CHAPTER TWENTY-SEVEN
KIM TRANSFERS
By evening, Kim was well dressed in a beautiful evening dress, black heeled shoes, and a mini bag with light makeup on her face
She stood waiting for Michael in front of a fine dining restaurant. Michael was the one who picked out the place and texted her the location.
Not long, a car stopped in front of her. It was Michael. He came out of the car. He was wearing a blue checkered long-sleeved shirt on top of a white tee he wore beneath the shirt, and he paired it with black trousers and white sneakers. She was so excited when she saw him and ran to hug him.
Michael ran his eyes over her outfit.
"Thought you said, it's a simple outing?! I guess someone dressed super extra" he said smiling.
"But I didn't do a bad job either. I also did the makeup myself" she laughed while Michael chuckled.
"You look pretty anyway," Michael said, and that made her smile very shyly.
"Let's go in" he led her to the table he made reservations for. He sat there and watched her order the most expensive meal on the menu while also chattering and talking about so many things at the same time. After they were done eating, she made him drive her to a high-end store. There, she picked out so many things into the trolley. Michael found most of it unnecessary but he still paid for all of it despite the amount. While his driver helped put some of the bags into the car booth, he turned to her,
"Kim, what do you need all these for?"
"I don't know. I was just selecting anything because I knew you'd pay. Mmmh!" She smiled at him.
"That's weird. By the way, tell me what I'm supposed to hear"
"Don't be in a hurry. I'll tell you about it all, okay?" She winks at him and enters the car.
They drove off until they got to her house and stopped. The gate was very huge.
When she got down, Michael also got down with her. She quietly hugs him and mutters,
"I'm gonna miss you, Michael"
He smiles. "You don't wanna tell me?"
She looks up at him while disengaging from the hug.
"I just wanted a date with you, mmmh!" She shrugs.
"Okay," Michael sighed. A cold wind blew and she shivered slightly. He quickly takes off the blue tee shirt and wears it on her.
"You have to go in now. It's too cold outside. Next time, don't wear a thin dress to a date....an evening date. Okay?"
"Mmmh!" She nods still looking at him. There was a beautiful admiration in her eyes and her smile said so.
"Goodnight, Kim," Michael said to her.
"Goodnight" she paused. "... Michael"
She smiled and turned to ring the bell. Not long, the gate opened. Michael waved at her until the gate was totally shut. He smiled softly before turning around to enter his car.
****
Michelle was in the laundry room when she heard her phone ring. She took it out of her pocket and saw the caller. It was Kim.
She answered the call.
"Hello, Kim"
Over the phone, Kim said, "Hello, Michelle! Can I see you for a bit tomorrow before the morning assembly? I need your help again. Would you help, please?"
Michelle licks her lips rapidly,
"Okay, fine"
"Thank you. I'll see you in school tomorrow" Kim hung up.
"I hope she's fine? She sounds very okay and calm" Michelle wondered while putting the phone back into her pocket.
"Mmmh!" She hummed.
****
In school the next day, Michelle stood with Kim in the hallway towards the library. It was very quiet. Kim wasn't wearing her school uniform and she covered her face with a fez cap.
"You aren't coming to school today?" Michelle asked her.
She nods.
"Yeah! I wanted you to help me give this to Michael. I can't give it to him myself. I won't be able to." She hands her a gift box. Michelle collected it and just then, Kim received a message on her phone. The screen lit up and showed her wallpaper. It was a selfie she took with Michael one time.
Kim noticed Michelle saw it. But she'd looked away. Kim smiled.
"Is everything okay, Kim?" Michelle asked looking at her.
"Yes. Everything's fine" she answered. "Um! About the picture...I went out on a date with Michael...yesterday" Kim started to say. She was looking intently at Michelle. Michelle was also looking back at her. Kim noticed her countenance dropped slightly.
"We're not dating" Kim added immediately. "I...um! I'm very grateful Michael has helped me a lot" she smiled. "Yesterday, I asked him to pretend to be my boyfriend for real and take me out on a date. He agreed. Very quickly" she licked her lips and continued. "I didn't expect it. But it happened and we went out. I was so happy. He's my first date. And he made me feel special. He even paid for all my tastes, you know?" She chuckled softly. Michelle's expression had already softened.
"He also agreed to take a picture with me, and I made it my wallpaper because I love the memories he gave to me. Michael's such a sweet soul. You like him right, Michelle?" She asked.
