Date: Sat, 23 Feb 2008 02:55:17 -0800 (PST) From: Lira Feliciano Subject: Stay by my side ch. 5 I opened my eyes to a bright day, Steph is not beside me so I hurriedly got up and look for her "Steph? Steph?" no answer, where did she go? I went to the bathroom and took a bath, I feel so refreshed and then just as the water hit my face I remembered something last night, I told her something, oh my god! I said it, without even thinking! What if she heard? My heart race, what did I do, I'm not supposed to say it, I don't want to say it like that, I felt like I'm blushing even in the showers. I heard the room door opens and then shut, it took a while before I heard something else "Noriko? Are you in there?" Steph called out "Yes! I'm in the showers" "Oh god, are you going to take long coz I need to use the toilet, its urgent" why did the call of nature need to do this, I cant think straight and the last thing I want is Steph walking around in the bathroom with me in it, naked. "I still got soap, well go ahead" the shower curtains is all that separates us, she entered and concentrate on what she's doing "I'm sorry I have to disturb you like this" I look at her, actually at the shower curtain "Its ok, we cant blame it, its just comes" I heard her laughing "Why are you laughing?" she still laughs "I cant help it, I'm sorry, its like we are in the weirdest situation and what's worst is that youre saying all that" I'm nervous its like my heart is going to burst, I'm still embarrassed by the fact I've said something last night that I hope she didn't hear. "I'm done" I said "I'm not" she said, I don't have anything to cover me when I get off this shower, my towel is beside the door and she's in the way "Can you give me my towel?" I asked "I'm sorry Noriko but I cant I'm stuck here" I understand what she's trying to tell me, I want to wait but the coldness creeps in so I cant take it any longer, I might as well parade in front her naked. So I walked out of the shower, and hurriedly grasp my towel and before I went out the door, I saw her reaction and she cant believe what I have just done. When she finished, she walk up to me "What did you just do?" I'm really embarrassed and I cant look at her straight "I'm getting cold, what should I do" she started laughing she cant believe I did the oddest thing "I'm getting cramps, my tummy hurts" I looked at her kind of angry "Then stop laughing already!" she stopped and brush off the small tears coming from her eyes "Where are you going anyway?" she asked "We, the both of us, we are going out" her face lightened, its like she's a child going on a field trip "Really! Where?" "Its weekend so I think we should relax a little, do you want to watch a movie?" her smile widened "Sure!" So we went out, while we are walking to the path going outside the university, she made this whole nature thing and twirl while admiring the tree paths, Steph is like a little girl, wanting this her whole life. "Noriko I'm so happy" she looked at me tenderly while we are riding the shuttle "Why?" "Because this is the first time we are actually going out, and I've been dreaming of this ever since" I looked at her and smiled, I wanted to say it right then but I don't want to spoil the moment We went to a movie house and watch a comedy, Steph cant stop laughing, she really is enjoying it. After the movie we went to a nearby park and walk, we really had a good time together. "So where did you study when you were in high school" she asked while eating her ice cream "Fulton Girls High School" she looked at me kind of surprised "So your in a private all girls school?" "Yup, why?" she's at awe "What?" I said "Nothing" I wonder what she is thinking "Do you had any relationships?" she's getting interested in me all of a sudden "No, not at all" again she is surprised "Why?" she asked "Because..." I don't know what to say so we both became silent and continued walking at the park Its getting late so I invited her to eat at a nearby restaurant, we ordered our food and stared at each other "What are you thinking?" I asked "You, and I'm thinking of ways to make you fall in love with me" I almost throw up the juice I'm drinking after she said this "You're pretty straight forward and I thought you were a shy girl" I said "Who told you I'm shy?" she looked at me eagerly "No one, I just thought" "So what do you say about Kyla and Frances being together?" I smiled "Well they are perfect for each other, no one understands Frances other than Kyla, I said so herself" then Steph looked at me "So you approve of this?" "Of course I do, I will not get in the way of their happiness" she just smiles and continue eating "Did Frances really liked you?" "Yes, cant you notice it? Every time I'm there she lightens up or got so excited, and she always notices me" now I remembered the one time I thought Frances was flirting with Steph and its actually true "So did you like Frances?" "No" "Why? She's beautiful and intelligent, actually she's really really beautiful..." "I like you more" she said after cutting me I felt I blushed and again I cant look at her straight, why all of a sudden she's being straightforward at me it's like she really want me, but I guess I cant help it when the subject keeps going that way. We finished our dinner and returned to the dorm, when I closed the door, Steph is behind me and when I turned to face her, she kissed me, it felt so soft and I felt my heart do the jumping thing that I never felt before, I'm happy, so happy that I had to close my eyes and feel every thing. She broke the kiss and looked at me directly "I love you Noriko" this time its not a simple word that she said, its like there is a melody into it, its like a word is taking over me, and its been inside of me for a long time and it want s to come out "I love you too Stephanie" and then I said it, Steph cried "Ive been wanting to here it all this time, you made me so happy" so we kissed and kissed until we got to the bed and fall down, we exchanged kisses and embraces that we never had "I wanted to say it for a long time now, I wanted to tell you right after you said that but it scared me that I might lose you" "Lose me?" "Yes, because what if this doesn't work, I'm afraid I'll lose you as my friend and I cant bare that, you're the closest person I ever had, I love you so much that I just wanted you to be with me forever" she smiled sincerely, I can see the love in her eyes that I want to kiss her all over again "Tell me you'll never leave me" I whispered "I'll never leave you" then we kissed and hug each other until we fall asleep. The end