so silly," he thought to himself. To his surprise, Michelle smiled back and didn't take any offence to his winking. Michelle walked up to him and said hi. She passed some powder soap to her sister and proceeded to take some other things she had bought from the shop inside the house. Dan was confused. "Should I go? Is Michelle coming outside again? Are we going to talk more? Are we going to have some time alone?" he wondered. He knew that Michelle's sister did not know about their attraction. He was certain that Michelle wouldn't like anyone getting a wind about them. Just when he was about to leave, she saw Michelle coming out of the house. She signalled him out of the gate, and he bid Michelle's sister goodbye. He followed Michelle out of the gate and once out of the gate, Michelle shook his hand and asked him where he had been. He explained that Michelle's mom had told him the work had reduced and that she would call after a few weeks when the coffee trees needed pruning. They strolled, talking about general stuff, and Dan wondered whether Michelle was okay in the head. "How is she talking with a straight face to me as though things were alright between us?" he wondered. "Michelle, why did you push me away and stop the communication?" he finally decided to ask, facing Michelle straight and looking into her eyes. Michelle was caught off guard by Dan's courage and authoritative question. "He sounds like a grown man," Michelle thought, almost giggling at her thoughts. "Well, I'm sorry for how I ended things. Suddenly I started to feel..." she explained before Dan interjected. "Stop! Stop it, Michelle. You started to feel what exactly? Why is it always about you? Have I told you how I started to feel when I met you? Or when you technically dumped me? Don't give me that crap, Michelle. Please don't," he sternly said, looking into Michelle's eyes. For a moment, Michelle wanted to laugh at how manly Dan was acting. He was furious, and the veins on his arms bulged above the skin. His arms looked so strong, and his jaws were firmly cramped together. Michelle had not seen Dan this serious, which made her instantly want to hug him and feel his turgid body against hers. On the other hand, she wondered why he thought he had any right to demand friendship from her. She wondered why he thought they needed to keep their communication alive and why he thought he could be that close to her. Had he forgotten that Michelle was somebody's wife? She was taken aback. "Go home and think about me, us, or whatever this is. I may be taking your blows, but not anymore, Michelle darling. Are you afraid that someone may find out? Find out what exactly, if I may ask. The hug? Don't be dramatic. We haven't done anything wrong. I am not a minor, if that's your concern. I will not break your marriage unless that's what you want us to do soon. So, don't tell me you ended things with me. First of all, there have been no things. There is just us, so please let us be. And yes, I still love you even if you think this is juvenile. Put your issues in order and give me a call; I can tell that you also don't want this to end," he said and left. Michelle looked at him walk away, so tall, with his hands in his pocket. "This boy is crazy! Did he just say that I should put my issues in order?" Michelle said, laughing as she looked him go. She wished he could look back, but he didn't. He just went straight on until she couldn't see him anymore. It didn't break her heart; she was happy that Dan knew what he wanted, even though she couldn't give it to him, at least not at that moment. ******* Michelle had not seen Dan for almost a week, and she was going crazy for some weird reason. Her head was pounding, and she knew her medicine would be to see Dan. She couldn't get him on his cell, she couldn't go to his home, and neither could she find someone to send. Luckily, she met Dan's cousin when going to the Local Centre on her motorbike. She asked about Dan and learned that he had lost his phone and had travelled to see his Dad, who lived in a town a few miles away. "Okay, if you see him, please tell him I would like to see him. Or better still, tell him to call me because I can't reach him," said Michelle. The following day Michelle received a call from Dan. "Hey lovely lady, I'm sorry I haven't been in touch. I got your message that you wanted to talk to me," said Dan. Michelle was delighted to hear from Dan. Initially, she thought that Dan was mad at her for ignoring his messages and avoiding him. "Why didn't you call me with a pay phone or come home to see me?" Michelle asked. "I had travelled to see my dad. I just got back today, and my cousin gave me your message. If you like, I can come to see you tomorrow," he said. "That sounds great. It's a date then," Michelle said excitedly. "What can I bring for you?" Asked Dan. "Bring yourself," flirted Michelle. After the call, Dan had a huge grin, enthusiastic about their meeting the following day. Michelle felt so stupid over their conversation. What had become of her? Why was she stooping so low to flirt with a schoolboy? She was so ashamed, and a feeling of guilt suffocated her. She touched her face to ascertain whether she was dreaming, she was not, and that terrified her. She was mad at herself; she wanted to call Dan and unsay everything she had said. However, she didn't. Michelle had been waiting for Dan since morning, despite having agreed to meet at two in the afternoon. She had put on some soft love music, made some delicious meal, and put on her best charm, her smile. When Dan showed up, her heart skipped a beat because she had missed him. True, but weird. Dan came with a basket full of fruits because Michelle loved fruits. She offered him food and drinks as they discussed how they had missed each other. Dan mentioned that he was developing a headache whenever he thought about Michelle because he wasn't sure if Michelle had changed her mind about their friendship. Michelle found the headache part very childish and cliché. They talked about the farm, the politics, and other general talks they needed to catch up on. Michelle had some candies she bought a few days before contacting Dan. "Would you like to eat some candies I bought on my way from town?" she asked. "I love eating candy. I'd love to have some," said Dan. Michelle entered her room and checked for her candy, only to find just one. "Oops, I just found one candy," she said, offering the candy to Dan. "That one is yours; I want you to have it," Dan declined, taking the candy. "We can share it. I can break it into two," said Michelle. She put one half into her mouth and pressed hard with her teeth until she managed to break it. She offered Dan the one not in her mouth, and Dan declined again. "What's the matter? I won't eat candy alone. I would appreciate it if you agreed to share it with me," said Michelle trying to persuade Dan, who was already on his feet and close to Michelle. "Well then, I don't believe you shared it equally. I want the one in your mouth. I'm certain you took the bigger piece," said Dan. He was so close that Michelle could taste his scent. Michelle's heart was beating so fast, and she wanted to move away but couldn't. Something felt right then, and she felt safe and comfortable. She leaned forward and looked at Dan's face, far above her so that she could pass the candy. Dan smiled and took some time before coming down to meet her lips. He thought, "This is it; this is what I have been waiting for all this while. Finally, I'm going to taste these beautiful lips, and I will hold this beautiful face into my hands; I'm going to do it so right that she will beg for more." Dan leaned towards Michelle and cupped her face with his big warm hands. Michelle just wanted to pass the candy, but the moment their lips touched, so soft and warm, they immediately made way for a quick kiss. Michelle was partly shocked, partly excited, and somewhat guilty. "Well, I don't believe myself. Wow! That went so well, though unexpected," she said, supporting herself on the table and trying to sit on the couch without falling. Then Dan moved closer and kissed her one more time before leaving. Michelle was overwhelmed with emotions of guilt and feelings of pleasure. It was tough for her to calm down. She spent the rest of the day regretting and shedding tears once in a while. She was angry to have misled a child, guilty to have cheated on Dave, and embarrassed to give in to temptation. Dave did not deserve that; he was a good, honest, and faithful man. He had not done anything to offend Michelle; she was not revenging, and she did not lack anything from Dave. She was pissed at herself. She locked herself in her room and cried herself to sleep.