Michelle wasn't expecting the question, but she nodded slowly.
"It's not bad that you like him. I also believe he likes you too. Over sixty percent of my time with him, he's always bothered about you. He says your name every second. If it's not love, then I don't know what else it is," she shrugged. Michelle didn't reply.
Whispering, Kim said,
"I also like him but you two would make a great couple. You know he's a Watts, hmm!" She had a mischievous glint in her eyes.
This made Michelle chuckle softly and said,
"Oh! Kim!"
"Michael will tell you all about it when he gets my letter. Tell him I'll tattoo his name on my wrist. He should not bother stopping me"
Michelle nods. "I'll tell him that"
Kim paused for a while. "Can I...hug you?"
"Sure!" Michelle said took a step forward and hugged Kim.
"Thank you so much, Michelle" Kim said.
"Mmmh!" Michelle patted her back softly.
****
When Michelle handed the gift to Michael. They were in class; everyone was out for sports, including Kelvin and Sylvester. It was just Michael and her.
"She wasn't wearing her school uniform?" Michael asked, unwrapping the ribbon that was used in decorating the gift box.
"Yeah! She said she wrote you a letter?"
"I wonder what she wrote?" He opened the box and screamed.
"What the..." His voice trailed off. He started chuckling as he took out the first little box. He knew the brand very well. It was a wristwatch made of solid ice. Inside it, she embedded a small picture of her. The ribbon that held it had an inscription that said, 'I love Michael.' The watch wasn't so big but it looked very expensive. He picked up a sticker note beside it where she said she bought and customized the watch, so he'll always be reminded of her, the same way she's going to tattoo his name on her wrist.
"Huh! Tattoo?" Michael was slightly amused.
Michelle chuckled. "She said to tell you that"
"She really put in a lot of time and energy into all of this. I'll cherish them. This watch is expensive, and I'll add it to my collection." Shaking his head, he took out an envelope, opened it,, and brought out a handwritten letter. He read through it with his eyes.
P.S.: I was writing this in a hurry; that's why the alphabet came out bad like it's a comic font.
Michael chuckles.
To Michael,
My first love
By the time you're reading this, I must have left. After what happened, my parents concluded that I would leave the country and move to London to start a new school there. Don't worry, I won't be bullied again this time. I'll make new friends and they'll be very good to me. Thank you so much, Michael. You and Michelle helped me out a lot. I hope you stop staring so much at her. Man...just confess your feelings to her! I think she likes you too!!! Gosh!!! If you don't, I'll come back from London and do it on your behalf or you are mine forever.
This made Michael chuckle. He continues reading.
Here's my email. For now, my parents are deleting all my contacts, so we'd have to communicate through email. I'm so happy I met you. I placed two kisses on this paper after writing this. One is for you and the other is for Michelle. Can you help me extend it to her! Thank you. I'll email you once I settle in properly. Don't also forget to visit anytime you're in London.
I love you, now and always and forever.
Your little darling.
Michael folded the letter and put it back into the box. Looking at Michelle, he said,
"She's transferring to a new school. In London"
"Oh! That's why she didn't want to tell you in person" Michelle said. Michael nods smiling.
"I'm gonna miss her though"
Michelle watched him put the gifts back into the box.
"Me too. It was such a short time with her, but she's a very lovely girl," Michelle added.
"Let's just hope she doesn't tattoo my name on her wrist. I'll make sure I text her before she does that," Michael said, standing up as he walked out with Michelle.
"I don't think she will" she was laughing. It sounded funny to her.
"She's a very determined person. I can swear by it"
****
Michael sat on one of the chairs in the living room. Miss Hena sat on another one very close to him as she listened to him.
"She transferred?!" Miss Hena asked.
"Mmmh! Mmmh!" Michael nods. "She did. I guess her parents are tired of settling student-bullying cases. I'm happy for her even though I miss her already. She even got me a customized Piaget with a picture of her in it" Michael chuckled. Miss Hena too.
His phone dinged and he picked it up. He just got a text from Michelle. He read it.
"Miss Hena, can I go out for a bit?" He asked looking at her.
"Michael" she was looking at him. "It's dusk already"
"I know. I just want to see Michelle... briefly" he added the last part immediately.
Miss Hena grins softly. "Okay. But promise you'll be back before your father returns. I don't want the house to be uprooted"
Michael laughed at that, "No, it won't. Thanks, Miss Hena," he said, walking out with his phone while Miss Hena watched him leave.